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Category: Pod

  • FREYA

    FREYA

    FREYA

    22‘ Fay & Bowen launch (1907, 2026)

    FREYA is a 1907 Fay & Bowen torpedo-stern launch, originally used on a lake in New York. She was acquired to provide access to the the Classic Boat Collective‘s fleet in Bucks Harbor, Maine, and they brought her to us for conversion to electric propulsion. The project also included a new cockpit with additional seating and sturdy boarding rails and steps.

    Although remarkably well preserved for a boat of her age, FREYA required substantial structural work, including new steam-bent frames and partial replacement of the keel. Those repairs gave us an opportunity to remove the propeller shaft and rudder, both of which had reached the end of their useful lives. In their place, we installed an electrically steered pod from Rim Drive Technology. The pod rotates through more than 180 degrees, provides exceptional low-speed maneuverability, and occupies very little space inside the boat.

    The new bench seats conceal four Victron LFP batteries, the battery management system, motor controller, and associated equipment. That arrangement leaves useful storage beneath the benches and foredeck, while a 30-amp shore-power connection makes charging straightforward.

    Sea trials confirmed that the new pod is a good match for FREYA. With one person aboard, 8 kW is enough to push her beyond hull speed, though the extra power is more useful when she is carrying a full complement of passengers. At a little over half throttle, she cruises at 6.5 knots and has ample range for a trip down the Reach and back.

    FREYA is a good example of how modern systems can make a classic boat more useful without diminishing the qualities that make her worth preserving. Electric propulsion brings quiet operation, precise control, reduced maintenance, and compact machnery. Thoughtful installation preserves passenger space and the character of the original design, allowing an old boat to keep doing her job reliably for many years to come.

    Particulars

    LOA22′
    LWL21′ 10″
    Beam5′ 4″
    Draft1′ 5″
    Disp.2300 lbs
    MotorRim Drive Technology 8.0 pod (8 kW, 48V)
    BatteriesVictron LFP (x4, 20 kWh)
    Top Speed7.25 kts
    Range42 nm at 5 kts, 15 nm at 7 kts
  • SEIWA

    SEIWA

    SEIWA

    26‘ Navy Whaleboat (1969, 2025)

    After the success of VEGA’s electrification in 2023, her owner came back to us with a new project in mind.  He enjoyed using VEGA for day trips with friends and family, but wanted another boat to venture further afield in, with simple overnight accommodations for up to two people.  Sorrento to Isle au Haut without plugging in was the challenge he gave us – and he already had a boat in mind.

    Built in 1969 by Uniflite in Bellingham, WA, this former Navy motor whaleboat was a good candidate for efficient electric cruising.  With a double-ended hull designed for displacement speeds, she slips through the water with ease and can easily carry the weight of a large battery bank.  The design Doug came up with called for gutting the boat and building a new superstructure, with a long hardtop for solar panels, good protection from the weather, and lots of glass for unrestricted visibility.

    Photo: Nick Parson
    Photo: Nick Parson

    For propulsion, we installed a 15 kW pod from Rim Drive Technology, paired with a 60 kWh Victron battery bank.  The result is smooth, silent operation with extremely low maintenance requirements.  Six 200 W solar panels mounted on the cabin top continuously recharge the batteries while underway, enabling what we call “solar sailing”: traveling at a speed determined by available sunlight rather than by drawing down the battery bank.  At modest cruising speeds, SEIWA can run comfortably all day, and under favorable conditions, with very little battery use at all.

    Inside, we focused on simplicity, with accommodations tailored to her owner’s vision of minimalist coastal exploration.  Two settees convert to comfortable sleeping berths, and the compact cabin includes a Laveo waterless head and a clever galley with a folding single-burner stove that reveals a sink beneath.

    With planning, multi-day trips using nothing but the power of the sun are a real possibility in a boat like this.  For sailors transitioning away from sail, or cruisers looking for a quieter, less demanding way to explore, SEIWA offers an effortless and environmentally responsible alternative.  For us, the boat stands as a proof of concept: with the right hull, thoughtful design, and carefully-selected solar-electric systems, electric cruising isn’t just possible – it’s practical, peaceful, and deeply rewarding.

    Particulars

    LOA26′
    LWL25′
    Beam8′ 5″
    Draft2′ 2″
    Disp.7400 lbs
    MotorRim Drive Technology POD 15.0 (15 kW, 48V)
    BatteriesVictron LFP (60 kWh)
    Top Speed6.5 kts
    Cruise4 kts
    Range80 nm at 4 kts, 30 nm at 6.5 kts
    Range w/ solar130 nm at 4 kts, 33 nm at 6.5 kts
    Photo: Nick Parson
    25.9.15-Seiwa-8