Well Bob from my personal experience I now understand the stuck in the mud thinking of many sailors. Since the time that gasoline inboard engines were understood to be dangerous on sailboats the diesel has been the mainstay of sailboat auxiliary propulsion. You had arrived when you owned a sailboat with a diesel inboard.
Of course, electric propulsion has been around longer than even diesel, but the power requirements had limited its use. With the advent of climate change awareness development of power sources for automobiles became a priority and has led us to the current state of electrical storage. As boaters we have benefited from these new technologies with practical solutions available.
A couple of points that apply to Nonsuches:
- Most engines are original and therefore are 30+ years old. More repairs and fewer parts are an increasing problem for these old diesels.
- After installing an electric propulsion system it will be easy to upgrade the power source as new technology comes along.
When you throw in all the other advantages, it just makes sense. I’m not one to shy away from fixing machinery, but I have a great sense of relief leaving the diesel behind. This old Ludite has had my come uppins.
Ron Weber
N22 Magic Time
Punta Gorda Fl
It’s the quietness that they are not use too. Even the dockhands seem perplexed as you approach much slower than you ever could with a diesel and are able to converse in a normal voice with them.