Electric sailboat pros and cons, Electric sailboats & electric motor yachts are becoming increasingly popular due to their eco-friendliness and low maintenance. Here are some pros and cons of electric sailboats & motor yachts. at SB marine mechanic Our team of skilled professionals is dedicated to providing reliable and durable electric motor systems to suit your needs.
Whether you’re looking to replace a combustion engine or invest in a cutting-edge lithium battery, we have the know-how and resources to help you make the right choice.
PROS of electric sailboat propulsion:
- LESS NOISE & VIBRATION: Electric motors are quieter than diesel engines and nearly vibration free.
- ECO FRIENDLY: Electric sailboats are a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment. if used in tandem with solar power or wind generators.
- LESS MAINTENANCE: electric motors have fewer moving parts & do not require yearly tune-up or oil change.
- LOWER LONG TERM COST: Electric motors last a long time and require no fuel and minimal maintenance. also, electricity is less expensive than diesel.
- INSTANT TORQUE: Electric motors can provide instant torque, meaning more maneuverability and more consistent speeds in heavy seas and headwinds. providing you have enough power.
- REGENERATIVE POWER: Electric systems make it possible to harvest propulsion power from renewable sources such as wind, solar, and hydro regeneration (turning of the propeller while under sail)
- NO EXHAUST OR EMISSIONS: Passengers and crew won’t be exposed to hazardous fumes and particulates of a diesel engine while traveling downwind. You won’t be spewing out carbon pollution. No risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- BETTER FOR THE PLANET: Electric marine motors don’t produce water pollution or produce harmful emissions like carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and hydrocarbon (HC).
weight: normally an electric motor with same horsepower will weigh less than its diesel counterpart. but battery packs are heavy and if you have a diesel generator to charge your batteries even with the weight of diesel fuel. i believe it knocks you into the CONS list. but if the sailboat is outfitted with solar panels or solar sails instead of a diesel generator you probably make it into the PROS list.
CONS of electric sailboat propulsion:
SPACE: electric propulsion with all its components – Electric motors, distribution panel, battery banks, chargers, relays, circuit breakers, battery monitors and all the wiring. take up considerably more space than its diesel counterpart.
LIMITED RANGE: The range of an electric sailboat depends on several factors, such as the size and type of the boat, the battery capacity, the speed, the weather conditions, and the availability of renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind generators.
COST: electric motors are comparable in price to diesel engines in horsepower. but the batteries are expensive. we converted a 41ft Choey Lee to electric with a 60HP motor and needed 6 batteries at $3,800 apiece. Initial cost is probably doubled to installing a diesel engine. but over time you will chip away at that with less maintenance cost & diesel fuel
SPEED: Electrically powered Sailboats & Yachts generally have a lower top speed compared to Diesel powered yachts.
BATTERIES: For a yacht you could very well be paying over $40,000 for a good set of batteries for a electric propulsion system.
FIRE HAZARD: An increasing use of lithium-ion batteries leads to an increased risk for fire. In a report made by the European Union, scientists conclude that a lithium-ion battery fire on board of a ship can be more deadly than a sinking ship. This is because a lithium-ion battery fire is one of the most dangerous and difficult fires to control and extinguish.
CLEAN, QUIET & RELIABLE. Expertly Installed Electric Propulsion for Your Sailing yacht. Here at SB Marine Mechanic, we offer marine electric drive conversions from full on removal of the old engine and its related components, installation of the electric drive systems and batteries - to any stage in between. Electric sailboat pros and cons
