The all Electric Sailboat.

[s/v Beth]

I wonder if we could design a sailboat that just used electricity and wind power. Two small generators (one on each side of the transom) could provide axillary power when needed to get into port and for maneuverability when docking. Vertical wind generator immediately forward of the mast, and solar along with slow gen propeller power that would fire up with the change in tides.
Down below would be inverter with microwave, efficient frig and a small stove top and oven.
LED throughout. Heating would be the most difficult- probably just a small heating pad under the blankets. (or more blankets).
The lead keel might be half lead batteries, or at least lots of lithium.
Has anyone done this?

[deckofficer]

Newt,

How about no sails, Atlantic crossing speed of 5.5 kt average?
transatlantic21: Boat

[SkiprJohn]

My friend's Aries 32 was converted to all electric. No vertical wind turbines though. His boat generated power through the prop when he was sailing. Everything else was electric. He had solar panels and a propeller wind turbine. He loved it and did a good job but sold it after his 2nd try to get to the Tuamotus from Hawaii.

[s/v Beth]

What stopped his voyage John? Bob- love it, but I just can't do without the sails!

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

What stopped his voyage John? Bob- love it, but I just can't do without the sails!

No sails, guess you won't like this one either.
Boat - SolarWave

[sy_gilana]

I remember the Cousteau foundation doing something like this, the boat was called Calypso II or Alcyone, it had to vertical axis turbines , charged batteries, and ran motors. I remember they ran out of money and the boat was in Cape Town for ages rotting away. A shame really. Maybe search the 'net for links...

[deckofficer]

Mike,

Is Liz still sailing on her license on the mega yachts?

[Andrew Troup]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

Newt,

How about no sails, Atlantic crossing speed of 5.5 kt average?
transatlantic21: Boat

Thirty days from Lanzarote to Martinique: 5000km (2700 nm) - don't see how they claim 5.5 knots out of that?

I make it 3.75 knots (90mpd). Heck, Boatie can manage that on a smaller cat, working bankers' hours

Still an achievement, but it's a shame they felt they had to over-egg the pudding.

And the area of the solar panel it needed - a bit sobering, even considering the advances in efficiency since it was built, given the high angle, regular sun of those latitudes.

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by Andrew Troup

Thirty days from Lanzarote to Martinique: 5000km (2700 nm) - don't see how they claim 5.5 knots out of that?

I make it 3.75 knots (90mpd). Heck, Boatie can manage that on a smaller cat, working bankers' hours

Still an achievement, but it's a shame they felt they had to over-egg the pudding.

And the area of the solar panel it needed - a bit sobering, even considering the advances in efficiency since it was built, given the high angle, regular sun of those latitudes.

I know, I sometimes emblish things I'm passionate about. On a plus note the cat is a former 60 pax heavy commericial boat and they used heavy lead acid batteries. With the same 10 kw of panels on a lighter more efficient hull and lithium batteries I believe it could do 5.5 kt, 24/7.

[nimblemotors]

>>I wonder if we could design a sailboat that just used electricity and wind power.

As been discussed often, there are many sailboats without engines!
A monohull replacing its dead-weight ballast with batteries is a 'no-brainer' to me,
but they really don't build new ones much anymore do they?
So they are all old ones, and this would be a massive rebuild project.

I think the better approach is the one I'm taking of building a multihull that doesn't need the ballast, and no sails either, just lots of solar panels and wind generators, but maybe a kite/parachute for downwind only.
To be able to use sails, a huge amount of parts and complexity is required, just not worth it.

[Andrew Troup]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

I know, I sometimes emblish things I'm passionate about. On a plus note the cat is a former 60 pax heavy commericial boat and they used heavy lead acid batteries. With the same 10 kw of panels on a lighter more efficient hull and lithium batteries I believe it could do 5.5 kt, 24/7.

well, don't be too hard on yourself; I can see where you could justifiably have formed that impression, because under the tab "Boat", they claimed

"The boat is equipped with solar modules, batteries and motors allowing a constant speed of 5–6 knots (10–12 km/h) 24 hours a day, equivalent to the average speed of sailing yachts."

Hence me accusing them, not you, of over-egging the pudding

[s/v Beth]

They are still building monos, but I think a cat or a tri would be a better approach. A tri with three motors/generators would be sweet. With all the electric conveniences in the middle hull. The off crew could watch movies in refrigerated air conditioned comfort...

[roetter]

I have done a tiny step towards it. Our cat has 1.8kW solar, 1400Ah lithium, no generator. For 4 months living on it we never used the engies to charge the batteries and we like our little luxuries. Main energy hogs are.
- 2 fridges
- 1 freezer 105qt
- micro wave
- automatic cappucino maker
- table top ice maker
- water maker
- standard washing machine (LG WM1355)
- electric hot water tank

One week we ran the water maker for over 20 hours to generate enough water for proper cleaning of the boat before we put it into storage.

[deckofficer]

As JackB mentioned, I also like the idea of a deployable kite for downwind runs. Get that kite up to the altitude where winds are stronger, like 100 meters.

[s/v Beth]

Have they been trying the kite in low wind situations? How has it done?