Making boat electric
Making boat electric: everything you need to know about converting to electric boating
Elektrisch varen is allang geen hype meer. Het is een logische keuze geworden voor booteigenaren die stil, schoon en onderhoudsarm willen varen. Vooral in steden als Amsterdam, waar steeds strengere milieuregels gelden, biedt een elektrische aandrijving uitkomst. Maar wat als je al een boot hebt? Is het mogelijk om je bestaande boot elektrisch te maken? En hoe werkt zo’n ombouw precies?
In deze blog lees je alles over het converting your boat to electric boating, including the benefits, concerns and why engaging a specialist such as E-WERF making a difference.
Why you should make your boat electric
Making a boat electric has distinct advantages:
- Silent sailing: No more humming of a diesel engine, but peace on the water.
- Sustainability: No exhaust fumes and less environmental impact.
- Bearing maintenance: Electric motors have fewer moving parts than internal combustion engines.
- Access to environmental zones: More and more waters are being banned for fuel propulsion.
Therefore, people who already own a boat are increasingly looking for terms such as electric boat or building an electric motor in a boat. The idea is simple: you keep the boat you already have, but make it ready for the future.
How does converting to electric boating work?
Making a boat electric is tailor-made. No two boats are the same, so every project starts with a thorough analysis of the boat and the owner's boating profile. At E-WERF, we use a handy online configurator, which will quickly give you an indication of what is technically possible and what is involved.
Important choices in conversion:
- Which electric motor fits best? This depends on the length, weight and desired cruising speed of your boat. In some cases an inboard engine is suitable, in others a powerful outboard.
- Which battery do you need? Lithium-ion batteries are the standard these days. They are compact, powerful and reliable. Depending on your boating requirements, the battery pack can range from a few kWh to tens of kWh.
- What about weight and balance? Batteries are heavy. Good weight distribution is essential for the stability and safety of your boat.
- What additional technology do you want on board? Think of a battery management system (BMS), shore power connection, solar panels or a digital dashboard.
Building an electric motor in your boat yourself?
There are boat owners who enjoy tinkering themselves and are considering getting their own build electric motors into their boat. All sorts of DIY projects circulate on YouTube and forums. Nevertheless, we recommend leaving this kind of conversion to specialists. Why?
- Safety: Electrical systems combined with water require professional installation.
- Efficiency: A badly tuned system eats up power or does not deliver enough power.
- Warranty and service: With professional installation, you get a warranty on parts and labour.
- Legal requirements: In some cases, there are requirements for electrical installations on water.
At E-WERF, we combine technical expertise with years of experience in converting a variety of boats: from sloops and sailboats to workboats. We not only build in our own workshop in Amsterdam, but also come on site if necessary.
What does it cost to make your boat electric?
De kosten voor het ombouwen hangen sterk af van je wensen. Een eenvoudige elektrische aandrijving begint vanaf enkele duizenden euro’s. Ga je voor meer vermogen, grotere accu’s en extra techniek, dan loopt het bedrag op. Maar daar staat tegenover dat je:
- Out of fuel
- Have less maintenance
- May be able to get subsidy (in certain municipalities)
Moreover, preservation increases the value of your boat. So it is an investment that gives you boating convenience and future-proofing.
Ready to convert your boat?
Search for electric boat or conversion to electric boating, dan ben je waarschijnlijk al overtuigd van de voordelen. Nu is het tijd om de volgende stap te zetten.
Bij E-WERF kijken we samen met jou wat de slimste oplossing is voor jouw boot. Dankzij onze configurator weet je snel waar je aan toe bent. Daarna volgt een persoonlijk gesprek, een technische check en een offerte op maat. Geen standaardpakket, maar maatwerk dat bij jouw boot en vaarstijl past.
Want to know what is possible for your boat? Then go to www.e-werf.nl and start the configurator. Or contact us directly for a no-obligation consultation.
With E-WERF, you sail clean, quiet and carefree into the future.