John, again well said, I learned this a few years ago and would never go back. I'm in the process of converting my big boat (38 Island Trader) to electric, I can make my own power, can't make gas or diesel... Dave K
From: John Francis <surv69@gmail.com>
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 12:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] cruizing sail boats
As far as I'm concerned the only problem with electric motors is lifestyle. The infrastructure didn't need to exist for refueling..
100 years ago the lifestyle was no motor and maybe a sculling oar.
30-50 years ago it was gasoline and infrastructure to ensure refueling.
Today(and in the future), it will be electric with virtually no infrastructure for a while, then when a viable infrastructure(and better batteries), exist, electric will be the way to go.
I say today . . . and work with what works and what's available.
I say slow sustainable speed under power( maybe about 2 knots or so).
There's a speed figure for boats called "natural speed". I read about in a boat that came out about when outboard motors were becoming popular, and the formula involved calculation friction and derived a speed at which a boat can maintain(once reached), using almost no power . . . that is, the point when energy usage(to "maintain a speed") begins to greatly increase.
If a person uses an electric motor smartly(which, for the most part, we don't want to have to do), the energy(watts) to maintain the progress of the boat can be made up with solar panels.
BUT . . . of course . . . NO ONE really want's to go "slow" in a sailboat under power and EVERYTHING is valued at maintain hull speed or near HULL SPEED.
You got to say goodbye to HULL SPEED being the determining "value" of an acceptable speed.
LEARN TO SAIL and learn to live a more leisurely life(style) . . . THEN electric will be worth it.
John Francis
__._,_.___
.
__,_._,___
No comments:
Post a Comment