Innovation and the freedom to use them is great, built our world. Unfortunately, meddling govts do not concur. If activity in any way impacts, even slightly, others, govts interject themselves with regulations. Experimental aircraft? Strictly controlled, perhaps rightly so....drones? Now strictly controlled, perhaps unnecessarily. Hiking in the wilderness on public land? Pay fees for "day use", coming soon, and in effect in certain localities. 150 million law abiding gun owners, and the occasional lunatic runs amuck using them for mayhem, and all suffer. Pay taxes to drive freely on roadways, now pay a toll...and worse, proposed per mile charge...thanks to costly electric vehicles. Drive a vehicle? Insurance and license fees. Coming to watercraft soon? Sail the waterways with "home made" propulsion, however great, will garner the attention of govt if they present even small evidence of failure and subsequent rescue operations....or worse consequences. By all means innovate, but as in all matters, caution is paramount.
Unfortunately, when one wants to do or build something that is not available "off-shelf" ( like the guy that started this thread), one must do the best one can with what is available and do one's own field testing. I did exactly that more than a decade ago, when there were few marine conversions done, and every conversion was experimental. We were developing the guidelines and performance predictions that are common knowledge today. Much of what you've read on the internet about electric marine conversions is based on the knowledge that was collected and shared here first. People like Miles and other pioneers here helped me figure out what might work well in a boat like mine, and collectively, we nailed it.
It's pretty easy to say " it'll never fly" from one's comfy armchair, it's riskier to invest the time and money to do the work and see what happens. I came here to gather what knowledge there was, synthesizing answers where there were none, then took the leap and converted my boat. It was no cheaper or easier than repowering with a new diesel, but I ended up with a boat that is more reliable and more enjoyable than it was before. My extensive performance testing is well documented in the 1100+ posts that I have made in this group to help those that want to do something similar. I honestly have few first hand lessons of what not to do or avoid, but often share what has worked well for me.
It's easy to see why many other folks are here, I've stated why I am here, and my question is still "Why are you here?"
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