Well, Bob, electric motors are difficult to translate equivalent internal combustion engines. You could say I've got an 8 horse motor... or you could also say that I've got the torque of a 20 HP inboard. You'd be right either way... I have been working with a guy who was a consultant on a lot of submersible and surface vessels for the Coast Guard, and we'll probably end up swapping props a few times before we really know how the system performs. For what it's worth, though, there's an outfit from the Netherlands that does just this work, and they're installing 6.5KW European motors on hulls up to 33 feet with a good track record. I think that they're represented in the USA by a Wisconsin company, but I couldn't afford the $7K that their system would cost.
I read the BoatUS article about ethanol with some surprise and disappointment. However, in my case I'm installing a new fuel tank and lines, and the generator is being converted with all those problems in mind. Since I'm running straight ethanol, I won't have the separation from gasoline issues. And I've had good luck and experience with ethanol race cars. Mainly, I just wanted a renewable fuel; Rockford is getting a new ethanol plant (although getting them to sell me a drum might be a problem, legally speaking); and I wanted a bigger tank of alcohol for my stove anyway <grin>. Heck, I'm in the midst of corn country and can always distill my own. For the generator. I prefer beer. Or wine. Or tequila. Or rum.
Yo ho ho,
David Shaddock
----- Original Message -----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Monday, July 17, 2006 10:48
Subject: Re: catalina27-talk: Lightning
To: [email protected]
> Fantastic!
> What kind of speed can you achieve?
> (Is my guess correct that you have the equivalent of a 10 hp
> gasoline engine?)
>
> Keep us advised on how things work out.
>
> BoatUS magazine just published an article on the problems that
> boaters are
> seeing with the new EXX fuels - older fiberglass tanks that
> dissolve junk out of
> the fiberglass which then clogs engines, older fuel line
> problems with EXX
> fuel, EXX fuel that seperates out alcohol to absorb water which
> then ends up in
> the bottom of the tank and does corrosion things, etc.
>
> Bob
>
