Electric Motor

[Noddy]

I wonder if anyone has any experience with an electric outboard? I am considering buying one for use as an auxillary just for trawling along whilst fishing. However, I wonder if I did have a breakdown on the main outboard whether an electric one would be man enough to get me out of trouble. I have two 12 volt leisure batteries onboard?
Martyn

[ollyit]

id be interested to know this aswell mate - I have only 1 battery

[Nasher]

Not had a lot of experiance with Electric outboards for the last 15 years, but the one I used then on a Nature reserve lake, used battery power quicker than my old Johnson uses petrol.

Just a thought, but when I've had a breakdown on the main engine I've almost always nearly flattened the battery/batteries trying to start it again.
You'd have to give up much sooner to leave enough amps to use an electric auxillary outboard to get you home.

Nasher

[Brian]

I am vaguely interested in the answer to this too. Surely you look at the motors rating, the number of Scwarzenegars in the battery, divide one into the other, and you have the number of running hours of the engine........haven't you?
I am sure JWalker will know the answer. He knows all this sort of stuff. Top man.

[The Garfish]

Originally Posted by Brian

I am sure JWalker will know the answer

yus heez a clevver owld fkker. de bastud nikt de cabb ofn mi trakter,drild fkin oles innit evverywher an stukk itt onn iz fkin bote.

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by Brian

I am sure JWalker will know the answer. He knows all this sort of stuff.

Thannk yoo forr yoowr connfidenns. i fink de pikkity boo wiwl shorrt owt inn de solt worter an de batrry wiwl ownlie lasst 5 minits cuz oll de curint wiwl runn into de see.

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by The Garfish

..de bastud nikt de cabb ofn mi trakter,drild fkin oles innit evverywher an stukk itt onn iz fkin bote.

Yus, an ey'mm pleezd yew werr inn de polis sels de nyte aye caim bi wiv de lolowdr.

de bote is waytin fur de wynd tuw dropp an sootibl tydes an den aye'll lornch itt an taike arr pick ovv yor trakter caab.

[Bill S]

Noddy,

I use a 45lb thrust Motorguide 'leccy motor, and its excellent for trolling - but I've only used it on glass and wooden boats on freshwater - not on my Rib.

Have you ever tried to paddle your Rib over any sort of distance? I have run outa juice about 1000yards offshore on Loch Lomond, and paddling to shore (two of us) against a cross-wind took forever. A Rib catches any sort of breeze, and if that breeze aint going in your direction then I think you may be asking an awful lot of an electric motor to get you home (eventually).

Just my experience, and in my opinion your money would be better spent on a decent small 2-stroke. It would still be suitable for trolling, but would provide a coupla more horses for getting you home in emergencies. The bonus would be that you could use same fuel, and you aint gonna run your batteries flat.

Hope this helps...

Bill

[Noddy]

Thanks Bill nice to get a rational answer!!