20 ft Electric Launch Design #294

With this little beauty we add to our growing family of small launches drawn with an eye to electric power.  The appeal of this form of propulsion is the peace and quiet that it brings to power boating.  Not since steam power has motor boating felt so civilized.  For day trips on sheltered waters a boat like this is hard to beat.  It may be charged at the dock or at home if the boat is trailer launched.

The drive unit shown on the plan is of the steerable pod type that obviates the need for a rudder and makes maneuvering ahead and astern very easy.  Horsepower is kept low in exchange for range from the four 48v deep cycling batteries.

Construction is of the simplest form, a single layer of strip planking laid over laminated frames with a skin of glass cloth for stability inside and out.

Strip planked on laminated frames.

Length:                  20 ft. 0 in.                           6.10 metres
Length Waterline: 17 ft. 3 in.                            5.26 metres
Beam:                     6 ft. 2 in.                            1.83 metres
Draft:                      1ft 6in                                0.46 metres
Displacement:       1770 lbs                              800 kg
Power:                    Electric pod drive 4-10kw
Building time:        1500 hours
Skill level:               Intermediate

Design #294 — Four Sheets