1. What do you mean an “electric boat”? Is this some new, untested technology?

Not at all! Electric boats have been around for well over a hundred years. At the 1893 Worlds Fair in Chicago, a fleet of 55 electric launches carried people to and from the water-based venues. These boats ran all day everyday and were considered a great success. Once the internal combustion engine was invented, the practicality of electric propulsion was all but forgotten - not necessarily for the right reasons.

Even now, electric launches remain very popular in Europe, and also enjoy a large following in Southern California. Although the basic concepts are similar to the boats of yesteryear, huge advances in motor, propeller, and battery technology now allow us to enjoy a much more refined experience than our great grandparents did.

It’s also worth mentioning that most huge cruise ships, many military ships and submarines, and most freight/passenger trains operate on electric drive systems powered by diesel generators. The electric drive is nothing new - but until now has not been a real choice for a high-end recreational boat.

2. Why should I consider an electric boat?

While most of us love to go fast in our boats, many have never experienced the unique pleasure of cruising slowly and silently in an electric boat. Waterways that we thought we knew come alive in a new ways, and without the environmental impact of sooty exhaust, irritating noise, or large wakes to spoil the moment.

There is now a high-end choice for the discerning boater interested in the advantages of electric propulsion - the Lear 204. Born from the same heritage as the famous LEARJET and entirely handmade in America, the 204 represents a revolution in marine design!

Safe, stable, and simple to operate, with almost no maintenance and operational costs of a dollar a day, the LEAR 204 is the perfect choice for South Florida, and EPower Marine can show you the way.

3. How fast does it go and how long can I stay out?

Since the Lear 204 is a “displacement hull”, it is designed to be operated within a pre-determined range of speed – from just making way up to about 6 MPH. This top speed is limited not only by the hull shape but by the motor controller. Anywhere within this range, all of the components will work together in the most efficient manner possible.

You can motor for 10 hours at 80 % throttle, yielding a maximum distance of approximately 50 miles. The slower you go, the longer the batteries will last, and the more miles you can cover.

Most people are very surprised just how ‘fast’ 6 MPH really is! Considering that this boat is designed for inland cruising, like the Intracoastal Waterway and residential canals, this is a perfect speed for the intended usage. Plus, you never have to worry about a ‘no-wake zone’, because there is never a wake!

Another measure of ‘performance’ is actually not speed at all but “throttle response”. This boat is surprisingly responsive to throttle changes, and gives the operator a feeling of control and performance unlike anything else.

4. What makes this boat superior to every other electric boat design?

The Lear 204 is a purpose built electric boat, not an adaptation of existing designs. Every component is chosen for its contribution to the overall design goals. She is 20 feet 4 inches long, with a beam of 8 feet 5 inches, draws 22” of water, and with the top up is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs approximately 2900 pounds.

There are three basic models of the Lear 204, and many options and upgrades available for each: 1) Lectra-Lift Hard Top, 2) Fixed Hard Top, and 3) Soft Top. As their names imply, the differences between each are the roof choice you’d prefer.

The Lectra-Lift Top
This is a patented movable hard top. It raises and lowers when you activate this control from either the helm console or the key fob. This electric roof relies on a separate control system - completely isolated from the boat’s propulsion motor. We have extensively tested this system, opening and closing the roof every five minutes for 3 months in our testing facilities! It works great, lasts long, and goes up or down in 45 seconds. Run it with the top down as a three-seat sport cruiser, or with the top up as an elegant party boat for up to 11 people. With the top down it is secure, weather tight, and trailer-friendly.

Fixed Hard Top
This 204 model features a ridged fiberglass roof in a non-retracting version. It provides permanent shade from the sun and elements, creates and intimate cabin space, and can be upgraded with EZ2CY premium window system to create a comfortable cabin enclosure from which to view the world as you glide by.

Soft Top
The Lear 204 soft top model is made of a durable UV-coated waterproof fabric that resists mildew and repels dirt. It is snapped to a sturdy four-post stainless steel frame (which allows for trailer) and has the dual-track system for the premium EZ2CY window system.

Patented Hull Design
Regardless of the roof option you select, all of the Lear 204 electric boats are built on our revolutionary hull design. The Lear 204 has no bow wave at all and produces very little wake. Much research and many reports from the last five years have recognized how damaging bow wave and wake are to our nation’s shorelines and estuaries.

Like many racing sailboats, this hull has a fine entry to offer the least resistance. The widest part of the 204’s hull (the center of buoyancy) is 66% aft of the entry along the length of the waterline. This means that when the hull is pushed through the water, there are no abrupt changes in water flow to slow it down.

The increased beam (width) and decreased depth (draft) of this hull provide the stability and space that make it so comfortable. Adding a long low-resistance keel allow this deign to track with no noticeable leeway (side slip).

Electric Motor
The standard Lear Baylor 204 electric boat uses an American-made 36 volt DC industrial motor (other electric options are also availible). The motor is enhanced with an aluminum casting that has cooling fins facing outward. This is mounted over the motor and acts as a passive heat sink to draw heat away from the motor, rather than using powered cooling fans which draw moist air into the motor and causes corrosion, and use battery power.

The motor is rated at 5 HP continuous, but please don’t confuse ‘electric motor horsepower’ with ‘internal combustion engine horsepower’. Because of the different characteristics of electric motors, they cannot be compared directly with IC motors. A good rule of thumb is 1 electric horsepower is equal to 2.5 internal combustion engine horsepower. 100% of an electric motor’s torque is available at 1 RPM, which makes it a great choice for a displacement boat.

E-Prop®
The 204 uses a patented five-blade propeller with plates on the blade tips. Designed for low RPM electric propulsion, and specially engineered to “grab more water” the E-Prop allows the Lear 204 to accelerate quickly. The more blades a prop has, the easier it is to stay balanced. The E-Prop® also diminishes “prop-walk” thereby giving the boat excellent reverse maneuverability and a care-free docking experience.

Helm Console
The helm of the 204 is beautifully appointed with a teak steering wheel that is specially designed by Lear Baylor, and custom built. While seated at the ergonomically advanced console, surrounded by drink holders and a convenient food tray, you’ll enjoy the smooth hydraulic steering and stable operation.

Power Controller
The controller handles the heavy amp loads necessary to power the motor. It takes its commands from the throttle, which allows the operator to specify: fast, slow, forward and reverse. The interface for this controller is proprietary. It is solid state with the forward and reverse functions completely integrated. We purposely limit maximum current to keep the motor operating at a safe temperature.

Charger
The Charger is built in to the boat and permanently connected to the battery bank. One only has to plug in to a regular 120 volt outlet at the dock to initiate the automatic charging process; there is nothing more to it. The time to attain full charge will depend on how depleted the batteries are, but will usually be between 6 to 9 hours.

The cost of a full charge is less than $2 in electricity. So using your boat one day per week results in operating costs of about $100 for an entire year! Compare that to $100 per DAY in fuel on a similarly-sized gas powered boat (incidentally, that gas would cost approx $5k/year!!)

Wiring
Our wiring harness is produced similar to wiring harnesses made for the aerospace industry. All wiring is marine-grade tinned copper with 105 degrees centigrade insulation. Our connectors are watertight and made of tinned silicone bronze. All connections are coded with their name and number for easy recognition. The wiring harness is produced in-house on a large flat surface with diagrams, pictures and examples of connectors to be used. It is thoroughly tested before installation into any of our boats. It is wired for every feature currently available, meaning that if you wanted to add an option later, the wiring is ready.

High Lift Rudder
Like everything else on the Lear 204, the rudder is designed to match the exact performance parameters of the boat. A thick, high lift rudder only adds drag and cavitation to a high speed boat, but is perfect for the 204. Its shape is a natural continuation of the contour of our keel. It is a thick high lift type that only requires a 20% angle to turn the boat in its own length. Our patented propeller and this rudder design make the 204 very responsive, easy to handle and more maneuverable than competitive offerings.

Windows
The waterproof EZ2CY® window system is the best in the world. The “clearer than glass” panels are made with semi-hard Acrylite and Stamoid. They are hung from a dual track, and these panels can be raised up to the roof-liner and fastened with ball cords into special slots in the roof so that the top can be lowered, or for “top up” cruising without windows.

Refrigerator/Freezer
Cold air is heavy and “spills out” of a refrigerator with a vertical door. The Lear 204 uses a top-loading refrigerator/freezer that doesn’t waste cold air every time it is opened. Therefore, it uses less battery power to operate and conserves more battery power for propulsion.

Cleats
Fabricated of high-strength powder-coated aluminum, Lear Baylor provides the Double-Duck® cleats on the Lear 204. Easy to use and mounted with back-up plates for exceptional strength, you wonder while all cleats aren’t designed like this!

5. What is the capacity of the Lear 204?

With the top up, the well-appointed interior of the Lear 204 comfortably seats 9 - 11 adults with plenty of legroom for all. The high ergonomic seatbacks provide better support and are more comfortable than competitive offerings. Operating the 204 with the top down, maintain a sleek ‘sport boat’ look and seat 2-3 people around the helm.

6. What can you tell me about the batteries used onboard?

The Lear 204 uses six 8D AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries made by Concord (the company which makes the batteries for the LEARJET). A very fine boron-silicate glass mat is used between the plates to absorb the electrolyte. These batteries have all of the advantages of “gelled” but can tolerate much more abuse. Since the electrolyte (acid) is contained in the glass mats, they cannot spill, even if broken. They are certified as “non-hazardous”, meaning there are no fumes, as with flooded or vented batteries, and there is no need to “top off” these batteries with water. They are designed for multiple discharges, and they have an easy-to-read indicator that shows the current percentage of charge.

“8D” is a standard designation of battery size, and these are very large (and heavy) ones. Think of your car battery x3 and that is about the size of one 8D. The large thermal mass of these batteries means the internal temperature will change much more slowly than the surrounding air temperature. Since the liquid is dispersed within the glass mat, the mat absorbs any expansion from freezing. This makes them practically immune to damage from freezing temperatures. The oxygen and hydrogen recombine inside the battery, and the oxygen transfers back to the negative plates while charging. The oxygen then recombines with the hydrogen, to prevent water loss through electrolysis. This recombination is 99% efficient, so almost no water is lost.

While the cost of AGM batteries is higher than flooded batteries, they are safer, won’t freeze, and require no maintenance. If properly charged, they should last seven years.

7. How should I manage this battery power?

We install a “LINK 10” power meter standard on every boat. You can consider this is your ‘fuel gauge’, although it displays more information than that. By monitoring this gauge you can accurately see how much power you have used, how much you are using at the moment, and how much power remains.



As any safe boater would plan fuel usage for their trip, the same holds true for electric boats. Plan on 1/3rd to get to your destination, 1/3rd for the return trip, and 1/3rd reserve emergency capacity. We recommend never discharging your batteries lower than 20%, and your batteries will definitely last longer if you don’t discharge them down to zero.

A good practice is to always have your boat plugged in whenever possible, as the automatic charger will not charge beyond capacity and will keep your batteries always ‘topped off”.

8. What do I need to tow this boat on a trailer?

Any vehicle with a towing capacity of 3500 pounds or more will be able to tow the Lear 204 with ease.

9. What can I expect for maintenance duties and costs?

Compared to a powerboat, you can expect very little maintenance. Basically you will need to keep the batteries charged. The LINK-10 battery indicator will make this a simple task, and the automatic charger will always prevent damage from over-charging.

Compare this to the list of annual maintenance items on a conventional boat (gas or diesel):oil changes, spark plugs & wires, fuel filters, fuel system cleanings, winterization/ summerization, transmission service... none of which are required with the Lear 204. The operational savings (time & money) really start adding up!

Then there's fueling - either with cans or at the fuel dock, refueling with diesel or gasoline
is not only unpleasant, it's a fairly dangerous and nerve-racking activity that's now unnecessary.

The "sticker price" of the Lear 204 varies depending on how you configure yours. Options include different roof systems, premium sound, refrigeration, sinks, showers, trailers and anchors. The effective price range is $50,000 - $70,000 depending on your roof choice and option selections. Complete details can be found here.

And who likes to fuel up their boats, either with cans or at the fuel dock? Fueling up with diesel or gasoline is not only unpleasant; it’s fairly dangerous and nerve-racking activity.

10. Can I customize my Lear 204 with hull graphics,
or different upholstery and carpet colors?

Of course you can! The buyer has a wide choice of colors for these boat components, and your 204 will be “built from the hull up” the way you want it. Your EPower Marine representative can show you the many options available.

11. What warranty is offered with the Lear 204?

Lear Baylor offers a comprehensive warranty on thier high quality products. Coverage includes 'limited lifetime' on drive motor, controller, propeller, and roof actuators; 10 years on hull and deck; 2 years on gel coat and other major components. Some indiviual components are covered for longer terms by the original manufaturer.

These boats are not complicated to service and all parts were chosen for long life and reliability. However, should you need service and if you are not located near a dealership EPower Marine will arrange for a competent subcontractor to handle repairs local to you. We will manage the warranty process for you!