New ePropulsion eLite?

[nestawayboats]

Is the motor a fully sealed design or is it more like the thrustme kicker (brushless outrunner which floods with water)?

eLite motor is a fully sealed design, custom designed and made by ePropulsion themselves. They are very well aware of the potential problems with outrunner motors for this application... ie likely use in salt water and customers won't rinse out every use (either because they dont read instructions or its not practical).

In that respect at least - and being able to see them next to each other (we sell both) - the eLite appears much more "robust" (and practical, you dont have to rinse after every use) than the ThrustMe.

ThrustMe is still lighter though if that's your absolute priority and the (smaller) battery capacity is sufficient.

Ian
Nestaway Boats Ltd

 

[Helidan]

eLite motor is a fully sealed design, custom designed and made by ePropulsion themselves. They are very well aware of the potential problems with outrunner motors for this application... ie likely use in salt water and customers won't rinse out every use (either because they dont read instructions or its not practical).

In that respect at least - and being able to see them next to each other (we sell both) - the eLite appears much more "robust" (and practical, you dont have to rinse after every use) than the ThrustMe.

ThrustMe is still lighter though if that's your absolute priority and the (smaller) battery capacity is sufficient.

Ian
Nestaway Boats Ltd

Thanks for the info, good to know that they used a fully sealed motor. I think that is a key consideration for these sort of outboards in order to avoid all sorts of headaches.

 

[Mark-1]

Rowing a small inflatable with 2 people in it is not easy - 2nd person has to sit on the floor in a puddle, or on a side tube which makes rowing nigh on impossible. Then add in a load of gear to make it even harder. 500Wh should be ample for a couple of miles of that.

That's certainly true but then for low usage it might be similar time to make two shuttle trips than to clamp on and manage an OB. You're just swapping an oar faff for a managing an outboard faff.

Factor in the four figure cost and it looks a bit crazy. Might as well commit to oars or a more versatile outboard.

I'm sure it will work for some people but feels quite a niche market to me.

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

I have posted this before, but for those that have not seen it..

800w 32v

Am just in the process of upgrading the battery for 12 to 60ah

 

[mwattsb14]

I fell for the marketing when my 2hp 2 stroke died and have had an Elite for a couple of weeks now.

In summary

• It is a very well designed packege, feels quality.
• It is very portable as you would expect and has been a real game changer in tendering to and from the boat on its mooring in the Hamble
• It does what it was advertised to do but it does have its limits. I think for example on the Hamble fighting spring tide attached to 250 flat bottom tender with 2 adults it is going to struggle. We almost found the limit the other day and had to give it a couple of bursts of the 750w turbo mode to get us to make meaningful progress when we put our nose in the full tide. Add a headwind and I think there are occasions when it wont get us to the boat.
• Battery life is pretty impressive if your main use is occasional trips to the beach or tendering out to your boat.
• There are 2 design flaws (relatively minor).
  • 1) The bag doesnt fit the transom bracket, if you remove one you usually remove the other
  • 2) The pin to select the level on the transom bracket is quick release, too quick release and lost it twice already. Easily fixed with some tape but suggests it was never really tested where the bracket is taken off the boat, I suggest the norm unless you are popping to the beach like the promo videos.

Would I buy it now knowing what I know.. I think yes but I do still have a 3hp old 2hp I can use if I go away or its rough weather/super strong tides. The convenience is massive on the days it is good for... no more petrol, no more false starts, 2 secs to fit and I can carry the tender and outboard in 1 hit. I wonder if they will bring out a slightly more powerful one. It feels like a version that could maintain 750w for longer durations would be the perfect outboard.

Longevity - Will have to wait and see but as mentioned the quality out of the box feels good...

 

[arcot]

I was made aware of this new outboard not that long ago. Considering the price its main competitor would be the thrustme Kicker which isn't a bad outboard if used within its limits but does have some serious quality issues (the motor corroding mostly). There is definitely a market for lightweight and easy to use electric outboards and if the new epropulsion proves to be durable I think they may have a winner here. For most people it will have more than enough power for the trips out and back to the moorings and can be easily recharged onboard if necessary.

Newport 3hp electric is less expensive and more powerful and designed for external battery yours or theirs.

 

[nestawayboats]

Newport 3hp electric is less expensive and more powerful and designed for external battery yours or theirs.

The Newport price doesn't include a battery. With their own brand separate external battery it seems to come in about $1900USD which being USA is ex VAT... so about the same price as ePropulsion's larger Spirit PLUS (which is a 1kW motor with a 1276Wh, integrated but removable, battery).

The lightweight ~500W-ish motors mostly being discussed here have integral batteries ie price includes battery. And are much neater/more convenient/easier to handle because you don't have to fiddle about with passing a separate battery, connecting it etc.

Eggs with eggs!

 

[Plum]

Newport 3hp electric is less expensive and more powerful and designed for external battery yours or theirs.

Less expensive? More like twice the price of the ePropulsion-eLite

 

[nestawayboats]

• It does what it was advertised to do but it does have its limits. I think for example on the Hamble fighting spring tide attached to 250 flat bottom tender with 2 adults it is going to struggle. We almost found the limit the other day and had to give it a couple of bursts of the 750w turbo mode to get us to make meaningful progress when we put our nose in the full tide. Add a headwind and I think there are occasions when it wont get us to the boat.

A flat-bottomed 2.5m dinghy has a hull speed of not-quite 4 knots, based on a (probably slightly optimistic) waterline length of 8ft. A 500W motor is never going to push anything above hull speed, especially a flubber with a square bow... just about the only dinghy that would be less efficient is a 2.3m or 2.1m version.

However flubber hull shape is a different conversation and the fact remains that flat-bottomed square-bowed inflatables are what a lot of people use as yacht tenders.

So if you have that sort of dinghy and an eLite and the tide speed is 3 knots against you you'll only make slow progress. The 750W boost mode will help in the worst bits. You won't be able to make any progress at all if tide is flowing at 4 knots or more against you, but that's quite a hefty tide to set out against in a small dinghy. In those circumstances I'd probably have a coffee/beer and wait for the tide to slow down a bit, even if I had a 3.5hp petrol.

Ian, Nestaway Boats

 

[MikeBz]

I fell for the marketing when my 2hp 2 stroke died and have had an Elite for a couple of weeks now.

In summary….

Very useful, thanks Mark! I think it would suit us for getting out to the local pontoons and short trips ashore when we’re anchored. Now that we don’t have a sugar scoop transom for boarding it will be a lot easier to get on and off the dinghy safely than the 2.3 Honda oil-dripping lump.

 

[conks01]

I fell for the marketing when my 2hp 2 stroke died and have had an Elite for a couple of weeks now.

In summary

• It is a very well designed packege, feels quality.
• It is very portable as you would expect and has been a real game changer in tendering to and from the boat on its mooring in the Hamble
• It does what it was advertised to do but it does have its limits. I think for example on the Hamble fighting spring tide attached to 250 flat bottom tender with 2 adults it is going to struggle. We almost found the limit the other day and had to give it a couple of bursts of the 750w turbo mode to get us to make meaningful progress when we put our nose in the full tide. Add a headwind and I think there are occasions when it wont get us to the boat.
• Battery life is pretty impressive if your main use is occasional trips to the beach or tendering out to your boat.
• There are 2 design flaws (relatively minor).
  • 1) The bag doesnt fit the transom bracket, if you remove one you usually remove the other
  • 2) The pin to select the level on the transom bracket is quick release, too quick release and lost it twice already. Easily fixed with some tape but suggests it was never really tested where the bracket is taken off the boat, I suggest the norm unless you are popping to the beach like the promo videos.

Would I buy it now knowing what I know.. I think yes but I do still have a 3hp old 2hp I can use if I go away or its rough weather/super strong tides. The convenience is massive on the days it is good for... no more petrol, no more false starts, 2 secs to fit and I can carry the tender and outboard in 1 hit. I wonder if they will bring out a slightly more powerful one. It feels like a version that could maintain 750w for longer durations would be the perfect outboard.

Longevity - Will have to wait and see but as mentioned the quality out of the box feels good...

Hi, I have seen your post on here from 15th April with regards to the ePropulsion Elite and was wondering what your feelings are towards it now you've had longer usage please?

Ian from Nestaway was superb with my more recent enquiry albeit, I am in the Bristol Channel with some fearsome tides at times. I'm weighing up the prospect as it's a mere 0.6nm to reach my sailing boat up river and I'm normally on a 2.3m typical inflatable. I went out yesterday with my old crew mate and coming back in, down river, slightly against the tide and in some blowy conditions I did wonder whether the ePropulsion would be able to cope in such conditions! I must confess my Honda 2hp managed ok, but it's old now and getting more unreliable hence why I'm looking at the Elite.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. All the best

 

[nestawayboats]

• There are 2 design flaws (relatively minor).
  • 1) The bag doesnt fit the transom bracket, if you remove one you usually remove the other
  • 2) The pin to select the level on the transom bracket is quick release, too quick release and lost it twice already. Easily fixed with some tape but suggests it was never really tested where the bracket is taken off the boat, I suggest the norm unless you are popping to the beach like the promo videos.

Updates to the two ePropulsion eLite design flaw criticisms made by mwattsb 14, in his otherwise complimentary review:
(1) I was slightly annoyed by the clamp bracket not fitting in the bag too! But one of our customers has found a way to make it fit, by arranging it around the tiller handle, as per photo here. You might want to put a bit of cloth between the bracket and the handle if worried about scratches etc
(2) Yes there is a slight "knack" (push/twist) to retaining the clamp bracket angle adjustment pin, so if you've just bought an eLite ideally get the knack of how this pin works before you drop it in the water! And check that it's still retained if, say, it's been rattling around in the bottom of a locker for two months, before you take it out of the bag/put it on the transom. We do have spares...

So far the feedback we've had from ePropulsion eLite customers is positive, other than their late arrival into the UK... and they're now out of stock UK again until mid September.

And now I'm thinking about it actually one customer traded up to a Spirit PLUS (twice the power, just over three times the battery capacity, near enough double the price) after using their eLite once, but by their admission that was because they hadn't really done enough reading into it pre-purchase. But that is one out of a fairly large number. As has been said before the eLite won't have enough power/battery capacity for everybody, but for a high proportion of UK yacht tender users it's a very good fit.

Ian, Nestaway Boats

 

[mrming]

Hi, I have seen your post on here from 15th April with regards to the ePropulsion Elite and was wondering what your feelings are towards it now you've had longer usage please?

Ian from Nestaway was superb with my more recent enquiry albeit, I am in the Bristol Channel with some fearsome tides at times. I'm weighing up the prospect as it's a mere 0.6nm to reach my sailing boat up river and I'm normally on a 2.3m typical inflatable. I went out yesterday with my old crew mate and coming back in, down river, slightly against the tide and in some blowy conditions I did wonder whether the ePropulsion would be able to cope in such conditions! I must confess my Honda 2hp managed ok, but it's old now and getting more unreliable hence why I'm looking at the Elite.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. All the best

I used it yesterday, dinghying around with my partner and kids in the creeks of the Blackwater here on the East coast.

There was not much wind and slack tide / flat water. In those conditions the battery can last a very long time if you trundle around at lower wattages (between 150w and 300w). We were motoring for around 60 minutes and had 40 percent battery left after.

That said, I imagine it would need more power, and go down a lot quicker if you had waves, wind and tide to contend with.

It charges reasonably fast (that 60% took around 3-4 hours) and is light, user friendly and generally easy to live with.

So a lot of positives. The few negatives so far are:
- I was contacted months ago saying ePropulsion wanted it back for a software update. I filled out their form, brought it home from the boat that week, and never heard another thing since.
- I also contacted Nestaway Boats to ask if they knew why there were no further comms about the software update, but got no reply.
- There’s no storage supplied for the charger, accessories etc as mentioned above.
- There’s currently no 12V charger available.

 

[tico]

Got mine from Ian at Nestaway about a month ago. Although delayed he kept me fully up to date with progress. Unfortunately weather and other commitments have precluded much use, we have used it a couple of times.
Used from visitor moorings to the pontoon at Dale, a fairly long run compared to our usual use. Return trip at full power used 20% so very happy with that. Most of our runs will normally be less than 100m to beach and back so perfect for that type of use.
Wouldn't be suitable for 1/2 mile runs against tide with a fully loaded dinghy.
This is with 2 up in a 2.5m inflatable, won't plane but makes steady progress.
Love the light weight weight and the click-on bracket. Love the silence and twist and go nature.
Would second the issue with the tilt pin- mine didn't even last the first use! Mounting the motor on to the bracket, I knocked it and 'splash , Neptune claimed his offering. Replaced with a cut down stainless bolt secured with a piece of tape.
Redesign needed!
Overall very happy so far and thumbs up for Ian at Nestaway

 

[nestawayboats]

I used it yesterday, dinghying around with my partner and kids in the creeks of the Blackwater here on the East coast.

There was not much wind and slack tide / flat water. In those conditions the battery can last a very long time if you trundle around at lower wattages (between 150w and 300w). We were motoring for around 60 minutes and had 40 percent battery left after.

That said, I imagine it would need more power, and go down a lot quicker if you had waves, wind and tide to contend with.

It charges reasonably fast (that 60% took around 3-4 hours) and is light, user friendly and generally easy to live with.

So a lot of positives. The few negatives so far are:
- I was contacted months ago saying ePropulsion wanted it back for a software update. I filled out their form, brought it home from the boat that week, and never heard another thing since.
- I also contacted Nestaway Boats to ask if they knew why there were no further comms about the software update, but got no reply.
- There’s no storage supplied for the charger, accessories etc as mentioned above.
- There’s currently no 12V charger available.

Sorry we must have missed your email, but ePropulsion UK were/are/should be dealing with all aspects relating to the software update/return etc. I don't know why you haven't heard from them again either... possibly overzealous spam filters if two of us haven't seen your emails.

I would suggest ringing them on 023 8098 8782. Also with apologies I think I recall direct correspondence (possibly by phone rather than email) other than the order, but can't relate your username here to our customer file, to contact you directly.

For general info the software update was specific to one batch, if you haven't been contacted yours does not need it. And it was not of massive urgency, as I understand it the update will improve long term battery storage performance but doesn't matter if you need to use it over the summer etc meanwhile.

12V charging is now available as an on option but confusingly named "solar charger" which means it will take anything from 11-35V DC, including direct connection to solar panel or 12V supply (cigar lighter socket), and give the eLite battery what it wants.

Ian, Nestaway Boats

 

[MikeBz]

I’ve only used mine once so far (the delayed arrival of the last batch meant I did it have it during a period when it would have got used, hey ho) but am very pleased with it.

Good to hear the 12V charger is now available - roughly how long will this take to charge from an adequate battery bank?

My only negstive so far is that there doesn’t appear to have been any thought given to a way of securing it to the transom, e.g. with a bicycle lock but then I haven’t tried very hard to devise a method yet. If anyone has I’d be glad to know. Obviously nothing will defeat someone who is tooled-up and determined, but it would be nice to protect against the opportunist who might just lift it off (or undo the clamps) and stroll off with it.

 

[LiftyK]

I’ve only used mine once so far (the delayed arrival of the last batch meant I did it have it during a period when it would have got used, hey ho) but am very pleased with it.

Good to hear the 12V charger is now available - roughly how long will this take to charge from an adequate battery bank?

My only negstive so far is that there doesn’t appear to have been any thought given to a way of securing it to the transom, e.g. with a bicycle lock but then I haven’t tried very hard to devise a method yet. If anyone has I’d be glad to know. Obviously nothing will defeat someone who is tooled-up and determined, but it would be nice to protect against the opportunist who might just lift it off (or undo the clamps) and stroll off with it.

You can get a bar and lock that prevents the transom clamps from being undone. They are quite commonly available for outboards. I recently found such a locking bar while sorting through old stuff in my garage and I was delighted to find it a perfect fit for a Spirit 1.0.

Further, for anyone with a Spirit 1.0 and a 3D printer, search Thingiverse for “ePropulsion” and you will find a design for a lock for the battery pack. It isn’t sledgehammer-proof but is nevertheless a good deterrent.

 

[Boathook]

You can get a bar and lock that prevents the transom clamps from being undone. They are quite commonly available for outboards. I recently found such a locking bar while sorting through old stuff in my garage and I was delighted to find it a perfect fit for a Spirit 1.0.

Further, for anyone with a Spirit 1.0 and a 3D printer, search Thingiverse for “ePropulsion” and you will find a design for a lock for the battery pack. It isn’t sledgehammer-proof but is nevertheless a good deterrent.

That lock looks a good idea. I haven't got a 3D printer but I will look at the battery when next on board. Presently I detach the battery from the unit and using a cable and padlock attach it to the dinghy sea which means that it can't be connected to the motor.

View attachment IMG_1844-1.jpg

 

[MikeBz]

You can get a bar and lock that prevents the transom clamps from being undone. They are quite commonly available for outboards. I recently found such a locking bar while sorting through old stuff in my garage and I was delighted to find it a perfect fit for a Spirit 1.0.

The eLite is very easily removed from the clamp assembly (which is both a bad and a good thing!).

 

[Rusdee]

We've just bought the elite as a replacement for the honda 2.3, so far it's perfect for our needs an doesn't stink the car or boat out with petrol. I use it on a 3m honwave inflatable keel and with 3 of us with bags ect it goes about 3kn, we travel about 1 mile out to our boat on windermere and so far we managed 2 trips there and back with around 30% charge left. What is good is that you can talk to each other as its so quiet, the only down side so far is killcord is a magnet that easily pops off and with the throttle that doesn't return to the off position I feel it's important to usevit over the honda that would stop as soon as you let off the throttle, the second point is the trim pin ours has already disappeared so we can't use the reverse any more and can't find where to get a new one from.