No, I was referring to the fact that there are many more power boats than sailboats in the US. According to the USCG 2009 statistics, registered power boats outnumber auxiliary sailboats by about 98 to 1. Looking at just the sailboat population, we know that the 26' to 40' range is the sweet spot for electric conversions. Now we're down to less than 51,000 boats in the US out of over 12 million mechanically driven boats (boats with motors).
Many of the people I know that own boats of that size would not accept the limitations that we have all accepted by trading to electric. I own two boats in this range and won't convert one of them due to the performance hit while sailing and motoring, and I'm a big proponent of the technology.
Just for sampling, I know that you've been operating your boat very successfully for a few years. How many other people in your marina have tackled a similar conversion?
I still beleive that electric drive is a very good answer for some sailboat users, but it no more of a universal answer than ICE is.
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "acsarfkram" <acsarfkram@...> wrote:
>
> >Show them how the compromises can be a good choice for some users. >With their
> >feedback about your boat, you'll find that electric is not a good >choice for
> >most boaters, both pleasure and commercial. This is a niche industry >and I'm
> >glad to be a contributing part of it.
>
> >Eric
>
> I've seen some negative posting here lately, but this one I can't let stand. Without a doubt MOST sailboaters that I see out on the water would be better off with an electric drive. Cheaper to operate, more reliable, more pleasant to be around...
>
> Eric, are you talking about commercial fishing boats?
>
> Mark
> Santa Cruz
>
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