Electric outboard

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Jabez

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Hi
I recently bought a 2.4 meter tender and I am looking for a outboard I have been offered a electric outboard with 40lbs of thrust would this be any good as it's significantly cheaper than a petrol one and a lot smaller for storage aboard my boat
Tia
 
Flyingspanner said:
I have just bought an electric outboard for my new 2.5M tender went for this one.
EPROPULION Spirit 1.0 Plus: - 3HP / 1kW Electric Outboard Motor :)
ePropulsion
Click to expand...
I can't believe the marketing. Looking on their website they claim their 1Kw motor is equivalent to a 3hp petrol, maybe because it's direct drive? 1hp = 745.7w and 3.0hp = 2.24Kw so I don't believe it's possible to 'lose' 1.2Kw in the drivetrain of a 3hp conventional engine. Smoke and mirrors!

If the nominal voltage is 44.8v, a 1Kw motor will be pulling 22.3A which is 83A if it were a 12v motor. The amp draw to thrust ratio on a 12v trolling motor is approximately 1:1 so that motor gives about 83lbs or 1.3hp of thrust according to my calculation. Happy if someone tells me I got it wrong lol.
 
Last edited:
limecc said:
I can't believe the marketing. Looking on their website they claim their 1Kw motor is equivalent to a 3hp petrol, maybe because it's direct drive? 1hp = 745.7w and 3.0hp = 2.24Kw so I don't believe it's possible to 'lose' 1.2Kw in the drivetrain of a 3hp conventional engine. Smoke and mirrors!

If the nominal voltage is 44.8v, a 1Kw motor will be pulling 22.3A which is 83A if it were a 12v motor. The amp draw to thrust ratio on a 12v trolling motor is approximately 1:1 so that motor gives about 83lbs or 1.3hp of thrust according to my calculation. Happy if someone tells me I got it wrong lol.
Click to expand...
I'm sure your maths is correct - but I can tell you from personal experience that when one opens the "throttle" on an Epropulsion outboard it has a good deal more initial thrust (torque?) than a 2stroke Mercury 3.3hp. Hold on!
 
limecc said:
I can't believe the marketing. Looking on their website they claim their 1Kw motor is equivalent to a 3hp petrol, maybe because it's direct drive? 1hp = 745.7w and 3.0hp = 2.24Kw so I don't believe it's possible to 'lose' 1.2Kw in the drivetrain of a 3hp conventional engine. Smoke and mirrors!

If the nominal voltage is 44.8v, a 1Kw motor will be pulling 22.3A which is 83A if it were a 12v motor. The amp draw to thrust ratio on a 12v trolling motor is approximately 1:1 so that motor gives about 83lbs or 1.3hp of thrust according to my calculation. Happy if someone tells me I got it wrong lol.
Click to expand...
It is not the engine that moves the boat but the propeller and petrol outboards are inefficient in converting HP to usable thrust, particularly at low displacement speeds. Trolling motors are designed for moving heavy boats slowly (1-3 knots) and low levels of thrust adqeuate for this. However they are not good for the OPs use as he wants to move a heavy boat at relatively high speeds (4-5 knots). Also they need external power sources which make them less than practical for a tender. The ePropulsion and Torqeedo are completely different animals with props designed for the job and built in batteries making them very viable alternatives to petrol outboards commonly used for this type of application - at a price of course.
 
Either on the roof with roof bars or it may fit in between the engines and rear seats when we are using the boat - there are some huge lazerets under the seating and table area so when not in use will live down there - there is a 240v outlet in the maintenance bay, so the battery pack will go straight on charge after use, it says about 8-10 hours to fully charge from empty so overnight will be fine in the marina. Run time looks good and easy to use especially for my wife - just twist to go fwd and twist the other way for reverse ?

ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus: Is this electric outboard a worthy Torqeedo rival?
 
FD5BEAA1-D01B-42B1-8D80-2E6E428AA2F4.jpeg
Been using this mini Kota for over a decade .I think is a 55 lb .Was on a 2.4 M flat floor rollup .Now on a slightly shorter 2.2 hard V :) rigid bottom .
The 60 Ah batt is a boggo lead acid £60 jobbie .It’s over 10 yrs old as well .Sits midships in that box .

I guess I was an early adopter over a decade ago .Infact it’s all 2006 kit .
The OB is / was there “ marine “ version being white .At the time the lake trolling motors were black and smaller .
Its got an anode on the prop etc .
Just means no petrol ( boats all electric anyhow so no gas either ) and kids and women can start it , ie run ashore for pizza without dad going . Also it’s ideal for dog shore runs as well being silent .
No ones gonna nick it either .
Remember Torquedoo ( sp ? ) and Li ion tech was in its infancy and €2000 + back then .

I might buy a smaller , but same power Li Ion batt or something or even just another boggo lead acid , even smaller 40 Ah ?
A rainy day visit to a DIY store ?

See more and more electric OB s like this on little tenders nowadays .
I think it was around €600 back n the day .The black fresh water we’re 1/2 that price or lower .
16 yrs later still works no evidence of any corrosion either .I have suffered for 16 yrs denied the pleasure of the “ hunt “ tracking down another OB :)………not needed !
 
Jabez said:
Hi
I recently bought a 2.4 meter tender and I am looking for a outboard I have been offered a electric outboard with 40lbs of thrust would this be any good as it's significantly cheaper than a petrol one and a lot smaller for storage aboard my boat
Tia
Click to expand...

People can do all the Maths they want and theorise all they want......... But an Electric 40 lb Motor will push you along but it is painfully slow and in any sort of current/tide will be terrible. If it is one that works of a separate battery which I suspect a 40lb one does you also have to tote the battery about and of course make sure it is charged up. I have one I have tried it and I am not impressed.

A 3 hp or similar petrol outboard will be far better and far less hassle. To be honest I can row my small sib almost as fast as the 40 lb motor pushed it along.

I am sure those that have never tried one will have lots of opinions and will provide you with lots of theory but in the end the little 40 lb ones are not up to muster
 
You could give one of these ago. That I tested. It is cheap and might last. It is certainly light and at 4hp will do the job and is easyish to store

 
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