I have a 9'Boston Whaler Tender. Total weight of boat,passengers and gear 700 lbs. Any problem using an electric motor to go 1/4 mile each way to my mooring and back? Any idea on how often I would need to charge the battery? Does an electric motor work well in 10-20 k winds?
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Electric Motor Experience
"Any problem using an electric motor to go 1/4 mile each way to my mooring and back?" No, but see below. "Any idea on how often I would need to charge the battery?" Every 2-4 hours for my 55 lb Minn-Kota on an 11' Sea Eagle, depends upon how hard I run it. I have a 100 Amp Hour battery. "Does an electric motor work well in 10-20 k winds?" I think 20kt would be a problem, but I have never used mine in more than 12 or so on a lake with little in the way of waves or chop. So, I am not so sure about 20kt winds either way. Rough rule: 75 lbs = 1HP -> rough rule. HP is Volts x Amps / 746 ( and then minus some for efficiency loss). I think that you can get the amperage draw from Minn-Kota's website. A 2HP gas will outperform a typical electric - but electrics are used sucessfully by folks at local lakes to get out to moorings. You can always supplement with paddles - just be careful of an offshore wind. Hope that helps, OldCat
"Any problem using an electric motor to go 1/4 mile each way to my mooring and back?" No, but see below. "Any idea on how often I would need to charge the battery?" Every 2-4 hours for my 55 lb Minn-Kota on an 11' Sea Eagle, depends upon how hard I run it. I have a 100 Amp Hour battery. "Does an electric motor work well in 10-20 k winds?" I think 20kt would be a problem, but I have never used mine in more than 12 or so on a lake with little in the way of waves or chop. So, I am not so sure about 20kt winds either way. Rough rule: 75 lbs = 1HP -> rough rule. HP is Volts x Amps / 746 ( and then minus some for efficiency loss). I think that you can get the amperage draw from Minn-Kota's website. A 2HP gas will outperform a typical electric - but electrics are used sucessfully by folks at local lakes to get out to moorings. You can always supplement with paddles - just be careful of an offshore wind. Hope that helps, OldCat
Electric Motor
When you consider the hassle of recharging the battery plus the low power of the electric motor, it is a poor choice. You will be much better off with a two horsepower outboard. A two cycle will be lighter than a four cycle....weight is very important in this situtation. Good Luck
When you consider the hassle of recharging the battery plus the low power of the electric motor, it is a poor choice. You will be much better off with a two horsepower outboard. A two cycle will be lighter than a four cycle....weight is very important in this situtation. Good Luck
small outboards suck
I have two small outboards and they are noisy. One is a 3.5 2stroke tohatsu and the other an old sears 1.2hp. You have the issue of gas on board and where to store it and the noise. Also if it has the self contained gas tank I seem to always spill a little during refills. If yor demands are only a short ride to and from a mooring in relatively protected waters a trolling motor should work. You could also use a small solar panel that would probably keep the battery charged. Unless I am going a long way I enjoy rowing my walker bay 8. Rowing a short distance is much better than the noise and stink of an outboard. My wife can't row so she preferrs the outboard.
I have two small outboards and they are noisy. One is a 3.5 2stroke tohatsu and the other an old sears 1.2hp. You have the issue of gas on board and where to store it and the noise. Also if it has the self contained gas tank I seem to always spill a little during refills. If yor demands are only a short ride to and from a mooring in relatively protected waters a trolling motor should work. You could also use a small solar panel that would probably keep the battery charged. Unless I am going a long way I enjoy rowing my walker bay 8. Rowing a short distance is much better than the noise and stink of an outboard. My wife can't row so she preferrs the outboard.
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