Beneteau Oceanis 411 | Full Electric

Why did you replace the engine?
As electric boating began to become an increasingly realistic alternative. This is also part of the
expected use of the boat: it is in Lelystad and I will mainly sail on the IJsselmeer, with a planned crossing to the UK in 2025 (span-
nend!) and a visit to the Wadden Islands. Moreover, the old engine was still a noisy and
smelly (but otherwise very reliable Yanmar) diesel. The engine was elderly: about 26 years old and had at least 5500 running hours on it. By the way, when it was replaced, blue smoke was coming out of the exhaust. So it was time for a
serious overhaul. However, I had taken the decision to replace the engine earlier, when I did not know that overhaul would present itself.

I have been driving electric myself for about seven years and am a so-called early adopter. Especially the first few years, I seriously suffered from so-called range anxiety. But driving electric is phenomenal: the silence, the stepless acceleration, no vibration, etc. That line can also be extended to electric cruising: The silence, the absence of exhaust fumes and diesel smell, the much smaller size of the electric motor and its huge torque have been the deciding factors. Furthermore, I find the possibility of regenerating energy while sailing and with solar panels an attractive added value. Practice will tell, but if you plan sailing trips smartly, there will always be enough energy on board. Sailing on fossil fuel is therefore no longer a real alternative for me. In addition, there are some practical

advantages: Because there is 5000VA inverter built-in, I always have 230v on board. Theoretically, I could even go electric for cooking, but of course that is not conducive to the range.