Go electric!


Why? Electricity comes from largely fossil-fueled sources.
The factories that make the electric motors & the batteries are
not really "clean" ecologically. Even if you largely recharge from
solar panels, the pollution footprint from an electric outboard will
be about 90% (or more) that of a regular gasoline outboard.

OTOH these factors are certain to change in the next few decades.

Another key difference is that the electric motor is quiet, reliable,
produces it's torque efficiently at across a much wider range of
RPMs, and won't leave stinky exhaust or an oil slick in your immediate
environment... which may be nice in many situations.

"Don White" wrote:
I have a 30 lb. thrust Minn-Kota we used on a dinghy we once had
but didn't think that would even budge the 14' aluminum boat. What
thrust rating would you think it would take in an electric to achieve
the same speed/power as the 4HP Suzuki DF4M?


Well, you need to know the torque specs more than HP. It might help to
look
at the European specs for a range of motors, usually they specify
power in KW
not HP, so you can compare more directly.

As a general rule of thumb, a 32-lb thrust motor is approx equal to a
5 HP.


My 2004 Princecraft Yukon (14.5' open aluminum boat) came with an electric
trolling motor.. and from what I've seen it's only good for creeping along
as long as you're in protected calm water with no wind. I use it to take me
from the launch ramp to a nearby dock and back again when it's time to
retrieve.

Yeah, but it was designed for TROLLING! Try putting a slightly higher
pitch prop
on it, and see what you get.

I think oars would do just as good a job and be more reliable.

HERESY! HERESY!!
"We have found a witch, may we burn him?"

Fresh Breezes- Doug King