45' solar catamaran

It looks like there is plenty of ply delam. Make sure when you repair the areas, you remove all rot. If there are any areas you are uncertain or unable to access well enough, I’d recommend using CPES penetrating epoxy. I would actually use it anywhere I removed rot back to decent timber. If you miss a bit of rot; the idea is the cpes will seal it.

Quality assurance is a real challenge in plywood boat repairs. No shortcuts. The cpes is insurance against any uncertainty.

 

Awesome! Thanks for all those details and advices.

 

You need to make a weight audit before anything. Narrow hulls like those have little reserve buoyancy, and if the boat starts sinking low it will be slow and maybe dangerous.

 

Well, I think I have to put it in the water first
Then I will at lease know where it sit and be able to make weight audit.
Thanks for the advice.

 

When you put it in the water; you might be able to do some sandbag tests and find an NA. But, if you put known weights a known distance from the ends and establish the effect on the waterline; you can determine quite a lot.

But before you mess with all that solar, I’d make sure to have hydros done by a pro. This way you have an idea about impact of the changes instead of adding 400 pounds of solar and dipping the front too low, etc.

 

It may too late then.

 

I've think at this and I end to think it should be easier to pump water in the boat.
If someone have idea of affordable bag/box I can fill with water to add 2-3k lbs to this cat, please let me know.

Yeap, sure. Good advice. Thanks.
It's more like 1200 lbs of panels and 600 lbs of structure

 

I realize I was short on explanation now.
The boat is on Ontario Lake and the first step is to bring it back to Champlain lake to start the modifications.
So, we have around 700 km to do on lakes, rivers and canals first. That will be good time to test this Cat with his original diesel engines.

 

You might find that removal of one of the engines will free up a good deal of weight and room.
Most cats will motor well on just one engine, although there’s a few tricks to be learned about docking.
Good that you’re going to cruise the vessel a bit before starting major renovations. You will have a much better idea of what really needs to be done to make her a comfortable and economical cruiser.
You just might decide that the solar electric route is entirely unnecessary!

 

Absolutly! I will remove at least 500 lbs engine and replace them with 100 lbs electric motors. So, 1000 lbs replace by 200 lbs.
The problem is I will add 1000 lbs battery for each motor, so +2000 lbs

 

Curious, why such large motors?

Have you considered using Bi-facial panels?

The extra output would allow you to reduce the overall size and weight of your array, while also reducing a portion of support the structure weight and weight overall aloft.

 

Did you hear about the two people who loaded their sailboat up with solar and lost the boat at sea and died in their lifeboat?

 

The old couple in the middle of the Atlantic who put Nissan Leaf battery modules in their boat?

 

To move a 45' Cat

Sure. Still need to explore maximum static load front/rear between many panels and choose wisely.

 

Here some explanation about the electric motors I plan to use: Electric inboard motor, my journey to find proper motor. https://www.boatdesign.net/threads/electric-inboard-motor-my-journey-to-find-proper-motor.69574/