MetalCraft Marine Inc. recently unveiled its first electric powered patrol boat. MetalCraft designed and built the Patrol Boat-1 for the City of Annapolis’ Harbormaster. The boat utilizes a Steyr hybrid diesel/electric engine that permits either electric power or for higher speeds, diesel power. The propulsion is a Hamilton 274 waterjet. The jet can propel the boat in electric patrol mode at 4.5 knots, as it approaches and checks boats in the harbor ensuring anchoring permits are valid. To get to other areas of the expansive harbour the diesel propels the boat to 30 knots and recharges the batteries. The boat can perform its daily routine of approximately five hours on battery and two on diesel. MetalCraft designed the 48-volt battery pack, with high output solar assist panel array, around batteries that were commercial off the shelf 31 series high amp hour batteries. This would allow Annapolis to easily change out the batteries as they aged. The batteries have a 4-6 year life expectancy.
