Do electric outboards go at a reasonable speed?

Question

what else will I need other than the electric outboard?

Answer 1

IT DEPENDS ON THE RATED THRUST  THE HIGH THE MORE POWER

Answer 2

the highest speed is 3knts, they are not made for speed but stelf

Answer 3

Yes... most certainly!

Question is:

How fast do you want to go... and for how long?

What a great question...

Yes... matter of fact they do, or shall I say can... but, when it comes to "boating" there is more that meets the eye then what you see above the water... it is the hull shape, design, and particularly - "hull speed".  And this is where it gets a bit confusing.  For example:

My current "boat building" project is "electric"... It is a 50 foot live aboard vessel built on "catamaran" hulls.  Notice I said "catamaran" hulls, and not pontoons... there is a difference.

This vessel is being driven by twin marine electric outboard motors... (designed by Solomn Marine)... We did have a choice between inboard or outboard... and we favored the outboards for many reasons...  At the current time, we are installing the generator - which will be used to continually feed the battery banks (as well as everything else that is electric - both 12 volt and 110v)... And in our case, it is the generator that is a key factor...

The "generator" at half load, will produce "all our electrical requirements" (including the two electric motors) and according to Solomn Marine's specs... we should maintain a fuel efficiency of about 1/2 gallon of fuel per hour to run the generator... which in turn, produces the electric to keep our batteries fully charged, and run all our other electric needs.

Now mind you this is for a ten ton "live aboard vessel"... running electric engines for 8 to 10 hours a day - everyday at near maximum hull speed... (that is a non planning displacement hull... ) and in our case, that speed is a maximum of 13 knots...  Not "fast" by any means - but certainly very-very respectable and faster than most displacement hull boats either sail or power.

But in our case, the "key factor" here is even if we doubled the power (which we could do), the vessel would not go any faster... because that is its maximum hull speed.

Now, put these two (or even one) of these electric motors on a "speed boat" or planning hull boat... and you will have a very fast boat... (in fact, there is an attempt being made now to break the world speed boat record with an electric motor.

(An electric powered motorcycle holds that world record on land.)

Problem with electric motors on cars and boats, is not speed... but "maintaining speed" without draining your batteries...  For example, the two 40 hp motors we have selected... if you ran them "only on batteries" they would last about 6 hours at 1/3 speed, 4 hours at 1/2 speed, and only 1 hour at full speed... Thus for us, the reason for a continual electrical feed from a generator... and the small generator (7 hp) uses a "whole lot" less fuel.

So, the bottom line is: Yes, you can get a reasonable speed... certainly!  but, it all depends on what kind of vessel you have (or want) how you want to use it...  and how long will you need to use it?  You can, for example, put an 30 hp electric outboat on most any sailboat and go as fast as the boat will go...  at about half throttle (about 9 or 10 knots) period.

Put that same motor on a Seaflea... and you will out run just about anything on the lake... probably hit 55 mph... but at full speed, you'll be dead on the water in about an hour.

So the "trade off" is size and weight... If you bult yourself a "long" (say 40' or better) Speakeasy... you could, with two of three battery banks and a 30 hp electric motor - cruise from sunrise to after dark... at about 20 mph... add solar packs, or even a small genset... and your in business...

There is "a lot" done... and a lot more being done with electric motors (inboard & outboard) in the recreational boating industry... do your searches using the term "Marine" and you will find plenty of sites...  some are pretty fasinating.

So...  (thank goodness)  electric outboards are not just for trolling anymore!  If your looking for an electric outboard for your current vessel... try Ray Marine, and then go from there.

Happy and Safe Boating!

Answer 4

They certainly won't match the speed of a combustion engine but on the other hand they certainly beat rowing. Also very quiet and good for fishing.

I'd say you'd get about 5-6mph out of a reasonable electric outboard engine. I owned a Minnakota once and it was very reliable.

Answer 5

Define "reasonable" and describe the boat it's going on.  

I have a 36lb thrust motorguide on the bow  of a 15' fiberglass boat, used as a positioning thruster for fishing.  It's barely adequate for that purpose, and would be useless as a primary means of propulsion.

You will also require a 12V marine deep cycle battery, or two if you get a 24V motor, or 3 for a 36 volt motor, and a good quality battery charger.