[C320-list] Dinghy Outboards - Electic or Gas ?

[Greg Flanagan]

Frank, a very good question when refurbishing your dinghy plan. I bought the Torqueedo when I needed to replace my dinghy. My old one was a 9ft Titan that weighed 154 lbs. which was like the 6HP Yamaha engine was hard to toss around. So I bought an AB Lammina ultra light aluminum 9ft (4 person) tender that weighs less than half—75lbs. Likely easier to push with the Torqueedo electric. I can get it plane at 4.5 knots.  However, four of my club colleagues also have the Torqueedo with various tenders. 

Greg
HoopDancer #1076

> On Sep 6, 2020, at 10:15 AM, P.F. Ross <pfrstl at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Roger, thanks for asking since I am beginning my dinghy/motor search now.
> 
> Greg, you have mentioned how happy you are with your Torqeedo but
> intuitively seems like your dinghy type would also impact how well the
> motor performs in the wild.
> 
> Is your dinghy a RIB? How heavy? How long?
> 
> Thanks and regards,
> 
> Frank Ross
> Beta Wave #206
> Naples, FL
> 
> On Sat, Sep 5, 2020 at 8:58 PM Greg Flanagan <greg.flanagan at shaw.ca> wrote:
> 
> > Hi Roger,
> >
> > Sounds the same as my dinghy. I had a 6HP Yamaha and a davit to manage it.
> > But it still just got too much and I hated having to have gasoline on
> > board. I bought a Torqeedo 2 years ago and have never looked back. The
> > whole thing weighs 34 lbs, however the motor only weighs about 15 lbs, the
> > battery 16-17 lbs and the tiller a few more. So now I move the motor from
> > our mount into the dinghy with one hand, and then the battery. No gasoline!
> > Instant start! We can go over 4 knots if we are in a hurry but at a couple
> > of knots the battery will last for 20 hours. We have been able to use our
> > dinghy much more and it is quieter than a kayak at very low speed so we
> > have been able observe much more wildlife cruising the shoreline.
> > I initially had a 50 watt solar panel to charge it. Then as I increased my
> > main solar system I found I had free energy at the end of the day and could
> > just charge it from my house system without diminishing the house
> > batteries. However, given the range it doesn’t need much charge to bring it
> > up to 100%.
> > I strongly recommend it.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Greg
> > Hoop Dancer #1076
> > Sidney, BC
> >
> > > On Sep 5, 2020, at 5:57 PM, Roger Nitkin <rnitkin at aol.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > We have a 10’ inflatable dinghy we use when cruising, mostly short
> > weekend excursions.
> > >
> > > I’m tired of lugging around and setting up the 4 HP Yamaha outboard.
> > >
> > > Has anyone had any experience with electric outboards ?
> > >
> > > Aside from the higher initial cost and shorter range, are there any
> > other issues with electrics ?
> > > I figure that since most of our cruising is one or two nights, the
> > shorter range of the electric battery
> > > won’t be too much of a handicap.
> > >
> > > Thanks !
> > >
> > > Roger
> > > Summer Time, 1997
> > > Westport, CT
> >