My Sailing Dinghy has got to have an engine, now which one?

[JumbleDuck]

Umm...I'm still not clear on this...is it prohibitively problematic to drive a 12v (or 24v) trolling motor using a 240v generator?

I dunno about "problematic", but I'm finding it hard to see the advantage in introducing an electrical stage between the petrol engine and the propeller.

 

[dartmoor]

As far as I see it, the only problem with the Torqeedo is the price. The concept is perfect for a small yacht/day sailor as an auxilliary - quiet, light, no water cooling problems, no oil changes, no carrying petrol - the only small engine under 4hp with forward and reverse, and which you can control via a remote throttle if you want that too. I'd get one tomorrow if I could justify the price. Just hoping someone will make something similar at a reasonable price one day....

he's a nice youtube of one on a J70 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDXeDG3N8cg

 

[mikeinkwazi]

Seagull Forty Plus, of course. Bullet proof, can live in a locker for years and still go when needed.

Seagulls make good pets. Stick em on the back and take them for a little row around the harbour, as they never start!

 

[lw395]

As far as I see it, the only problem with the Torqeedo is the price. The concept is perfect for a small yacht/day sailor as an auxilliary - quiet, light, no water cooling problems, no oil changes, no carrying petrol - the only small engine under 4hp with forward and reverse, and which you can control via a remote throttle if you want that too. I'd get one tomorrow if I could justify the price. Just hoping someone will make something similar at a reasonable price one day....

he's a nice youtube of one on a J70 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDXeDG3N8cg

The main problem is the power x duration.
Depending on what you consider the biggest feasible battery capacity of course, but 100Ah is a lot to lug around in a tender.
100Ah is 1200Wh or 2hp for 48 minutes assuming 100% efficiency.
I just do not think that is enough for what many people do.
You only have to consider the nicer moorings in Salcombe which are a bit distant from the town, with a bit of a tide running.
When I need my outboard, as opposed to choosing to use it because I'm lazy, I generally would not consider setting off without a decent reserve of petrol.
Electric outboards are brilliant for what they are widely used for, that is trolling for fish on American lakes. Flat water, no tide, fair weather, low speed low noise.

 

[Greenheart]

As far as I see it, the only problem with the Torqeedo is the price.

That reminds me of the only problem I have, with the Nauticat 52.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I dunno about "problematic", but I'm finding it hard to see the advantage in introducing an electrical stage between the petrol engine and the propeller.

There is a clear advantage in that the generator engine can always run at optimum revs for efficiency., with the electric motor providing more flexibility than a gear box can. The principle is well understood, and used for the drive trains of locomotives, electric cars like the Ampera,
and even some ships.

I suspect the main problem is that light generators only produce sufficient power at 240V, and equipment to step it down to 12V would be heavy, as well as the obvious safety concerns of 240V in a wet dinghy.