Diesel Narrowboat gets a New Electric Motor | Converting Miss Amelia Part 1

Miss Amelia is a well loved live aboard narrowboat. She is owned by Steve who has a permanent mooring in Rugby. He is a musician and enjoys the music scene in this area. Most of the year he be staying put.
But in the summer months he’ll roam. He’ll go slow and he’ll go quietly and will rely on his solar array for power. He will have nearly 30kWh of lithium battery on board and will have a good range because he’ll only need 1kW an hour to motor along. Theoretically that’s 30 hours of motoring but in reality it will be more like 20 hours as there are other electrical needs on board.
We are also taking out his multi fuel stove and installing a Reflecs stove with back boiler which will heat his hot water.
Mothership Marine is committed to the environment and will always try to upcycle and mend rather than throwaway and build new. With lithium batteries coming down in price they have become an option for narrowboat conversions. The benefit of lithium in this circumstance is that there is no need to re-ballast the boat.
Here a list of the work we are undertaking
1. Take out diesel, clean up engine room and install a Mothership 15kW PMAC Direct Drive Motor
2. Take out multi fuel stove and replace with Reflecs diesel stove with back boiler
3. Install new calorifier
4. Install new kitchen worktop
5. Install lithium battery bank
6. Install new solar array - solid tilting solar panels
7. Clean up hull, over plate where necessary
8. Black hull
Please join us on this journey.
mothershipmari...

[@mikecoveney]

I love these videos Tim. It’s a cross between tomorrow’s world and blue Peter with a spot of car rescue, on water.

[@mothership_marine]

Hi Mike. Hope that Raymond Baxter and John Noaks.

[@mikecoveney]

@@mothership_marine of course, albeit there is also a hint of Alan Titchmarsh too👍👍

[@mothership_marine]

With jeans

[@ajw1467]

Super will be watching with taking notes great choice steve will have a great vessel once done from the masters at mothership SUPERB

[@mothership_marine]

It’s great to be able to do this for Steve. He’s got a great boat set up nicely as a live aboard. It’s timely now as lithium batteries coming down in price. Thanks for the compliment. Tim

[@ajw1467]

​@mothership_marine your welcome sir your work and knowledge is great and coming from a 50 plus yr boat builder great to watch superb cheers

[@stevem1863]

Looking forward to seeing the transformation. It's great to see a builder taking on a project like this.

[@mothership_marine]

Thanks Steve - there are so many old good boats out there it's nuts not to give them an upgrade - Tim

[@malcolmwatts6094]

Looking forward to this.

[@mothership_marine]

Thanks Malcolm

[@trevorgough7199]

Hi Tim I was very impressed by your 15kw motor and hopefully will have one fitted into our new narrowboat being built at the moment. Looking forward to seeing how you get on with this conversion

[@mothership_marine]

Thanks Trevor. Can we talk on the phone or email - [e-mail] as the builder will need to get the motor mounts right for an easy fit. Cheers Tim

[@trevorsbarkingmadchannel4501]

Omg perfect perfect timing. Looking to move onto canals but looking to convert to electric if I do. I hope you can give guide costs as you go along. Brilliant looking forward to this. Thank u 🙏

[@mothership_marine]

Cheers Trevor - please keep watching - I'lll put up the total costs at the end. Tim

[@soniatg1]

lithium ion batteries catch fire. Are you able to source Iron Phosphate batteries same as BYD uses?

[@mothership_marine]

We use lithium iron phosphate so no real risk of catching fire - cheers Tim