New ePropulsion eLite?

[nestawayboats]

E-Lite great for little muddy creeks, sheltered waters - 60 watts plenty fast enough for slow trundle watching the wild life. Good that e-propulsion have thought there is a big enough market made a good well thought out lightweight little engine for this purpose - and light enough to pick up and carry to the coffee shop.

There is definitely a market, the ePropulsion eLite is likely to outsell (its bigger brother, 1kW) Spirit motor this year, in UK at least. It nearly did that last year, when supply was more of a constraint on sales than demand.

Many, not all, customers only want a motor to go a few hundred yards to their mooring, take the dog ashore, visit the pub, etc. The eLite's 500W motor and 378Wh battery capacity is plenty for that category of user. In terms of the eLite's range several factors need to be taken into account, but for the typical inflatable dinghy, in fairly calm water, it's about 4 nautical miles at 3-4 knots (and more range if you go slower).

Weight is a big factor in eLite sales too, at 6.5kg it's a genuine one-handed pass up/down for most adults.

Most customers who own/use the next size up of electric outboard - the 1kW ePropulsion Spirit PLUS, Torqeedo 903 etc - on inflatables don't often use much more than 500W anyway. The difference in speed between 500W and 1000W is perhaps half a knot (whilst using battery twice as fast). In small inflatable dinghies you are up against it on displacement hull speed, 500W nearly gets you to hull speed hence another 500W doesn't do much more. The advantage of the larger motors is much more battery capacity (2-3 times as much as eLite), and more power for occasional use if you've got to make progress into a vicious headwind/chop.

Ian
Nestaway Boats

 

[MikeBz]

That exactly covers all of our reasons for buying one.

 

[Egret]

LOCKING - My new E-lite long shaft has a cast in loop on the handle bracket which will take a 10mm dia bike lock wire.
You can see it in the brochure photos.

 

[MikeBz]

LOCKING - My new E-lite long shaft…

Ooh that’s new. I wish it had been available when I bought mine last year.

 

[Egret]

Long shaft is hot off the press. With our GRP dinghy the Long shaft sets the prop just below the hull so hopefully makes it more efficient. Clinched the decision to buy.

 

[langstonelayabout]

I’ve put a deposit on one. My usage is probably less than 10 times a year, short trips in a 2.4m tender with my other half and the kids. The weight and noise of our current Honda 2.3 is a pain, and I use it so little the servicing is starting to get on my nerves too.

Will be interested in your experience with the new outboard. I always had similar experiences with my small inflatable and Yamaha 2.5 outboard. I then sold the Yamaha and returned to my Suzuki 2 stroke 2.2 that seems to weigh about half the Yamaha. I almost bought an ePropulsion eLite a month ago but hesitated at the last moment as charging aboard my Konsort is limited.

 

[Egret]

Ref #106 - Bought the e-lite as an alternative to rowing, now the Yamaha 2B (1.5HP) has finally died.

Key for us was the light weight - Easier to pull the dinghy up the ramp - the 4 stroke 2.5/3.5 HP replacement outboard was just too heavy, although quite wizzy

We read this thread in detail - Wasn't sure whether it would work on our dinghy but took a chance - for dinghies like ours that are a little bigger than the 2.5m length example dinghies, it appears that the key for useability / battery life for an e-lite seems to be - does it row easily - and where will you be using it - quietish water ?

It has exceeded our expectations - With a 10ft relatively lightweight GRP dinghy with a long shaft e-lite we have found that we can trundle around quite well, faster than rowing speed, on 100-150W if we want to, which helps battery life - so quite pleased - but have the 500W if we need it - when it 'digs in a bit' like an old Yamaha 2B (1.5HP) without going much faster (hull speed). Used 30% battery Sunday for an hour or so trundle including some windy and lumpy tidal bits (250W) which it took in its stride. For #106 probably won't have as much 'power' as a Suzuki 2.2HP but works for us in a civilised gentle way - nice to be able to hear the water lapping- although some noticeable motor sound - but much quieter than a petrol outboard.

Would be interesting to hear if someone has tried one on something like a GP14.

But don't take my word for it - everywhere and every boat will be different.

We are thinking about having solar charging

 

[MikeBz]

Just going back to the subject of security/clamps, the products mentioned earlier in the thread stop the clamp from being removed from the transom but not the outboard from being lifted off the clamp? Any solutions to that to stop the opportunist from walking off with it while I’m in the pub? Yes I could carry it but if I’m making a trip to the shops for provisions then I can’t carry the outboard as well.

 

[Boathook]

Just going back to the subject of security/clamps, the products mentioned earlier in the thread stop the clamp from being removed from the transom but not the outboard from being lifted off the clamp? Any solutions to that to stop the opportunist from walking off with it while I’m in the pub? Yes I could carry it but if I’m making a trip to the shops for provisions then I can’t carry the outboard as well.

See post 103. May still be wise to have a bar over the clamps though.

 

[MikeBz]

See post 103. May still be wise to have a bar over the clamps though.

I can’t see that on the ePropulsion website and I guess it doesn’t help those of us who bought one last year?

 

[Boathook]

I can’t see that on the ePropulsion website and I guess it doesn’t help those of us who bought one last year?

I looked on Nestaways website and a picture of the elite showed a ring on the 'handle' assembly.
ePropulsion eLite new ultra portable electric outboard motor

 

[ylop]

Any solutions to that to stop the opportunist from walking off with it while I’m in the pub?

there’s a ring in the body which you can use a cable lock with.

I can’t see that on the ePropulsion website and I guess it doesn’t help those of us who bought one last year?

The ring is in my one bought last year - pretty sure it has alway been there. I doubt it would be difficult to break / cut (damaging what you Nick) but neither would a cable lock.

 

[Babylon]

I've just ordered one from Ian at Nestaway Boats - for my fairly small older 2.3m Zodiac so transom not that high, but went for the standard size rather than the short version to keep future options open.

Re the pin that holds the correct angle to the transom, he said the best solution to keep this captive is with a cable-tie 'collar' inside the bracket

I expect to charge it off 240v on land or shore power and off the boat's 12v system, but also thinking of buying a small moveable solar panel independent of the boat's system - but have no idea what basic spec of solar panel to consider for this. Any suggestions?

 

[thinwater]

IMO, electric power for boats is still mostly for people that can't figure out the choke and keeping the gas dry. Yes, it is quiet, and if the very limited range suits you, then do it.

For me, if the boat does not have davits, I will just use a kayak or tender that I can paddle. I'm not going to be hoisting a motor anyway. Easier, and in fact, what I do with my trimaran.

 

[wonkywinch]

I expect to charge it off 240v on land or shore power and off the boat's 12v system, but also thinking of buying a small moveable solar panel independent of the boat's system - but have no idea what basic spec of solar panel to consider for this. Any suggestions?

For our Spirit Plus, I bought their solar/12v charger and a Renogy 200 watt folding panel. It works well. I see the charger for the E Lite is only 100 watts so one of these would probably do -

100W Portable Solar Panel

IMO, electric power for boats is still mostly for people that can't figure out the choke and keeping the gas dry. Yes, it is quiet, and if the very limited range suits you, then do it.

For me, if the boat does not have davits, I will just use a kayak or tender that I can paddle. I'm not going to be hoisting a motor anyway. Easier, and in fact, what I do with my trimaran.

And for people who enjoy tranquil backwaters and who are averse to keeping petrol (gas) on their boat. Very impressed with the Spirit Plus, already got the new Spirit 2 model on order waiting on first deliveries.

 

[Boathook]

IMO, electric power for boats is still mostly for people that can't figure out the choke and keeping the gas dry. Yes, it is quiet, and if the very limited range suits you, then do it.

And for those that dont use the dinghy outboard much and get fed up with the constant carb problems caused by lack of use.

 

[dgadee]

And for those that dont use the dinghy outboard much and get fed up with the constant carb problems caused by lack of use.

And where the crew can't start it because of the force required. And where you don't want to keep petrol on board just for limited usage.

 

[nestawayboats]

I've just ordered one from Ian at Nestaway Boats - for my fairly small older 2.3m Zodiac so transom not that high, but went for the standard size rather than the short version to keep future options open.

Re the pin that holds the correct angle to the transom, he said the best solution to keep this captive is with a cable-tie 'collar' inside the bracket

I expect to charge it off 240v on land or shore power and off the boat's 12v system, but also thinking of buying a small moveable solar panel independent of the boat's system - but have no idea what basic spec of solar panel to consider for this. Any suggestions?

Thank you for the order.

The 12V/Solar charger for the ePropulsion eLite states 10-23V, 10A but also 100W max. Whilst not strictly recommended you could probably go a bit higher than that in your situation, as laid out on the deck of a yacht in the UK it's very rare that you'll get 100% of rated output. (To achieve full output a solar panel needs to be unshaded, in bright sunshine, facing the sun directly, and angled correctly.)

Re the transom angle pin well there is a knack to making them captive - and as I think I've previously stated nobody ever seems to lose a second one - but yes while it's slightly Heath Robinson a cable tie secured on the inside will make it absolutely certain.

And, re ePropulsion eLite SHAFT LENGTHS...
To clarify re shaft length, the eLite S shaft length at its longest (they are adjustable) is more akin to (in fact slightly shorter than) what they call XS (Extra Short) for its bigger relation the Spirit PLUS. The eLite S suits transom heights up to 37cm, no more. It is a very short S. The eLite L shaft is not "Long" by anybody else's definition, just "Longer than the S", and as such the eLite L is about the same length as their and everyone else's S shaft. Yes it is confusing, and yes we did try to get ePropulsion to change this...

Ian

 

[SimonX]

And where you don't want to keep petrol on board just for limited usage.

Thats the main thing attracting me if /when we get a tender

 

[Bouba]

And where the crew can't start it because of the force required. And where you don't want to keep petrol on board just for limited usage.

I was watching a guy yesterday trying to start his 2 stroke outboard on the dinghy…eventually he had to stand up to give it the necessary grunt…luckily it was mirror calm…