electric conversion?

[StreetSinger]

This is TOTALLY an idle thought... but would it be possible to convert an R21EC into an electric vessel with something like a torqeedo motor? With a solar panel array on a canopy over the cockpit? I don’t know a thing about i, just wondered if such a conversion would be feasible, and/or if one would even want to do it.

 

[39SiB]

Funny, I was having this exact same idle thought last night. I was imagining the R21EC with a hard bimini and four 320w panels on top with an Elco EP-40 electric inboard motor in place of the diesel. Not sure about batteries. Perhaps four 100 Ah lithium batteries? +/- small generator for AC and for charging batteries if cloudy. The engine compartment seems like an even trade. Not sure about battery placement.
Was also wondering about feasibility of cassette toilet under hard bimini with roll up vented canvas walls instead of marine head under the bed?
Has anyone performed an electric conversion on a different Ranger model?

 

[Bruce Moore]

Check out: 21′ Fluid Motion Martini Electric Launch

 

[Redtug]

I went down this rabbit hole last winter for another boat to see what was out there.
Check out Elco, https://www.elcomotoryachts.com/.
Good information and general cost on the motor/battery side. Charging would be a whole other adventure to go solar.
Keep us posted if you get bored this winter and start fabricating.

 

[GaylesFaerie]

I checked out Electric Yacht about converting my R27. Here is the response I got:

Thank you for contacting us. We believe strongly in electric propulsion but you should be aware that in most cases, a traditional powerboat may not a good choice for our electric only propulsion. Electric Yacht systems are limited to 60kw which is about the power level of an 80hp diesel. Your speed would be limited to hull speed and range likely about 30NM.

Mike Gunning
Director of Sales
Electric Yacht
626 298 2262
855 339 2248 x 1
mike@electricyacht.com
https://electricyacht.com

So looks like a more powerful motor is needed which will need plenty of battery power, which will probably need lots of space which may necessitate the need to remove the gas tank, and wait, WHAT? Seems like it would be a big costly effort. Probably best designed and built from the ground up. GF

 

[bob daily]

Diesel electric drive for marine use has been around since 1903, Siemens Marine Solutions has developed some units for pleasure crafts, though there are other companies that also make them.
A quick search on the internet and you will find the information which is impressive and I don't know why more boat builders don't have them as a option. The cost is no more than a conventional power plant, the life of the system is far above a regular system. No need for a generator and electrical power is unlimited.
DBF. Bob

 

[Tippetknot]

Imo the math just doesn’t add up. Consider that one horsepower is equivalent to 746 watts. A bunch of solar panels on your boat may produce 500-1,000 watts on a sunny day. So what you have then is a pretty heavy boat with a 1.5 hp motor capability…..on a sunny day. Enter the batteries. A 100ah Lithium battery could supply 1,200 watts for an hour if you really flogged and abused it. So less than 2 hp for an hour. A passel of them would get you a few hp for a bit of time. But pretty pathetic really, compared to a gallon of diesel or gasoline.

Phil
BSEE


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[39SiB]

While the majority of gas/diesel powered boats would make for a difficult conversion, the R-21EC might work. Since it has a 30hp engine and a relatively large cockpit compared to the size of the boat that could handle solar panels and given electric motors that offer similar power have costs in the same ballpark as diesels, it's a maybe. Perhaps the engineering team at Ranger would consider restarting production with a future R21-eEC model?

 

[skultuggery]

I am not holding out much hope that the "engineering team" at Ranger will attempt to integrate an electric power plant into their designs. That would take visionary thinking as well as a willingness to steer profits away from the family bank account to the future seafarers who are committed to low carbon emissions. If you want to learn about such a tug building company, research Crowley Maritime Corp.

 

[bob daily]

Diesel electric is the way to go! Small diesel power for generator, powering a electric motor! Economically the best of both systems! Hybrid cars use them! Trains have been using this system, and ships have been using diesel electric for over a century They are available for pleasure craft but not very common. Bob

 

[Bruce Moore]

Greenline Yachts have a nice line of e-drive and hybrid propulsion systems (using VP diesels). Nice boats. This page shows how each propulsion system works, with some nice animations.

Cheers,

Bruce