What Do I Need to Know?

How to Get Started?

Contact Form

As an owner of a sailboat with an old Atomic 4 or tired diesel, what do I need to know about electric propulsion?

Sizing and selecting a system.

Think of the electric propulsion as being very quiet, inexpensive to run and more effecient than a diesel or gas systems. The electric system will provide power to the prop at about 160% of diesel and 180% of a gas system. The 100ibl is comparable to a 9hp diesel, the 180ibl comparable to a 15hp diesel, and the 360ibl to a 30hp diesel. The battery selection is critical to allow you to enjoy your particular sailing experience. Finally, there may be a need to re-prop your boat to achieve your best boating experience.

Our clients tell us that their primary reasons to go with electric propulsion were varied and depended on the way they used their boats:

For the day sailor it was an ideal and less expensive option that increased the sailing experience.

For the passage maker, it was a better solution with the addition of alternative power systems such as solar, wind, and a genset.

For the moderate distance coastal sailor the option depended on the sailors time constraints - can you sail with the tides and winds.

What is involved in the conversion from ICE to electric?

Decommissioning of the old system requires safe removal of the engine and decommissioning of the ancillary systems:cooling systems, fuel storage and refill systems, filters and water separators (oil and fuel), blowers, fire suppression, cable control and engine monitoring, and alternator power generation.
Can I do it myself? Maybe. What skills do you have? Be reasonable and with a little help from us or your friends it can be done. You can also hire electrical professionals to install at usually less then a diesel mechanic.
Safe decommissioning can be accomplished in the water. Permanent removal of the through-hulls is recommended at the next time you do a hull out.
Clean up of the years of use of the motor seems to be where most of the major effort is focused. We provide a significantly less expensive way to assist you with this effort than you would find at your local ship yard.

What batteries are best for me?

The batteries should be quality deep cycle batteries. The flooded lead acid batteries are the most proven and economical, requiring more care and attention than others options. The AGM batteries are well suited for sailboats due to being sealed and able to take deeper discharges and are reasonably priced but more expensive than flooded. Lithium Ion batteries are the best systems for your application due to safety, speed of recharge, and life cycle. The downside of Lithium Ion is the initial cost.
Bigger and heavier batteries will give you more Amp Hours. That means more miles. The bigger the battery, the longer the recharge time.
How far do you normally sail? How often do you make longer extended passages? What is the nature of the predominant winds in your geography? These are the issues you must deal with in sizing you systems.

How do I start?

Complete this information so that we can assist you in sizing your system.

Thank you for sharing information about your sailing. We hope to be able to help you understand the possibilities of electric sailing.
Mike and Susan

Contact Information

In this area, please complete information about your boat and propulsion needs. Include contact information and we will respond to you with any additional question to allow us to create predictive performance for you.

Thanks you, Mike and Susan

First Name:

Last Name:

Address Street 1:

Address Street 2:

City:

Zip Code: (5 digits)

State:

Daytime Phone:

Email:

Make/model of boat:

Beam:

Length at Waterline:

Displacement:

propeller/size and # of blades:

Security Code: *

Comments:Nature of winds, currents and your sailing patterns Enter comments here!