开云体育

Hi Ned,

There was just some discussion on the Cal Sailing list of electric
outboards. That might be a thought. Main downside seems to be range,
which is not an issue if you're just pushing into and out of the slip.
My Kubota diesel, with a fair amount of maintenance, has been reliable
so far, but I try to have backups for things so there's a long shaft
55 thrust-pound Minn Kota stuffed in the starboard cockpit locker.
That does move the boat, and being able to swivel it to steer is
handy. This is more in the $200 range than the $2000 range. It has
its own single 12 volt battery that also runs a backup bilge pump.
I'd love to be able to pop it on to get in and out of the slip and
keep it stowed otherwise, and not have any other motor but I'm not
that confident right now.

An outboard isn't a great fashion statement but my two cents is if you
aren't going to do whatever is needed to make the inboard happy, go
for the outboard and save grief and money. Or if you want to keep an
inboard that's not completely reliable and just have a backup to
possibly have to limp in when its calm, a simple, cheap trolling motor
can work.

Higher end, people here are having good luck with Torqeedo outboards.
That and
start at about $3,000. The club has a bunch of gas powered outboards
and they're unreliable at best and only as reliable as they are
because they constantly get run and get fresh gas, and people get
trained on dealing with them. It seems like around 9.9HP or so,
companies try to make them at least a bit reliable, but below that,
it's like a lawnmower with a propeller. I'm not sure I'd trade the
diesel inboard for a gas outboard because that seems like trading one
set of maintenance problems for another.

One other person who has posted on here has gone electric inboard, had
good thing sto say about it, and I'm thinking about that too. Last
time I was hauled out in a DIY yard, someone there had a Westsail they
were refitting including installing a
electric, and it sounds like it's served them well. It's a lot fewer
potential points of a failure and a lot less expensive than a new
diesel, but then HP and range each come at a premium, which could be a
good trade off if you're just pushing in and out. I can definitely
relate to wanting to do less work on things and more sailing.

Good luck!

-scott