Cheap electric outboard - make and thrust

JumbleDuck

JumbleDuck

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I have a notion to stick an electric outboard on a dinghy for exploring the intricacies of Loch Ken; partly out of laziness but mainly because I fancy the idea of gliding silently and serenely along without disturbing the wildlife, of which there is a lot.

Torqeedo would be complete overkill. Can anyone recommend anything at the cheaper end of the market? Minn-kota have been around for years but I see (on Amazon) several other makes - Jago, Bison, Oypla and so on - which I presume are Chinese made and which come in at about 60% of the equivalent Minn-kota.

I'd also welcome advice, preferably based on experience, about what sort of thrust would be reasonable for pushing a 10' GRP dinghy along in calm conditions.
 
JumbleDuck said:
I have a notion to stick an electric outboard on a dinghy for exploring the intricacies of Loch Ken; partly out of laziness but mainly because I fancy the idea of gliding silently and serenely along without disturbing the wildlife, of which there is a lot.

Torqeedo would be complete overkill. Can anyone recommend anything at the cheaper end of the market? Minn-kota have been around for years but I see (on Amazon) several other makes - Jago, Bison, Oypla and so on - which I presume are Chinese made and which come in at about 60% of the equivalent Minn-kota.

I'd also welcome advice, preferably based on experience, about what sort of thrust would be reasonable for pushing a 10' GRP dinghy along in calm conditions.
Click to expand...

Make your own.

IMGP2729_zpsftuna3w9.jpg


This pushes my 10' GRP dingy around OK, not fast but it gets there.
 
It must be all about the battery, the propulsion unit is just a right angle drive like Roger's. The more power you can store, the better but you'll never match the power stored in a gallon of petrol.
 
JumbleDuck said:
I have a notion to stick an electric outboard on a dinghy for exploring the intricacies of Loch Ken; partly out of laziness but mainly because I fancy the idea of gliding silently and serenely along without disturbing the wildlife, of which there is a lot.

Torqeedo would be complete overkill. Can anyone recommend anything at the cheaper end of the market? Minn-kota have been around for years but I see (on Amazon) several other makes - Jago, Bison, Oypla and so on - which I presume are Chinese made and which come in at about 60% of the equivalent Minn-kota.

I'd also welcome advice, preferably based on experience, about what sort of thrust would be reasonable for pushing a 10' GRP dinghy along in calm conditions.
Click to expand...

Surely you can cobble something together

670ed7c6.jpg
 
ghostlymoron said:
It must be all about the battery, the propulsion unit is just a right angle drive like Roger's. The more power you can store, the better but you'll never match the power stored in a gallon of petrol.
Click to expand...

I know. I have petrol powered outboards coming out of my ears[1]. I want something silent and light. a range of a couple of miles will be fine. If the hundred quid ones are OK I am not going to faff around making one.

[1] At last count four Seagulls (Forty Featherweight, 40D, Bitzer, Silver Century), Mercury 2.5, Mariner 5 and a dismantled British Anzani.
 
None of the cheap ones are any good for the sort of thing you want to do. They are designed for trolling on bass fishing boats in US lakes where the big outboard is used to get to the fishing grounds and the trolling motor powered by the onboard battery is used for either trolling or holding the boat in position while fishing.

They suffer from the same problems as we have discussed ad nauseum about electric propulsion for boats - limited power and limited range. You may get 2-3 knots in flat water and range determined by how big a lead acid battery you are prepared to hump around.

The Torqeedo is the only one that is remotely practical.
 
I have a bison 40lbs thrust on a 2.3 inflatable with a golf trolley battery. I had two on board overtook a small rubberdub with 4 powered by a torqeedo! Bison seem ok to me for the money, much faster than rowing. Equates to about 0.5 hp.
Torqeedo overpriced.
 
I have a bison on my3 man inflatable. Not sure of the thrust but vaguly rember it was mid range. Took me in and out to my mooring against wind and tide. On one occasion averted a very nasty situation were I couldn't row against an off shore wind. I replaced the supplied battery with a gel 26ah. Battery power was the only limitation I ever had.
 
centaur1 said:
I have a bison on my3 man inflatable. Not sure of the thrust but vaguly rember it was mid range. Took me in and out to my mooring against wind and tide. On one occasion averted a very nasty situation were I couldn't row against an off shore wind. I replaced the supplied battery with a gel 26ah. Battery power was the only limitation I ever had.
Click to expand...

Thanks - that's very helpful.
 
another thread i participated in, for my limited use, Bison seemed to get good VFM mentions.

Power wise, i read elswhere whatever make the speed you travel at can greately affect how long a battery last's, using the highest speed being the most detrimental.

My thought is was to buy the highest power Bison motor, run it at 1/2 - 2/3 speed could actually offer beter efficiency than a lower powered model, while having the availability of better 'grunt' when needed for strong head winds or carrying additional people.

I do appreciate high end engines are better built, but you could buy multiple Bisons for far less money, making carrying a spare very economic if nervious, while suffering a loss would be less stressful.

Alan
 
philiphenson said:
I have a bison 40lbs thrust on a 2.3 inflatable with a golf trolley battery. I had two on board overtook a small rubberdub with 4 powered by a torqeedo! Bison seem ok to me for the money, much faster than rowing. Equates to about 0.5 hp.
Torqeedo overpriced.
Click to expand...
Bethwaite measured the drag of a 14ft sailing dinghy, ballasted to 500+ lbs all up at around 10lb at 4 knots.
A good rigid hull needs very little thrust in calm conditions.
An inflatable will be shorter and draggier generally.
 
I have a bison 65 (from Amazon) powered from 2x 22Ah AGM batteries (from a mobility scooter shop in Brackley), connectors from maplin . Two batteries in case one goes flat, or I accidentally pull the leads off or something. However, I've only ever needed to use 1 battery on any outing. Speed settings 3 and 4 are my usual for going to and from my mooring in usual conditions; setting 5 will make decent progress even when it's pretty choppy and into a hard wind (conditions when I wouldn't even get away from the dock if trying to row).
 
philiphenson said:
I have a bison 40lbs thrust on a 2.3 inflatable with a golf trolley battery. I had two on board overtook a small rubberdub with 4 powered by a torqeedo! Bison seem ok to me for the money, much faster than rowing. Equates to about 0.5 hp.
Torqeedo overpriced.
Click to expand...
If you were going faster than the other boat then you will overtake it.
You don't know what power setting was on the other boat, so meaningless example.
 
I have a Shakespear 55lb, supposedly seawater rated. Used it for a couple of years with a 90Ah leisure battery. Runs a dinghy for 4 hours plus at around 2.5 to 3 knots. Bought it on Ebay for around £130.

And yes we sneak up on all sorts of wildlife!
 
sgr143 said:
I have a bison 65 (from Amazon) powered from 2x 22Ah AGM batteries (from a mobility scooter shop in Brackley), connectors from maplin . Two batteries in case one goes flat, or I accidentally pull the leads off or something. However, I've only ever needed to use 1 battery on any outing. Speed settings 3 and 4 are my usual for going to and from my mooring in usual conditions; setting 5 will make decent progress even when it's pretty choppy and into a hard wind (conditions when I wouldn't even get away from the dock if trying to row).
Click to expand...

That's interesting. Thanks. I can buy a Bison 65 for £170 and 2 22ah mobility batteries for £120. That it certainly tempting versus a Torqueedo. Did you fit a plug/socket to connect the battery? If so, which ones?

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Last edited:
Plum said:
That's interesting. Thanks. I can buy a Bison 65 for £170 and 2 22ah mobility batteries for £120. That it certainly tempting versus a Torqueedo. Did you fit a plug/socket to connect the battery? If so, which ones?

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
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Believe me C that nothing yet beats a Torqeedo. I know the OP doesn't want one but once you've got over the initial cost you've got an easy to use powerful outboard needing no separate battery.
Regards, S.
 
FWB said:
Believe me C that nothing yet beats a Torqeedo. I know the OP doesn't want one but once you've got over the initial cost you've got an easy to use powerful outboard needing no separate battery.
Regards, S.
Click to expand...

I did not realise the battery was included, is it removable to allow ease charging?

I'm thinking to solar charge at home when not in use, madam would not be over impressed with an electric engine in kitchen - disguised as a food blender lol!

Alan
 
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