My dock neighbor is doing this. While I understand the appeal conceptually it seems to me that the numbers don't quite add up with a conversion. The cost of the conversion is very high. Too high to make sense economically. The range of the motor under power is not that great. The upside is that the batteries can be recharged anywhere (for cruisers) and the motor is low maintenance. I can also see the appeal for weekend sailors in the ease of use of a motor. With all that said it is very expensive. Also, beware who you get to do the conversion for you. This is a fairly new thing and there are folks out there who do not really know what they are doing.
Converting from diesel engine to electric motor
- Thread starter jr22553
- Start date
I think the best approach would be electric drive and batteries, but would need to have a installed generator to fire up and charge the batteries still. This is an option with new sail boats and when my wife learned she could have AC and Heat with a genset on the 440 she was sold on the option that was 'required' for her to cruise in out retirement.
How about fitting cycling/leg cranking dynamo to charge batteries? One gets to exercise for a Green cause or till face goes green.
Ken Y
And if you eat beef to satisfy the hunger from all of that exercise, the cow farts will cause the ice caps to melt and...How about fitting cycling/leg cranking dynamo to charge batteries? One gets to exercise for a Green cause or till face goes green.
Ken Y
But in all seriousness, I'm back to the question I asked in post #16.