The problem with converting a sailboat into a motorboat is the hull shape. Sailboats have low initial stability and high ultimate stability, the opposite of powerboats. What this means is that it will tend to wallow port to starboard with every passing wave, or when someone moves from one side of the boat to the other. The only way to prevent that is to leave all the ballast in, but then that increases the energy needed to bring the boat up to speed, plus the additional drag from the increased surface area. Removing all the ballast makes the boat unstable, and very dangerous.
Instead, find a displacement motor boat to convert.
Dan
--- In electricboats@
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> Hello all,
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> I've been lurking in this group for the past year or so and have learned a lot from you all. I've had a project in mind and I'm trying to figure out if it's practical and how to make it work. Would it be possible to modify a smaller cruising sailboat to a pure solar powered boat?
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> My thoughts were along the lines of buying a sailboat around 30' LOA, stripping out the engine, mast and rigging, fuel tank, etc. and replacing it with an electric motor, batteries in place of some of the balast, and as many solar panels as I can fit on the cabin top and on a hard top to replace the bimini. Most days I'd like to be able to cruise around 5-6 knots for 4 hours or so, but still have the capability to go 70-80 miles on occasion. Oh, and the maximum budget for the project is about $40K.
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> Is this possible? Practical? Safe? And how would you accomplish it?
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> Thanks!
> -Red
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