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Diesel to Electric Outboard Motor Conversion - Cape Dory 36 Refit Part 2
February 23, 2023 · 26 min · 12K views
What this video covers
A Cape Dory 36 undergoes a complete propulsion and steering refit, replacing a 450-pound Perkins 4108 inboard diesel with an E-Propulsion Navy Evo 6.0 electric outboard and a backup 9.8-horsepower Tohatsu gas motor. The conversion requires removing the binnacle and wheel steering in favor of a tiller, which improves cockpit space and simplifies wind vane integration. The project involves cutting a new motor well into the transom, installing a watertight rudder shaft locker, and re-sloping the cockpit floor to drain aft. To compensate for the 850 pounds of removed equipment, 200 pounds of lead ballast are added to the aft bilge to maintain proper trim and keep the outboard propeller submerged. The refit includes fiberglassing new structural supports, installing drainage tubes, and wiring a 48-volt battery system with regeneration capabilities. The boat is hauled at Two Way Boat Yard near Brunswick, Georgia, for hull work, including closing old seacocks and fairing the rudder aperture. Replacing heavy inboard machinery with outboard power requires careful weight management and structural reinforcement to maintain boat trim and hull integrity.
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