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Rosalie B.
 
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Default Putting ballast to work

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"Jeff Morris" jeffmo@NoSpam-sv-lokiDOTcom wrote:

"Jim Woodward" wrote in message
om...
A pound of diesel stores the same energy (on a practical basis -- not
the 20 hour rating capacity) as 200 pounds of lead acid battery.
That's why there aren't more electric boats and cars.


There are lots of electric boats. But they are a bit specialized. It wouldn't surprise
me if there were more electric trolling boats than cruising sailboats!


And don't forget submarines, which before nuclear power were diesel
electric.

Also, there are a growing number of electric auxiliaries installed on club trainers and
other small boats. And companies are now offer small diesel electric setups - handy for
catamarans to drive two motors from one genset.

One of these days there will be a major breakthrough that makes battery power much more
feasible. If only Moore's Law applied to battery technology!

-jeff


grandma Rosalie