Converting to Electric

As I read all of the issues that everyone manages with Diesel engines. I have 2 words. GO ELECTRIC. Now that I am doing it ...I am SHOCKED at the realization of the dozens of maintenance issues/ items that are completely eliminated by removing the diesel engine. Not to mention the environmentally toxic elements!! For the vast majority of casual / day sailors it simply makes no sense to keep a diesel engine when this alternative exists. The aggravation of constant maintenance and expense as well as unreliability overall on an older sailboat relying on multiple systems to properly work is enough to convert to Electric. I am in the process of installing the Thunderstruck 10 kw motor (4k + t/s) and 2 LITIME lifepo4 48v 100 ah batteries / charger (2500). Labor around 3k. Peace of mind: worth EVERY PENNY TWICE OVER!
No more fuel, oil, seawater, coolant, annual service, heat exchanger, water filters, engine zincs, raw water strainer, muffler, hoses, transmission and a million other issues that come with original systems. The water heater rusted out a while ago and replaced with low volt 110 plug in. I pulled the black tank etal and converted to simple compost system long ago. I also pulled the range to remove propane except for outside bbq.
Focus is to daysail with light coastal sails. Yes, generator, wind, solar can all be additional options if needed...but after just 2 years of "basic boat maintenance...ie: BOAT"... imagine a life with none of that!!! , AMAZING! SV Mariah | Ericson 32-200 San Diego

Glad you're happy with your choices. Searching this site will find quite a few Very Happy Ericson owners with electric conversions and a lot of info about the how and the why of their projects.

It appears the system isn’t installed in your boat yet??

If you are running a standard household (tankless?) water heater on a boat, don't be surprised when something goes seriously wrong--electrocution, CO poisoning, and issues with the tank itself are all realistic possibilities, which are prevented by adhering to ABYC guidelines.

Electric propulsion is nice, but it is not really practicable for extended cruising on small boats--even with modern battery tech. I once knew a Youtube couple who installed like 10 lifepo4 batteries and electric propulsion on their boat: after a short passage beating into the wind with the motor, the system failed at the worst time due to an overcurrent or battery depletion (I forget) condition and left them aground off a shallow channel. After one more short passage, they ended up removing all of the batteries and the electric engine, before giving the boat away and selling all of the high-tech gear that did not work at all for their older 32' boat. I do think an Ericson 32 would be a better/more efficient design.

This was them--apparently a diesel ended up going back in the boat for the next owner anyway! I personally would never buy a user-modified electric sailboat:


Either way, best of luck--and I encourage you to research/implement the proper standards while undertaking such endeavors--but you don't have to reinvent the wheel to be successful sailing/cruising!

Hi Bless,
Sounds like you have chosen a good system for your boat. The motor KW rating (10) should be good but a touch on the low side.10kw is way more than you will need 95% of the time but on occasion you may want more power for convenience.

I have a 5kw motor on my e27 and it has given me mostly trouble free operation for 18 years. Having moved from Santa Cruz to Newport Oregon a few years ago the sailing venue is very different and I would probably install a 10kw motor if I were doing it again. The times I think about more power is in a strong headwind and current on the nose. Most of my sailing here is small bay/river sailing so not a lot of space to tack in those conditions. I've never had any issues other than wishing I was going faster. Sailing in the ocean is much easier ;-).

Have you done any research on props? That is the trickiest part of the system in my view and is driven by the way you will use the boat. I like watching the battery voltage climb as I'm sailing (regen) so I have a large aggressively pitched prop. A prop with slightly less pitch might give me better performance but the 13x13 fixed three blade works fine.

Good luck with your install and keep us up to date on your progress. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions.

For real-world experience with an electric conversion in an Ericson, read thru the threads from site member

p.gazibara​

His experience shows that extended cruising is possible with an electric auxiliary, albeit with a design that sails very very well.

Also study the YouTube experience of Sailing Uma, who have upgraded step-by-step from makeshift electric to state of the art.

Eventually (maybe), having a diesel aux power in a sailboat will be like, well, having sails on a boat—unpractical, and full of headaches, but we still love it.