Electric Outboard for Tender

[lpdsn]

Could you please explain what you mean by this? Thanks.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

First of all make sure there's a breaker in the circuit of the required rating ~50A. Secondly, I replaced the spring-loaded jump-lead-like clamps with decent sized ring terminals, properly crimped and protected by heatshrink, and and have screw terminals with plastic wing nuts on the battery box.

 

[lpdsn]

You misquote me - or rather misrepresent what I say about them.

I like them and have done since I first saw them in use in the US over 40 years ago - being used for the purpose for which they were designed.

My point is perfectly illustrated by this thread. That is whether the trolling type motor is suitable for use on a yacht tender as an alternative to a 2.5hp outboard.

To this the answer can only be a maybe - if you can live with the limitations as I outlined earlier. You can't ignore the limitations, nor remove them so they limit the range of circumstances where their use is practical. This is of course exactly what you aim to find out.

As I have pointed out many times, these products have been on the market for many years and if they did the job you would see them everywhere. But you don't, which must tell you something. Some people have made a success of using them, but always in limited circumstances, typically short runs to and from a mooring in benign conditions, but once you move away from those defined conditions you soon hit the barriers of power, range and portability.

So, await your end of season report.

I was jesting as much as anything.

I carefully compared the thrust to be expected from the trolling motor with that quoted for the Torqueedo. They are comparable. So it really comes down to a comparison of Li & Lead Acid battery technology and allegations of the build quality of the trolling motors. Some of the latter are certainly false, but only time will tell how long it actually lasts. Of course I could buy several for the price of a new petrol outboard so can't complain that much if it doesn't last quite as long, although I will expect a fair few years.

If someone wants or needs longer range then they'll need to get a bigger battery. That would certainly require a mindset change for someone used to a petrol outboard.

The trolling motors certainly don't come as a complete set up out of the box. There's quite a DIY/PBO element in the set-up. There are stories of failures where people are running them without breakers or fuses. You also need to consider just how you're going to keep the batteries fully charged and how you monitor the state of charge. I'd suggest that people who've had issues arising from either unfused connections or poorly charged batteries have been a bit niave.

 

[sgr143]

... longer range then they'll need to get a bigger battery.

Or several smaller ones to the total Ah, which is what I did. Advantages are that each lump to be carried is smaller and lighter; plus a certain amount of redundancy - if the connections fail on a single battery or if that battery itself fails, you can just swap connections over to another. Also if something shorts out in the motor, you can literally pull the plug: though I agree that a fuse wouldn't be a bad idea.

As you say, a certain PBO mindset is needed!

 

[rogerthebodger]

No batteries? Must have to watch out for solar eclipses!

Mike.

There are batteries under the solar panel so its OK at night or when the sun does not shine.