Category: Repower

SARDINE’s owner enjoys his Harry Bryan-built garvey on a crystal clear pond in Downeast Maine. The beloved boat is the epicenter of cherished family gatherings throughout the summer. SARDINE has always been quiet with a 4-stroke Honda in an insulated motor well. But switching to electric propulsion has provided the new and remarkable experience of silent, emissions-free swimming, stargazing, and exploring on the pristine pond.

We installed a Torqeedo Cruise 10.0 with two 5 kW Torqeedo lithium batteries and a 240V fast charger. With her new electric system SARDINE was capable of better acceleration and slightly better top speed than with her 20 hp Honda.

A pond/ lake house like this has proven to be the perfect venue for the latest developments in “e-mobility on the water.” Working with a talented crew from Nate Holyoke Builders and master electrician Matt Davis, a 240V shore power post was built on the dock that is in keeping with the aesthetic of the cottage. After an excursion on the pond, SARDINE can plug in as easily as making off a dock line, and can charge her batteries from flat in 2 hours.

We first met TOODLIN’s new owners when they visited the yard with one of our existing electric-boat clients.  They joined us for a sea trial on the Benjamin River, and while they enjoyed the boat we were aboard, they were especially drawn to several other boats in the harbor.  Fortunately, those boats were ours, too, and the conversation about building something together began there.

The Albury Runabout caught their eye for its handsome lines, practical size, and inviting layout.  Their boat, however, would live on a Minnesota lake and be used mostly for swimming, relaxing, and “toodlin’” around.  They envisioned a sleek, curvy runabout with lower freeboard, better suited to their protected waters.  It would be powered by an electric motor, of course.  They understood the benefits immediately: no vibration, no smelly exhaust, and no more lugging fuel containers down the steep steps to their dock.

Photo: Nick Parson

We found them a strong candidate for conversion: a 1999 Glen-L runabout.  It was a home build, but capably done, with graceful topsides and a modified V-hull that could climb onto plane efficiently with modest power.  The engine she came with was anything but modest: a 5.4L V8 inboard.  Set amidships beneath a massive, varnished engine hatch, it dominated the boat and separated the two small cockpits.

Together, we developed a plan to remove the inboard engine and open up the cockpit for more comfortable seating and lounging space.  Power would come from an electric outboard mounted on an Armstrong bracket flanked by swim platforms – preserving as much usable interior space as possible, while keeping the eye-catching varnished transom intact.

Most of the owners’ time on the lake would be spent just toodlin’ around, but speed still mattered.  Based on their performance goals, we selected ePropulsion’s X40 motor, powered by two of its large 96V G102-230 batteries.  At 54 inches long and 400 pounds each, the batteries were a tight fit in a 19′ boat.  Combined with a 220-pound motor mounted on a 20-inch offset bracket, the conversion demanded careful weight studies to ensure the boat would trim properly after such a significant reallocation of mass.

After a long road trip from Maine, she is now being enjoyed on a lake in Minnesota, where her wooden construction, hand-crafted detailing, and near-silent performance are attracting attention – and, we hope, winning a few more converts to electric power.