Jonathan Ganz wrote:

In article ,
wrote:

http://www.cata-lagoon.com/420_pres_uk.php

Does this make a lot of sense ?

I like the idea of using the propellers to charge the
batteries while under sail but the extra batteries make
the boat heavy (heavier than a Beneteau 473) and can
only run the motors for 2 hours.

Are there other production sailboats built this way ?

I believe more are starting to do this... don't recall the details.

Might be greater weight, but it's more evenly distributed I would
think.

I believe solomon technologies (for one) offers several options as far
as output of the electric motors. There might be a design that would
last a bit longer than 2 hours running the motors. I believe at least
a couple of boats have cross the Atlantic with these type of engines.

They are pretty environmentally friendly, except for battery
replacement issues.


More batteries. Fewer diesel engines. If you need to motor for more than
two hours then you run on diesel electric - on the single generator.

However, if the wind is blowing. Motor out, quietly. Hoist the sails and
but all that juice back into the batteries. Charge your house batteries
too. At the end of your passage, just motor into your anchorage fully
charged.




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