30-foot sailboat electric repower
Sized for typical 30-footers around 4–5 t displacement targeting 5–6 knots under power.
Not an exact match? The wizard adjusts to your real numbers — these are reference hulls for the typical sizing.
Calculated by the configurator for the example boat below, sizing the pack for 2 hours at the motor's full rating with reserve. Open it to change any input.
What this segment looks like
Why a 30 ft sailboat is a sensible repower target
A 30-foot cruising sailboat is the sweet spot for electric repower. Displacement is usually under 5 tonnes and hull speed sits around 7 kn; for a 4.5 t boat, the configurator estimates about 4 kW to hold 5 kn and suggests the 4 kW option, the next size up; a 6 kW motor adds reserve for harbour manoeuvres, current and wind.
- About 4 kW holds 5 kn on a 4.5 t hull, so the configurator picks the 4 kW option — always the next size up from the need, never below it.
- 48 V suits this power: the design current is about 140 A at 4 kW, and 96 V would roughly halve it.
- About 13 kWh of LiFePO4 covers 2 hours at the motor's full rating, with reserve.
- Saildrive replacements (e.g. Bukh, Volvo MD2) bolt up cleanly with adapter plates.
Related sizing guides
Six typical boats run through the calculator's calibrated power curve: why displacement and speed, not length, decide the kW, and how to avoid oversizing.
A worked 30-footer example of the battery sizing chain, showing why motoring speed moves pack size more than reserve or depth of discharge.
Current, cable size and cabling burden at 48 V and 96 V for every motor size from 2 to 25 kW, and where the answer flips.
Frequently asked questions
30 ft sailboat — common questions
Quick answers to what most owners ask before starting a repower.
How many kW does a 30-foot sailboat need for electric propulsion?+
What battery size do I need for a 30 ft electric sailboat?+
Is 48 V enough for a 30-foot boat?+
Can I keep my existing shaft and propeller?+
What does an electric repower cost on a 30-footer?+
Different boat?
Size your 30 ft sailboat now
Opens on the results for this segment — every value editable. Free to run; PDF from €29.