Is Electric Outboard Power feasible for a Chebacco?
Gil Fitzhugh wrote to Phil Bolger and Friends – Dear PCB&F, . . . I’ve been intrigued by ‘Lily’ [the electric launch] and saw her or a sister ship at St Michael’s last month. I’m not looking to build or own a power boat, but I’d welcome your views about whether the newest electric outboards with a modest number of batteries would provide reasonable auxiliary power for a Chebacco. I shouldn’t think I’d need to motor more than 3 hours between charges – usually less, since I wouldn’t go anywhere far in a Chebacco if I couldn’t anticipate reasonable sailing – and maybe a couple of solar panels on the cabin roof (or deck house) would replace, during a day’s sail, what I’d used up motoring out of harbor in the morning. Otherwise, I figure a 5-horse Honda 4-stroke would be the next-most environmentally friendly source of adequate power. Thoughts? Best regards, Gil Fitzhugh PCB&F replied – Dear Gil, . . . On your E-power idea, the matter is straightforward and viable for the milder duty cycle
