Electric outboards - any recommendations ?

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arfa

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I am thinking about buying an electric outboard for the short hop from anchoring to the shore - max use probably 20 minutes each outing and for getting an inflatable tender with 2 adults & 2 kids ashore. Are there any recommendations for which type amongst forumites ?
 
Just bought the same myself so not used as yet however even with a high thrust (mine is 54 lb) would have thought engine may struggle with load as battery will need to be around 30kg plus weight of 4 of you.
 
You'll most likely get a few posts from those who say they are no good, but I'll try and get in first! Torqeedo is outstanding but very expensive and not 100% corrosion proof. I use a 54lb thrust electric outboard which draws 50amps at max speed so the battery size is an issue. Anything less than 90amps will not like that kind of current draw and 40 minutes use is going to use a lot of amps. But one notch off top speed and the draw goes down to 25 amps so a lighter battery becomes a real option. I reckon 60amps is the smallest you can go and is much more manageable than a 90amp battery. Next issue is speed. 3 knots is the best I've had but with an inflatable rather than our Walker RID that will be less and against wind and tide it won't give you the grunt that a 2.5hp petrol outboard will. Overall I can recommend it for several reasons:

1. It's quiet, really quiet
2. It's safer for the children to use (battery in a battery box fixed to a thwart) because the impact speed is lower!
3. We like pottering about and a petrol ob is smelly & noisy
4. Brand new and with a 3 year warranty it only cost £180

It's not a perfect solution, in five years time I reckon most new ob's will be electric because electric car technology will have solved the battery weight issue and development will have sorted the power and cost issue of the outboard.
 
I may have it wrong, but am I correct in saying that not many electric outboards are rated as salt water resistant?
 
Thank you for the tips. I usually anchor pretty close in (lifting keel) and row to shore so 10 minutes use is on the high side. I'll have a look at torqeeda but if any weight/cost advantage is undone by the battery I'll probably go for a conventional outboard
 
[ QUOTE ]
I may have it wrong, but am I correct in saying that not many electric outboards are rated as salt water resistant?

[/ QUOTE ] Most do a fresh and a salt option. The freshwater ones are not suited to prolonged immersion because they don't have an anode.
 
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