Last fortnight Racundra went for a motor on the Forth and Clyde canal.
Her batteries were charged and, requiring assistance, I was ably assisted by an assistant.
She motored for the best part of an hour, though in reality the best part was only her outer hull got wet.
Her top speed under power is a moderate walking pace: it feels about right. There's not much effective braking from the prop, but I see this as a bonus, since it suggests there's not a lot of drag from the prop, either. Tracking is great - that long keel means she drives like she's on rails, with no tendency to turn off a straight line with the rudder centred. She's almost rubbish in reverse.
Steering? With +/- 25 degrees of rudder, and no unscale extension, I thought it might not be enough, but she responds well to her helm and has a turning circle of about 3m. I can see this being a lot less with a small centreboard down to pivot around, and - by backing the jib - she should be able to tack well. There is no steering in reverse, but then she hardly goes in reverse, so that's not an issue.
She needed a pile of lead to hit her waterline - I guess the hull's about 15kg (two and a half stone) when fully loaded, which gives her loads of inertia and momentum. Small waves were shrugged off with a "mind? I'm coming through" attitude that's quite endearing.
I brought her in a few times during her run to measure battery charge and check for leaks, and have to report that the battery's phenomenal: plenty of life in it for a good few hours under power and, I think, all day under sail. Not a drop of water in her, with the propshaft quite dry. The big Buhler motor not at all warm.
Next up? A secret sailing test at a secret location, before I report back.
Andy