MetalCraft Marine

Patrol Boat-1 is our first ever electric powered patrol boat. It's designed and built the boat for the City of Annapolis' Harbormaster .

The boat uses a Steyr hybrid diesel/electric engine that permits either electric power or, for higher speeds, diesel power.

The propulsion is a Hamilton 213 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 design challenge was how to provide enough battery power to meet the boat?s operational profile in such a small boat (23' X 8'6") and still be able to get on plane.

MetalCraft designed the 48-volt battery pack, with high output solar assist panel array, around commercial off-the-shelf 31 series high amp hour batteries. This allows the Annapolis Harbourmaster to easily replace the batteries when they age.

The batteries have a 4-6 year life expectancy. The total value of the eight batteries is $2,600.00. The estimated fuel savings is $550.00 per month.

The reduction in overall engine maintenance is significant, including a major reduction in oil changes from 24 to 7.2 oil changes per year. This, added to 70% less engine wear, and the savings to operations start to add up.

The speed penalty for the added weight of batteries and electric power system is approximately 4 knots in high speed diesel mode.

MCM will be introducing additional models in the Kingston Electric Series and will introduce electric power systems in the Brunswick Sentry line in the near future.

MetalCraft acknowledges and thanks the National Research Council of Canada and the Mid Atlantic Regional Air Management Association for their important contributions to this ground project.