Summertime2

To be honest i have never thought about it. My experience is that the engine is just as powerful in electric mode as it is when the diesel engine is running. Would i be happy to take the boat over Breydon the answer is yes. Would i take it over Breydon against a running spring tide i am not so sure, but then again, i would think twice about taking over a hire craft on a diesel engine in that scenario. I am not saying i wouldn't and i am not saying that the boat would not be capable of making it over but i would want to see how she performed against a running tide before i committed to Breydon.

I skipper on a hybrid canal trip boat on the Chesterfield canal. We have had the boat for over 6 years now and to my knowledge we have not yet had to replace the batteries. I know someone mentioned there might not be enough torque in electric mode but that is not my experience. It manoeuvres 12 ton of steel boat very well in tight spaces. My only reticence with it is that being so used to listening to the pitch of the diesel engine when doing tricky manoeuvres i can control the power without having to check what revs i am at. When in electric mode there is no noise and it is disconcerting as i don't know how much power i have on or not as the case maybe, and i find myself having to look at the amp usage when i really should be looking where i am trying to manoeuvre the boat at all times.

I did run aground on Breydon, not on purpose, but because i got myself muddled up with the marker posts turning from the Berney Arms towards Burgh Castle. I was lucky and was only just beyond the marker, so i easily extracted myself when the tide rose. Whilst i was extremely annoyed with myself at first, as i have made that turn multiple times and never had a problem, i calmed down and spent a very pleasant day sat on the mud watching the birds and drinking a few G&T's to make me forget how stupid i had been in the first place. It was certainly very peaceful. So whilst not an intended experience it was a very pleasant one.