“Minerva” is a 58ft serial hybrid narrowboat built on a Tim Tyler semi-cruiser stern hull. With Lithium batteries (600Ahr), a large solar array (2.4kW), and the most powerful motor (20kW) we have fitted to one of our boats yet, Minerva is ready to tackle the toughest of challenges. There is a Fisher Panda PVMV-N 8000X (keel-cooled) generator fitted in the engine room, just in case more power is needed to charge the batteries than the solar panels are providing.
Starting out as an Ortomarine project, we were keen to use this build as a test case for the tougher challenges out on the canal network. New owners, Roger and Jason, joined us part way through the build but luckily for us it was before the Ortomarine team started arguing over the colour scheme!
Although Roger and Jason originally come from the Cheshire area, they have been living in Thailand for the last few years, so all of the decisions regarding their build were made remotely and they didn’t actually see Minerva ‘in the flesh’ until just before her launch!
Minerva also features our own remote control system “OrtoPilot” which controls the motor and the bow thruster, enabling the boat to be driven into locks via remote control – perfect for single handed cruising.
