UnderbellyTorqeedo steering
OwnerChris Baker
LocationBrisbane, Queensland Australia map
WebWebPage
Vehicle1985 Crowther Trimaran
Designed by Lock Crowther for Cathy Hawkins and Ian Johnston, they built her on the banks of the Tweed River in 1985 and launched her as Balena. They campaigned her as Bullfrog Sunblock and Verbatim in the major short handed yacht races in the next five years. In the time that they owned her she won just about every race she was entered in.

She was later raced as Pacific Cranes and Australia’s Child and was then bought by Jeff and Lorraine Schionning with a view to refitting her as a cruising boat.They relaunched her in 2004 as Aero. As part of the refit she was lengthened, the cabin raised and the cockpit enlarged.

I've been her custodian since 2007 and set her up to run entirely from the sun, and have renamed her Current Sunshine. The name suggests the alternative to using ancient sunshine, that is coal or oil, to run our vehicles.
Motor Torqeedo Cruise 4 3-Phase AC
Permanent magnet, electronically commutated, external rotor.
DrivetrainPrimarily powered by the wind in the sails. Auxiliary engine is Torqeedo Cruise 4 electric outboard mounted on a lifting carriage in a well.
Controller Torqeedo - built in controller
Batteries16 Thunder Sky LFP200AHA, 3.20 Volt, Lithium-Ion
LiFePO4
System Voltage48 Volts
Charger Snaptec dc convert
Primary charging is via 12-48 dc converter to charge the engine battery from the house batteries when sufficient energy is available. Charge recovered on a sunny day typically 500 watt-hours
HeaterWoolly jumpers
DC/DC Converter Snaptec
InstrumentationTorqeedo controller includes battery charge level indicator, built in GPS displays speed, and controller deduces range to empty at this speed.
Link 10 battery monitor.
Top Speed8 MPH (12 KPH)
Top speed when sailing is around 20 knots, and typically 8 to 12 knots.
Top speed under power is 6.5 knots.
A nice cruise speed is 4 knots which conserves battery capacity better.
Accelerationenough to turn heads
Range15 Miles (24 Kilometers)
At full power in calm conditions range is 15 miles.
At cruise speed in calm conditions range is 32 miles.
Motor is used only to leave and enter port, or on and off mooring.
Seating CapacityAround 10 for day sailing.
Sleeps 4 in comfort, more if necessary.
Curb Weight7,000 Pounds (3,181 Kilograms)
ex-racing trimaran 43 ft long. light for this length of boat. Easily driven and well suited to electric propulsion.
Tirespower is delivered to the 'road' through the 12inch propeller.
Conversion Time6 months
Conversion Costbatteries: $10,000 (Australian)
Torqeedo: $6,500
Misc: say $5000
Additional FeaturesBackup power: Honda EU10 plus 10 amp charger.

code by jerry