Electric outboard to fit through centreboard casing?

[Nicholas Blyth]

Hi,
This is probably a daft one but I have a classic wooden sailing dinghy that I would like to power by electric outboard occasionally, without spoiling the look of the boat with a transom mounting.
Does anybody know of an electric outboard that can be mounted on and posted through a fairly small centre board aperture? Clearly, either top or bottom will need to be fairly easily detachable without risk of ruining the machine. I doubt if I’m the only one with this requirement?!
Puffin

 

[Seastoke]

Will it steer ok in the centre board position.

 

[Nicholas Blyth]

Will it steer ok in the centre board position.

Good afternoon Brixham bound,
I'm intending to use the very nice existing rudder and tiller for the actual steering. The motor just needs to provide push really.. manoeuvrability isn't a priority. Do you have a possibility in mind?

 

[dunedin]

Most dinghy centreboard cases are circa 20-30mm (an inch plus or minus a bit) wide.

How would you get a propellor up and down through such a narrow gap?

Clearly it might be possible to find a cheap low power trolling motor and split it such that the lower end is attached permanently below the surface, and a cable only is passed through the centreboard case up to a battery and controller. But then it would be permanently below the hull, causing drag and preventing coming into shallow water. Also likely preventing use of the centreboard for sailing.

So sounds like a non starter. Or have I misunderstood your idea

 

[billskip]

How wide is the aperture.?

 

[Nicholas Blyth]

Good morning,
Many thanks for this feedback. The aperture is 3.5cm so fairly luxurious Yes, thanks, I am posting in the hope that a ready-to- buy solution may be suggested, but realistically I’m looking at whether it would be feasible to adapt an existing inexpensive trolling motor by making a split in the shaft that could then be sleeved and cables plugged when lower shaft and drive unit are fixed in place in the centreboard. . This is intended for exploring confined non tidal rivers and canals over in France where I live, in areas where sailing the boat isn’t really an option. Normally, of course, I’ll be sailing or rowing. Thanks again for you replies!

 

[Poignard]

How about something like this?



Or this:




A side mounted electric outboard on a removable bracket could be used when required and stowed away out of sight when not in use

 

[billskip]

Why not look at a flexible drive cable like can be operated by battery drill.
I think you will have to make your own system..but a flexible cable can be just pushed up the space.

 

[Plum]

Hi,
This is probably a daft one but I have a classic wooden sailing dinghy that I would like to power by electric outboard occasionally, without spoiling the look of the boat with a transom mounting.
Does anybody know of an electric outboard that can be mounted on and posted through a fairly small centre board aperture? Clearly, either top or bottom will need to be fairly easily detachable without risk of ruining the machine. I doubt if I’m the only one with this requirement?!
Puffin

something like this mounted on the rudder would be easier. 341.8￡ 22% OFF|SUP paddle board surfboard, paddle board electric propeller fin underwater propeller| | - AliExpress

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Nicholas Blyth]

Good morning Plum,
That looks like the perfect solution for me and it answers the drawbacks to my original idea that were rightly raised in other responses. I’ll go for this solution (never seen these before) and many thanks to all who helped me out on this!

 

[Hermit]

Or even simpler?

Electric Paddle or Sculling Oar: The TEMO 450W Electric Outboard Motor

 

[Nicholas Blyth]

Hi Hermit,
Many thanks for the suggestion. Yes, this would be simpler and I’m impressed with the reviews of the product, but am attracted by the other solution as it will be less visible!

 

[Hermit]

it will be less visible!

Ah ha! A racing technique?

 

[Nicholas Blyth]

Ah ha! A racing technique?

I like your thinking!!

 

[Poignard]

Good morning Plum,
That looks like the perfect solution for me and it answers the drawbacks to my original idea that were rightly raised in other responses. I’ll go for this solution (never seen these before) and many thanks to all who helped me out on this!

If you go for Plum's suggestion (Post #9), how are you going to pass it down through the 3.5cm centreboard slot? Or have you decided not to go with that idea?

 

[Plum]

If you go for Plum's suggestion (Post #9), how are you going to pass it down through the 3.5cm centreboard slot? Or have you decided not to go with that idea?

My suggestion in post #9 was to mount (clamp or clip?) a drive pod on the rudder. It could be mounted on the side of the rudder and assuming it is a lifting rudder the drive would not ground in shallow water.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Plum]

Good morning Plum,
That looks like the perfect solution for me and it answers the drawbacks to my original idea that were rightly raised in other responses. I’ll go for this solution (never seen these before) and many thanks to all who helped me out on this!

More ideas here Electric motor on rudder

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Poignard]

My suggestion was to mount (clamp) a drive pod on the rudder. It could be mounted on the side of the rudder and assuming it is a lifting rudder the drive would not ground in shallow water.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Ah, I didn't understand. Interesting idea anyway!