Did you know that sales of boats and other marine accessories are estimated at nearly $40 billion every year in the US? Boat owners spend a lot of money on boat maintenance, supplies, fuel, and other types of marine products.
But what if you don’t have a large budget but still want to drive a boat for business purposes or leisure? In this case, it makes sense to think of electric powered boats. Just like cars, boats can also be powered by batteries and offer decent mileage. battery powered boats are increasingly popular and they come with a lot of benefits. Keep reading to find out a few of them.
Enjoy a Quiet Ride
Everyone knows that conventional motors make a lot of noise. That’s because they have a lot of moving parts and real explosions happen inside the engine of a standard car or boat. It is possible to use insulation materials to reduce the noise made by an engine, but this just adds more money to the total price of the vehicle.
If you go with electric motors, you will not have such problems. If you ever played with an electric toy car, you probably know that it makes a barely audible buzzing sound. That’s the case with electric-powered boats too. They are much quieter than standard, diesel-powered boats. As a result, you can thoroughly enjoy a ride on a river or lake without being bothered by engine noise.
There Are No Fumes or Fuel Spillages
Apart from noise, there’s another problem with conventional boats that are powered by a diesel engine. They tend to leave behind a lot of smoke and fumes. This usually doesn’t bother you as a boat driver, but it can be a problem for whoever is behind you. A lot of smoke and fumes can also affect the wildlife surrounding a river or lake and it contributes to global warming.
With electric-powered boats, you don’t have to worry about smoke and fumes. You don’t have to worry about fuel spillage either. Spilled fuel can contaminate a lake and it can be a serious fire hazard. Electric boats use rechargeable batteries, just like electric cars, and they don’t contain any type of fuel. They are safer for the boat driver and for the environment too.
Electric Powered Boats Can Transport a Small Number of People
Some people say that electric powered boats have a small range but this is not really true. It depends on the size of the motor and how the boat is driven. Keep in mind that battery technology is continuously improving, so the range of an electric boat will increase considerably in the upcoming years.
All-electric boats are ideal for short leisure trips with family and friends. They can carry a small group of people and the battery usually lasts for a few hours if the boat is driven at a low speed. If you go for a hybrid boat that also incorporates a small diesel motor, the range can be extended to several hundred miles on average.
Electric Boats Require Less Maintenance
One of the greatest advantages of electric powered boats is that you don’t have to spend that much money on maintenance. As mentioned earlier, conventional boats have a lot of moving parts that need to be serviced on a regular basis. You also need to spend money on “winterizing” your boat. This involves preparing it for the winter season when it’s not used at all.
An electric boat contains less moving parts and it needs little to no maintenance. There’s no fuel or oil involved to make the components work together perfectly. As a result, buying an electric boat can save a lot of money in the long run and you will avoid costly services to winterize and de-winterize your boat.
Some Electric Boats Can Be Equipped With Solar Panels
Similar to battery technology, the solar industry is also advancing at a rapid pace. This means that solar panels get more and more efficient at converting sunlight into electricity. It’s possible to also add a few of these solar panels to your boat to extend its range.
For example, some of these panels can be attached to the roof of your boat. They will continue to produce electricity, even during cloudy days. Best of all, the solar panels are working even when the boat is stationed next to a pontoon. As a result, you can leave the boat stationed during the week and its solar panels will generate sufficient electricity to make it usable during weekends.
You Can Even Convert a Standard Boat to an Electric One
You might be happy to find out that it’s easy to convert a regular boat to an electric one. The engine compartment can be replaced with a battery pack and small adjustments are made to make the vessel usable. It’s cheaper and easier than converting a conventional car to an electric one and this entices a lot of boat owners who are willing to save money in the long run.
This happens because the mechanical layout of a boat is much different in comparison with a car. The conversion service doesn’t cost a lot of money and it works with different types of boats. If you decide to add a few solar panels on top of your vessel, you can save even more money in the upcoming years.
Now You Know More About Electric Powered Boats
As you can see, electric powered boats offer a plethora of advantages and benefits you simply cannot ignore. If you don’t transport heavy cargo with your ship and don’t intend to take long sea voyages, an electric boat is one of the best investments you can make. You will be able to admire the surrounding nature in a quiet and civilized way in the company of your family and friends.
For more useful information on how to buy an electric boat, how to maintain it, and how much do they cost, make sure that you check out the other articles on our website.