Anyone using electric outboards on ribs?

[electric outboard]

I'm interested in electric outboards on ribs and small boats and am shortly launching a 4.2m eGuardian electric support boat for sailing clubs which is planing capable and can last all day for racing sessions etc.


Is anyone else using electric outboards on their ribs?


What is people's experience with electric motors so far?

[Nigelb]

All I notice is big difference in speed between electric and petrol, only on a small inflatable tho, but if you're using higher end stuff could be completely different

[electric outboard]

Hi Nigel,


Which electric motors have you tried?


Most of the small consumer ones unfortunately completely overstate their equivalent power claiming to be 3hp equivalent when they are in fact nearer 1hp - they use the bollard pull at zero speed to justify the inflated claims but it just means they can't match the top speed of high revving petrols.


Our range of Mitek motors based on standard outboard power legs act just like petrol outboards and have standard splines and props so rev high and act accordingly.

[Nigelb]

I just use a 55lb osapian cheap Chinese thing, pushes me along ok fishing spot to fishing spot, flat out is 3.2mph

[electric outboard]

I know those well as I sell them but we are phasing them out - replaced by the Haswing Protruar range which is far more efficent using much less battery if you ar enot at full throttle as it uses a pulse width modulation to only use the power requried instead of the old tech Osapian which basically uses pretty well full power all the time - it wastes lots as heat when at lower throttle levels.

[Nigelb]

Ah well know where to look if ever looking for a replacement, thanks

[electric outboard]

No problem!


I see you are ased near Wrexham - we'll be back up that way doing some testing with a local sailing club to help them with their support boats.
If you need anything drop me a line any time and can always drop it off for you!

[Nigelb]

Ok if need anything will let u know thanks

[Fenlander]

I was so close to buying an elec outboard for the river but spent the money on an elec mountain bike instead and will continue with the 9.8 petrol for river use. Best decision I made recently.

[Nigelb]

Good idea, electric is ok but nowhere near a petrol for convenience and ability to push you around

[Fenlander]

Yep and that wasn't meant to be an anti elec outboard comment... more that an elec outboard would have been a marginal improvement in enjoyment but the eMTB has been a massive positive.

[chipko]

We have a couple of electric motors, a ThrustMe Kicker and an Epropulsion Spirit 1 Evo.

The super light 4.5kg ThrustMe is carried onboard our sibs as a get me home auxiliary. The 20kg Epropulsion is used occasionally on our sibs/tiny 3.4m rib as the main for lazy chill out days on sea or river just cruising around in virtual silence at 3 to 4 mph average.

They’re both great fun but in no way viable alternatives to small petrol motors for regular use, and practically only good for pottering around. Ridiculous initial cost to boot and, although both ours have so far proved reliable, this doesn’t appear to be the case generally. Salt water and fancy electronics just don’t sit well together.

One thing I will say is electric motors come into their own running at low watts preserving run time and taking advantage of the massive torque electric motors generate. The Epropulsion will easily push our 600kg 5m rib along at a steady 4-5mph.

Think out of the two the Kicker is favourite due to it being so compact and light.

[Easedalenovice]

I think there is a long time to go before electric stuff and batteries will be able to come any where near conventional outboards

[Nigelb]

Yore dead right there, pottering about only, advantage is quiet, endurance and heavy batteries a big disadvantage

[Nigelb]

As more powerful as you can get, I have 3 m, and 55ilb thrust, flat out is 3 mph, with 100 ah battery, not used flat out battery lasts a good few hours

[Nigelb]

Same as cars, environment friendly but no endurance therefore inconvenient,

[electric outboard]

Wev'e just been out testing our eGuardian 420 now the weather is verging on "not sh1t" finally....


Short video here showing it planing:
https://youtu.be/hOc0ugk5ffY


We have 2 large 48v 150Ah batteries linked in parallel in the console that at low speeds will give a range of 45+ nautical miles. We are testing with various props to work out the best options - this was with a 4 blade 1" x7".


The motor was pulling 250 amps so these 2 batteries will give just voer an hour constant planing. For our sailing club clients it means they can use the boat all day with problem and a lot of clubs will use it for 2 days or more with these batteries or have smaller lighter batteries for their requirements.



Normally we use a remote steering motor but sold out so using the tiller controlled version here but kept the main console in place.


Going out this afternoon using a 9.25" by 12" to see how that goes and will also try the 9.25" by 10" and 11" as well.


For some people they might want more low down grunt and others more at the top end so we're looking to document it to broaden the current zero knowledge base.

[Nigelb]

Sounds like you know what your doing hope you get to the right combination, I only use mine for pottering about and fishing on the local lake that does me.

[Fenlander]

Interesting read and video. I love a good prop selection test. Bit longer video next time showing more trolling speed (re noise or lack thereof) would be good.

[electric outboard]

Sorry only brief videos at the moment as we've got loads on.

However here is demo testing from yesteray afternoon (23/04/2024) at Lymington Harbour hitting and holding around 12kW with my normally specced prop Solas 3 blade 9.25" x 12" and the difference is massive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlzKjXSBbaQ

Top speed went up from just under 10mph to planing fully and hitting just over 17mph.

We will try to find a bigger prop again as it felt like there was some left in it but will move onto the 20hp once I've done some other lower power motor testing which clients need to see more urgently.

We will then document a trip over to the Isle of Wight using the 15hp I think and perhaps along the coast a bit to Hurst Castle for a picnic.

Planing at say 15-16mph ish for well over an hour (plus pottering time in and out of harbours) is possible drawing around 11kW from this 15kW battery so range circa 20 miles quite happily.

From Lymington to Yarmouth is only around 4 miles each way so should be very easily achieved - I will update you when we do it.

Hurst Castle is about the same and then Newtown Creek is about 6 miles each way.

We will video them in full and post GPS tracks.

Actually here are the GPS track from the short test I was doing yesterday:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/15038692314

Electric motors can defintely get you planing!