Electric Outboard Speed (or lack of!)

Hi Sailorman

I have used a Motorguide FW54 which is a 54 LB outboard for years to get out to my mooring in Portsmouth harbour. Here is some relevant info:
My mooring is three quarters of a mile from the pontoon
I have put together a box with 2 x 20 Amp Hour batteries with a charger so I could just plug in the unit to charge the batteries.
I put a 16 amp 240v socket on the box and a matching plug on the motor.
One charge will get me up to the boat and back (just) it takes about 24 hours to recharge the battery pack.

IMHO here are the strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths
Lighter than a petrol outboard
MUCH quieter than a petrol outboard
Simple to use. Just plug in and go!
No engine starting problems.

Waeknesses
I dont believe it to be as strong as a 2HP petrol engine.
I would be worried about getting to my mooring with a F5 headwind.
Your range is limited to your battery power and it takes a long time to recharge the batteries so forget your solar panels as a quick solution.

To me it is all about range and battery power. The larger the range then the more batteries it will take to get you to where you want to go. Therefore this will increase the weight which will slow the speed.
If you can take the batteries go for the greater power but how are you going to charge them?

IMHO If you are looking at doing any distance it is not practical.

Gerry www.sadler32forsale.com
 
gerryraby1 said:
Hi Sailorman

I have used a Motorguide FW54 which is a 54 LB outboard for years to get out to my mooring in Portsmouth harbour. Here is some relevant info:
My mooring is three quarters of a mile from the pontoon
I have put together a box with 2 x 20 Amp Hour batteries with a charger so I could just plug in the unit to charge the batteries.
I put a 16 amp 240v socket on the box and a matching plug on the motor.
One charge will get me up to the boat and back (just) it takes about 24 hours to recharge the battery pack.

IMHO here are the strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths
Lighter than a petrol outboard
MUCH quieter than a petrol outboard
Simple to use. Just plug in and go!
No engine starting problems.

Waeknesses
I dont believe it to be as strong as a 2HP petrol engine.
I would be worried about getting to my mooring with a F5 headwind.
Your range is limited to your battery power and it takes a long time to recharge the batteries so forget your solar panels as a quick solution.

To me it is all about range and battery power. The larger the range then the more batteries it will take to get you to where you want to go. Therefore this will increase the weight which will slow the speed.
If you can take the batteries go for the greater power but how are you going to charge them?

IMHO If you are looking at doing any distance it is not practical.

Gerry http://www.sadler32forsale.com
Click to expand...
You have the wrong chap
see #5
i cannot see the point of limited range & power,unless your a lake fisherman or a Green / Liberal supporter
 
The point, for gawdssake, is to travel slowly but silently along some almost still inland water. It's delightful, if you like to hear the reeds rustle, or creep up on a kingfisher. Reducing speed (and if it's a nice spot, why do more than 2mph?) will increase range. The only question is how many AHr will be needed with any particular boat to give the range you want, at the speed you want to travel at.
 
Highndry said:
I use a 56lb thrust Wavehopper Stowaway outboard for manoeuvring in and around the launch areas at Rutland. It pushes my 20' Medina along OK but I couldn't estimate top end or range on the 12v battery. It did bring us back a couple of miles when we were becalmed one day last year.
Click to expand...

Hi, I have just bought a used Wavehopper and having difficulty finding a manual or spare parts. Please can anyone advise where spare parts are available. If you are able to upload an image of the assembly view (if you have a manual) that'd would be much appreciated.

Many thanks.
 
Andrewdfree said:
Hi all,

I'm looking at getting a 50lbs electric outboard as a backup for my boat, and I was just wandering if anyone knows roughly how fast it would push my boat. The boat is a 14ft planing V-hull, and it weighs about 250kg. I know it won't be fast, but I only do canal cruising (for now), so I can only go at 4mph max :D

Thanks :)

PS. I don't want to consider a small outboard, as I already have one, I just want an electric one for some peace and quiet every now and then :)
Click to expand...

I went, over a period of 8 years through 3 "budget type" electric motors like this https://www.mytopia.com.au/90lbs-el...MI0IGGn-TC3AIVzauWCh3O7AKkEAYYBSABEgIhyvD_BwE. There is a few points of experience I collected: the thrust advertised is invariably a double of the one delivered (I measured it). The first thing to do is to take it apart and tighten all the connections inside, otherwise they burn after some time. The controller is not capable of handling the maximum power for a long time, it will burn soonner or later. I simply by-passed it on the last motor as I was using the max power only anyway. The leg has to be modified as the adjustable tilt part is not capable of handling the max thrust.
After these mods I was quite happy with the last one (60 lbs advertised thrust) for 3 years until some bastard pinched it with the whole dinghy...
It was (with a 110 Ah deep cycle battery) capable of pushing my 2.5 m inflatable for over 1 mile at 4 knots. Not bad. recharging from a permanently fitted 50 W solar panel. The biggest setup was the weight, so after this one I decided to bite the bullet and got back to a small petrol outboard.
 
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