The small ICE outboard.

[Mark-1]

Electric IS replacing all that, right now! These changes don’t happen overnight. There’s Torqeedo and other leccy outboards on loads more tenders than there were, say, 5 years ago. Obviously majority of ob’s are still petrol, but there’s more and more of the other sort appearing.

Yeah, loads of Electric engines about. And loads of people buying/keeping ICE engines.

However, I don't think there are a large number of people who have the wrong engine for their usage due to ignorance. Everyone understands the tradeoffs.

I suspect there are an awful lot of people, like me, who look enviously at Torqeedos and think "If that was £350 and did what I need I'd be a lot happier."

Fortunately, I'm pretty confident the 1kg portable Nuclear reactor will be on sale in Force 4 after Christmas for £99 and we'll all be happy.

 

[ctva]

It will be a long time before ICE outboards are replaced by electric due to one major factor, price.

I like my 2.5hp Yam which replaced a 20yo Honda 2.0hp. It will probably still be going when I'm passed it so unless petrol goes up by x10 its price, I'll pass on the lithium thanks.

 

[dgadee]

Why are e outboards so expensive? Is it the battery cost? Can't see a motor and leg should be so costly to make.

Perhaps the 4 strokes manufacturers are running down their stock and planning a non petrol small replacement with higher margins?

I may buy one. The crew can't start the wee 2 stroke nor the previous 4 stroke.

 

[Bouba]

The OP’s experience tells the tale…a major outboard manufacturer has dropped their price to compete with electric. Remember these are not simple two strokes but complicated four. If they can’t make a profit at that price then they will remove them from this market at the least or stop making them at worse. This is because people are switching to battery…not by government inducement but voluntary because electric is best.
The alternative to electric soon might be second hand, grey import or cheap Chinese non-brand,

 

[B27]

It will be a long time before ICE outboards are replaced by electric due to one major factor, price.

I like my 2.5hp Yam which replaced a 20yo Honda 2.0hp. It will probably still be going when I'm passed it so unless petrol goes up by x10 its price, I'll pass on the lithium thanks.

It seems to me that batteries are getting cheaper. A kWh of e-bike battery is under £300. A 500W motor is not fundamentally expensive. The rest is £10 worth of electronics and some plastic mouldings. Plus a few coins worth of stainless bits.

The problem is, it's a small market at the moment, and the likes of Torqeedo will charge what the market will bear.
The trolling motor market is bigger, tender outboards for UK yotties is a niche.
It might be like Tesla, where prices have been slashed as volumes increased?

 

[Gixer]

I was told they dropped their price to block the cheaper Chinese brands, there was no mention of electric.

 

[B27]

The OP’s experience tells the tale…a major outboard manufacturer has dropped their price to compete with electric. Remember these are not simple two strokes but complicated four. If they can’t make a profit at that price then they will remove them from this market at the least or stop making them at worse. This is because people are switching to battery…not by government inducement but voluntary because electric is best.
The alternative to electric soon might be second hand, grey import or cheap Chinese non-brand,

You can buy small 4 stroke motors very cheaply, they are not that complex.
Suzi will be making money at £500.

4 strokes are second best to 2 strokes in small outboards. A lot of the world market is still 2T, If more of the world bans 2 strokes, then that might tip the market into decent £500 electric outboards for tenders.

 

[oldgit]

Remember the initial cost of
VCRs
Carphones
Monster colour TVs
Laptops and Tablets
There is only one way the price of electric outboards will go
and in each and every instance the price drop was ever faster.
Have both aboard and the petrol 4 stroke is noisy dirty smelly temperamental night mare and it's brand new

 

[rgarside]

What are people using to recharge electric outboards when they are away from 240v for an extended period?

 

[ChromeDome]

But, like electric cars, expensive and prone to causing 'range anxiety'.

And like cars, the way cheaper ownership due to fewer moving parts, doesn't materialize

 

[Kelpie]

It seems to me that batteries are getting cheaper. A kWh of e-bike battery is under £300. A 500W motor is not fundamentally expensive. The rest is £10 worth of electronics and some plastic mouldings. Plus a few coins worth of stainless bits.

The problem is, it's a small market at the moment, and the likes of Torqeedo will charge what the market will bear.
The trolling motor market is bigger, tender outboards for UK yotties is a niche.
It might be like Tesla, where prices have been slashed as volumes increased?

I can build a LiFePO4 battery for about £135/kwhr inc BMS. Plus case, fuses.

As you say it's probably a volume thing.
Hmmm. Maybe I should start a little business- take cheap trolling motors, cut down the shaft to a sensible length, swap out all the mild steel bolts and springs for stainless, and pair it up with a lithium battery. But if there was a viable market for that, you'd think a Chinese factory could cut out of the middle man and churn these out for <£500.

 

[Boathook]

What are people using to recharge electric outboards when they are away from 240v for an extended period?

I've purchased the epropulsion 100W solar panel for my electric outboard. So far it has helped to keep the battery topped up as my boat doesn't have the 'charging' power. If you had a diesel inboard and reasonably large battery bank not a problem.
Another option is if going to the pub for a few beers take battery and charger with you and charge at pub. Haven't tried this yet but I'm sure a donation will give access to power.

 

[Bouba]

What are people using to recharge electric outboards when they are away from 240v for an extended period?

I’m never away from 240v ...because I have a 6 kva diesel generator that goes everywhere with me

 

[ghostlymoron2]

There’s no form of propulsion that is totally reliable....except oars...kings of unreliability are small outboards

I thought this until my neighbours outboard misbehaved. I set off to his aid and when I reached him 50 metres away, I remarked "at least oars can't go wrong" and one of my oars snapped in two!

 

[Whaup367]

Agree. Electric's better in every way to ICE, except range. (...and cost?) But range is critical...

My boat came with a 5hp o/b and dinghy that will plane with it: are there electric o/bs that have that capability, yet?

At 4KW,and say, 48V, which might be as high as I'd be prepared to share a saltwater environment with...it would draw 80A plus.

Do I need it to plane? Different question but not one that needs to be addressed if ICE is an option.

Anyone using golf-cart batteries with a trolling motor? Seems it might be an inexpensive option when minimal power is needed?

 

[Boathook]

But, like electric cars, expensive and prone to causing 'range anxiety'.

as with cars, most of the time, most of us don't need much range or power, but you have to plan for the most demanding use you reasonably expect. If I never expected to need to get from a distant mooring to town in Salcombe, against wind and tide, I'd probably just get some better oars.

I don't have range anxiety but charging anxiety. At about 3.5 knots with my epropulsion spirit I have around 4 hours motoring. Still early days as I only purchased the unit in June this year.

 

[Bouba]

I thought this until my neighbours outboard misbehaved. I set off to his aid and when I reached him 50 metres away, I remarked "at least oars can't go wrong" and one of my oars snapped in two!

When you have two...they are called oars. When you have one...it’s a paddle..and just as useful

 

[B27]

I can build a LiFePO4 battery for about £135/kwhr inc BMS. Plus case, fuses.

As you say it's probably a volume thing.
Hmmm. Maybe I should start a little business- take cheap trolling motors, cut down the shaft to a sensible length, swap out all the mild steel bolts and springs for stainless, and pair it up with a lithium battery. But if there was a viable market for that, you'd think a Chinese factory could cut out of the middle man and churn these out for <£500.

Looking at ebay, there seems to be a void between '65lb' trolling motors at about £140 and 1800W electric outboards art £420 or so. All ex-battery.
The 65llb motors are about 550W.
Something in between would be useful.

 

[Mark-1]

My boat came with a 5hp o/b and dinghy that will plane with it: are there electric o/bs that have that capability, yet?

Yes, other people have come up with advantages I'd missed, mea culpa.

 

[dunedin]

I’m never away from 240v ...because I have a 6 kva diesel generator that goes everywhere with me

And you think 2stroke outboards are unreliable, but run a generator?