Electric outboards

[harvey38]

Are electric outboards a viable option or does petrol still rule?

I need a new engine for a 7' tender and the weight of an electric outboard is inviting but coupled to at least an 85A battery, makes it heavier than a small outboard. Add the problems of keeping yet another battery charged, £400 for a 2hp+ outboard seems the easier option.

Maybe I have answered my own question!!

 

[Captain Coochie]

I have an electric outboard for my tender and its great for sneaking up on fishing spots in creeks etc but rubbish for keeping up with my mates at pub time /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif The small outboard with internal tank is easier ...... Although i would use the electric if i planned to do a day fishing .

 

[sturmvogel190a]

I have used electric and small petrols and the electrics are fine as long as you dont have a long way to go esp if you want to get there pronto
Use the petrol to get me to where i want to fish and then the oars for stealth mode to get closer.
Run a 2.5 suzuki 4 stroke on the tender and its great very light and plenty powerfull enough,Pacer marine do them for £359 and they have fwd and nuetral gears with a metal prop .
Think that all outboards now are integral tank unless over 4hp which is a bit of a pain if going any distance as trying to fill up again in the middle of the river is not fun.
Just sold my 50lb thrust Minn Kota because of the hassle of lumping a great big heavy battery i was not using it.
As has been said they are great for sneaking into fishing spots just found that the 110 amp hr battery to much hassle and if buying new by the time you have bought a decent battery and charger plus the electric outboard its often cheaper to get a petrol just my tupence worth Steve.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

IMO due to the weight of a viable battery and getting it charged then OK if you trail but otherwise "not quite there yet" is where I'd put electric. Having said that, it is the way forward for small tenders, and I speak as one of those hoons with a 20 knot tender