Greetings fellow members,<br><br>It sure is a
confusing task, this e boat business. Just remember, we are
not the first generation of e boaters. <br><br>Lets
look in the "1909 ELCO Catalog" reprint for
inspiration. For a taste of the possible,consider ELCO's 63
foot Electric Cabin Yacht, consisting of " twin-screw
No.26 Electric Power Equipment, having 176 of our
special marine type of batteries. Two motors of 13 HP."
Range was listed as 110 mile at 9.5 mph. A special 1 HP
blower for venting motors increaced power capacity by a
claimed 33%. For those of us who were raised on
"automobile ages hype" those two 13 HP motors simply seem too
small!<br><br>Remember these orginial e boaters had system sizing
figured out. Of course they understood the concept of
hull speed, and did not waste energy making useless
wave. Today a spring loaded throttle, which returns to
the 60% position, and contains an electric shock
device which transmits a shock to the operator after two
minutes of full power operation may be the only education
tool capable of convincing the public to adapt correct
power management! Read Bebes "Voyaging Under Power" for
details on cruise control/ range. Another solution,
limited power loading, as found in the ELCO 14 Serenity,
works inshore. <br><br>Really, somewhere between 1 and
2 HP per ton will achieve hull speed, and then
some! If you are considering sailboat auxilury power
read "The Good Little Ship" by T Gilmer. He seeks
enough power to achieve 5 kts in a calm, make headway in
anything short of a gale. That matches the performance of
a 5 HP Nissan on my J-24 BTW. Course that Nissan
has a silly little prop. The freight canoe which we
solar powered thur the Everglades in 1994 had a power
loading of .45 HP/T, yet worked well in a demanding
route. Of course power loading must be matched to
conditions of intended use. Refer to HP/Ton to express your
answer, and you will be able to compare various
systems.<br><br>We feel the greatest effort should be be directed
toward greater prop E. Morton Rays outboard has a 12"
screw loping along at an estimated 70% E. Thats about
20% better than average.<br><br>Remembe, the early E
boaters did our homework for us. About all they lacked
was PWM control. <br><br>Happy boating,<br>bud
