Tom Hruby, author of “Plug-In-Boats – A Primer for Converting to Electricity” has been cruising the Puget Sound in electric boats he built himself for almost 30 years.  A few years ago, he approached us with his idea of building a custom electric 22′ Cruiser because he thought its size and shape would be perfect for a conversion.  Tom said configuring the boat for batteries and electric outboards did not seem too difficult, which ultimately proved to be true.

Less than a year later, the one and only E-Dory 22′ Cruiser was born, representing a groundbreaking step in sustainable boating – a classic design transformed with modern electric propulsion.  Commissioned by the avid innovator, this first-of-its-kind vessel combines the charm and reliability of our beloved C-Dory with silent, zero-emission performance.  It showcases how traditional craftsmanship can meet cutting-edge clean technology on the water, marking a new chapter in clean, efficient cruising.

In April, it will be two years that Tom and his wife, Sherri have been cruising all around the PNW in “WATT NOW.”  They will be attending the C-Brats Gathering in Friday Harbor in May, and are looking forward to their third summer on the water with their E-Dory.  Last summer they spent 27 days out on the water and 19 of those were overnight.  Together, we made a few custom modifications to the cabin, including the addition of another berth on the starboard side, to make those overnight trips more comfortable.  According to Tom, “one of the best modifications was to put an electric actuator to raise and lower the table, rather than having to crawl under and raise it with my back every day.”

Tom is hoping to be accepted again at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival in September, to speak about plug-in-boats (for the 4th year) where he will also be highlighting his E-dory.

Some fun facts…  Tom has estimated that at 5mph (his cruising speed) the average 22 Cruiser gets around 8mpg of gas.  That is equal to about 16 oz/mile.  However, he only needs 2000 Watts to get to 5mph. That means 2000 Watt-hours/5 miles, or 400 Watt-hours/mile.  Now, convert 400 Watt-hour to gasoline equivalent, he is using only 1.5 oz of gas in terms of actual energy consumed.  A gallon of gas is equivalent to 33-35 kWh of energy.