I have no qualms about using or selling inefficient electric boats in applications where they are efficient enough, but these applications are too few to allow for much expansion in the use of electric boats. We must produce electric boats for use on general waters, and this means we must produce efficient boats. The best must be tweaked for efficiency in all areas not only in the hull design but in the electrical and propulsion system as well. If an electric boat can achieve 6 MPH for eight hours, this seems to be approaching acceptability for general waters. After all, you find many sailors putting up and down the Intracoastal at this speed, but they go all day.
Duration is critical for acceptance of general water electric boats.
If you are fishing or cruising it is customary to go all day and have no fear of getting home or into a marina before nightfall. At Ray Electric Outboards, Inc. we have set 6 MPH for eight hours as the minimum which general waters electric boats must meet and we provide even better performance as standard or optional whenever possible. Solar power can enhance performance and reliability of general water boats. We provide lightweight integrated solar canopies as options wherein the panels are installed without frames onto a canopy constructed of square aluminum tubing with the panels forming the roof. These canopies provide backup propulsion and increased range.