ELECTRIC OUTBOARDS

[[185615]]

Looking for an outboard, considering a Bison electric 'BISON 68'lb ELECTRIC OUTBOARD TROLLING MOTOR FREE SPARE PROPELLER'
Any advice or comments, always had 2 or 4 stroke models, my consideration of buying an electric has nothing to do with 'going green' or some imagined 'climate change' zealotry. Just the practicalities be fine, the cost of new is also an attraction
Thank you

 

[pvb]

The outboard you linked to isn't very powerful. Maybe OK for trolling on a lake, but perhaps underpowered for ordinary use. What sort of use does your outboard get?

 

[Rhylsailer99]

i think the leisure battery in my inflatable dinghy would put me off that model.

 

[[185615]]

The outboard you linked to isn't very powerful. Maybe OK for trolling on a lake, but perhaps underpowered for ordinary use. What sort of use does your outboard get?

I have a 4m dingy to go ashore in when on the hook, or to visit others in a mooring, just general use.
The Bison site shows the '68' as suitable.
Your question is exactly what i need o explore the feasibility of buying electric.
The Fishingmad site shows a chart on which max speed is 18 k/hr.

 

[[185615]]

i think the leisure battery in my inflatable dinghy would put me off that model.

A concern I also had, I am not unhappy having an 80Amp/H battery in a plastic container up against the transom instead of a container of spare fuel.

 

[Kelpie]

I've got that model. With just me aboard it pushes my Avon 310 RIB at about 4kt. So it's better than rowing. Much nicer to use than my 2T- silent, reliable, instant power.

 

[Tranona]

The clue is in the name "Trolling Motor". These motors are designed for use on fishing boats, originally in the US. They are used on fresh water lakes where the boat has a large outboard to get out to fishing grounds and then the trolling motor is used for low speed work or holding the boat in position. They usually hook up to the main battery on the boat.

So, nothing like your intended use. 4 m is a big dinghy and particularly if you use its load capacity, speed will be poor and range small. They are not despite the claim intended for extensive use in saltwater.

some people have used them for tenders, but they seem best for short runs, for example from shore to moorings perhaps on a solid dinghy, but not for general purpose use when out cruising.

If you want to go electric the only type that really works is the Torqeedo or Epropulsion

 

[sgr143]

See my 2018 post: Bison Trolling Motor

 

[[185615]]

I've got that model. With just me aboard it pushes my Avon 310 RIB at about 4kt. So it's better than rowing. Much nicer to use than my 2T- silent, reliable, instant power.

Is that on full power as the site claims 18 k/hr. How do you find having a battery aboard, what size and how do you organise it.

 

[[185615]]

The clue is in the name "Trolling Motor". These motors are designed for use on fishing boats, originally in the US. They are used on fresh water lakes where the boat has a large outboard to get out to fishing grounds and then the trolling motor is used for low speed work or holding the boat in position. They usually hook up to the main battery on the boat.

So, nothing like your intended use. 4 m is a big dinghy and particularly if you use its load capacity, speed will be poor and range small. They are not despite the claim intended for extensive use in saltwater.

some people have used them for tenders, but they seem best for short runs, for example from shore to moorings perhaps on a solid dinghy, but not for general purpose use when out cruising.

If you want to go electric the only type that really works is the Torqeedo or Epropulsion

Thank you, very interesting, will give the other models a coat of looking at.

 

[Kelpie]

Is that on full power as the site claims 18 k/hr. How do you find having a battery aboard, what size and how do you organise it.

That's at full whack. But I think I'm losing some power at the battery connection, gets fairly hot there. Probably just need to clean up the contacts.
I'm just using an old battery that was retired from the yacht when it got past it- it's a big 110Ah beast. So with that plus a very heavy dinghy, no wonder I can't go any faster I only use it for a few minutes every week (mooring is very close to shore) and lug it back home to charge about once a month. A small solar trickle charger would probably make more sense for me.

I did briefly borrow a brand new battery to try out and it made a bit of difference, but not planing speeds.

I find it an excellent alternative to the oars. Less effort, more space in the dinghy, faster, no wet bum because you stay standing up.
As an alternative to a petrol o/b? Well I've only ever owned a wee 2.5hp 2T anyway. When away cruising I don't take the RIB, I use a Redcrest. And the 2T will try to fold that in half if used at full throttle, so I reckon the Bison will be fine. I love the fact that you KNOW it will start when you twist the handle. No more rowing out to engine depth, drop the leg, fiddle with the choke, pull pull pull, ah crap I've drifted back to the shore, lift the leg, row out, repeat...

For cruising I would like to upgrade to a proper battery- a lithium one would give an hour's range at full throttle and cost about £300. And as its voltage would hold up a bit better I expect I'd be going faster, too.

 

[Adios]

I was considering the same thing a few months back but ended up buying a 3.5hp 2 stroke tohatsu instead.

I was mainly after something without the noise but actually the power from even a 68lb trolling motor is no more than this outboard on tick over and the noise of a little 2 stroke on tick over is not that unpleasant. And then you have another 2.5hp on tap in case you want it. Its also lighter than a big battery and a spare 1L of fuel can be easily carried giving a long range back up at tick over.

 

[duncan99210]

I tried to use a similar motor on the Menai Straits in a 2.5m dinghy. I went faster using the oars.... The motor wouldn’t push the dinghy into the current, we had to ferry glide towards the shore until we got to the shallows where the current dropped. Add in the hassle of the battery which had to be removed from the dinghy before being carried up the beach and it suddenly became a white elephant.
I then got an ancient 2hp 2 stroke and it was a revelation. I could carry the dinghy on one shoulder and the engine in the other hand. Only one trip up an algae covered slipway as opposed to 2... The engine shifted the dinghy against the tide. Whats not to like? Yes, the outboard needed an annual dose of tlc but was well mannered and did the job the trolling motor failed at.
I recently sold the old outboard for more than I paid for it as it was surplus to requirements as I’ve now got a larger one to push my Hurley 18.

 

[[185615]]

That's at full whack. But I think I'm losing some power at the battery connection, gets fairly hot there. Probably just need to clean up the contacts.
I'm just using an old battery that was retired from the yacht when it got past it- it's a big 110Ah beast. So with that plus a very heavy dinghy, no wonder I can't go any faster I only use it for a few minutes every week (mooring is very close to shore) and lug it back home to charge about once a month. A small solar trickle charger would probably make more sense for me.

I did briefly borrow a brand new battery to try out and it made a bit of difference, but not planing speeds.

I find it an excellent alternative to the oars. Less effort, more space in the dinghy, faster, no wet bum because you stay standing up.
As an alternative to a petrol o/b? Well I've only ever owned a wee 2.5hp 2T anyway. When away cruising I don't take the RIB, I use a Redcrest. And the 2T will try to fold that in half if used at full throttle, so I reckon the Bison will be fine. I love the fact that you KNOW it will start when you twist the handle. No more rowing out to engine depth, drop the leg, fiddle with the choke, pull pull pull, ah crap I've drifted back to the shore, lift the leg, row out, repeat...

For cruising I would like to upgrade to a proper battery- a lithium one would give an hour's range at full throttle and cost about £300. And as its voltage would hold up a bit better I expect I'd be going faster, too.

Thank you for your insight, and experience of use, so valuable in helping me decide from an actual user.
If I decide to buy one I will have a new 80 amp/h lead acid that will be easily added to my solar charging system.

 

[[185615]]

I tried to use a similar motor on the Menai Straits in a 2.5m dinghy. I went faster using the oars.... The motor wouldn’t push the dinghy into the current, we had to ferry glide towards the shore until we got to the shallows where the current dropped. Add in the hassle of the battery which had to be removed from the dinghy before being carried up the beach and it suddenly became a white elephant.
I then got an ancient 2hp 2 stroke and it was a revelation. I could carry the dinghy on one shoulder and the engine in the other hand. Only one trip up an algae covered slipway as opposed to 2... The engine shifted the dinghy against the tide. Whats not to like? Yes, the outboard needed an annual dose of tlc but was well mannered and did the job the trolling motor failed at.
I recently sold the old outboard for more than I paid for it as it was surplus to requirements as I’ve now got a larger one to push my Hurley 18.

Thank you for your experiences. What size motor was it, I am considering the '68' model

 

[[185615]]

I was considering the same thing a few months back but ended up buying a 3.5hp 2 stroke tohatsu instead.

I was mainly after something without the noise but actually the power from even a 68lb trolling motor is no more than this outboard on tick over and the noise of a little 2 stroke on tick over is not that unpleasant. And then you have another 2.5hp on tap in case you want it. Its also lighter than a big battery and a spare 1L of fuel can be easily carried giving a long range back up at tick over.

Your right, it is one of the advantages of a petrol outboard, with a little planning, is the immediate availability of fuel as you describe, and I would add more power when in need. I am looking at a 4hp mariner against the '68' electric. Thank you for your contribution.

 

[[185615]]

I tried to use a similar motor on the Menai Straits in a 2.5m dinghy. I went faster using the oars.... The motor wouldn’t push the dinghy into the current, we had to ferry glide towards the shore until we got to the shallows where the current dropped. Add in the hassle of the battery which had to be removed from the dinghy before being carried up the beach and it suddenly became a white elephant.
I then got an ancient 2hp 2 stroke and it was a revelation. I could carry the dinghy on one shoulder and the engine in the other hand. Only one trip up an algae covered slipway as opposed to 2... The engine shifted the dinghy against the tide. Whats not to like? Yes, the outboard needed an annual dose of tlc but was well mannered and did the job the trolling motor failed at.
I recently sold the old outboard for more than I paid for it as it was surplus to requirements as I’ve now got a larger one to push my Hurley 18.

Thank you for your experiences of both, in your circumstances the 2hp was certainly favourite.

 

[Tranona]

Your right, it is one of the advantages of a petrol outboard, with a little planning, is the immediate availability of fuel as you describe, and I would add more power when in need. I am looking at a 4hp mariner against the '68' electric. Thank you for your contribution.

There is just no comparison between the two. However a Torqeedo will give you similar performance, but as you have no doubt discovered they are very expensive. Cost really gets to the heart of the issue. It is unreasonable to expect a product costing £300 to do the same job as well established products between 5 and 5 times more expensive. These trolling motors have been on the market in the UK for over 30 years (I first saw them in the States in the late 70s!), so if they were any good everyone with a dinghy would have one. When have you actually seen one in use? Of course some people do buy them and can live with the limitations, but they will never make any serious impact on the market.

 

[[185615]]

There is just no comparison between the two. However a Torqeedo will give you similar performance, but as you have no doubt discovered they are very expensive. Cost really gets to the heart of the issue. It is unreasonable to expect a product costing £300 to do the same job as well established products between 5 and 5 times more expensive. These trolling motors have been on the market in the UK for over 30 years (I first saw them in the States in the late 70s!), so if they were any good everyone with a dinghy would have one. When have you actually seen one in use? Of course some people do buy them and can live with the limitations, but they will never make any serious impact on the market.

Reading posts similar to yours was the whole object in starting this thread.
I am most obliged to all contributors who's various experiences and logic have been invaluable in my making a decision to stay with the 2 or 4 stroke engine.
Thank you

 

[Adios]

Your right, it is one of the advantages of a petrol outboard, with a little planning, is the immediate availability of fuel as you describe, and I would add more power when in need. I am looking at a 4hp mariner against the '68' electric. Thank you for your contribution.

You might want to consider limiting to 3.5hp. The 2.5-3.5hp motors are all the same with detuning mods for the lower HP, then it goes to 4-5-6hp which are the next size up and weigh considerably more. If an electric might have been ok then for sure a 3.5hp will be enough. 2 stroke also is considerably lighter and easier to maintain than 4 stroke, and to transport as there isn't the risk of engine oil getting where it shouldn't go if its laid on the wrong side.