Atom Voyagervideo
Electric VS Gas Outboard Sea Trials Cape Dory 36 Refit Part 4
July 11, 2023 · 21 min · 15K views
What this video covers
A Cape Dory 36 refit project compares the performance of a Tohatsu 9.8-hp gas outboard against an ePropulsion electric outboard. The gas motor achieves a top speed of 5.9 knots in calm water, while the electric motor reaches 5.7 knots at 6,000 watts.7:34 The electric system includes a 175-amp-hour, 48-volt lithium-ion phosphate battery, which requires manual reactivation every 24 hours to prevent automatic shutdown.15:35 Installation challenges for the electric motor included fabricating a wedge-shaped adapter bracket for vertical tilt and machining the propeller slot with a Dremel tool to fit the retaining pin.11:48 Regeneration testing under sail yielded 100 watts, significantly lower than the manufacturer's 400-watt claim.13:32 The electrical setup features dual 400-watt solar panels routed through independent MPPT controllers to charge both the 48-volt propulsion bank and a 12-volt house bank.18:17 The owner uses a custom cover board system with a one-way flap valve to reduce turbulence and water ingress through the motor well while underway.5:28
Boats in this video
More from Atom Voyager
From Atom Voyager — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.