BoatBanter.com - View Single Post - Electric motor to power a dinghy revisited

wrote:

Thanks everybody for the replies

I guess the best decision would be to go with a gasoline outboard.
Since there is going to be no easy access to AC, recharging will be
available through the alternator only. Meaning the following flow of
energy: fuel - alternator - battery - motion with multiple
transition of energy back and forth from/to chemical (2 types),
electric (2 times), and motion (2 times) type forms. This cycle just
does not seem as efficient as a simple fuel - motion. Plus, the time
required to recharge---I don't think I'll have it. I'll start looking
for some 4-stroke outboard like Honda now.

Why not get a canoe & paddle?

This is a good idea. But, for a person who spends all most of the time
at his job just sitting on a chair this might too much of an exercise.
Plus, I want to have some energy left to build a camp/cook a descent
(hot) meal.

The outboards on small day sailers seldom have alternators, which means
no way to charge batteries.
Best of the best seems to be the air cooled 5hp Hondas - but no electrics.

I've wondered about powering an electric motor directly from a small generator?
I saw a Honda that makes both 12vdc and 120vac - but (at the store) couldn't
find any info on actually usable output currents.

Retail is often so frustrating...
Outboards are rated in horsepower. No thrust rating?
Trolling motors are rated in pounds thrust. No power rating?

I'm thinking a 60-100 pound thrust motor on a 1500 pound displacement hull
isn't going to win any drag races, but should (eventually?) move out.

The limiting factor is battery charge (as noted this thread).

But with a gasoline powered "battery"?

Somebody want to knock some sense into this idea?

Richard