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Had an opportunity to check out a Walker H28 in Cairns. In a strange mod the engine has been replaced by an electric motor. Did not see a huge battery bank, looked like maybe 400 AH setup, but it had a sophisticated charging system for mains (read marina) charging.
The heads area also looks like it was set up to form a 3/4 bunk on the Stbd side.
Access hatches in the cockpit sole make for easy access to the motor. (And to re-fit a diesel).
Apparently been on the market for a while. Has rusty gal standing rigging. i am told that riggers in Cairns are a lot cheaper than down South.
Also told that shipping to Sydney could be as little as $8,000. Compare with shipping from Dampier, which was $18k.
Mate, if electric propulsion motors were viable and economic on yachts, everybody would have them. They are still developmental as they are in cars. I believe most of the Taxis in Bundaberg will not be replacing their current hybrid cars with other hybrids.
If you want to be a pioneer of the technology, go for your life.
For me I believe using my little 660 cc two cylinder Yanmar burning 1.8 litres of diesel per hour and giving me 5.5 knots is quite environmentally responsible in comparison to the hoons (too many of them) with their V8 Falcons, Commodores and Land Cruisers.
2 cents??
IMHO the electric motor is just plain crazy. Even if you were only lake sailing it could be dubious, but for the Barrier Reef, and large tides you need a real motor.
So for this boat you would have to price in a new motor plus new standing rigging as a minimum. Like his anchor winch arrangement though.
