How do you charge an electric sailboat?

One of the first questions sailors ask when considering electric propulsion is simple: How do I charge the batteries – and how long does it take?

The answer is often simpler than you might think.

An electric sailboat can be charged using the same shore power connections already found in marinas across Europe. Plug in when you arrive, charge while you are in the marina, and leave with energy in the batteries for your next trip.

Charging from standard 16A shore power

A standard 230V / 16A shore power connection can deliver up to 3.68 kW of power and is commonly available in marinas.

As an example, a Searine system with three B48 batteries and a total capacity of 14.4 kWh can theoretically be charged from empty to full in just under four hours.

In real-world conditions, allowing for charging losses and reduced charging power towards the end of the cycle, you should expect approximately:

3 × B48 batteries
14.4 kWh battery capacity
230V / 16A shore power
Approx. 4–4.5 hours from empty to full

That means a normal stop in the marina can be enough to recharge the batteries – and an overnight stay provides plenty of time.

Searine charging.pdf

What about faster charging?

16A isn’t the only option.

Many marinas also offer 32A shore power connections, providing more power when the onboard charging system is configured to take advantage of it.

At the same time, charging infrastructure in marinas is developing. As electric propulsion becomes more common, an increasing number of harbours are beginning to invest in dedicated fast-charging solutions.

Searine charging.pdf

The actual charging time will always depend on the size of your battery bank, the available shore power and the charging equipment installed onboard.

Charging doesn’t stop when you leave the marina

With Searine M360°, the boat can also generate its own electricity while sailing.

When hydrogeneration is activated, the propeller turns while the boat is under sail and the electric motor works as a generator. Instead of consuming energy, the system sends electricity back into the battery bank.

This means that on a sailing yacht, charging isn’t necessarily limited to plugging into shore power. You can put energy back into your batteries while doing what the boat was built to do: sail.

Searine charging.pdf

What size battery bank do you need?

There is no single battery configuration that is right for every sailboat.

The Searine B48 battery system is modular, allowing the battery bank to be configured according to the yacht, expected range and how much energy is needed for both propulsion and life onboard.

A smaller setup might consist of three B48 batteries, while yachts requiring greater range and capacity can be equipped with additional modules.

This also means charging time needs to be considered together with battery capacity, range and how you actually use your boat.

Electric sailing in everyday use

Charging an electric sailboat doesn’t necessarily require changing the way you use a marina.

You arrive, connect to shore power and let the system charge while you are at the dock. And when you head back out, Searine M360° gives you another opportunity to generate energy under sail.

Shore power in the marina. Hydrogeneration at sea.

Together, they make charging part of the normal rhythm of sailing.

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