Hi Rob,
Sorry, I was being overly sensitive in taking your comment about reliability as a put-down of electric propulsion technology in general. It has it's place, but it's not for everyone.
It sounds like you operate in a pretty unforgiving environment, but that 40 mile out, 40 mile return is the real deal breaker for pretty much any battery-only setup I could think of. Hybrids? They'll find their place, but if I were operating in that environment I would have made the same choice. It's a question of "the right tool for the job".
Regards,
Jim
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, Rob Johnson <dopeydriver@...> wrote:
>
> Jim , I can't speak about electric drive reliability (and I didn't) , because
> there just aren't any here, I haven't seen any.
> But batteries , yes , they are a problem , and petrol , yes , a real big
> problem.
> Some mechanical problems occasionally with boats , steering mainly , and OB
> engines.
> The only time I can recall a diesel had a problem was battery related.Once the
> battery was replaced , he was right.
> Petrol is nasty stuff . We would average a boat fire or explosion every week.
> The rest of the time its boats being swamped , or flipped , by big seas.
> And then the boat won't start , because the batteries are under water .
> To put these people in electric boats , wow , I'd be getting out of the CG as
> soon as possible.
> Non marine petrol motors on the deck is impossible , the seas are generally in
> the 3-5 metre range , the motor wouldn't last 5 minutes.
> There is no shore power .
> The fishing grounds are around 40 NM out , and once they get out there on the
> water , its hell for leather through the big seas to the fishing grounds , catch
> their quota , then hell for leather back again.
> I had considered repowering my 22 ft Grey Seal auxilery with a hybrid , but the
> space and weight taken by the batteries made it impractical , and it was going
> to cost four times what the eventual diesel repower cost , which is more
> powerful.
> If I was to go all electric , I could only recharge the batteries by solar power
> while sailing, or by dragging out a generator on the tender , while on the swing
> mooring and leaving it run overnight.
> The chances of it still being there in the morning would be pretty slim.
> As it is I have a very light , compact and powerful little diesel , that I can
> keep running for days , no problems , without having to refuel/recharge.
> Yes , I'd like to go electric , but for me , in my circumstances , there is
> nothing for me out there yet that doesn't entail major compromises.
> It will come , and when it comes , I'll be a client .
> But this is just me , in my circumstance , others are in an entirely different
> situation , and their requirements are different.
> Regards Rob J.
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: luv2bsailin <luv2bsailin@...>
> To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sun, 6 February, 2011 10:29:13 AM
> Subject: [Electric Boats] Re: Electric boating association in the US?
>
> Say Rob,
> I understand most of your points, but I think it's wrong to say that batteries
> (or electric drives in general) are unreliable. Sure that could be said for some
> poorly executed "DIY" installations, but a well engineered system can far
> surpass any diesel system in that regard. I wonder how many of those battery
> problems (or petrol for that matter) that you mention are due to operator error
> (left the stereo on, ran out of gas, etc) rather than mechanical faults?
> Jim
>
> --- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, Rob Johnson <dopeydriver@> wrote:
> >
> > I keep going back to Eric's post.
> > E Power works for some now , and thats good , because R and D has to happen .
> > But for a lot of people , including me ,who might like to go electric , its
> >just
> >
> > not practical , in their environment or circumstance.
> > We are on a swing mooring .a petrol generator on the deck is completely out of
>
> > the question , batteries take up too much space , and are too heavy.
> > And then there is the problem of reliability.
> > The CG here is kept busy rescueing people with battery problems , and petrol
> > problems , very very rarely is there a problem with a diesel engine.
> > So , yes , I'm very interested , but the industry will have to come up with
> > something a lot better than it is now , before I'll be changing over.
> > Regards Rob J.
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
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