Top: The DSe’s wide side decks and high railings ensure safety
for those handling lines and anchoring duties. Above: Installed
well above the weather decks to keep them out of the shadows,
the 6k W photovoltaic arrays turn sunlight into electricity for twin
independent battery banks. Right: Island Pilot CEO Reuben
Trane monitors power usage at the helm, which includes a
15-inch Garmin GPSMAP 5215.
I looked to port, through the large windows with
isinglass covers enclosing the massive bridgedeck, and
daydreamed about heading down to Key West, with
stopovers in favorite destinations like Islamorada and
Marathon. But I wasn’t disappointed by the day’s
seemingly limited possibilities. Even if the sun didn’t
cooperate, the DSe was equipped with a unique twin
diesel-electric drive configuration that could make my
wishful trip a reality.
In the stern, twin 75hp Steyr Motors diesels stood
ready to provide propulsion, should the separate banks
of “True Lead” AGM-style deep-cycle batteries from
EnerSys begin to run low. Replacing the bell housing
on the diesel is the Steyr hybrid drive housing. Hard
attached to the rear of the hybrid drive is the gearbox,
then the shaft to the prop.
Here’s how it works: When the electric drives are
running, the hybrid drive automatically decouples from
the diesel and powers the ZF Saildrive’s 2.52: 1 reduction
gearboxes and props. When the diesel is running, the
hybrid drive connects itself to the diesel automatically,
and the 5k W, 48VDC generators produce electricity
to recharge the batteries. Despite multiple charging
sources, operation is designed to be automatic, with
no other switching between sources.
