Kevin A Wright
Member III
On paper the Beta 30 should fit, but I know I need to get down to the boat and to exact measurements referenced off the drive shaft and engine bed. Engine compartment is pretty roomy on the 35 - 3. The Beta 30 is actually 3 inches narrower than my existing M25, but it is also not centered on the drive shaft, being 2" wider on the port side than the stbd. Height / depth is comparable and length is one inch longer. But again, need to get the details right. Also a Beta 30 is only 15# heavier than the M25. If needed I can shift a grandchild to balance the boat. But if it doesn't, the M25 is really only rated at 21hp, so a Beta 25 would still be some improvement.
On the electric question I think it really depends on how you sail. If you are going out for day sails on the bay or hopping from marina to marina it makes sense. But the reason I have a boat is so I can go where people (and facilities) aren't. They've improved the energy density of storage batteries greatly in the last 10 years. But it's not even remotely close to what you get with a gallon of carbon bonds waiting to be broken. When batteries get to the storage level of a lightsaber, I'm all in.
On the electric question I think it really depends on how you sail. If you are going out for day sails on the bay or hopping from marina to marina it makes sense. But the reason I have a boat is so I can go where people (and facilities) aren't. They've improved the energy density of storage batteries greatly in the last 10 years. But it's not even remotely close to what you get with a gallon of carbon bonds waiting to be broken. When batteries get to the storage level of a lightsaber, I'm all in.