Island Packet 27 Electric Conversion-Test Sail

A 4-day test sail to evaluate performance of my electric drive-converted 1988 Island Packet 27 sailboat.
If you are considering a similar conversion, I hope this video helps and please reach out if you have any questions about my conversion and I'd love to help!
Thanks so much for watching.
electric sailboat conversion, solar sailboat, electric Island Packet, how to convert your sailboat to electric, electric motor installation, thunderstruck motor installation
#electricsailboat #electricsailboatconversion #diyboat #thunderstruck-ev #overkillsolar #dakotalithium

[@JohnVH-diy]

I have a 72 Macgregor I’m restoring. I have a small gas motor and a electric trolling motor for docking. It all works great having options of wind electric and gas. Don’t listen to the critics. It’s your boat and you’re having fun with the family which is priceless. Please wear life jackets. Especially yourself. You can’t save anyone if you can’t save yourself.

[@thezaffa7351]

stumbled across your video. very interesting how efficient it is and i love how quiet it is.

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

Thanks! The electric drive is so quiet you can hear nature better.
Since you knew you were coming back to dock, you probably could have motored a bit faster inbound to the dock and recovered more battery charge once in the slip. In other words, draw down battery energy a bit more and fill it back up later from the sun when no longer moving.

[@dave80399]

i did go faster than I showed in the video. I was trying to show how i can sail off of just solar. it is slower but i could go forever at 3kts. the electric motor will get me up to almost 6kts

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

@@dave80399 Understood. Just wanted to point out that one could also use more of the energy budget to go faster, then soak up the photons in the solar panels to recharge at the dock.
Also, not intending to be negative at all, but the test of using only solar gives the impression that electric motorsailing is slow, when in fact it's faster than just sail power (especially when there is no wind).
The fact that you can motor at 2 or 3 knots when there is no wind is excellent and a great safety benefit, but please definitely show the boost in speed from electric motorsailing too.
Folks may get the wrong impression that electric is slow, when in fact it's faster.

[@dannyspry3341]

Great set of videos. I'm looking at repowering a 15.5k pound CS-36 with a Thunderstruck system. You have produced the exact range of info I needed to finally feel 100% confident it will work. Thank you!

[@tubeuser2350]

Nicely done! Thanks for the follow-up to your conversion video, especially how effective it can be to motor-sail at low power, using only the solar in real time. Free knots.
Question: I notice that you have the two panels separated, which puts the forward panel under the boom where it can get shadowed. At first glance it would seem a better position would be to move it aft, up against the rear one. Seems like it would just fit, but I'm guessing you had a reason for the more-forward position. What was the reasoning there?

[@dave80399]

Yes I have 2 rear stays that block that area unfortunately. That would be a better layout for sure.

[@billywill903]

I think you either need more batteries or more solar, both would be ideal. 2-3 knots is incredibly slow.

[@tonywrobleski5185]

Thanks What is your battery type and capacity?

[@dave80399]

Lithium iron phosphate (lifepo4) 350ah capacity. I actually built the battery myself

[@JohnBraman413]

how's that island packet? was looking at a used one same kind. but i don't know build quality or what to look for on one when checking them out.

[@dave80399]

great quality boats with 3 design flaws:1-chainplates are glassed in and rot with age, 2-teak tow rail is impractical. even the chainplates pass thru it, 3-water sits on the deck just aft of the deck drain and needs to be manually wiped up.
other than these it is a great boat

[@805gregg]

This is fucking ridiculous , I have a a 28 ft sail boat with a 15 hp diesel and 42 gallons of diesel, this will motor me 750 miles, try that on a battery

[@dave80399]

How much does that 42 gallons of diesel cost you? I did 86 miles and used 5% of my battery. If you do the math you'll see that my range beats yours and costs me nothing.