New Electric Outboards

I'm so glad to see options with non-proprietary batteries. I was never even willing to consider electric outboards with proprietary batteries as it seems the motor could theoretically provide many years of service but the service life would be cut short by the manufacturer discontinuing the battery or going out of business. You're also pretty much held hostage to whatever the manufacturer wants to charge for battery spares and replacements.

how many miles are these do between charges?

never mind, the 7.5 says it ran 60 minutes/5 miles all out on 1 battery

for $999 that sounds pretty good to me (who 3 days ago had to take apart the dinghy outboard motor carb 3 times)

The electric outboard itself is generally price competitive with a new 4 stroke gas outboard. But the battery is not. ARCB's chart is for a 1.2KW battery that costs $1200. Add in the cost of a battery (or 2 if you need the extra range), and the electric is quite a bit more expensive.

Much as I'd love to have a QUIET, starts first time every time, outboard for my 19ft Mariner, the cost for such an outboard with 20 miles of range (2 batteries) when weather has turned to crap is more than my boat is worth. The Honda 5hp can power through any thing (when it's running), only cost $1,000 to buy, and has 30+ miles of range on a 3 gal tank.

Fred W
Stuart Mariner #4133 Sweet P
Yeopim Creek, Albemarle Sound, NC

PGandW said:

The electric outboard itself is generally price competitive with a new 4 stroke gas outboard. But the battery is not. ARCB's chart is for a 1.2KW battery that costs $1200. Add in the cost of a battery (or 2 if you need the extra range), and the electric is quite a bit more expensive.

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A couple of years ago yes. I priced a 36 volt 1.8 kwh Eco Worthy battery this morning at *$847 Canadian. The price of lithium batteries has plummeted since this time last year even. I know for a fact I can get 20 miles plus on that battery set up on my Bay Hen, which is very similar in size to your mariner.

I'd love to get an electric for my dinghy. I don't need a big engine; my current OB is a 3.5hp 4-stroke, so the Newport would be perfect. But my hesitation is similar others. The limited range is a concern, but it's more about effective charging, and of course cost.

When I do the quick order, I see the cost of a new Newport + their battery would be nearly $3,000 (CND), and probably closer to $3600 if I add the second battery. Hard to justify that. I could likely get a cheaper battery, and save maybe $600 on the package, but that's still pretty pricey.

However, if I could be confident of the charging side, then maybe...

Mike,

Did a full break down this morning. You are looking at about $2500 Cdn for Newport + battery + wiring + charger + tax and shipping.

However,unless you have a generator on your Rafiki, then charging could be a serious limitation given that you live aboard at anchor at high latitude and grey skies.

Arcb said:

Mike,

Did a full break down this morning. You are looking at about $2500 Cdn for Newport + battery + wiring + charger + tax and shipping.

However,unless you have a generator on your Rafiki, then charging could be a serious limitation given that you live aboard at anchor at high latitude and grey skies.

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Yeah... that's about where I came to as well. High, but doable. But the charging thing is what continues to hold me back.

I actually looked long and hard at a Torqueedo back about 10 years ago. I even tried one on my Portabote, and as expected, it worked great. But the same issues around charging, and secondarily the cost, pushed me into a gas OB.

Sadly, it seems nothing has changed.

Years ago I looked into replacing the diesel inboard on my Fantasia 35. It was about $20 000 all in. So, while $2500 isn't pocket change, it's not bad for primary propulsion on my boat. For me, the total cost will be a bit higher because I will replace the soft bimini with solar.

How can an electric dingy make any sense? If you need your dingy, then I assume you are not on shore power. So, in order to charge it you need to use your precious off-grid charging methods. If you need to go somewhere and your battery is low, that means either waiting for your solar/wind to do it, or you are running a generator (Diesel) which is still slow. From an efficiency standpoint, this whole idea does not seem very good. It takes abut 2 minutes to refuel (recharge) a 4 stroke outboard. How long does it take to charge one of these batteries that just had enough left to get you back to your boat before sundown. God forbid you need to go anywhere in an emergency.

It is because unlike 3 days ago for me, you don't have to take you electric motor carburetor apart 3 times to get the thing running

rji-Iowa said:

How can an electric dingy make any sense? If you need your dingy, then I assume you are not on shore power. So, in order to charge it you need to use your precious off-grid charging methods. If you need to go somewhere and your battery is low, that means either waiting for your solar/wind to do it, or you are running a generator (Diesel) which is still slow. From an efficiency standpoint, this whole idea does not seem very good. It takes abut 2 minutes to refuel (recharge) a 4 stroke outboard. How long does it take to charge one of these batteries that just had enough left to get you back to your boat before sundown. God forbid you need to go anywhere in an emergency.

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Uhm, any boat with a diesel generator could keep an electric dinghy motor charged. If you like carrying Diesel and gas (and no doubt propane for cooking too), nobody is stopping you (yet), but any one with a Diesel generator or ample solar (multihulls) can make an assessment and decide for themselves.

rji-Iowa said:

How can an electric dingy make any sense? If you need your dingy, then I assume you are not on shore power. So, in order to charge it you need to use your precious off-grid charging methods. If you need to go somewhere and your battery is low, that means either waiting for your solar/wind to do it, or you are running a generator (Diesel) which is still slow.

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I think it would just be a resource-management issue. No different from managing a gasoline OB. After all, you can run out of gas, just like you can run out of electrons. I agree though, it is way easier with gas.

I think to make it viable for my cruising I'd have to have two, perhaps three batteries. I would have to charge during excess solar periods. I usually get two to three hours of unused solar on sunny days in the summer, even in the mid-high latitudes I cruise.

But clearly, gas is a lot easier, and cheaper (at this point). But it has some serious negatives which I would love to move away from.

Electric motors are superior to internal combustion in just a out every way.

Batteries suck.

They don't, given improvements over the last 20 years, suck quite as badly as they used to, but they still suck.

Still, as auxiliary propulsion on a sailboat they can make sense.

Arcb said:

Uhm, any boat with a diesel generator could keep an electric dinghy motor charged.

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I agree 100%. But burning diesel to generate electricity so you don't have to burn gasoline is a zero sum game (maybe worse). The solar option is extremely clean, if that is what your goal is. But you will lose some freedom. If you have spare solar capacity and extra batteries so you are always ready to go, then maybe it makes sense.

rji-Iowa said:

I agree 100%. But burning diesel to generate electricity so you don't have to burn gasoline is a zero sum game (maybe worse). The solar option is extremely clean, if that is what your goal is. But you will lose some freedom. If you have spare solar capacity and extra batteries so you are always ready to go, then maybe it makes sense.

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I don't remember mentioning green power. I know better than to do that on a forum dedicated to plastic boats with lead keels, plastic sails, lead acid batteries, deisel engines and gas motor boat auxiliary dingies, intended to bomb around from anchorage to anchorage and spend capital on premium rum drinks. Tips appreciated!

No, I just presented 2 new electric outboard motors available on the market in case any one else has been watching the electric propulsion market

most sailboat cruisers can burn all the diesel they desire to make electric power to charge batteries etc.and that would only put them greener that 90% of people instead of 95%

For sure. Recharging a 1 kwh battery with a 3 or 4 kw generator isn't a big deal. It's a few more revs while you charge up battery, cool fridge, maybe make some coffee. Not sure how many liters of deisel, not much.

Yup. For me, being geen(er) is secondary. The reason I want to charge with solar, and wind, is so I can be self-sufficient.