Eelectric trolling motor
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Ocean,
I use one on my dinghy with good results but I question how well it would work as a kicker. If you get into trouble, it might give the option of which rock to hit, that's about it. However, there is a product line called a Torquedo; electric outboards in the 4-6 hp range. Pretty expensive and they won't divulge longevity or range. My take on it is that it's easier in a pinch to wave down a passing stink-potter and bum a gallon of petrol than it is to ask him to hook up and recharge your battery for a few hours. That's my two cents. But, I love my trolling motor for my dink. It's quiet, small, cheap and will last a full week of put-zing around when we cruise. Oh, and no tune ups, emissions, ethanol issues.
Don
I use one on my dinghy with good results but I question how well it would work as a kicker. If you get into trouble, it might give the option of which rock to hit, that's about it. However, there is a product line called a Torquedo; electric outboards in the 4-6 hp range. Pretty expensive and they won't divulge longevity or range. My take on it is that it's easier in a pinch to wave down a passing stink-potter and bum a gallon of petrol than it is to ask him to hook up and recharge your battery for a few hours. That's my two cents. But, I love my trolling motor for my dink. It's quiet, small, cheap and will last a full week of put-zing around when we cruise. Oh, and no tune ups, emissions, ethanol issues.
Don
I have used a electric motor on a 14 foot Omega but the range would be a problem with a larger boat. In addition you need to take the battery somewhere to recharge it after every use.
There are many small 2 to 6 hp 4 stroke outboards that are perfect for such a boat as yours. The price of a good battery and the electric motor are close to the price of an outboard. Resale down the road would be better with the gas motor.
Ray
There are many small 2 to 6 hp 4 stroke outboards that are perfect for such a boat as yours. The price of a good battery and the electric motor are close to the price of an outboard. Resale down the road would be better with the gas motor.
Ray
I had a Coronado 23 that I put two 55lb thrust trolling motors on. It worked fine in a lake and one would have been enough. I only used the motors to get in and out of the slip or in case the wind died while I was on the other side of the lake and wanted to get home. I was strictly a weekend sailor then so a trickle charger had it all topped off by the next weekend. If you are lake sailing a 55lb or maybe go a size up for a 21' would be find.
Ok, I see that I need an Outboard as a kicker. for a 21 foot 2K lbs displacement fin Keel, what is the minimum Hp that I would need. 2Hp.... 5Hp....8Hp....
4 to 6 hp would do fine. If you are in waters that can get real big and nasty and might possibly need to motor longer distances like 2 plus miles then I'd get a motor up to 8 hp. I have a long shaft older Honda 7.5 hp on a San Juan 23. My loaded boat weight is up to 3400 lbs. That is more motor than I need, but it's nice to have.
Ray
Ray
My 222 came with an 8 HP sailmaster. The PO who bought the 8 HP left a log book and wrote several disparaging accounts about the 4 HP sailmaster that came with the boat when they bought it. Primarily, they wrote that it was REALLY LOUD and really slow. This is a big lake, and if your at the far end and have no wind, 20 or 30 miles back can take forever with an underpowered motor. And it will seem all the longer if the engine makes a lot of noise while going nowhere. An electric trolling motor would be even slower, and without a lot of batteries the range will be extremely short. Too, the low amount of thrust from a trolling motor will make sea handling in anything beyond calm conditions almost impossible.
IMO, if your going to have a motor, hang something on that gives the boat enough power to get out of its own way and make way into a headwind. I can scoot along at half throttle and carry on a conversation in the cockpit and maybe only burn a gallon an hour. But if the winds come, I have more than enough reserve power to push through, and enough range to more than make it back. If you find yourself on the lee side of the lake and the winds come up, a trolling motor will make a better anchor than anything else you could do with it.
IMO, if your going to have a motor, hang something on that gives the boat enough power to get out of its own way and make way into a headwind. I can scoot along at half throttle and carry on a conversation in the cockpit and maybe only burn a gallon an hour. But if the winds come, I have more than enough reserve power to push through, and enough range to more than make it back. If you find yourself on the lee side of the lake and the winds come up, a trolling motor will make a better anchor than anything else you could do with it.
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