Electric Philosophy is a solar electric catamaran designed for comfortable, extended self-sufficient cruising by a couple and one or 2 guests. Since its launch in 2021, it has traveled nearly 9000nm through the Salish Sea and twice up the Inside Passage to Alaska and back, including Glacier Bay and Sitka, powered solely by the solar roof without the use of any shore power or generator. A typical cruising season is to leave its home port of Olympia in April and not return until October.
Electric Philosophy is a custom design and build by Devlin Designing Boatbuilders, in collaboration with the owner, Ed Pauley, who designed and built the solar electric system and selected the electric propulsion motor system. The construction is traditional Devlin stitch and glue wood/epoxy. The catamaran boat form was driven by the requirements for the very large solar array and large battery banks.
Typical travel speed in calm conditions is 5.5-6.5 kts; max is 8.5 kts at full power. It is designed for continuous use without shore charging with all power needs supplied by solar charging to the large battery banks. The battery banks are sized with a large enough reserve that it can run 2-3 days with no solar input due to weather or darkness.
The need for a large unobscured roof for solar panels (9500W array) determined the boat size and shape and placement of the radar pylon. The hulls are dedicated to the four independent Lithium Iron Phosphate battery banks (two 24V for house needs, two 48V to power the electric motors) and twin electric motors, and also provide ample room for large fresh water and holding tanks, with minimal hull penetrations. Propulsion is provided by 20kW electric motors in each hull. All living accommodations are on deck level, with a queen master berth, a large dinette that converts to a queen guest bed, electric galley, and separate head and shower. The solar roof provides cover to side deck walkways and cockpit area.