Empathy List Archives

M

Michael

Tue, Jul 30, 2002 4:19 AM

I would like to solicit the lists opinion on dingy motors. I am leaning
toward an electric trolling motor for the following reasons:

only one kind of fuel aboard.
quite operation
expense, a saltwater trolling motor and an AGM battery for less than
$600.00

The down side is that the dingy (10' hard FRP) won't plane and its hard to
tell how much "fuel" you have left

The Battery will need its own charging setup and is heavy to move in and
out of the dingy. However as the dingy is carried on davits at the stern
it may not need to be removed.

Opinions?

I would like to solicit the lists opinion on dingy motors. I am leaning toward an electric trolling motor for the following reasons: 1. only one kind of fuel aboard. 2. quite operation 3. expense, a saltwater trolling motor and an AGM battery for less than $600.00 The down side is that the dingy (10' hard FRP) won't plane and its hard to tell how much "fuel" you have left The Battery will need its own charging setup and is heavy to move in and out of the dingy. However as the dingy is carried on davits at the stern it may not need to be removed. Opinions?

AJ

Arild Jensen

Tue, Jul 30, 2002 5:10 AM

Michael wrote

The down side is that the dingy (10' hard FRP) won't plane and its hard to tell
how much "fuel" you have left

The Battery will need its own charging setup and is heavy to move in and
out of the dingy. However as the dingy is carried on davits at the stern
it may not need to be removed.

REPLY

Just one opinion and I have to confess I'm biased.

Planing dinghies? Depends on where and how you use them.
for a quiet tour around the anchorage to "visit" electric certainly looks more
attractive and less annoying to the quietness.

Unless you are traversing long distances, does it really matter if the boat does
four knots or fourteen?

As for a fuel gauge. Get a Link 10 or the Ample power equivalent.

At Xantrex we had a number of the Power Pacs with a Link 10 cut into the
shell. Built in Fuel gauge.

As for battery removal and replacement. Why? AGM can be secured in
place permanently and even turned upside down.

As an alternative, get one of the smaller 40 amp hour booster packs sold in
department stores and automotive shops. They come in a nice portable pack
complete with carrying handles, a cordset plug and sometimes an LED
indicator strip.
The Link 10 may not even be needed if you use this approach.

One of the guys at work had several of the power packs for his fishing
inflatable and said two packs lasted him all day at trolling speeds.
So my guess is a 40 Amp hour pack will last about as long as the built in tank
on a very small outboard gasoline motor.

Cheers

Arild

Michael wrote > The down side is that the dingy (10' hard FRP) won't plane and its hard to tell > how much "fuel" you have left > > The Battery will need its own charging setup and is heavy to move in and > out of the dingy. However as the dingy is carried on davits at the stern > it may not need to be removed. REPLY Just one opinion and I have to confess I'm biased. Planing dinghies? Depends on where and how you use them. for a quiet tour around the anchorage to "visit" electric certainly looks more attractive and less annoying to the quietness. Unless you are traversing long distances, does it really matter if the boat does four knots or fourteen? As for a fuel gauge. Get a Link 10 or the Ample power equivalent. At Xantrex we had a number of the Power Pacs with a Link 10 cut into the shell. Built in Fuel gauge. As for battery removal and replacement. Why? AGM can be secured in place permanently and even turned upside down. As an alternative, get one of the smaller 40 amp hour booster packs sold in department stores and automotive shops. They come in a nice portable pack complete with carrying handles, a cordset plug and sometimes an LED indicator strip. The Link 10 may not even be needed if you use this approach. One of the guys at work had several of the power packs for his fishing inflatable and said two packs lasted him all day at trolling speeds. So my guess is a 40 Amp hour pack will last about as long as the built in tank on a very small outboard gasoline motor. Cheers Arild

RD

Robert Deering

Tue, Jul 30, 2002 6:48 AM

Michael,

Do a search of the archives and you'll find a number of threads on this
subject.

My opinion: I'm not sure that electric trolling motors make a lot of sense
for a dinghy. If you don't need to go very fast or very far, and just want
to putt around the harbor, get a kayak or a good rowing dinghy. They're
quieter, cheaper, much less complicated, more environmentally sound, and
frankly, after a day sitting on my rump in the boat I need a little
exercise.

If you want to go further and faster with an electric motor, make sure you
have a good set of oars. What happens when (not if, when) you run out of
juice? If you have a gas powered dinghy you can buy or bum some gasoline
from lots of other shore side or floating sources. If your batteries run
dry, where are you going to get a recharge for them?

Bob Deering
Juneau, Alaska

Michael, Do a search of the archives and you'll find a number of threads on this subject. My opinion: I'm not sure that electric trolling motors make a lot of sense for a dinghy. If you don't need to go very fast or very far, and just want to putt around the harbor, get a kayak or a good rowing dinghy. They're quieter, cheaper, much less complicated, more environmentally sound, and frankly, after a day sitting on my rump in the boat I need a little exercise. If you want to go further and faster with an electric motor, make sure you have a good set of oars. What happens when (not if, when) you run out of juice? If you have a gas powered dinghy you can buy or bum some gasoline from lots of other shore side or floating sources. If your batteries run dry, where are you going to get a recharge for them? Bob Deering Juneau, Alaska

RC

R C Smith Jr

Tue, Jul 30, 2002 2:33 PM

If you intend to do a good amount of anchoring while cruising, you will be
disappointed without a dinghy that planes with two people aboard. A slow
dinghy really limits your exploring and utility. The good anchorage is not
always close to the action. The new four-strokes are quiet enough,
especially when putting around, but, admittedly, expensive!

Bob

R C Smith Jr
M/V Susan Marie
Hatteras 58 LRC
Narragansett Bay

I would like to solicit the lists opinion on dingy motors. I am leaning
toward an electric trolling motor

If you intend to do a good amount of anchoring while cruising, you will be disappointed without a dinghy that planes with two people aboard. A slow dinghy really limits your exploring and utility. The good anchorage is not always close to the action. The new four-strokes are quiet enough, especially when putting around, but, admittedly, expensive! Bob ________________ R C Smith Jr M/V Susan Marie Hatteras 58 LRC Narragansett Bay > > I would like to solicit the lists opinion on dingy motors. I am leaning > toward an electric trolling motor

TM

Todd Mains

Tue, Jul 30, 2002 2:59 PM

Bob writes, "If you want to go further and faster with an electric motor,
make sure you have a good set of oars. What happens when (not if, when) you
run out of juice? If you have a gas-powered dinghy you can buy or bum some
gasoline from lots of other shore side or floating sources. If your
batteries run dry, where are you going to get a recharge for them?"

I don't have an electric motor, but the idea intrigues me. I think it would
be money better spent to have two AGM batteries rather than installing a
LINK. AGMs hold their charge a long time and you would always have the
additional "get home" power. The down side would be that they are about 40
lbs.

Best,

Todd Mains
M/V Pinguino
50' Ocean Alexander Pilothouse
Portland, Oregon

Bob writes, "If you want to go further and faster with an electric motor, make sure you have a good set of oars. What happens when (not if, when) you run out of juice? If you have a gas-powered dinghy you can buy or bum some gasoline from lots of other shore side or floating sources. If your batteries run dry, where are you going to get a recharge for them?" I don't have an electric motor, but the idea intrigues me. I think it would be money better spent to have two AGM batteries rather than installing a LINK. AGMs hold their charge a long time and you would always have the additional "get home" power. The down side would be that they are about 40 lbs. Best, Todd Mains M/V Pinguino 50' Ocean Alexander Pilothouse Portland, Oregon

trawlers@lists.trawlering.com

TWL: Dingy Motor