Heikki wrote:
John C. wrote:

Run it as a generator and use it to charge an oversized bank of batteries.
With an electric motor you will gain variable speed and direction without
have an engineering nightmare.

I have been speculating about a diesel-electric propulsion for a smallish
sailboat. Does anyone have links to, or experience with, small electric
motors that are suitable for continuous use - most of my googling finds bow
thrusters and other extra machinery.

I am thinking of a fairly small engine, say 5-10 Hp, to be used mostly in
manouvering in and out of marinas, and occasionally coming home from a calm
sea. Would it make sense to mount the whole engine on the transom-hung
rudder? That way it could turn with the rudder, and give good steering in
both directions. When not in use, it could be lifted out of the water, so I
could use a decent size of propeller for it.

Would anyone care to shoot the idea down before I get too attached to it.
The whole project is on a dreaming level, I won't be building anything for
the next many years. But I still want to design it as if I was going to
build it some day soon...

BANG! (whistling sound as the idea spirals down in flames :-)

Seriously, if you just want to get in and out of the marina, look for
off-the-shelf electric outboards. But 5-10 hp is probably going to be
hard to find. Check out the following link for more info on electric
boats and gas/diesel electric conversions. Good luck!

http://www.econogics.com/ev/evboats.htm

Keith Hughes

PS. Just for clarity of terminology on the US side of the pond, Electric
= Motor, Gasoline/Diesel/Fuel = Engine.