I've mentioned before in this blog my frustration with the Atomic 4 engine that On the Brink was originally provided. The engine simply was not reliable enough for us to enjoy sailing; I was always afraid that it wouldn't start and we would be stuck out on the lake no way back in an emergency. Doing the research on replacement led me to understand that a new A4 or similar engine would run in the range of $8,000, way too much for me to drop without my wife having a heart attack. Needing another solution
I kept researching and eventually discovered a relatively small but growing group of sailboat owners converting their late model boats over to electric motors. It appeared that there was a sweet spot in sizes. Boats smaller than 22' typically didn't have the ability to carry sufficient batteries to realistically use an electric engine. The cost for these systems ran anywhere from $1,500 and $8,000 not including batteries for a boat my size.
This great difference in price is the result of the different approaches to implementation. After my experience and research I typically put electric con versions in three categories:
1) Turn Key Systems - a quick google search will turn up several companies some with quite a long history of electric boats dating back more than a century. These companies offer turn-key solutions and will custom design, procure and install an electric motor into your sailboat for you. It appeared to me to almost be a menu type approach and for someone who just wants to get out and sail is an excellent choice. The systems are well engineered and are therefore reliable and beautiful to behold once installed. On the downside is cost, running anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000 a turnkey electric solution is similar in cost to a new diesel and would not work for me.
2) Kit Systems - A little further down in the google search you will find another handful of companies offering kits to convert your sailboat over to electric. Kits include everything you need and can even be pre-engineered to your needs. You simply order what you need and a box with all of the parts arrives on your doorstep for you to install. I got the feeling that this was the most common route for a budget sailor. Many of these kits are even sold by the same companies offering turn-key systems are are very high quality. The quality of product and level of engineering is highly dependant upon how much you are willing to spend; typically in the $3,000-$6,000 range.
3) DIY Systems - In the bargain barrel lie the DIY systems, this is where I did my shopping. One can find a variety of parts and pieces that makeup the more refined kit and turn key system. In order to sort through all of the information I looked at what the pre-engineered systems consisted of most typically and found some common themes; a 5kw motor and matched controller, a reduction drive and motor mount to hold it all together. Before I purchased anything I poured over information and researched as much as I could; I needed to make sure that I engineered a system that would be reliable and the cost would be kept to a minimum. Every choice was a compromise and is the subject of another post. In the end I went with the DIY route and never looked back.
I hope to start a series of posts detailing my engineering decisions, materials, costs and resources for others to use to advise their own designs so stay tuned.
