Who has an electric motor on their dinghy and what do we think of it?

[skodster]

I will need a little motor to propel my tender to by mooring. Rather than buy a secondhand petrol jobbie, i thought that I would investigate the electric ones. Whats the deal with the electric motors and what're the pro's and con's??

 

[Tranona]

The only one that is remotely practical is the Torqedo - but it is mega bucks. The cheap trolling motors do not have enough power and require a big heavy battery. Only alternatives are oars or a petrol outboard.

 

[zikzik]

I will need a little motor to propel my tender to by mooring. Rather than buy a secondhand petrol jobbie, i thought that I would investigate the electric ones. Whats the deal with the electric motors and what're the pro's and con's??

I have had a Torqeedo 1003 for maybe 3 years. I now use it with a 2.3 3D lightweight tender. It works very well and has many advantages - breaks into three pieces - stores anywhere - no smells - powerful. But the disadvantages are cost, short battery life, if you need to use all the power (40 mins max at full throttle) and a long charging time (now improved apparently.

 

[oldvarnish]

And I bought a Torqeedo 1003 this year and I'm loving it.

 

[jneale]

how about a decent electric bilge pump permanently installed on your transom. All you need to carry on board is the battery !!!:encouragement:

 

[lampshuk]

I have a little 2.4m inflatable and use a small DieHard electric outboard that I have had in the garage for about 15 years. We were given it in the US, along with a much larger inflatable. It was used as a trolling motor on lakes where petrol outboards are forbidden.
It is about 1.5hp, so not useful for traveling larger distances or on much bigger boats.
However, at full speed it moves along quite nicely - and in spookily total silence!
I could probably row as fast, but that would mean taking up much more room in the boat, so hard to fit in a 2nd person and stores etc.
I have paired it with a 35Ah gel battery which I got for <£50, I think. Very light and should give me about an hour of moderate use before needing a re-charge.
I can lift the motor and the battery with one hand, which is one of the reasons for getting this pairing.
So far I am very happy with it BUT I have only been playing with it, no serious distances travelled, and I don't think the Diehard is designed for salt water.
Time will tell.
Similar low-end motors are available new for < £200 on ebay.

 

[FWB]

Love my Torqeedo 1003S. The Merc 3.3 now in storage and its fuel used in garden machinery

 

[RupertW]

I'm highly tempted by the Torqueedo. Ok, I've got a 3m rib, and a Honda 5hp which functions fine, but I never get near a petrol station, and the engine is used for 5 min bursts, perhaps twice a day, for 3 or 4 days out of a weeks holiday 5 times a year.

So I could carry on refilling the tank every couple of years but a quiet motor, rechargeable by solar power, which is actually light enough to take on and off the dinghy would be a brilliant gadget.

Or I could buy a davit for the 5hp, but where is the fun in that.

 

[Ripster]

Agree with the others, the small cheaper ones like the mercury range are useless in any form of current and simply do not have enough grunt to do more than about a knot or two even in calm conditions. The Torqueedo is the one to buy, but the cost was over double that of for example a 2.5 4S suzuki when I had a look about a year ago. And... they don't last very long on a Batt if you want to do any speed. Very nice, clean and quiet but, too many disadvantages for the trips I wanted to do up and down shallow esturies and rivers.

 

[FWB]

Agree with the others, the small cheaper ones like the mercury range are useless in any form of current and simply do not have enough grunt to do more than about a knot or two even in calm conditions. The Torqueedo is the one to buy, but the cost was over double that of for example a 2.5 4S suzuki when I had a look about a year ago. And... they don't last very long on a Batt if you want to do any speed. Very nice, clean and quiet but, too many disadvantages for the trips I wanted to do up and down shallow esturies and rivers.

The Torqeedo battery does in fact last a surprisingly long time. I see it as the equivalent of the fuel tank on a small petrol outboard, it even has a "fuel" gauge. The really big advantage over petrol outboards is the fact that it splits into three parts making fixing and recovering very easy. I trickle charge mine from a cigar plug direct to the Torqeedo battery. The whole experience is not as daunting as some people may think.

 

[Ripster]

The Torqeedo battery does in fact last a surprisingly long time. I see it as the equivalent of the fuel tank on a small petrol outboard, it even has a "fuel" gauge. The really big advantage over petrol outboards is the fact that it splits into three parts making fixing and recovering very easy. I trickle charge mine from a cigar plug direct to the Torqeedo battery. The whole experience is not as daunting as some people may think.

Thing is, if I go off exploring, I have many, many hours of running on a couple gallon cans of fuel, which I keep in the bow bag. The equivalent qty of batteries (and their cost of acquisition) are just not feasible. I am not rubbishing electric motors they have their application, in fact I prefer their cleanliness and simplicity but, as said, for me there are too many costs and restrictions for my application.

 

[pvb]

I've just bought a Torqeedo for a new Zodiac on my new boat (lots of news there). Haven't used it yet, but was convinced by the Torqeedo video. Hope to try it in 2 weeks' time!

 

[MJ24]

Thing is, if I go off exploring, I have many, many hours of running on a couple gallon cans of fuel, which I keep in the bow bag. The equivalent qty of batteries (and their cost of acquisition) are just not feasible. I am not rubbishing electric motors they have their application, in fact I prefer their cleanliness and simplicity but, as said, for me there are too many costs and restrictions for my application.

I have one which can push the inflatable along at 4knots. Very responsive and clean etc.

But imho, battery life is too short, lugging heavy batteries around is demanding. Charging batteries at home is easy, but not so easy on the boat.

Potentially dangerous in tidal waters.

Mj

 

[DaveS]

I use a trolling motor - a Min Kota, can't remember the model number but it cost about £130 IIRC. It's actually supposed to be used in fresh water, but in fact it works in the sea perfectly well. In flat water it'll give up to 4 knots flat out, but slowing down a bit gives much longer range. If it's rough I run it in conjunction with rowing - which is a remarkably effective combination, but seldom mentioned. The battery is a 85Ah "leisure" which I lift into and out of the dinghy using a 3 part tackle and which becomes part of the domestic bank when aboard.