electric motor

[john6206]

Hi all,

I have had a love/hate relationship with my mercury 3.3 two stroke for about 7 years now. With more hate than love.

When we use it we tend to use it once or twice a year - last year we didn't use it at all and this year it wouldn't start (again).

I am thinking of jumping ship and going electric.

I saw a 38# thrust minkota at Dunham's for $168 bucks. I figure another $100 for the battery, I already have a decent charger . . . . what am I not thinking of??

Is this the right size motor? How long do I get from a fully charged battery? I assume like with all batteries three years from now a full charge is not going to last as long . . . am I right?

Also I am going on the assumption that they are pretty reliable and maintaince free . . . am I wrong there?

any electric motor advice would be helpful.

Thanks,

John

 

[Benny]

For a 170 it may be ok to get on and off the dock or ramp. 38# of thrust will give you a comparative performance of around a 1/2 hp gas outboard. Don't try to mathematically convert pounds of thrust to horsepower as you cannot get there from here and the answer you would get would in no way translate into real life performance. I would use a group 24 deep cycle battery . I have a Merc 3.3HP which I love dearly. After lugging around a 5HP 56 lbs 4 stroke the little kicker is a blessing. Why don't you consider at least taking your Merc to a shop and put the $268 towards tuning and refurbishing it? Nothing against electric but being grossly underpowered can be dangerous.

 

[john6206]

Thanks Benny,

I agree I don't want an underpowered motor.

I have my mercury in the shop now - It seems to cost me a couple hundred bucks per hour of service.

Perhaps what I need is "outboard motors for dummies."

My big trouble is that I took sailing lessons and then bought a boat - I never took outboard lessons! The lake I sail no one uses a motor, so I only use it when I go to the big lakes - which is more rare than I would like.

Thanks again,

Maybe I will keep trying to learn about small engines.

John