Trading the ePropulsion Electric Motor for a Loud, Smelly Gas Engine (But At Least It Works)
May 09, 2025 by Acorn To Arabella | Language: EN Play Time: 00:17:49 | SAILING YOUTUBERS
This week, we start with a visit from the one and only Sam Holmes—a real, actual sailor! Sam regales us with tales of suffering and single handing his sailboat, and gives us some advice for the passages in our future. If you’re not already following him, make sure to check him out out at @Sam Holmes Sailing.
The real meat and potatoes of the episode, though, will be calibrating the autopilot, getting our navigation electronics working correctly again, and rewiring our ePropulsion electric dinghy motor to get rid of the connector that keeps leaving us stranded.
Calibrating the autopilot was a piece of cake. Rewiring the electric engine? Not so much. But more on that later…
I had a crazy idea while a few of Robin’s friends were in town: I wanted to drop the anchor while under sail for the first time. I de-powered the boat by dropping a few of the bigger sails, leaving us to sail in under just the jib. Robin dropped the anchor just right, and loaded up the tender to test out the new battery connections…which, sadly, only worked for that one ride.
Turns out the best way to repair the connection on an ePropulsion motor is to buy a gas outboard 😉
Our old friend George arrives with a brand new, reliable, but loud and smelly Honda. Dinghy motor issued, solved. And just in time to host another group of Robin’s friends. Together, we explored Boca Chita Key, and Elliot Key…some of the cleanest, clearest waters we’ve seen since the Dry Tortugas!
Back to the ePropulsion electric motor…after trying to figure out what went wrong, Steve realizes that the data wires are too short for the connectors. We’re not giving up on the eProp, but getting the electric motor back online is going to require more time than we have at the moment, so we’re going to put a pin in that (pun intended).
Thank you to everyone who sent ideas and advice for our ePropsulsion electric motor repairs, and the autopilot installation.
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Acorn to Arabella started as a wooden boat building project in Granby, Massachusetts. Steve began the journey as an amateur wooden boat builder crafting a 38′ wooden sailboat in his backyard: designer William Atkin’s Ingrid with a Stormy Petrel’s gaff rig. These videos follow the journey from tree felling, to lumber milling, to lofting, to the lead keel pour and now sailing the boat—sharing details of the woodworking, carpentry, metal smithing, tool building, and tool maintenance that traditional wooden boats command. This ultimate DIY project continues beyond the boat shop, as Steve and crew travel and learn to cruise aboard the handmade wooden boat that they’ve built. Just kidding about all that, this channel is about a Siberian Laika named Akiva.
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If you are interested in supporting/helping here are a few ways:
https://www.acorntoarabella.com/how-to-help
Acorn to Arabella’s wishlist:
https://www.acorntoarabella.com/wishlistpriority
TotalBoat supports A2A! Please consider using our Total Boat referral code. Click here, then shop: https://www.totalboat.com/acorntoarabella They’ll kick 10% our way!
To offer recurring support via Patreon, CLICK BELOW. Just $5 a month gets you an invite to our monthly patron-only livestream Q&A sessions!
https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella
Original Soundtrack available at benfundis.bandcamp.com
FOLLOW US:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acorntoarabella/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acorntoarabella
Website: http://www.acorntoarabella.com
This week, we start with a visit from the one and only Sam Holmes—a real, actual sailor! Sam regales us with tales of suffering and single handing his sailboat, and gives us some advice for the passages in our future. If you’re not already following him, make sure to check him out out at @Sam Holmes Sailing.
The real meat and potatoes of the episode, though, will be calibrating the autopilot, getting our navigation electronics working correctly again, and rewiring our ePropulsion electric dinghy motor to get rid of the connector that keeps leaving us stranded.
Calibrating the autopilot was a piece of cake. Rewiring the electric engine? Not so much. But more on that later…
I had a crazy idea while a few of Robin’s friends were in town: I wanted to drop the anchor while under sail for the first time. I de-powered the boat by dropping a few of the bigger sails, leaving us to sail in under just the jib. Robin dropped the anchor just right, and loaded up the tender to test out the new battery connections…which, sadly, only worked for that one ride.
Turns out the best way to repair the connection on an ePropulsion motor is to buy a gas outboard ;-)
Our old friend George arrives with a brand new, reliable, but loud and smelly Honda. Dinghy motor issued, solved. And just in time to host another group of Robin’s friends. Together, we explored Boca Chita Key, and Elliot Key…some of the cleanest, clearest waters we’ve seen since the Dry Tortugas!
Back to the ePropulsion electric motor…after trying to figure out what went wrong, Steve realizes that the data wires are too short for the connectors. We’re not giving up on the eProp, but getting the electric motor back online is going to require more time than we have at the moment, so we’re going to put a pin in that (pun intended).
Thank you to everyone who sent ideas and advice for our ePropsulsion electric motor repairs, and the autopilot installation.
--------------------------
Sign up for our email newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hn3Qyv
Acorn to Arabella started as a wooden boat building project in Granby, Massachusetts. Steve began the journey as an amateur wooden boat builder crafting a 38' wooden sailboat in his backyard: designer William Atkin's Ingrid with a Stormy Petrel's gaff rig. These videos follow the journey from tree felling, to lumber milling, to lofting, to the lead keel pour and now sailing the boat—sharing details of the woodworking, carpentry, metal smithing, tool building, and tool maintenance that traditional wooden boats command. This ultimate DIY project continues beyond the boat shop, as Steve and crew travel and learn to cruise aboard the handmade wooden boat that they've built. Just kidding about all that, this channel is about a Siberian Laika named Akiva.
--------------------------
If you are interested in supporting/helping here are a few ways:
https://www.acorntoarabella.com/how-to-help
Acorn to Arabella's wishlist:
https://www.acorntoarabella.com/wishlistpriority
TotalBoat supports A2A! Please consider using our Total Boat referral code. Click here, then shop: https://www.totalboat.com/acorntoarabella They'll kick 10% our way!
To offer recurring support via Patreon, CLICK BELOW. Just $5 a month gets you an invite to our monthly patron-only livestream Q&A sessions!
https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella
Original Soundtrack available at benfundis.bandcamp.com
FOLLOW US:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acorntoarabella/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acorntoarabella
Website: http://www.acorntoarabella.com
Trading the ePropulsion Electric Motor for a Loud, Smelly Gas Engine (But At Least It Works) Locations
Acorn To Arabella
We are building a 38’ sailboat from stump to ship, once complete she will take us around the world. We hope to inspire and educate as many people as possible along the way. Join us on our journey and let us show you that with a bit of dedication, good company and some old school smarts even the wildest of dreams can be made to come true! For inquiries about collaborating or integrations, please email acorntoarabella@lighthouseagents.com.
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