[C320-list] Zodiac

[Amirault Family]

Jeff:

When it comes to electric trolling motors as sole dink motor, as with 
anything else there's always a down side.

On the up side there are the safety issues concerning the usage and 
storage of gas which are avoided when you use a battery. Fuel supply 
becomes less of a problem as you can use your boat's charging system to 
recharge the dink battery if needed. The motor is a simple switch 
without the need to pull a rope, clean a sparkplug , replace an 
impeller, winterize, or wonder why it won't start. Then there's the 
quiet of the electric motor over the gas engine. Finally therer is the 
motor weight; 22 pounds for a 55 pound thrust motor that will move a 70 
pound dink at nearly 4 knots at full throttle while drawing 45 amps.

Of course, all is not perfect in electron heaven. The weight of the 
system includes that of the battery and this latter can become VERY 
heavy depending on the amount of reserve power you require for your 
application and how long you need the charge to last. Running a half 
power you canl get a couple of hours out of a charge depending on 
battery size. Add a solar panel to the dink and you shouldn't need 
recharging for casual use.

Additionally it is slow. The maximum speed in the conditions above was 4 
knots. That's faster than rowing, but gasoline will get you there in a 
fraction of the time. One needs to ask where they're going and when they 
really need to get there. If your running about the local coast seeing 
those things that you can't see close up from your yacht then gas is the 
correct choice. If you only see short runs to other boats or to the near 
by dock then electric may be attractive to you.

My dink is a WalkerBay 8 with the hypalon RID. This has proven 
sufficiently stable and roomy for two adults and some gear. I row; but 
not much longer. I intend to get a motor/battery combination for the 
next sailing season. This should suit me as I currently weekend only and 
use the dink to go from boat to near shore and return without exploring 
the shoreline.

A final note. Practical Sailor could not get a straight answer from 
Minn-Kota concerning motor usage. They had a concern over long term 
usage of trolling motors at full throttle. The maufacturer felt that 
full throttle for 12 minutes would not be a problem but was not sure if 
prolonged max speed usage would constitute abuse under the warranty. 
They did note a commercial user having these motors installed in bumper 
boats without problems other than frequent changes of brushes.

PS bottom line was that for their 400 pound whaler they miss the speed 
and power of the gas engine and suspect that the motor will be 
insufficient when they need to face rough water and high winds; and if 
this proves true they will revert to the gas engine permanently, but 
for.  "...dinghy propulsion, if we can make the motor last a few years 
in the light-duty circumstances described above, we won't be going back 
to internal combustion. It will be strictly be amps,oars, and solar power."

Let us know.;

Brian