Electric Outboard

[grayling]

We have a 2.3m inflatable which we use as a tender from our boat in and around the Solent. Although it can take an outboard up to 2.5hp, we don't want to carry petrol. Do any forumites have experience of the speed and duration achieved by electric outboards?

 

[William_H]

I think you will find that petrol really is the only way to go. Electric o/bs are low on power and batteries even heavy ones don't last long.
don't be fooled by wild promises of electrics. olewill

 

[SK700]

we also have a 2.3m inflatable and occasionally use an electric outboard. We get about 1hour at full throttle (3-4knots flat water) from a 85ah battery.

The outboard is light at 7Kg but the battery is about 19k. So carying both is about the same as carying my 4hp and a fuel can. I bought it to avoid petrol fumes in cabin but since then I have built a locker to keep the fuel outside. Nice and quiet though and with no cooling to worry about I can even run it in a few inches of water.

 

[pcatterall]

There was a good PBO article last year (?) on these. I believe that the 'Torquedo' range use AC motors which work more efficiently than previous DC motors ( but cost a lot more)
I'm sure that we will have a resident expert along to give us all the ( correct) details soon!!

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Yes I have one and agree with SK700.

They are good if you want quiet. And Clean.

But they don't do endurance, or much of it anyway.

I bought one to power my inflatable whilst surveying prime fishing rivers in Carmarthen. It worked well in the summer with low water currents. But in the winter, it did not have the umph for the flood currents. Had to revert to the noisy smelly outboard for that period.

Mj

 

[VicS]

If the merits of the electric outboards are the features that suit your requirements that's fine but study the technical details regarding propulsive power output, current consumption, speed and range (at sensible speeds).

Do not be seduced by claims, such as those made by Torqeedo for their most powerful, that an engine with power output of 900watts (approx 1.2hp) is equivalent to a petrol powered engine of 6hp. It may be that it can develop a static bollard pull equal to that of a 6hp but there really is not a lot of call for pulling static bollards!

 

[johnjd44]

Its true the Torqueedo is expensive. But I get the same power out of it than my Honda 2hp 4 stroke for a similar sized tender. For me the attraction was weight and noise. Its very quiet and easy to handle. The battery can be bagged up and taken ashore to recharge or just to keep it safe. It runs about an hour on full power.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
.... Torqueedo is expensive. But I get the same power out of it than my Honda 2hp ....

[/ QUOTE ] You are doing well then or there is something wrong with your Honda. The largest of the currently available Torqeedos is only 900watts (1.2 horse power) output, although it does consume 2000 watts from the battery, according to the technical info on the website.

It would be interesting to know how you are measuring the power output from your engines.

 

[fireball]

Our 2HP honda is rarely used above 1/2 throttle .... so you're only USING 1hp, even if the engine is more powerful

Odd that at the Boatshow the Yamaha sales guy said that the output power of the electric depended on what sea conditions you had, what boat and load you had at the time .... funny, I didn't know the engine had environmental and spacial sensors, I thought it was just an electric motor!!

We're probably going to get a Flover 45 or 55 (Lb thrust) at some point this winter, it will do for the normal tender run when the conditions/requirements dictate that we don't need much power overhead and should run the flubber nicely!

 

[Gavi]

I have an electric outboard but have reverted to oars as the battery is too heavy for occasional use. I only want an outboard for short journeys (to and from the pub!). Would be interested in hearing if anyone has encountered a decent lightweight battery that can last an hour without charge!

 

[Twister_Ken]

 

[Johnarnie]

For those of you not convinced about the merits of a Torqeedo take a look at the various reveiws that have appearded in many magazines including PBO and Sailing Today. go to www.torqeedo.com and then follow the links to the reviews.