T-Pain Is On A Boat: Re: [Electric Boats] Using original transmission.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Re: [Electric Boats] Using original transmission.

" I'm sure if Diesel engines could reverse with the flip of a switch they would not have coupled them to a cumbersome gearbox."

That's exactly what is done with the really big ones. Stop the engine and start it up again the other way. No transmission, no reduction, nothing; just straight direct drive.

I think there's a lot of drag in a conventional marine transmission, and I'd avoid it if I could.

Willie

--- On Tue, 10/12/10, Peter <peter@sintacha.com> wrote:

From: Peter <peter@sintacha.com>
Subject: [Electric Boats] Using original transmission.
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 12:08 PM

This is a great forum, and I've learnt a lot from lurking and reading through past posts, but the recent discussion on leaving in the original transmission has flushed me out into the open.

Converting to electric, one is looking for the greatest simplicity and efficiency possible. Running electric power through an ICE transmission, with it's cone clutch, gears, and oil bath, seems to me a poor idea. I'm sure if Diesel engines could reverse with the flip of a switch they would not have coupled them to a cumbersome gearbox.

Just my thoughts on the matter....
Peter.