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Electric motor fails to
perform
Vancouver winter 2008 2009
Engine Conversion Project
Sometimes
things work out different than planned. That was the case last winter when
we hauled the Ar Seiz Avel for a demonstration conversion project. The
plan was to add electric propulsion to the existing
 diesel
power plant. After extensive research we choose to purchase a 10kw POD
electric motor from Bellman in the Netherlands. After a 5wk delayed
delivery the motor finally arrived in Vancouver. Full of anticipation
we inspected this beautiful looking underwater motor.
 Upon close inspection we concluded this motor showed some serious flaws in the design and I felt that installing the motor on the Ar Seiz Avel would
compromise the seaworthiness of the vessel. So the tough decision was made
to not install this motor and to return it to the
dealer in the Netherlands.
While we made preparations to build 2 battery banks for the electric motor
we had to remove 1 diesel and 2 water tanks. |
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As we where
working in the bilge we discovered that the concrete in the bilge
underneath these tanks was rather moist...so we drilled right into that to
discover that the whole we had drilled filled with water right away .....aaagh!.
The only logical conclusion was that water
was
 trapped
inside the concrete. Let me assure you it is a strange thing to do
JACKHAMMERING concrete inside the boat.
And......you have to be very care full not to damage the hull doing it.
Dean and I removed at least 15 baskets of soaking
wet concrete and about 500lb of lead ingots that
where cemented in the concrete.
Who knows how long this wet situation had prevailed in these
bilges. We got lucky because....the boat which
is made of cold molded durable wood that was used
in the 70th had survived this ill water treatment with flying colours and
very little damage had occurred. Next step was to dry the bilges over a
month long period, treat the hull 3x with penetrating epoxy after which we
fibreglasses everything before re installing all 3 tanks again.
So in
conclusion we can say "that in spite the fact that" we have no electric
propulsion on the boat as YET we managed to discover and treat this rotten
tooth deep inside the heart of the boat and that is fantastic!
The support we received from friends and ESP directors has been absolutely
a wonderful experience and very helpful.
thank
you so much!
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Ar
Seiz Avel to be
converted with green technologies!
Winter
/ Spring 2009 2010
The Electric Sailing Project is initiating a new
conversion demonstration project. We are refitting this custom design 42ft offshore sailing
vessel with modern............
Green and Sustainable Technologies.
Our goal is to promote sustainable boating.
While using these green technologies we like to share our practical experience
with other boaters. Therefore we will publish regular updates, and give feed
back on the systems used onboard.
We will also share our research as we will keep a keen eye on new
developments as time goes by.
For this project we will use exclusively existing over the counter available technologies.
We will approach each manufacturer and invite them to participate with
this demonstration project by supplying us with their product, know how and technical expertise. In
return
we will promote their product in all our publications and press releases and give feedback on their products as we will be sailing around the
world.
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