[Public-List] Electric Auxiliary

Fri Oct 14 10:52:54 PDT 2016

It's not too complicated - how much energy do you need to move the boat,
how far or how long.

You will not have very signfiicant efficieny gains - if any - for electric
vs diesel, so the upshot is energy storage, and the availability of supply.
The system install costs are on par - a bit higher for electric.
The energy costs might be a little lower for electric - but they are very
small anyway for a sailboat.

I can store well over a hundred miles worth of diesel fuel in my 10 gallon
tank, and i can refill it in a short time at many locations.
An electric system has only a few hours of battery energy, and no way to
quickly replenish it.

I will say that on this past 9 day fall cruise there was only one day when
an electric would have failed me - motoring for 2 hours.

Otherwise my sailing to motoring ratio was 20 or more to 1.  This is not
typical though.

If you motor 20 minutes at each end of a sail, and always plug into power
overnight, electric might work. There will come a time when you have to
move the boat with no wind, and then you will be wishing you had internal
combustion!

mike
Rinn Duin #272

On Fri, Oct 14, 2016 at 11:28 AM, Backfin via Public-List <
public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

> Everyone loves the idea of moving to electric propulsion especially in
> light of what we have seen in the auto market. Under the right conditions
> and needs, sure, electric systems work great. But transferring the same
> principles from car to boat don't typically work for those non-ideal
> situations. Pushing a non-planning hull through the water is like pushing a
> prius uphill... all the time. Once accelerated, a prius (and all vehicles
> for that matter) are exceptionally efficient, unlike our Albergs which
> still require the same amount of water to move out of the way for us to
> pass.
>
> Just ask Nigel what propulsion he put in his boat once his Hybrid research
> concluded 2 years ago.
>
> Matt
>
>
>
> > On Oct 14, 2016, at 10:51 AM, Tom Steele via Public-List <
> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> >
> > Yeah, I like the idea of it, but reading through some of the blogs of
> > people who've taken the leap it just seems that there are too many
> > compromises - range, extra consideration given to tide and current and
> > their impact on cruising time/range, etc.
> >
> >> On Fri, Oct 14, 2016 at 7:38 AM, Andrew Johns <johnsab9 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> I seriously looked into the kit provided by this outfit.
> >>
> >> http://www.thunderstruck-ev.com/electric-sailboat-kits-
> >> and-accessories-inboard-motor-ev.html
> >>
> >> While the electric aspect is very enticing... no loud diesel, no fuel or
> >> oil.
> >>
> >> Unfortunately i found it would not work for how we use our boat.
> >>
> >> The storage capacity required for a 5 knot cruise for 3+ hours is
> >> unmanageable with traditional batteries (lithium may be an option).
> >>
> >> The other major drawback was that most systems will eventually overheat
> >> and have very limited range at full power settings. I have had several
> >> occasions ( particularly one three years ago) where I required full
> engine
> >> output for extended periods. A situation where a diesel would happly run
> >> almost indefinitely provided it had enough fuel.
> >>
> >> For me it was best to stay with the diesel. ( or if cost was no object
> go
> >> with a hybrid system)
> >>
> >> http://www.hybrid-marine.co.uk/5.html
> >>
> >> For an application where you required 60min of slow maneuvering in and
> out
> >> of a marina it would be Ideal.
> >>
> >> Good Luck,
> >>
> >>
> >> On Sun, Oct 9, 2016 at 8:09 PM, Jonathan Bresler via Public-List <
> >> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Tom,
> >>>
> >>> A couple of folks have converted to electric.  One example is
> >>> https://sailingintotheblue.wordpress.com/
> >>> One example from their blog is
> >>> https://sailingintotheblue.wordpress.com/2014/01/13/there-
> >>> were-electric-motor-problems-because-of-us/
> >>>
> >>> Jonathan
> >>>
> >>> On Sun, Oct 9, 2016 at 7:43 PM, Wes Gardner via Public-List <
> >>> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Hey Tom,
> >>>>
> >>>> I DIDN'T do it because of cost. I was quoted 12K for a Thoosa system.
> >>> This
> >>>> was with batteries (4 of them) but uninstalled.  Dunno with a
> haul-out,
> >>> new
> >>>> shaft, new prop, fair amount of large gauge wiring, new engine beds
> and
> >>>> some patching up where my old engine panel would have been just what
> the
> >>>> total would be.  They also did a usage analysis for me and if I were
> to
> >>> run
> >>>> flat-out, I'd get one hour of run-time. That killed it for me.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Wes
> >>>>
> >>>>> On Oct 9, 2016, at 3:39 PM, via Public-List
> >>> <public-list at lists.alberg30.
> >>>> org> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I've searched the archives and I see a lot of discussion about the
> >>>> topic, but has anyone actually pulled trigger and gone electric?
> >>> Interested
> >>>> to see some real-world reviews.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Tom Steele
> >>>>> L'Esprit #288
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Jonathan M Bresler
> >>> S/V Constance Alberg 30 #262
> >>> Annapolis/Eastport MD
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> >>
> >>
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