Swapping to next test motor

Today's task was to swap motors for the next test build.

First task of the day was to remove all connections and make the PropEL drive train ready to take out of the engine room. King Malu is 39 ft long and the engine room is significantly more than a locker but also much less than a room. There is no way I can stand up in it, and when the motor is in, can just about get round all four sides.

Admittedly the PropEL drive train is very much smaller and lighter than the original diesel engine, but sometimes there are still contortions needed to get to some parts.

We then attack ropes and gently pull the motor out into the saloon. We've done this many times and it does get easier each time, but it's still not something one looks forward to.

From the saloon we use a halyard from one of the masts and hoist into the cockpit. Tim and Jacob are carefully making sure that the motor doesn't damage any of the teak in the saloon.

Compared to moving a diesel engine, the PropEL drive train is a breeze... but still heavy. It's a powerful motor so inevitably not light.

The new motor is then hoisted aboard. We started trying to attach numbers to each version, but this one is simply known as the 'blue motor'. Maybe colour coding each version is the way to go!

The motor is water cooled, so we removed the hose attachments from the previous version and then reattached to the blue motor.

Finally it's time for Tim and Daniel to lift the motor, now attached to the front plate of the PropEL drive train back into the rest of the frame and then... back into the engine room.

See all posts about PropEL Electric Drive.