Autoprop Goes Electric

The designers and engineers who produced the first Autoprops over twenty years ago could have had little idea that their brilliant invention would today be considered the ideal propeller to make the best use of the 21st century’s new power source for boats; electricity… and Autoprops unique properties make them as
attractive to electrically driven motor boats as they are to sailing yachts.

In issue 4 of Proptalk, still available on our website, we told readers about the owner of a 21 foot motor boat, conventionally powered, who used an Autoprop to cross the Atlantic using significantly less fuel than with a fixed propeller. There are however much larger vessels powered by either hybrid diesel electric systems or just electricity that are using the benefits of an Autoprop to propel them.

Above top: Visitors to Sydney in Australia may have seen the ‘Sydney Solar Sailor’ which is used for ferry work and chartering. In service for ten years she is a hybrid vessel meaning she can be powered solely by electricity, which is generated by solar panels and the generator on board, or it can be powered conventionally depending on conditions and service requirements. Needless to say she is much better for the environment and much more economical to run than a purely conventionally powered vessel.

Above bottom: Autoprop is propelling the VPLP designed and French built “Solar Odyssey”, an electrically powered trimaran. Although she looks like a sailing yacht without a rig this research vessel is purely engine driven and during this year she will be attempting to beat the current world record for an Atlantic crossing and later a full circumnavigation with zero CO2 emmissions.