{"id":22777,"date":"2021-08-24T10:50:55","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T08:50:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.victronenergy.com\/blog\/?p=22777"},"modified":"2021-12-06T13:52:40","modified_gmt":"2021-12-06T11:52:40","slug":"solar-powered-sailing-around-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.victronenergy.com\/blog\/2021\/08\/24\/solar-powered-sailing-around-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Solar-powered sailing around the world"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first thing Tiger Brisius<\/em> and his partner Julia<\/em>\u00a0did in preparation for their planned circumnavigation of the world was to remove the diesel engine from their thirty-two foot Olle Enderlein<\/em> yacht and replace it with an electric motor.<\/p>\n

The motor is a GreenStar Marine<\/a> E20 rated at over 10kW max – which GreenStar say is equivalent to a 20HP marine engine. The great thing about having an electric motor on board a sailing yacht, of course, is that when you’re voyaging under sail the motor becomes your electricity generator.<\/p>\n

GreenStar Marine are taking great interest in this project, supplying one of their prototype units and modifying the control for a 48V supply. The resulting higher RPM is really useful<\/em>, says Tiger, as the torque offered by electric motors cannot be fully utilised on board \u00a0Idun <\/em>[their yacht] because the\u00a0propellor aperture constrains the size of propellor which can actually be fitted.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tiger and Julia are undertaking the work of installing the motor themselves. Ocean voyaging demands self reliance – so it is essential to understand every aspect of your vessel’s gear.<\/p>\n

GreenStar are designing a new control system which will be optimised for their vessel but the fact that the installation isn’t quite complete yet hasn’t kept them off the water.\u00a0Because there are no controls by the tiller I have to call down to Julia ‘Forward! …Astern! …Forward again! ‘ and each time I call, she reverses the terminals!<\/em> says Tiger.<\/p>\n

\"\"

<\/div><\/a> The yacht – known as an OE 32 – is built for safety on the high seas and has been well-proven on blue water.<\/p><\/div>\n

The unit can handle up to 10kW input power continuously and peaks even higher – though with the modest propellor fitted to Idun they won’t need that much drive. When sailing at a little over 7 knots (the maximum hull speed for their classic Scandinavian long keeled yacht) they’re expecting their propulsion unit, working as a hydro-generator, to return an enviable 1000W\/1400W from their three blade 15 x 9 propellor. GreenStar’s own trials, with a larger propellor have achieved 1800W from the same unit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tiger’s shopping list for Idun’s electrical installation is as follows:<\/p>\n

\n