Electric outboard motors

[TomandMary]

Originally Posted by Figment

Are any of us running Torqeedo or other electric outboard motors on the tender? How's that going?


I see electric outboards on some daysailors but I don't see them on dinghies... there must be a reason why (other than $/hp). What don't I know?


My individual perspective is that I don't need the RIB to hit planing speeds, and I think I'd rather not have to deal with gasoline on board.

We have a 12.5 Torqeedo on our 10.5’ Highfield. We have two 48V, 10kWh batteries on board. The Highfield is center console. The batteries weigh in at 80lbs each. We love cruising in the tender as much as we do on our SeaRay 355T. Nice quiet sunset cruises. We are also able to get it on a plane if necessary. Tender weighs in at approx 500lbs total. There are smaller Torqeedos, we bought three 12.5, two actually went on the SeaRay for a while along with our Yamaha outboards. It was fun using them to slowly cruise but the weight factor and amount of solar required took it’s toll. Don’t get me wrong, the Torqeedo’s did their job, we wanted to use our solar for more creature comforts inside the vessel instead of always charging the Torqeedo batteries. As it is now, we still use a lot of solar power to keep the batteries on the tender going when we are at anchor.

[Delta Riverat]

I'm also considering Golden Motor EZ-X05. Interesting design, uses magnetic coupling between motor and prop for no moving seal.

48 volts is also easier to deal with than 36 and the motor has a 3 state current limiter to help with the battery life. Four 12V, 100 AH LIFepo4's should work well in series and be easy to charge up on the davit.

But now up to 4 boat bucks...

Ah, boats -

[Bill Streever]

We're also 10-year owners of a Torqeedo. Great for low speeds. We have had to replace the prop pin several times, which was no big deal. Also had to repaint it when the original gray paint flaked off. Biggest complaint: Torqeedo recalled the battery that came with our unit, but would not honor the recall/replacement in Columbia, Mexico, or anyplace else where we might have been able to receive the new battery. Although we have been happy with our motor I am not sure that I would recommend buying one for cruising outside of Europe or the US/Canada, where they seemed to be honoring their recall replacements, but on the other hand I have no idea how other companies would handle recall replacements in what might be challenging zip codes. (The problem is two fold, I think. First, the batteries cannot be air freighted. Second, any shipment to some of these countries can be an adventure, both in term of ever seeing a delivered package and in terms of unpredictable duties.). On the upside, we have not had gasoline on board for years, and I have not had to clean a tiny carb for the same number of years. Plus, quiet motoring. Very peacedul.

[N4061]

We are on our third 3HP Torqeedo and would purchase another one. First was for our 10 Rowing / tender. Second was a custom installation on our 16 sailboat. One third and brand new one is on our new 11' all wood rowing / tender. Number three is a long shaft and has the new longer lasting battery. I used it for the first time two weeks ago and she worked great and very quiet. The only issue I have is the design of the boats transom does not support an O/B very well so I will likely not use this motor very much and focus on rowing. I'm thinking about selling it or saving it for the next boat and use it as a backup.

John T.
Nordhavn 4050, 4061, 3522
Helmsman 38E
Marshall Marine Sandpiper