I just ordered a 11 FT RIB and am debating wether an electric saltwater trolling motor will be practical. Has anyone tried this? Am concerned with it's thrust to overcome a stiff breeze as well as battery time.
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A friend of mine has one
He has one on a 9' RIB. It doesn't go very fast, but he does get there eventually. He and his wife putts around in a anchorge and goes to the dock. It is very quite, and he has often snuck up behind me. He has a group 24 battery, I think. He also has a small gas generator so he can charge it up. I don't know how long a battery will last per charge, but I will ask him the next time I see him. He just spent 3 weeks up north in Canada.
He has one on a 9' RIB. It doesn't go very fast, but he does get there eventually. He and his wife putts around in a anchorge and goes to the dock. It is very quite, and he has often snuck up behind me. He has a group 24 battery, I think. He also has a small gas generator so he can charge it up. I don't know how long a battery will last per charge, but I will ask him the next time I see him. He just spent 3 weeks up north in Canada.
Don't do it Ken
*yks Go for the gusto. That means horsepower. We run a 25hp Yamaha on our 11.5 RIB. Hotrods forever! Besides, how are ya gonna get off the beach against breaking waves with an electric motor? We have done it many times with the Yamaha.
*yks Go for the gusto. That means horsepower. We run a 25hp Yamaha on our 11.5 RIB. Hotrods forever! Besides, how are ya gonna get off the beach against breaking waves with an electric motor? We have done it many times with the Yamaha.
Just talked to my friend on his electric unit
his motor is rated at 28# thrust. He just used it on a 8' Livingston - which is fairly heavy compared to a RIB . It runs for about 2 hours at top speed. and takes about 4 hours to recharge. It doesn't really have enough power in very much current, and he has been known to row along with the motor to make decent headway. It works better on a RIB. They do sell bigger motors, but that translates to more battery consumption.
his motor is rated at 28# thrust. He just used it on a 8' Livingston - which is fairly heavy compared to a RIB . It runs for about 2 hours at top speed. and takes about 4 hours to recharge. It doesn't really have enough power in very much current, and he has been known to row along with the motor to make decent headway. It works better on a RIB. They do sell bigger motors, but that translates to more battery consumption.
trolling motor
I guess it depends what you need it for. I’ve got a 105 lb thrust 36 volt trolling motor on my 3000+ lb Ericson 23. It gets me out of the harbor when 10 foot swells are breaking half way across the harbor entrance. It pushes me along at 4knts normally. Its quiet, doesn’t smell and there is no oil slick following me (I used to have an old 9.9hp Evenrude that was pretty offensive). I would think if you need something to get you around the harbor or off a mooring to a dock, you would be happy with the quiet simplicity of a trolling motor. If you have room for the batteries, I’d get 24 volt unit (two batteries) for more thrust and run time.
I guess it depends what you need it for. I’ve got a 105 lb thrust 36 volt trolling motor on my 3000+ lb Ericson 23. It gets me out of the harbor when 10 foot swells are breaking half way across the harbor entrance. It pushes me along at 4knts normally. Its quiet, doesn’t smell and there is no oil slick following me (I used to have an old 9.9hp Evenrude that was pretty offensive). I would think if you need something to get you around the harbor or off a mooring to a dock, you would be happy with the quiet simplicity of a trolling motor. If you have room for the batteries, I’d get 24 volt unit (two batteries) for more thrust and run time.
electrics
I have a 17' O'Day daysailer in a slip on a protected inland lake a mile and a half wide by 14 long. I used to have a 5hp Suzuki, but weight, reliability, gas/oil and noise were all offensive, so I went to a 55# thrust electric with cables running to a group 24 deep cycle battery well forward in the cuddy, recharged by a 5w solar panel. It moves the boat at 3.3 knots full speed, and will run at this speed for 1.5 hours. At the slowest speed, it will run for 12 hours. I only use it for geting in and out of the harbour, about a 7 minute run, so it never really discharges. This might not be your solution, if you have wind waves and current to contend with, but for me, it works fine with the conditions I typically experience.
I have a 17' O'Day daysailer in a slip on a protected inland lake a mile and a half wide by 14 long. I used to have a 5hp Suzuki, but weight, reliability, gas/oil and noise were all offensive, so I went to a 55# thrust electric with cables running to a group 24 deep cycle battery well forward in the cuddy, recharged by a 5w solar panel. It moves the boat at 3.3 knots full speed, and will run at this speed for 1.5 hours. At the slowest speed, it will run for 12 hours. I only use it for geting in and out of the harbour, about a 7 minute run, so it never really discharges. This might not be your solution, if you have wind waves and current to contend with, but for me, it works fine with the conditions I typically experience.
Electric Power
Consider the "power" of an electric. Watts = Volts x Amps, and 1 horsepwer = 746 watts or there abouts. The electric will run around 80% efficient, if I remember correctly. Typical electrics run 3/8 to 3/4 HP, though you can get more powerful motors if you want - though then the cost goes up. Having used an electric on a lake in the past where they work fine, I think it can work, if as others have said you are willing to help by rowing when wind and current are up or it is choppy. But more than likely you will prefer the greater power of a gas motor.
Consider the "power" of an electric. Watts = Volts x Amps, and 1 horsepwer = 746 watts or there abouts. The electric will run around 80% efficient, if I remember correctly. Typical electrics run 3/8 to 3/4 HP, though you can get more powerful motors if you want - though then the cost goes up. Having used an electric on a lake in the past where they work fine, I think it can work, if as others have said you are willing to help by rowing when wind and current are up or it is choppy. But more than likely you will prefer the greater power of a gas motor.
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