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Electric Yacht Copyright 2012
Usage Guidelines:
1. Take your time. Without the noise of the old engine, it is more enjoyable
to cruise under power. Running at a slower speed will increase range and
battery life.
2. On light air days, dial in a few amps of current to keep the boat moving
through dead spots.
3. Plan ahead. Minimize motor usage if you might need to make a long
cruise home under power.
4.
To maximize battery life, don’t discharge below 50% on a regular basis. If
you need to use more, recharge as soon as possible. Never leave
batteries in a discharged state for a long period of time.
5. Always turn off the Master Power switch when leaving the boat. The key
switch does not remove power from the controller. There is a small
current draw if the Master Power switch is not off.
Maintenance:
Your electric system should require far less maintenance than your old gas or
diesel engine. Following are general guidelines.
1. Grease the two bearings on the motor unit once/year or every 500 hours.
Use a good grade of waterproof wheel bearing grease.
2. Check the water level of your batteries periodically, if you have flooded
lead acid. Add distilled water if needed. Only add water when the
batteries are charged. If you are using good “Smart” chargers, this should
only be necessary once or twice a year. AGM or LiFePO4 batteries don’t
need watering.
3. Occasionally feel all of the connections after running the motor at high
current for at least ten minutes. Any hot terminals should be cleaned and
re-tightened.
4. Clean the battery tops and terminals once per year or when corrosion is
evident. Recoat the terminals with dielectric grease.
5. It is recommended to replace the timing belt every five years. It can be
done in about an hour with hand tools.
Happy Sailing!
