cgull
New member
Anybody any experience of electric (battery) outboards, for use on a dinghy?
<hr width=100% size=1>
<hr width=100% size=1>
Electric Outboards
- Thread starter cgull
- Start date
Peter_the_Grate
New member
There was a PBO Team Tested article about two years ago; look up the back numbers. I was on the test team and my main memory was of them being easy to use and light and quiet. They felt quite powerful when you twisted the throttle - they gave a good push off, but that they ran out of puff very quickly and after a few minutes at full throttle you were left wishing you could go faster. I use a 2hp Honda 4-stroke and it feels much faster/more powerful, but it's noisy and heavy. When you include the battery, I guess there's not much difference in the weight.
Some of the electric outboards would go into reverse by twisting the throttle, one way for ahead and the other way for astern. This made manoeuvring very easy. Some had a switch that was like the gearbox on a pertol outboard, i.e. stop, switch over, restart.
One had a prop blade made of transparent plastic. I supposed that this was to avoid frightening the fish when trolling. There was no indication, when in the water, if the prop was turning; it was especially difficult to see in the Hamble murk. I thought this was a bit dangerous.
Overall, we all felt that the biggest disadvantage of the electric outboard was that when the battery is flat you can't refill it from a can like you can with a petrol outboard - it takes time to recharge a battery. There was a general feeling also that batteries in a tender were a liability. If you could integrate the battery with the tender in some way and arrange for it to be kept charged, by a solar panel perhaps, an electric outboard might just have the edge because of it's weight and economy (sun = power).
<hr width=100% size=1>
Some of the electric outboards would go into reverse by twisting the throttle, one way for ahead and the other way for astern. This made manoeuvring very easy. Some had a switch that was like the gearbox on a pertol outboard, i.e. stop, switch over, restart.
One had a prop blade made of transparent plastic. I supposed that this was to avoid frightening the fish when trolling. There was no indication, when in the water, if the prop was turning; it was especially difficult to see in the Hamble murk. I thought this was a bit dangerous.
Overall, we all felt that the biggest disadvantage of the electric outboard was that when the battery is flat you can't refill it from a can like you can with a petrol outboard - it takes time to recharge a battery. There was a general feeling also that batteries in a tender were a liability. If you could integrate the battery with the tender in some way and arrange for it to be kept charged, by a solar panel perhaps, an electric outboard might just have the edge because of it's weight and economy (sun = power).
<hr width=100% size=1>
FinesseChris
Active member
Hi
The PBO review of electric O/Bs was very informative except on one point. Do these machines like salt water? I have a Minnekota elec O/B for use on the river, and the literature stresses it does not like salt water. Indeed it is made in Kansas or somewhere which is about as far from the sea as you can get.
Presume that regular flushing would mitigate this, but the power unit is actually submerged so if it'snot 'marinised' then perhaps problems?
Did PBO to your recollection come across this problem? Maybe the ones they tested were salt-water variants, though I understand that several elec o/bs are re-badged Minnekotas?
Leaving salt corrosion aside, the motor does a good job. Keep the battery in a plastic box, and make sure there's somewhere to stow it that's in reach of the motor (power leads are fairly short, with crocodile clips) and where it balances the boat.
regards
Chris
<hr width=100% size=1>
The PBO review of electric O/Bs was very informative except on one point. Do these machines like salt water? I have a Minnekota elec O/B for use on the river, and the literature stresses it does not like salt water. Indeed it is made in Kansas or somewhere which is about as far from the sea as you can get.
Presume that regular flushing would mitigate this, but the power unit is actually submerged so if it'snot 'marinised' then perhaps problems?
Did PBO to your recollection come across this problem? Maybe the ones they tested were salt-water variants, though I understand that several elec o/bs are re-badged Minnekotas?
Leaving salt corrosion aside, the motor does a good job. Keep the battery in a plastic box, and make sure there's somewhere to stow it that's in reach of the motor (power leads are fairly short, with crocodile clips) and where it balances the boat.
regards
Chris
<hr width=100% size=1>
Peter_the_Grate
New member
We (at least I) didn't consider whether the units would tolerate salt water. They were for sale in this country so I assumed so. An interesting point...
<hr width=100% size=1>
<hr width=100% size=1>
jon_bailey
New member
According to the comparison sheet on the MinnKota web site they do salt water models.
Does anyone know what power they draw when used with a small inflatable, i.e. it states say 40A max, but is this continuous because they have 5 power settings?
<hr width=100% size=1>
Does anyone know what power they draw when used with a small inflatable, i.e. it states say 40A max, but is this continuous because they have 5 power settings?
<hr width=100% size=1>
Evadne
Active member
I've been using something called a "Stealth 24" on our tender for about 5 years. It was chosen because it is cheap, and always starts first time. The main tube is chrome and rusts a bit but is still ok. The plastic clamps were a bit feeble and cracked off after 2 years or so, replaced with jubilee clips. These are all trivial, as they are not important to the running of the motor. The motor and switchgear still seem to work fine, if its waterproof in fresh water its waterproof in salt. I made a battery box from a Woolies' plastic box and a deck connector that keeps splashes and rain off the battery, and seperates them for carrying. The only drawbacks are endurance (I reckon 2-3 hours on my battery), the weight of the battery and lack of power (24lb thrust = 3/4 horsepower, approx.)
<hr width=100% size=1>
<hr width=100% size=1>
pvb
Well-known member
Good point...
Most of these motors are designed for freshwater river/lake use. Some (such as MinnKota Riptide and MotorGuide Saltwater Series) are designed to resist saltwater corrosion.
They all seem to have fairly low thrust and I wouldn't want to use one in a tideway. Best use for electric outboards seems to be trolling around whilst lake fishing.
<hr width=100% size=1>
Most of these motors are designed for freshwater river/lake use. Some (such as MinnKota Riptide and MotorGuide Saltwater Series) are designed to resist saltwater corrosion.
They all seem to have fairly low thrust and I wouldn't want to use one in a tideway. Best use for electric outboards seems to be trolling around whilst lake fishing.
<hr width=100% size=1>
