Hi Harry
Thanks for your input. It's not that I don't have the information on a lot of electric companies. Actually I have contacted directly at least 10 providers of electric propulsion systems. Some of them have disappeared (and reappeared as the one you quoted) already or changed their names. Torqeedo is one of the few who became big enough to stay, if the concept turns out to satisfy the customers in the long run.
The problem I see is still, as I said, the reliability. For the time being my boat is equipped with a Honda outboard since the previous owner took out what seemed to be a gasoline inboard Honda/Volvo saildrive chimera. He glassed the hole so there is quite a job to do if I want to install an inboard in addition to having a hole in the hull which I don't like either. But I digress.
The 10 hp Honda I have has always started and never stalled in the 4 years I have had it (and always starts). At low speed (3-4 knots) which I started to get myself used to since contemplating electric drive, it is not so noisy either... However, everytime I refuel there is considerable fuel smell all around the boat (since I already removed the built in tank). Fortunately I only need to fill up the 12 liter tank 2-3 times a year. And I can't complain about the servicing either... Oil and gear oil change is pretty easy and done directly on the boat (with the dinghy underneath to keep the oil leaking into the environment from dimensions attributed to BP...). Unfortunately there are very few long time experineces (max. 2-3 years) with torqeedo engines. And the time intervalls of completely trouble free use I know of are even shorter.
Otherwise I would have already bought one. I think I will only need a 1 kW engine. That is enough to get myself out of the harbour and back if there is no wind. In presence of wind I don't need an engine and if it is too much wind for me to sail it is certainly too much wind to use the engine on my boat. And I don't have the storage capacity on my boat for the energy needed when using more power anyway, so why bother :-).
So I think of installing a torqeedo cruise 2.0R or 1003 with remote control. But I have to admit that 3 years ago I thought I would at least need 2-3 kW and a lot of batteries...
Best
Matti
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, Harry Wilkins <harry8136103219@...> wrote:
>
>
> Matti,
> In addition to Torqeedo, which has a good reputation for performance and quality, you might also look at the following for competitive information.
> http://www.electricyacht.com/electric-yacht-products/electric-outboard-motors.html
> http://www.re-e-power.com/epod-3000.html
>
> Or you could Google "Electric outboard motor" and find many other links.
> Repowering a small sailboat is a pretty straight-forward matter, especially if you are going the outboard route. Just don't try to save money on the batteries. Buy big deep cycle batteries. They cost more to buy but they are much less expensive and more reliable over their lifetime.
> Thanks...
>
> Harry Wilkins,
> The Research Vessel Carpe Sol www.rvCarpeSol.com hw@...
> Cell (813)610-3219
> Office (813)968-0788
> Fax (813)792-1162
>
>
>
>
>
>
> To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
> From: matikanpoika@...
> Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:29:37 +0000
> Subject: [Electric Boats] Re: Research Vessel Carpe Sol
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi Harry
>
>
>
> Actually I have no real interest in electric boats, but I would like to move my little sailboat also in absence of wind without the use of a combustion engine and fuel on board. I am not trying to save the planet or anything, I just like it quite and odorless. For the time being I have a heavy 4-stroke outboard hanging on the transom. Once I find something electric fitting my needs I will get rid of it. I am planning to buy a torqeedo, but I am not yet convinced of their reliability.
>
> Why they have all those engines on SolarWave I don't know, but if you have a look at the sponsor list it might explain the reason. It seams everyone wanted to somehow be represented on these 46 feet of swimming advertisement. Anyway, I think the homepage will provide the interested reader with interesting information about energy consumption at sea and on inland waterways.
>
>
>
> Best
>
>
>
> Matti
>
>
>
> --- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, Harry Wilkins <harry8136103219@> wrote:
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Matti,
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Thanks for the information. I've been watching the Solar Wave progress for some time. I haven't quite worked out why they have both the Torqeedo outboards and the Aquawatt inboard motors. Other than that mystery, they seem to have designed a nice boat and it should serve them well.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > What is your interest in electric boats?
>
> >
>
> > Thanks...
>
> > Harry Wilkins,
>
> > The Research Vessel Carpe Sol
>
> >
>
> > www.rvCarpeSol.com
>
> >
>
> > hw@
>
> > Cell (813)610-3219
>
> > Office (813)968-0788
>
> > Fax (813)792-1162
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
>
> > From: matikanpoika@
>
> > Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:00:27 +0000
>
> > Subject: [Electric Boats] Re: Research Vessel Carpe Sol
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Hi
>
> >
>
> > I don't have any personal experience with electric engines, but there is a solar catamaran (46 foot) which just started its circumnavigation from Vienna in Austria. The link is: www.solarwave.at
>
> > Anyway there are surely many other solutions for propulsion but the real world experience of this online blog might be interesting for you (since they have two independent electric propulsion systems on board).
>
> >
>
> > Matti
>
> >
>
> > --- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "rvcarpesol" <harry8136103219@> wrote:
>
> > >
>
> > > Greetings,
>
> > >
>
> > > I am looking for input on the most efficient electric motor system for a 36 foot, 14,000 pound catamaran. The boat will be a full time live aboard and will travel the inland waters of the USA year round.
>
> > >
>
> > > Thanks for your input
>
> > >
>
> >
>
No comments:
Post a Comment