Barbary in Boating NZ July 2012 - Lake Taupo

“There is a sacred atmosphere on Lake Taupo, with a
pristine mountain back-drop. We wanted to make sure that
our engine would not be intrusive or foul the air in any way.
“We decided to go for an all-electric system, starting with
the Elco ep4000 electric propulsion unit. The motor is built
with components widely used in fork-lifts, and the fact of
easily obtainable replacement parts was paramount for us.
“It involved a complete rewiring and recabling of the
boat’s systems, lighting, radios – everything. We have an
inverter running the 240-volt systems, including the big
screen for the movie cruises.”
Jamie says topping up the batteries is never a concern as
Barbary is tied up and connected to shore power every night.
However he has made the galley removable so that he can
access the bank of 60 two-volt cell batteries if necessary.
Barbary’s impressive battery bank is contained in an
airtight box. Air is forced through it to prevent the build-up
of fumes and then vents to the outside, and an automatic
float system supplies distilled water to the batteries
and can top them up in five minutes at the turn of a tap.
The battery charger is also automatic, and the charging
programme can be changed using a laptop computer.
“This engine is as eco-friendly as possible, with no
noise, no smells, no vibrations and definitely no regrets
on our part,” Jamie says. “Under power, Barbary has a
maximum cruise speed of 6.8 knots. She can travel at 5.0
knots for up to 12 hours on her battery bank.”
Sarah and Jamie admit they have taken a huge gamble
with Barbary.
“The refit wasn’t cheap, but the result is something
we can be really proud of,” says Jamie. “We’ve done our
homework and along the way we have discovered some
amazing, problem-solving, innovative suppliers in the New
Zealand marine industry.
“It’s early days yet, but we like to think that we
and a lot of our suppliers are leading the way to really
conscientious, clean, green business for New Zealand
and we’re enhancing the romance and the magic of our
pristine environment.”
Manufacturer of Southern Boats and Lazercraft Boats & also Specialising in Custom Builds over 8m
0712207
24 Boating New Zealand July 2012