For a used boat with a well-built, functional electric motor with a good-sized battery bank, a boat buyer should expect to pay a premium and yet save money in the long run and also get their money’s worth for what they pay.
First, Green Yachts recommends caveat emptor regarding any used boat and used electric boats are no exception. Even though there are less hidden issues one has to worry about buying a used electric boat compared to a used boat with a gas or diesel engine, Green Yachts highly recommends having a good surveyor survey any used boat that you want to purchase. If your surveyor does not know much about electric motors, please have that surveyor contact Green Yachts and we are happy to help them with what to look for. You can check out our blog on how to survey a used electric boat to learn more.
Second, a really good electric system is worth paying more for. Let’s look at what a really good system is and why it is worth more.
A great electric propulsion system has several components:
- A motor by a reputable electric propulsion maker such as Aquamot, Elco Motors, Electric Yachts, Lynch Motors, Oceanvolt, Stealth Motors and others that is well-made and for which a boater can receive excellent support and service
- In our opinion at Green Yachts, the motor has to be liquid-cooled (or cooled in another manner) so that the motor doesn’t run hot over extended use. If you just want to motor out of the marina, this isn’t necessary. But beyond this limited use, an electric motor that is liquid-cooled functions much better
- Instrumentation display in the cockpit that gives you information about how much energy is stored in your battery, what the range is at your current speed, and how much energy is going into your system from solar, wind or hydroregeneration among other useful information
- A battery bank that is either large enough for your boating needs and/or has inputs on the boat in the form of solar, wind, a generator or hydroregeneration to ensure you have enough energy to go as far as you need. In our experience, an undersized battery bank is a very common problem on electric boats. It is easy to address by adding more batteries, but you’ll need to think about this as part of your total purchase price.
If you have all of these components in a used electric boat, you have found a boat that will put a smile on your face while boating and save you money. It will save you money because:
- It requires very little maintenance – no changing the oil or transmission fluids, no changing belts, etc.
- It requires very little energy – generally the cost of operating an electric boat is 95% lower if there is no renewable energy like solar on board and 100% lower if solar and hydroregeneration are the primary sources of energy input for your battery bank. Instead of spending $100 or $1,000 to fill up your fuel tank, you can spend $0 by just letting your boat sit in the sun and recharge.
- It won’t have to be replaced – gas boat engines have to be replaced somewhere between 500 and 2,000 hours depending on the engine and maintenance and diesel engines have to be replaced somewhere between 2,000 and 6,000 hours (though we have seen diesel engines with under 700 hours need replacement and ones with over 8,000 hours that are still in good condition). However, with electric motors, there is no hour meter because electric motors don’t typically wear out due to use. They keep going and going. So, you don’t need to think about motor replacement as part of your ongoing cost after buying a used electric boat.
You should be able to recoup any price premium for a good electric system within the first one to three years of owning an electric boat from the reduced maintenance and energy costs, even before considering the big cost of having to repower a boat!
So, what are the benefits of having an electric boat so worthwhile? You can read more on our website about the Benefits of Electric Propulsion
In short, they are:
- Low maintenance saving you hassle and cost
- Silent operation meaning you can enjoy the tranquility of being out on the water
- Improved safety because you aren’t carrying a combustible liquid on board
- No odors from the fumes that linger around your boat
- Knowing you aren’t creating any pollution as you are out on the water
- Easier maneuverability in marinas and other tight spaces
There are not many used electric boats on the market. If you want help in finding the perfect electric boat for you, please contact us at Green Yachts!
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