[C320-list] Zodiac

[Jeff Church]

Brian,

Exploring is definitely in the cards, so I don't think the slow speed and limited range of an electric motor would be acceptable.

Thanks for the info.

Jeff
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Amirault Family 
  To: c320-list at catalina320.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 7:02 PM
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Zodiac


  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