For some reason or other, the idea of pulling out the raw-water cooled Yanmar 3HM and replacing it with an affordable, minimal electric propulsion system keeps playing around my thoughts.
Having spent a bunch of years developing a variety of electric propulsion installations on our CAL 34, I do have some experience but came to the conclusion that a 6HP outboard actually made more sense on just about every level. Being that the Islander is a bit bigger and heavier, I’d need a bit more oomph. While a 9.9/15 HP outboard would fulfill all but two of my wants, having an outboard on the transom is just too fugly to consider and the only way around that would be an outboard well which I can’t really get my head around.
Hence my thinking about electric propulsion again.
So, here’s my want list for an electric propulsion system for our Islander 36…
- Capable of transiting the Panama Canal
- Simple
- Affordable
- Solar charging without becoming a solar farm
So far wrangling those elements seems harder than solving Goldbach’s Conjecture but, just maybe, there’s a way to sort out the electric propulsion conundrum. Anyway, it does keep me busy and you never know I might even work something out. On the other hand, anyone know of a good online course in diesel engine mechanics?
Oh yeah, here’s an amazing map I could get lost in…
Can you define affordable? Different for everyone. I have 2 spare water pump electric motors that i have been considering using for an installation. By the time I add up the cost of batteries, cables and controllers, suddenly an outboard looks more logical.
A friend has been using a cheap 3hp China diesel in his open boat connected to a shaft with a belt, its a bit noisy, but seems to run on fumes, he uses that to get to the fishing spots, then uses a 12v trolling motor, which left him stranded a few times and a long row.
I dont see you charging a sufficient battery bank without lots of panels, almost everyone carries a back-up generator anyway.
Clean fuel in the Yanmar and check the exhaust elbow for sooting, not much to stop them apart from neglect and cold running.