E-Werf dashboard

AMSTERDAM – The switch to electric propulsion is in full swing at Olivier Venema’s E-Werf, which converts dozens of boats yearly to ‘green’ sailing. The need to go electric is urgent in Amsterdam. The city has banned fossil-fuel craft from its canals by 2025, a decree affecting hundreds of boats: canal tour boats, scheduled services and all manner of tenders, salon boats, gondolas, party boats, water taxis and so on.

Venema uses a ‘boat configurator’ to show clients what electrification entails and at what costs. “Converting to electric boating requires an investment,” he tells this newsletter.

E-Werf location – E-Werf

A business scientist by training, Venema tossed caution to the wind in 2015 when he opted to build green boats, starting with old lifeboats and rented a yard in Amsterdam that he aptly named E-Werf (E-Wharf). “We mount everything in installation cabinets, including waterproof components,” says Venema.

“Since 2021, we have been able to remotely update systems and adjust settings on the boats we have converted. Onboard installations differ as we don’t use one supplier for everything we need.

“We make the configuration for each customer by assessing a battery pack’s characteristics. Not all manufacturers give precise charging values, for instance, when the battery management system shuts down. We go through our list of boats twice a week and check for voltages that don’t match battery percentages.”

Last year E-Wharf electrified some 50 boats from 4.5 to 14m (15 to 46ft). The yard installs electric inboards from Green Marine, a German brand made in the Netherlands. It may choose outboard motors or pod drives from Torqeedo, Combi or ePropulsion.

“We look for the right engine configuration, propeller shaft and blade for each boat, says Venema. “An electric motor delivers a different torque and speed than a diesel. A four-blade prop turns more quietly and yields less vibration and cavitation. Electrification means removing the old engine, installing an electric one with the wiring and software, and placing the batteries in balance.

“Sometimes a gearbox is not as deep as an electric motor. In that case, the latter must be placed more forward. We developed a special clutch for all kinds of shaft diameters.”

www.e-werf.nl