02/07/10

 E-Pod 3000+ Electric Drive Conversion (Updated after Summer 2009 Cruising the Delta)

Sailing is a beautiful and natural experience that allows us to reconnect with nature and get out of the boxes we all live in today.  However, we all know that the wind does not always blow.  When it does, it seems often to be directly from the direction you want to go. There was a time when schedules were not so important and people would wait for the wind and current to change and allow them to go where they wanted working with nature.... 

However, to be practical you have to get the boat in and out of the marina safely under some form of power and be able to come back in when the wind dies.  Demands on our time from work, family and friends also dictate the boat be able to move as required to get there and back in a reasonable time frame. So I concede that their must be some form of alternative to sails aboard that can move the boat effectively.  Thus the quest for the right solution begins taking in all the current alternatives with the overall goal of the lowest total cost of ownership, best low speed control and least drawbacks. It took me 20 years of searching to conclude that the Gemini is right coastal cruiser for me and I have seen no other boat that is more compelling at this time. So I feel it is worthwhile to improve where I can on the design and consider any changes that make sailing on her more of a pleasure. 

The diesel engine and drive leg are the most obvious issues with the boat based on the owners forum complaints and my own experiences.  I have been looking at all the electric drives available for years hoping that a viable solution presents itself. I have found in practice the electric drive E-Pod 3000+ system is the better alternative.

I will start with the general goals for the project and then get into more details. 

Here are the high level goals/reasons for conversion to an electric powered boat:

There are many questions that come to mind in doing this conversions.  Let me address them one by one directly.

Here is the overall conversion plan: 

1. Haul boat at yard,
2. Take out existing water tanks,
3. Remove Water Heater,
4. Put in there place 8 PC 2250 batteries and anchor them down,
5. Remove 6 year old house bank (4 AGM 6 volt) and put one PC 2250 in its place.
6. Remove engine, drive leg and fuel tanks,
7. Mount the e-pods on the hulls, connect and test,
8. Install outboard motor mount,
9. Have bottom painted,
10. Mount Honda 15 Outboard,
11. Return to Marina,
12. Finish controls and dashboard changes,
13. Install water tanks and water heater,
14. Remove forced air heater and unneeded hoses.

 The E-pods have been installed....here is the log of the install....also I created a Photo Gallery....

 Here are my initial observations about the E-pods....

 Observations after Summer of Cruising with Electric Drives and Honda 15 Outboard...