no wind no solar electric boat in lots of current - Sailing Oka Solo - 046

Experience with No Wind or Solar Power in a Strong Current – Electric Boat Conversion

In this latest episode of Sailing Oka Solo, the protagonist is faced with navigating through strong currents without favorable wind conditions. Due to heavy smoke from wildfires, the solar panels cannot generate sufficient power for the journey. This necessitates running the hybrid system. The sailor utilizes a 3200 W portable Honda generator coupled with a 3,000 W inverter. However, this setup allows only around 4 to 4.5 knots speed under optimal conditions. Despite these limitations, it ensures the boat gets going and moves towards its destination. Good morning crew! The vessel is anchored in a small bay east of Kelsey Bay. For the past few days, the journey has been quite slow due to consistent motoring, non-stop, and no sun thanks to the smoke covering the sky. Solar panels are thus producing very little power needed for the trip. Additionally, the paint job on the boat is over a year old. A recent dive showed the propeller was full of barnacles. Even after thorough scrubbing, it’s apparent that speed has decreased from earlier performances. To add to these challenges, headwinds have persisted for three days without any break. Despite these hurdles, the sailor hopes for some favorable wind later in the day. For now, they’re conserving energy while motoring slowly ahead towards their next destination. The boat crosses the Narrows for the third time at less current than before but manages an impressive average speed of 10 to 11 knots through it. This journey highlights the significance of understanding and planning for tidal rips encountered along navigation routes. In another segment, a listener asks about the name of the electric boat ‘Oka’ and its conversion process. The vessel’s motor is fully electric, making it unique in performance and operation.