The ALUCAT W16 CABIN4 Hybrid is equipped with two combustion engines at the stern, with a Yamaha HARMO electric motor positioned between them. In the wheelhouse, the driver also has joystick steering at their disposal. This aluminium catamaran is one example of how an ALUCAT professional boat can also be built as a hybrid version. So, what kind of work could benefit from electric propulsion?
Hybrid workboat and fuel savings
The key advantage of a hybrid workboat is definitely its cost-effectiveness, meaning savings in fuel costs. When the boat is operated with HARMO while the combustion engines are switched off, the boat uses electricity stored in the battery for propulsion. Fuel is saved whenever electric propulsion replaces a work phase in which the combustion engines would normally be used.
When planning fuel savings and economical operation, it is worth considering the boat’s intended use and possible work shifts: what kind of loads will be carried, and how much fuel is typically consumed with a heavy load? Will the boat be operated at high speeds, or at low speeds, for example in archipelago and harbour conditions? The electric motor can also provide additional power alongside the combustion engines.
Quiet operation and thrust
Yamaha states that the HARMO 2.0 has a motor output of 3.1 kW and a static thrust of 103 kgf, or approximately 1.0 kN. The latter figure describes the force produced by the motor when the boat is stationary. It helps illustrate the motor’s ability to get the boat moving, for example when leaving a dock. The boat’s speed is affected by its load, wind and current. Yamaha HARMO 2.0 technical specifications.
One of the advantages of an electric motor is also its quiet operation. On a workboat, its practical significance becomes particularly clear when approaching a dock: when the combustion engines are switched off, verbal instructions given on deck and on the dock can be heard without shouting.
Hybrid or fully electric workboat?
The W16 CABIN4 as a hybrid demonstrates how two propulsion systems can be combined in the same professional boat. ALUCAT boats can also be designed as fully electric.
Are you considering a hybrid or fully electric workboat? Tell us about your typical day on the water. Together, we can identify the work phases where electric propulsion would benefit you the most.