Sailboat with electric trolling motor?

Question

I'm considering putting an electric trolling motor on my 13 foot sailboat. The boat weighs about 400 lbs. I navigate a narrow tidal creek which is 1 mile from the waterway where I sail. Currents are not very strong. I've read where sailboats which are much larger than mine do this with 50 lb thrust electric motors. Is this a good choice for me?

Answer 1

I used a 77 pound electric with 105 amp-hour battery (2x12v in series for the 24 volt motor)

That set moved a Neptune 16 at a reasonable speed for about three hours.  That is consistent with a 30 amp draw for three hours.  That run exhausted the batts, which is not good practice.

I think you will be OK at 2 miles range, especially if you are ready to row/paddle if things go south.  Best practice is to use the top half of your batts, so go big or risk premature battery failure.

I want to try towing a small boat like yours with a fishing scale.  I found one that read to 100 pounds, so it may be that you could estimate your thrust requirement by towing.

Just recall that it is a vicious cycle when you look for range, as the bigger batts weigh more, requiring a bigger motor to push.

Good luck

Peter in Portland

Answer 2

I would say very much so. my boat is 28' and uses a 10 hp motor to putt-putt it's way out of the marina. At least this way you don't have to worry about gas fumes and noise but you might want to protect your battery from salt water as battery acid and seawater make chlorine gas.

Answer 3

I agree with all the posters pro and con. You have to decide if the pros out weigh the cons. I have a 30# thrust  Minn Kota on a 14' kayak and one battery that weighs 34 lbs.and it will scoot me around all day if run below full speed. It makes a big difference what speed setting you have it set on. Because there is no gearing(direct drive) they have a low pitch prop. This gives great start up torc but low overall speed . This won't matter for sailing  because you mainly want to just get out far enough to set sail. If the wind dies you should be OK, just don't be in a hurry ,set a cruise position on the throttle, it will get you back. If however you encounter sudden bad weather gasoline motors out perform electric speedwise and in endurance. I say give electric a try.     DP

Answer 4

I've never had any success with this type motor.  The "pitch" of most trolling motors is to high to give you the control you need, at the higher rpm that these motors turn.  Then there is the cavitation problems.  Don't forget the weight of the battery need to power this motor.  Most people resort to a paddle, but if you must have a motor, there are a few that might work.  However, each has drawbacks, like no gear shift, or no reverse at all.  Some are harder to start than expected.  A 3-4 hp. gas is best.

Answer 5

I think it is a good idea, you can work out the details, check out some trolling motor blogs.

Answer 6

we use a minkota 45# riptide on a 16' open fibreglass sailing dinghy with a 85a/h deepcycle battery. this gets us around a large lake in Snowy Mountains when we are becalmed.

we get over 4 hours running on the battery faste than walking speed.

Answer 7

I used to have a 50# thrust on my Cal 21, which has about an 1850# displacement, through the local lake channels to get to the big picture.  But by the time I added the weight of the 3 batteries and the motor, I just opted for a 3.9hp Volvo Penta which I purchased off ebay for a couple of hundred bucks.  he motor weighed less than the 3 batteries and trolling motor together.  I believe it weighed about 32 #'s.  I think you should look for 2-3 hp long shaft motors.  They're a bit more expensive if you purchase them new but they don't drain batteries and you don't have to make storage for the batteries and you don't have battery cables all over the place and you don't have to charge any batteries.  

All in all, it's pheasible to run trolling motors but my experience is get a gas powered motor.  You never know when you're going to run out of wind and unless you have a volt meter, you don't know when your batteries are going to tucker out, but that usually happens when you're on the other side of the lake and the weather turns foul from what the forecast says it was going to do.

I hope this helps

Answer 8

A sailboat is usually lighter and more efficient through the water so I would say yes. You could always assist with a canoe style paddle.

Answer 9

Get the 'spec'.s on that motor.

(50#  is quite a bit of thrust.)

Even though you're only 13 Ft. you've got a lot of

windage to manage, and to be safe, you'd better have

two houres of battery power, which might weigh a bit.

Answer 10

get a small 2-6hp air cooled outboard. tro;;ers require heavy deep cycle batteries and are a nuisanmce to keep charged. suppose it dies when you need it.