[QUOTE=LCBrandt;3333]For a diehard sailor with deep pockets this surely would be a way to go.[/QUOTE]

Not to be contrarian, but I think a diehard sailor would actually prefer to spend the $5,500 PLUS batteries PLUS wind generator, etc on new sails or sail handling equipment. This might, however, be a fun project for someone who just likes to cruise around the marina and who has deep pockets. I know that I only use the AUXILIARY engine to get me to the breakwater, then it's sailing all the way. I hope I haven't been doing it wrong all these years.:D

I have learned not to dismiss many new and "different" approaches to things even when I initially find many flaws in the arguments to move toward the "new." Sometimes those initial problems actually do get worked out and the "new" becomes mainstream.

I do need to point out, however, that it takes a finite amount of energy to use the propeller to drive the boat over a given distance. While a diesel engine and electric motor may each have different efficiencies for converting their "fuel" sources into that propulsion, it still takes a lot of energy. You would need a LOT of solar panels and/or wind generators to come close to generating enough electrical energy to drive the boat.

Another alternative is to run an internal combustion engine generator to top off the huge battery bank as needed. Depending on how often and long you want to run the electric propulsion, you would need a generator engine the same size (or bigger) as your current diesel.

This idea definitely has its pros and a number of great applications. It just has a number of serious limitations that no one has worked around yet.

You're right, Larry. I guess I was thinking of our boring SoCal sailing. We don't even have a HALF plethora of gunkholes.:eek:

I am a new member and marine vendor. I am posting in an effort to learn about the Catalina 36. Tom Soko suggested I post and I found this thread.

My question to the group is has anyone done a custom parallel diesel/electric hybrid conversion for a Catalina 36. I have a client who is considering re-powering his C36 with our parallel hybrid system using his current Universal M25. We have installed over 200 systems mostly in sailboats and we have over 20 boats here in Southern California. I currently own a Newport 30 electric and a Columbia 9.6 (the later a parallel hybrid such as will be installed in the C36).

There is a picture of the system on my home page at:
[URL="http://electricyachtssocal.com"]http://electricyachtssocal.com[/URL]

What the client is wanting from the system is to support his long range passage making, generate power under sail, reducing diesel usage, and expand his house service.

How the system is installed:
-- The diesel remains a propulsion system.
-- The electric hybrid unit is mounted with the diesel accessing the shaft at the coupler and is a second propulsion system.
-- The electric is used in slow speed areas & to extend range nominal 50%.
-- The diesel and electric function together as a generator when the diesel is running and in generator mode.
-- Finally as a sailing generator when sailing at an adequate speed, something greater than 5.5kts.

If there is any experience with electric propulsion in this group, either with a parallel or serial system, I would like to share that specif knowledge with my client. We have a great deal of data and installation knowledge for boats this size and larger but I was looking for specific data on the C36.

Thanks Mike Gunning

Hi, Mike. I hope that you can find the answers you seek.

I will say that this forum is not visited by a majority of our membership, so perhaps if you join the 'email list' you can post your question there as well. See the home page of this website.

Good luck!