Ozark John
Member
Not having much luck finding a suitable 24ft donor hull with trailer for a custom build, my thoughts have shifted to more of a “bird in hand” model. I have a Sanibel 18 sailboat that I’ve started to think about converting into a solar electric micro trawler for sheltered inland waterways (see my 1/15 post for use specifics). A few months ago I stumbled upon a great deal on a gently used Torqeedo Travel 1003 with 2 battery packs. In water tests suggest about a 25 mile range at 4-5mph, and with flexible solar panels running as cheap as $2 a watt these days (see ECO-WORTHY) one should be able to add several hundred watts of solar supplementation on the cabin top without breaking the bank. Cutting away much of the cockpit would open up the interior for pilot house steerage and tight but doable accommodations for 2 (including sleeping, cooking and an enclosed head). I’ll likely add some sort of swim platform with motor mount and homebrew remote steerage assemblage (Torqeedo has a remote motor control accessory). I did some initial profile studies with digital images which prompted a full scale mockup using a stack of cheap furring strips, some mini clamps, ball bungies and Tyvek scraps. Attached is a photo of the mockup and another with a bit of electronic overlay. I like the sheer and the overall look, but I’m really torn on a uniform cabin top (as shown) or making the pilot house top taller than the rear cabin top. Would appreciate any observations or opinions.
