Electric Tender Enhances Green Sailing Program

SAIL LAST doesn’t suffer from range anxiety. The batteries provide ample runtime, at least eight hours in a typical day.

For Sustainability, SAIL LAST Moves into First Place with an Electric-Propelled Coach Boat.

Most sailing programs in the U.S. employ gasoline-pow­ered center console fiberglass boats, or RIBs, as a coaching platform and safety tender. Fort Lauderdale-based SAIL LAST, with the motto “Lead, Advance, Strengthen and Teamwork” and a strong thread of sustainability running through their youth programming, decided to chart a different course. Their Whaly boat, made from low-maintenance, virtually indestructible, recyclable polyethylene, and powered by Elco’s EP-50 electric outboard, proved not just to be the greener choice, but a better coach boat platform.

Whaly’s 455R, built from fully recyclable polyethylene construction, a hard plastic known for its use in bright­ly-colored outdoor toys and lawn furniture, does not break down in sunlight, easily handles dock bumps, resists fading, and bottom growth can be pressure washed off. The 14′ 9″ boat weighs just 700 pounds. A landing-plat­form style door in the bow and swim steps molded into the stern aid in handling gear or in emergencies. SAIL LAST never considered an internal combustion engine, opting instead for Elco’s EP-50 with Victron Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries. “We selected Elco electric outboards for simplici­ty of operation, ease of maintenance and zero emissions,” says Tom Hansen, their Executive Director. “We rinse the motor with rabbit ears and check gear oil in the lower unit, but there’s virtually no maintenance, and no winterization.” He also skips worries of bad fuel, clogged filters and fuel spills.

SAIL LAST doesn’t suffer range anxiety, either. The boat’s 1150 pounds of batteries provide ample runtime, at least eight hours in a typical day including occasional bursts to their current 8 knot maximum speed, which easily keeps up with the sailboats they use. With a full charge, SAIL LAST’s Elco motor even runs for an entire weekend event. Charging requires just a standard marina 50-amp power pedestal. “We’ve had no issues finding electrical service at any of our East Coast events, so far,” reports Hansen. An overnight session gets the boat back to full charge.

After switching from AGM batteries to lighter Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries, weight was reduced by  750 pounds while providing 16% more power to improve both performance and speeds. “We’ve never seen a similar setup,” Hansen concludes, but SAIL LAST is happy to be first in innovating ractical sustainable solutions for the sailing club scene.