[Rhodes22-list] Electric Outboards

Tue May 17 23:13:07 EDT 2011

Compare the vinyl record to the reel to reel tape recoder to the eight 
track to the cassette to the I-Pod etc ......... The development of the 
electric motor and batteries is going through the same advances. Now 
the ability to charge batteries with solar or wind has also experienced 
imrovements. Because more batteries might (will) be needed the location 
of the batteries remains a concern. Back in the lazerette area would be 
O.K. now that there is no gas engine or combustiblese stored back 
there, however, too much weight in the stern can affect your sailing 
performance. It would be nice if the floor in the cockpit had access to 
a battery storage area. This would not be in the cabin living area with 
possible gases from charging endangering crew and closer to the ceter 
line of the boat. Solar panels take very little room and are low 
maintenance. Add a wind generator and you never run out of power. You 
can't say that for a gas engine. Be aware of the amount of time it will 
take to recharge a bank of batteries with solar or wind only. How much 
do you use your boat? Does it sit several days that will allow 
charging? How long do you motor your boat? Are you required to motor 
out a river or canal a long way before you can sail? We are very close 
to an even greener recreation and not trying the electric alternative 
would be like missing all of the music we listened to with the old 
record players, recorders and no Bose speakers. 
Jim J "Loon"

Quoting Rick <sloopblueheron at gmail.com>:
> Peter,
>
> Sign up for the Yahoo group on repowering gas or diesel with electric.  Most
> of it concerns sailboats. 
>
> After being on that group a while, I considered replacing my 9.9hp gas
> outboard with a Torqueda of equal thrust.  Cost of motor and batteries would
> be about the same as a new electric start gas engine. 
>
> Pros of the electric are:
>
>    - Quiet
>    - Better weight distribution
>    - Easier moving the prop in and out of the water
>
> Cons of electric are:
>
>    - Expensive reserve battery cost for long distance travel compared to
>    carrying a spare gas can. 
>    - Unknown battery and motor performance/durability in the big waves. 
>
> So I'm still waiting for the cons to recede. 
>
> As for trolling, why not just sail?
>
> Rick
>
> On Tue, May 17, 2011 at 10:50 AM, peter klappert
> <peterklappert at comcast.net>wrote:
>
> >
> > Does anyone have thoughts on or experience with electric outboards?
> >
> > Practical Sailor pretty much says it's too soon. The 01/2010 issue reviewed
> > the new Solid Nav 4-hp & seemed to prefer the Minn Kota RT80, though they
> > found it "fragile compared to the Solid Nav." They mention a Torquedo 6-hp
> > Cruise 2, but haven't tested it. 
> >
> > So I shelved the idea of getting an electric for the R22 I'll pick up in
> > Edenton this summer, though I'm still considering carrying a small electric
> > (a) as back up for a gas engine and (b) for trolling. Does anyone do this?
> > How do you mount a small electric without removing the primary engine?
> >
> > BUT.... 
> >
> > About a week ago the 05/2011 Cruising World arrived with a review of
> > outboards for pocket cruisers & dinghies & that makes the Torquedo Cruise
> > 4.0 sound like a real possibility. 8 hp (9.9 thrust), 38 lbs, but 
> expensive:
> > $3800. 
> >
> > The Torqueda is much lighter than any gas engine but--aside from ease of
> > mounting/removing--any weight advantage is probably illusory given the
> > weight of high-quality marine batteries. PS tested the Solid Nav using a
> > bank of 4 (!) North Star Energy 1 Group 24 AGM batteries. They run 
> $373 each
> > & weigh 59 lbs each. 
> >
> > I'm stumbling around in the dark here. I don't know if I can even define
> > volt, amp, watt, etc. I like the environmental implications of 
> electric, the
> > lighter weight (I could mount the Torqueda myself), and I'd like to avoid
> > the hassle of ethanol in gas  & consequent water absorption (or the cost of
> > ethanol-free marine gas). 
> >
> > So if anyone has an opinion or has heard anything about electrics, I'll be
> > glad to hear it. 
> >
> > P
> >
> >
> > DC / FL
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