Electric Philosophy is a unique design for a fully solar-powered, electric cruising power catamaran. The boat form is driven by the requirements for the large solar array and large battery banks. Electric Philosophy grew out of the owners’ use of solar electric power on their Airstream travel trailer, and visits to the Wooden Boat Festival where the idea of independent solar-powered propulsion on a boat was presented as a possibility.
This boat was designed by Sam Devlin, in collaboration with the owner, Ed Pauley, who designed and built the solar electric propulsion system. After more than a year of construction, it will be commissioned in June 2021, to begin extended coastal cruising in the Pacific Northwest. It is designed for continuous use without shore charging and can run for 2-3 days with no solar input due to weather or darkness. A small portable generator is carried for emergency only use.
