PROPULSION MARINE

Energy solutions for your boat  

Home
Up

Electric Propulsion

Having an electric boat you develop an appreciation to the forces of energy that exist naturally.     A boat is the perfect platform to harness natural energy from.   Natural Energy is abundant in the ocean.    Lots of wind and lots of solar.    And these two sources of energy complement each other quite well.      So why do we require a fossil fuel on board our boats.   Well the answer is simple.   We don't, this technology is available now for the first time. 

Boats can now become perpetual motion machines.    Due to advances in energy management, a sailboat is now capable of producing more energy than most sailboat owners require, naturally.

Advanced controller technology and CNC designed propellors have made electric propulsion two to three times more efficient than previously possible.   For example, to propel a Catalina 30 in calm conditions at 3 knots only requires 600 watts of energy, easily produced by 3 solar panels.

The other great advancement is energy created from the propeller.   Modern day electronics are far more efficient than transformers  and can accurate make and deliver power for battery charging from the propeller turning under sail or from a current.  

Battery packs weigh less and are smaller with far greater amounts of energy in them.   Kapowai, a Catalina 30 now has range of 80 miles at 3 knots, 40 miles at 4 knots and 20 miles at 5 knots.   That is more than enough energy for Channel Island Adventuring, especially considering the boat is charging all the time too.

If you decide to go cruising I will recommend a diesel electric generator to compliment your electric drive.    This will allow continuous motoring, well until you run out of diesel, solar and wind energy that is!   Yes the hybrid boat is the ultimate survival machine cause you can never really be caught without energy!   The hybrid boat is an energy sponge, capable of harnessing it any way possible.   Now that is the ultimate redundancy for your propulsion needs.

For more information, please type the following email address in your email program or call 805 455 8444