Why we want to go for electric propulsion?

In 2022 we sailed from Scheveningen to Brest. There was little wind and we motored quite some miles. Fuel was expensive, and when we paid in Brest the costs for diesel € 500,-, electric propulsion was on our mind again.

If we had more time we would have motored less, but is was a delivery, and people were awaiting our arrival. We were sailing on a Sweden 50, a heavy displacement yacht. On a lighter boat we would have managed sailing more. OK, with less speed, so a little longer.

Our JPK 39 FC is a light displacement boat which sails on 6 Knots of wind. She moves up quicker to her hull speed than any heavy displacement yacht, and with enough downwind, she planes away. A JPK 39 FC is just the perfect yacht to make use of a hydro generator.

We intend to live on our boat and make many miles. Batteries are more expensive then a fuel tank and these additional costs weigh the most in this system. We expect that the extra cost are paid back within three years. Especially due to the fact that we have chosen a drive which can regenerate electricity back to the batteries when sailing.

There are several benefits of electric propulsion. First, it is silent and doesn’t smell. Second, When you use green electricity, there is no carbondioxide exhaust. Third, if there is little wind, and you give the prop a little throttle, it helps the yacht to sail upwind with little energyconsumption, gaining extra efficiency from the wind. Fourth, you can have the motor in stand-by with little costs. A fifth benefit is, when you have the electrical power available, one can swap the gascooker for an induction cooker. In some countries gas bottles are simply not available.

Energy stations everywhere on the ocean

When you have a look at the regeneration, the first benefit is obviously the sustainable free energy, coming from the wind, reducing fuel costs. Second, there are no gas stations on the middle of the ocean. A sailing yacht can’t motor that much. Often you see fuel containers strapped on the deck, to make extra motoring hours possible. Now the benefit of regeneration is, there are ‘energy stations everywhere’ on the ocean, at least when there is wind. You can motor more, making a quicker and safer passage possible, and with less fuel.

Oceanvolt, master in electric propulsion + regeneration

There are many electrical motors on the market, and on boat exhibitions it is all electric now. The combinations with hydrogenenration are less available. Disadvantage of most of the hydrogenerators on the market is, if you want good efficiency, you need prop adjustment for different boat speeds. It means, if you want maximum efficiency you would need to change the prop. Watt &Sea delivers their systems with diffenrent props for different speeds. Does one change them? I don’t believe these systems perform that much on maximum efficiency, simply because the prop pitch is often false.

Oceanvolt has an automated dynamic pitch adjustment. It is a patented system, which has the best efficiency on the market. The motor controller senses a lot of things and monitors the batteries thoroughly.
Batteries are expensive and we don’t want to damage them by doubtable controllers. This is why we have chosen Oceanvolt.