40-foot catamaran electric propulsion
Twin saildrives, more space for batteries — but you size each side independently.
What this segment looks like
Why a 40 ft catamaran is a sensible repower target
A 40 ft cruising catamaran (Lagoon 40, Leopard 40, Bali 4.0) typically uses twin saildrives. Each hull needs its own 10–15 kW motor and battery — but shared bow/aft locker space gives you room for 40+ kWh per hull if range is the priority.
- Size each hull as its own system — they share state of charge, not load.
- Twin 10 kW saildrives match a typical 2× 30 hp diesel layout for handling and reserve.
- Catamarans often have 800 W+ of solar — factor that into daily charge balance.
- Hydro regen at 7+ kn while sailing can recover 200–500 W per hull on long passages.
Related sizing guides
A practical comparison of saildrive and shaft-drive configurations for electric boat repowers — installation complexity, efficiency, maintenance, and which suits your hull.
How to integrate solar panels with an electric boat propulsion system — panel sizing, MPPT controller selection, wiring, and realistic range contribution.
How to size battery energy for cruising, daily sailing, or hybrid use—without getting surprised by reserve, DoD limits, and charge time.
Different boat?
Size your 40 ft catamaran now
Wizard pre-filled with realistic defaults for this segment. Free to run; PDF from €29.