I like the idea of the electric motor/generator - I recently read of a couple, in Cambridge somewhere I think, who were building a nb this way. He figured that with his preference for '240 volt living' he would do away with gearboxes, etc., and had a genny installed instead - with an electric motor tucked onto the end of the propshaft.
Unfortunately I've lost the link at the moment - but I was very taken with the idea (although not the eventual cost!), if only because the drive takes up so little space, only about 15" or so. If it was *that* quiet though I think I might have fitted a sound board and waterproof speaker as there are some great sound effects available for boat modelers; maybe a single cylinder, air-start Ailsa Craig - complete with synchronized exhaust pipe flutter valve .. lol! Right now though, I'm even wondering if I'll ever manage to retire to that long held nb dream; what with the collapsing (collapsed?) house market, converting bricks into steel is going to be one helluva lot harder than it was 12 months ago and nb prices still seem to be holding up - which doesn't help me either :-( If you see a sailing dinghy, towing a trailer tent, in the summer - give me a wave! :-) Trevor Ron Jones wrote ,,, I do wonder if a hybrid engine would suit a nb better - after all, once under way, the energy required is low (and thus the engine is not performing at best efficiency) - thus have an electric motor (could be reversible, does away with a gearbox) connected to bank of batteries (fork lift type) with a diesel generator to top it up at intervals - I suspect that would make for some nice quiet periods of cruising, and be of great benefit in tunnels. Also one could keep it fully topped up while in the marina.
