Gas to Electric

My Oday 19 used to have a 6 hp two stroke outboard. I wasn’t a fan. Sure it could push the boat at hull speed all day, but it was loud, stank, burned gas, and was a pain to maintain. For the last few years I’ve using a 55 lb thrust trolling motor instead of the gasoline one.

The electric motor can only move the boat along at 3 knots instead of 5.5. Still, it’s a sailboat so that’s enough for most things.

The Oday had a gas locker in the cockpit that fit a 3.5 gallon fuel tank. With the gas gone, that seemed like a perfect place for a group 27 deep discharge battery. That’s worked out just fine. While the boat only as a 30 watt solar panel, it’s been enough to keep up with normal demand.

When I had the gas outboard, the 3.5 tank was a bit small for long trips. The final straw was the night it ran dry in the middle of a 4 mile channel coming in from the Gulf of Mexico. Fortunately, a passing fishing boat towed us in the last two miles. I learned my lesson.

That’s when I came up with a plan for more fuel on the boat. I built a removable box to hold an additional 6 gallon fuel tank. The box fits in the back of the cockpit, sorta a removable lazarette. Of course, a second fuel tank is no longer needed. What is needed is more battery power and additional solar. The lazarette box is a good size for more battery storage. It’s also just about the right size to sit a solar panel right on top.

The box just received a good cleaning and will get fresh paint when it dries. Eventually I’ll have to take some photos when it’s all assembled.

-Sixbears