Elling KB350 and ePropulsion Outboard

[smuj70]

Hi, first time poster here. Apologies if the answer to my query is elsewhere on the forum. If so, I could not find it.

Have just bought a KB350. Superb piece of kit. Only rowed it so far! But am going to start with an electric outboard for my freshwater fishing pursuits. My question is, does anyone else have a KB350 with an epropulsion spirit 1.0 motor? I am seeking advice on suitability and shaft length. I would normally go straight for the x-short shaft for a SIB but have noticed that even though it has a short transom, the large tubes do make it sit quite high in the water. I don't want a prop that that keeps appearing above the wave in rougher conditions.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[chipko]

Hi and welcome.

Reckon it should go well with a Spirit…equivalent to around 3hp I understand. A 3.5hp petrol motor will push our Elling along just fine one up.


Not sure on shaft length to be honest, but the Elling takes short shaft petrol motor. A short shaft petrol motor will be around 550mm saddle to c/l prop.




Looking at the Spirit specs it’s either 525 or 625 for xshort and short. Probably xshort but worth checking with dealer first as we normally set motor height to get AV plate at planing waterline. Pic of Elling transom below and a short shaft petrol motor at correct height.









We’ve also set our tiny ThrustMe Kicker to 550mm saddle to c/l prop if that’s any help. Transom is about 25mm deeper where this is mounted.

[smuj70]

Thanks for the quick reply. I have been looking at the drawings on the web and they seem to suggest the x-short is pretty much the same a standard short on a petrol outboard. Looking at the comparison below it seems the ePropulsion short is the same as the petrol long. So surely the x-short must be the way to go. The short would probably also be ok, would just need to lift it a little sooner when coming onto shore.

[chipko]

Agree, x-short Spirit seems to equate to a 3.5 petrol short shaft on paper, so should work?

However, the Spirit runs an 11” dia. prop against 7” dia. on the small petrol, so may need to run around 2” deeper to compensate. E-Prop site recommends transom depth + 5.5” + 4”

Guesstimated transom depth on the Elling is approx. 16.5” (420mm) at planing speeds and 12.5” (320mm) at displacement speeds. So based on E-Prop calcs then 26” planing or 22” displacement.

So short shaft required if planing and extra short shaft ok for displacement speeds only. Assume this motor will get nowhere near planing speed so x-short will probably be ok.



More complicated than I thought going Green.
Good luck. [emoji106]

[smuj70]

Thanks chipko. I agree with our rationale. I had missed the prop diameter difference. I would be happy if I get 5-6mph at full chat. That wont be planing!

[Planing comes later when I buy a 4 stroke for the saltwater. Even then I am only looking at an 8hp to keep the weight down. My poor back.]

[rik_elliott]

Originally Posted by smuj70

Thanks chipko. I agree with our rationale. I had missed the prop diameter difference. I would be happy if I get 5-6mph at full chat. That wont be planing!



[Planing comes later when I buy a 4 stroke for the saltwater. Even then I am only looking at an 8hp to keep the weight down. My poor back.]

You should get 5mph just fine. I use a torqeedo 1103 (v similar to your epropulsion motor) on my honwave when it being used as a tender and it pushes it along absolutely fine. It won't plane even just 1 up, but that isn't really the point of the motor! I think it's a great bit of kit as long as you accept its limitations.

[Blankton]

If your only going displacement speed, is it such an issue? On a petrol setup most peoole are wanting to plane, which is where the tweaking of ob height and trim come into play. If just pootling along, I'd think the drag from the boat would far outweigh anything you might save by fine tuning the engine.

[smuj70]

Thanks all. I've no doubts on the ability of the 3hp to push the boat now. I will mainly be on Cumbrian lakes for now where they don't take too kindly to planing. I am after a single unit that can get me from A to B, but also push me around quietly at 1-2mph for many hours. This is either for slow trolling or to stealthily cover new water when fly fishing.

My concern for shaft length was simply about keeping the prop in the water. Occasionally on rented boats, in a decent wave, I have had an issue with the prop not always being submerged when cutting across the wave. This is my first inflatable so do not know whether it would be more or less of a problem than the fibre glass fishing boats I normally use. [anyway, I am increasingly becoming a fair weather fisherman as I get older)

I'm going to plump for the x-short (so same as a petrol short). Sounds like it will be fine.

[chipko]

This pic gives a better illustration of prop depths on the Elling. Both the petrol motor and ThrustMe electric have approx. 550mm prop to saddle length. Also measured our 3.5 Mariner and 2.5 Honda which come in at 550 and 540mm respectively.

Worth bearing in mind the Spirit has a massive 280mm dia. (11”) prop against the tiny 100mm dia. prop on the ThrustMe.

Not sure how deep these electric jobbies are supposed to run with their large dia. variable pitch/variable camber props and no AV plates. Gut feel is slightly deeper than the optimum for planing speed motors, but at displacement speeds only don’t think it’ll make much difference.

Think I’d risk the extra short as well. If in doubt ask for a demo motor to try from the dealer.

[smuj70]

Super helpful. Thanks so much.

sub 6mph = displacement only = xshort shaft

I spoke to the guy at Pro Marine Store and he reckoned x-short. If I am in rougher conditions or at sea then I will take a petrol. So next I'll be searching for a light (sub 30kg) 4 stroke. Hoping I can find at least 8 horses at that weight.

Thanks again to all.

[chipko]

Hi back again, apologies. [emoji848]

Not many sub 30 kilo 8/10hp four strokes out there I’d wager.

If looking new then there’s the Selva Black Bass 8 and Piranha 9.9 at just over 30 kilos.

https://www.selvamarine.com/en/produ...oke-outboards/

If ok going down the Chinese copy route then there is also Boatworld’s Orca 8hp at 26/27kg. Essentially an up rated 6hp Yamaha clone.

https://boatworld.co.uk/orca-8hp-4-s...d-motor-engine