Electric outboard motors are coming. Electric cars are replacing gas-powered automobiles. And electric outboard motors are replacing gas and diesel motors on boats. Catamarans have an advantage because they are lighter weight vessels. In addition, they are ideally suited in another way. These early electric outboard motors are less powerful than the gas and diesel engines that they are replacing, but not for long. In many cases, catamarans already have room for two electric outboard motors.
An electric outboard motor on your catamaran can provide a means of quick and reliable transportation for short journeys. For short trips, electric outboard motors might be a smarter choice than gas motors. They have no pollution. You don’t have the gasoline or the diesel fumes. Electric motors are lighter, more compact, and more reliable. Modern electric batteries are much safer than potentially explosive gasoline.
In this article, I’m going to cover some of the best electric outboard motors you can buy today!
The current models of electric outboard motors have a short range. Electric outboard motors can have difficulty moving full-size catamarans full-time. However, they are more than powerful enough for some uses. An electric outboard motor can get small boats going fast enough. Besides, remember you have two.
There are different many types of electric outboard motors. You will need to do your homework to find the motor for your needs. You need to know some different types before you begin looking at motors. Trolling motors are only good at slow speeds. There are new motors that are designed for cruising speeds.
Do I Need an Electric Dinghy to go with my Electric Catamaran?
Have a dinghy for emergencies and shore trips. You should always take a dinghy with you. A dinghy is a potential lifesaver, especially in an emergency. They are really useful any time you need to drop anchor and go ashore. A dinghy with a motor is cheap compared to a catamaran, so a sailor should always have a dinghy with them.
How fast can you go with an electric outboard motor?
There is always a trade-off between boat speed and distance. The slower speeds will get you much farther. You can run a powerful motor on a small boat at full speed. you might get up to 15 knots or so. Usually, you won’t need to go that fast in a dinghy and running an electric motor.
Run the motor on less than full power if you want to make it last longer. If you are running a powerful 6000 watt motor on a small boat, you might get you fifteen knots. Normal speeds are slower. If you want to travel as much range as possible, you might move around five knots.
How far can you travel on an electric outboard motors?
You can cover approximately 20 miles with an electric dinghy. Although with some motors, you might be able to travel up to 70 miles at a slow speed. Don’t take any risks. Be on the safe side. Make sure your battery will last. It’s always a good idea to have a spare.
You will do much better if you run the motor at a slower speed. If you run your motor full speed, you might make it only a fraction of the maximum distance before your battery runs out. Distances high up to about 20 miles are sometimes possible if you go slow, although it depends on the boat and the motor.
How is the electric motor power measured?
The power of an electric motor is not usually measured in horsepower, but in watts. Sometimes the power of an electric motor is given in horsepower, for comparison.
Boat motors vary greatly in power. A motor may be only ten horsepower, 5hp, or 3hp. However, it is common to see outboard motors of 20hp or more.
Usually, normal speeds in a dinghy are around 5 knots. Speeds of more than 15 knots with an electric motor are possible. To reach 15 knots, you might need a more powerful motor. There are 100hp and higher motors. However, they can be much higher in expense.
What are the advantages of electric outboard motors?
Save money
In the long run, electric motors will save you money. This is because electric power is cheaper overall than either gasoline or diesel. It simply costs less to operate them. Electric motors are the cheaper choice because they pay for the initial cost after only a few years.
Lower Maintenance
In contrast, the maintenance cost for petrol motors is much higher. After only a few hundred hours of use, a petrol motor’s cost will exceed the cost of an electric motor.
Extra Spare Battery
One disadvantage of electric motors is that batteries take time to charge. You can get around this issue by buying a double set of batteries. This would be fast compared to refueling a gas or diesel engine. Additionally, you can charge your batteries overnight.
Solar Charging
Another way is to use a solar charger. You can charge your batteries almost anywhere as long as the sun is out. Having a constant flow of electrons into your batteries should not be underestimated. Even a small charge over the long term can be significant. Plus, its automatic and “free”.
Electric outboard motor advantages
Quieter
As well as being effectively cheaper than gas motors, electric motors are much quieter. An electric motor is almost silent compared to a gas engine. You will hear almost nothing and will not scare the fish away.
Cleaner
Electric motors are also much cleaner. If you use an electric motor, you won’t have engine grease. You can avoid engine grease on your boat, hands and clothes.
Healthier
Gas motors also have exhaust fumes, so an electric motor is better for your health. Electric motors are a lot simpler than gas motors, and they generally don’t need repair.
Lighter
Electric engines are lighter for putting your motor on a dinghy. This can be important when storing your motor and dinghy separately.
Is it possible to buy higher powered electric outboard motors?
Up to 80 Horsepower
Yes, you can find an electric motor with a power equivalent to an 80 horsepower gas engine. Many people find such powerful motors fun to use. Dinghies have weaker motors. Often less than 5 horsepower.
If you hit something is it easy to break your propeller?
Most propellers are reasonably durable. Propeller guards are sold and can be useful. Your motor should come with a propeller guard. If not, you should buy one separately. A small bump probably won’t damage it. But you can definitely do expensive damage to a propeller if it hits a rock.
How strong a motor do I need for my boat?
A small catamaran that weighs more like six tons, might need a 10hp motor. A 3hp motor should be good enough for a small dinghy that weighs less than two tons. Trolling speeds are slow. You can go much faster than that with only a 3hp motor if your craft is small enough.
What are the best quality electric outboard motors?
Be sure to buy a high-quality motor. Electric motors can last almost forever. The first electric cars were manufactured in 1906 and are still running! This may be a longer term investment. You may lose more than a little money when you buy a less quality product or one that does not have a good warranty. Put a bit of time into verifying the reliability of your purchase.
OceanVolt
OceanVolt has a system of motors, controllers and batteries. They are designed to work together, and supported by a guarantee, which makes support easy.
Manta 2. 0
Manta is a Pure Electric Outboard motor. The Manta is the latest UltraMarine eco-friendly pure electric outboard motor. It is completely silent and clean. The Mantra has instant torque, is extremely sturdy, is very responsive and most importantly, it is exceptionally efficient.
Combined with the rugged portable Lithium battery packs, the Manta 2. 0 is very easy to use via a bluetooth app that enables you to monitoring the details from your smartphone and end your reliance on fossil fuels and reducing your overall costs.
The motor is air-cooled, offers 5kW of continuous power, with up to 7. 5kW peak power when needed. The battery pack is 50V – 2. 5 kWh / BMS 100A and weighs only 15KG. The 60V – 50A battery can be fully charged in less than one hour.
Manta 1.0
The Manta 1.0 is the Manta 2. 0’s little cousin. This is a “long tail” motor, popular in much of Southeast Asia. The Manta 1.0 replaces the conventional noisy 4-stroke engines and is powered by a splash-proof Lithium-Ion battery packed in a rugged suitcase that is easy to carry, according to the company.
One battery pack delivers a range of 15 to 20 nautical miles at cruising speed. You can run for 3 hours running at full speed. This is around 5 knots, depending on the boat and its load. Multiple battery packs can be used in parallel to increase the range, which means virtually unlimited range. The Manta 1.0 comes with different power ratings, from about 800 Watts all the way to a stunning 10 kW!
The Manta 1.0 can reduce CO2 emissions to zero if the batteries are charged with solar energy.
ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus
If you are fine with a 3HP motor, the Spirit 1.0 Plus is a great product with better specs. The Spirit 1.0 Plus from ePropulsion uses power efficiently, is built to last and doesn’t cost a fortune.
At full speed, the Spirit will last for about 90 minutes on a single battery. With a 12 foot boat, you can get up to about 9 km/h – not bad for a relatively low power engine. You also do not need to run your boat on full power to approach your boat’s maximum speed.
The Spirit will keep going on 1/4 power for up to 8 full hours. Batteries are fairly heavy. However, you can keep the motor running for a long time if you bring extra batteries. The battery can save you in pinch and is great for non-emergency uses as well.
Another advantage of the Spirit is the battery floats. You could drop it in the water and not worry. The Spirit is also very light in weight. This is even with the powerful battery it comes with. The Spirit includes an accurate digital display that shows the amount of battery power left.
The Spirit is more environmentally friendly and healthier than a gas engine. This is like other electric motors. Gas engines can have leakage or fumes. However, an electric motor avoids these problems. The Spirit includes with a 180 Watt solar panel for charging. And, there are other faster ways of charging the battery.
The motor provides a remote control. This means you can steer it and adjust the speed from your console. The Spirit has one flaw. That is the range on a single battery is unimpressive. You can make it a little more than 20 miles. You can go farther on one battery with other electric motors.
ePropulsion Navy 6.0
If you are looking for longer lasting and more powerful, the ePropulsion offers the more powerful Navy 6.0. The Navy 6.0 is equal to a 10Hp engine, so it won’t move a relatively big boat.
The range on this motor is impressive. The battery is powerful. You can travel 40 miles before having to recharge. Bring the Navy 6.0 if you need more than one. It is likely compatible with other companies’ batteries.
The Navy 6.0 propeller will stop immediately if it hits anything. This can save your engine from real damage if the propeller hits a rock or anything else. There is an emergency stop kill switch.
The Navy 6.0 works well in freshwater and in saltwater. An electric motor can be an advantage because there are laws against gas motors on some lakes.
Torquedo Travel 1003
The Torquedo Travel stand out because is its onboard GPS computer. This can calculate how far you can travel before the battery runs out. The computer continuously updates how far you can travel based on how fast you are going, how much battery power is left and how much power you are using.
The Torquedo Travel will run for 10 hours or more on a charge. However, it only moves a small boat at 1.5 or 2 knots. It lasts for 3.5 hours at 3 knots if you run the engine half throttle. If you travel faster, the battery won’t last. It only lasts half an hour at 5 knots.
You can buy a solar charger for the motor separately from the company. It is costly. However, the solar panels do work well and allow you to charge the battery while at sea.
The Torquedo Travel is a small and light motor with a small footprint. It weighs only 8.9 kilograms wWithout the battery. You can easily store the engine.
Another feature is the kill switch. This allows you to stop the motor immediately when there’s an emergency. You can also charge your electronics with a USB port.
The Torquedo is a reliable engine backed by a warranty for two-years. It is equal to a 3HP engine. This may not be powerful for everyone’s needs.
Torquedo Cruise 4. 0 T
If you want a more powerful alternative, try the Torquedo Travel. The Torquedo Cruise outboard is equal to an 8HP gas engine. The travel is designed for a boat weighing one or two tons. If you need a motor for a boat that weighs three or four tons, get the Cruise instead, not the Travel.
Small leaks can ruin the cheaper engines on the market. The Torquedo Cruise will remain waterproof for a long time. The Torquedo Cruise is very corrosion resistant. You can use it in saltwater without damage for a long time.
The Torquedo Cruise has the very same onboard GPS computer, emergency kill switch, and famous two-year warranty as the Torquedo Travel. The only “disadvantage” is the price. It is an excellent engine. Upgrade to the Cruise for the more powerful motor.
Conclusions
I have researched the electric outboard motors that are replacing gas and diesel. These are the ones I found to be the top electric outboard motors are replacing gas and diesel. However, things are changing fast. Be sure to check back. If you still have a question, please send me feedback and I would be happy to research it for you and tell you what I have found.
Sources:
https://www.azura-marine.com/electric-outboards
https://www.epropulsion.com/spirit-1/