Sea Change
Well-Known Member
I tried a Bison trolling motor for a couple of seasons, initially with a car battery and then because I liked it so much, with a 60Ah lithium.
Pros: almost silent, instant power including reverse, very wife/ child friendly, sufficient range and power to be an excellent alternative to rowing, or for shorter trips. Two light objects to lift and store rather than one larger one. Very clean. No searching for fuel, no mixing, no servicing. Cheap.
Cons: slightly less powerful than a small outboard, range anxiety with no easy option to take a spare can of fuel. Not very well made, falls apart of used daily in saltwater. Corrosion of the battery connections and cables when they inevitably get splashed/sprayed/dropped.
I have considered improving my setup- fit a battery monitor (or change to a Bluetooth enabled battery) and mount it in a box with weatherproof connectors. Swap out mild steel bolts, springs, etc for stainless.
In practise I've stopped using it because my dinghy is fun to sail (my main mode of propulsion these days) or row. If I need more speed or range, I'll use the two stroke.
Pros: almost silent, instant power including reverse, very wife/ child friendly, sufficient range and power to be an excellent alternative to rowing, or for shorter trips. Two light objects to lift and store rather than one larger one. Very clean. No searching for fuel, no mixing, no servicing. Cheap.
Cons: slightly less powerful than a small outboard, range anxiety with no easy option to take a spare can of fuel. Not very well made, falls apart of used daily in saltwater. Corrosion of the battery connections and cables when they inevitably get splashed/sprayed/dropped.
I have considered improving my setup- fit a battery monitor (or change to a Bluetooth enabled battery) and mount it in a box with weatherproof connectors. Swap out mild steel bolts, springs, etc for stainless.
In practise I've stopped using it because my dinghy is fun to sail (my main mode of propulsion these days) or row. If I need more speed or range, I'll use the two stroke.