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 .
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@yahoo.com>
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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