Inboard engines and a changing world

[JBP]

Originally Posted by mako

Were boats more impatient back in 2019 when this thread was started?

Anyway, it is interesting to see a 3-1/2 year of thread about technology revived, and to compare to today's world.

I'm impressed by the changes we've seen in the last several years. It used to be electric propulsion was difficult, expensive, and branded you as a freak and enemy of the people. Now it is a factory option on new boats, there are lots of off the shelf repower systems available, and is isn't unusual to see electric propulsion.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by JBP

I'm impressed by the changes we've seen in the last several years. It used to be electric propulsion was difficult, expensive, and branded you as a freak and enemy of the people. Now it is a factory option on new boats, there are lots of off the shelf repower systems available, and is isn't unusual to see electric propulsion.

But still to expensive to replace a diesel with. The batteries need to catch up wrt energy density .

[JBP]

Originally Posted by newhaul

But still to expensive to replace a diesel with. The batteries need to catch up wrt energy density .

Yes, if you're diesel is working. If you are forced to repower, the diesel vs electric price is a lot closer. Close enough to make it perfectly reasonable to choose based on your need rather than outrageous price differences.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by JBP

Yes, if you're diesel is working. If you are forced to repower, the diesel vs electric price is a lot closer. Close enough to make it perfectly reasonable to choose based on your need rather than outrageous price differences.

Not really when you actually calculate the total cost of the conversion . Don't forget how are you going to replace the power used .

The charger as well don't forget to upgrade the ac grid on the boat to support it.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by JBP

Yes, if you're diesel is working. If you are forced to repower, the diesel vs electric price is a lot closer. Close enough to make it perfectly reasonable to choose based on your need rather than outrageous price differences.

Let's see a 40hp yanmar is $5,500
Yanmar 3JH40 40 HP Diesel Inboard Engine

A 40hp electric motor is $14,000
https://www.elcomotoryachts.com/shop...-inboard/#gref
Plus the battery bank to run it .
Still don't see the similarity in cost to install .

Recommended AGM battery is $4,500
Charger for it is $900
( just quick Google)

[Adelie]

For the boats I would consider buying, if the ICE was dead I’d replace it with a 10kW electric, a bunch of Trojan FLA solar batteries, a bunch or solar and a high thrust outboard so I could make a schedule if I really needed to.

Based on previous research for replacement of an Atomic-4 weight and cost would be about even.

[JBP]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Let's see a 40hp yanmar is $5,500
Yanmar 3JH40 40 HP Diesel Inboard Engine

A 40hp electric motor is $14,000
https://www.elcomotoryachts.com/shop...-inboard/#gref
Plus the battery bank to run it .
Still don't see the similarity in cost to install .

Recommended AGM battery is $4,500
Charger for it is $900
( just quick Google)

Sure, everyone's situation will be different and there are certainly situations like you describe where the cost difference is still substantial, but there ARE many people for whom the cost difference is no longer the insurmountable issue it once was. Many people are choosing to repower with electric, which you did not see until the last several years. It is now perfectly reasonable for someone to consider if electric is the right choice for them, whereas only a few years ago it was pretty rare.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Adelie

For the boats I would consider buying, if the ICE was dead I’d replace it with a 10kW electric, a bunch of Trojan FLA solar batteries, a bunch or solar and a high thrust outboard so I could make a schedule if I really needed to.

Based on previous research for replacement of an Atomic-4 weight and cost would be about even.

Yes but your not moving a 20k 42 ft full keel spencer or similar with a 10kw electric motor .
Next where on my 29 ( came with the atomic a4) are you going to place the 48 volt 100ah Trojan battery bank ? How are you charging g it ?
Not saying it's not possible but do you want to give up the storage space ?

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by JBP

Sure, everyone's situation will be different and there are certainly situations like you describe where the cost difference is still substantial, but there ARE many people for whom the cost difference is no longer the insurmountable issue it once was. Many people are choosing to repower with electric, which you did not see until the last several years. It is now perfectly reasonable for someone to consider if electric is the right choice for them, whereas only a few years ago it was pretty rare.

Just picked the numbers hp wise for a 40ft or so sailboat

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Yes but your not moving a 20k 42 ft full keel spencer or similar with a 10kw electric motor .
Next where on my 29 ( came with the atomic a4) are you going to place the 48 volt 100ah Trojan battery bank ? How are you charging g it ?
Not saying it's not possible but do you want to give up the storage space ?

10kW motor & 200Ahr @ 48v of Trojans fits where the A4 and fuel tank were and weigh a bit less.
Solar on a stern arch, bimini and dodger.

I'm fine with the visuals of that much solar, some people aren't. Fine, stay with diesel.

A 10kW electric motor will move a Spencer 42 at 5.5-6.5kt.
A 10hp high thrust outboard will push it 5.0-6.0kt.
Together 8kt hull speed as long as the batteries hold out.
If you are trying to buck a headwind and seas you should be sailing or motorsailing.
If you are bucking a tide, either accept what speed you can make or time your passage to minimize tidal effects.

If you can't accept having to accept the speed you can make or scheduling around a tide, stay with the diesel.

[MicHughV]

There remains a misconception for most people that electricity comes out of a plug on the wall.

People forget that it requires enormous electrical power stations to provide this magic juice. More EV's means bigger and larger power stations, which will require bigger and more juice to run them, be it gas, coal, nuclear...etc....

The conflict in Ukraine show just how tenuous keeping an electrical power grid in operation can be. Fuel tankers, land and sea, are at least mobile.

Furthermore, the giant ships that ply our oceans, require enormous diesel power and enormous fuel capacity to run them. Same can be said for aircraft jet engines. Not to mention the gazillion outboard motors out there, all well known fuel guzzlers

Like it or not, diesel and gas will remain in our future for a long time yet.

Nice to see strides being made in the auto EV world, but at this point in time, a mere blip on the horizon.

[malbert73]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Let's see a 40hp yanmar is $5,500

Yanmar 3JH40 40 HP Diesel Inboard Engine



A 40hp electric motor is $14,000

https://www.elcomotoryachts.com/shop...-inboard/#gref

Plus the battery bank to run it .

Still don't see the similarity in cost to install .



Recommended AGM battery is $4,500

Charger for it is $900

( just quick Google)

Ok that’s a shady site in Indonesia. There have been other threads on that. That Yanmar will be about double I am guessing if buying locally and reputably.
But still, I agree that repowering with diesel is still cheaper than with electric for most.
And, the use case is different. In general be prepared to sail or wait for any distances. Not for light wind venues

[pcmm]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Let's see a 40hp yanmar is $5,500
Yanmar 3JH40 40 HP Diesel Inboard Engine


( just quick Google)

I've never seen a 40hp NEW yanmar from a reputable dealer for that cheap, you can barely get a rebuilt one for that price. you're link is to some Indonesian company...

[Cheyne]

I just repowered my Cat with two 3JH40's and SD60 sail drives. The cost was $43k for the pair of engines and sail drives from Mack Boring.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by pcmm

I've never seen a 40hp NEW yanmar from a reputable dealer for that cheap, you can barely get a rebuilt one for that price. you're link is to some Indonesian company...

Just quick Google for that one . Found a dealer in e gland New one for 8k but with British tarrifs I can see the price difference