Best very small dinghy motor
- Thread starter potter water
- Start date
bridma":1d1ompu9 said:
Martin-
Maybe so, but I'd rather extra carry propane cylinders (already have them for BBQ anyway) than store gas in small cans or take it out of the big tanks (also do this already for Honda 1000i generator).
Simply put, I'd rather handle screw-in propane cylinders for the dinghy motor than mess with gasoline transfer and storage.
Gasoline is messy, stains, and smells.
Propane is clean and dry.
Both are hazardous to your health.
Tough choice, and they both have to be handled with care, but I prefer to wrestle with the cleaner one.
My two cents, FWIW! :lol:
Joe. :teeth :thup
I had a Honda 2 and sold it--did not like the centrifical clutch. Noisy. I did like the Suzuki 2.5--and think it is closer to a 3 or more. I currently use a merc 3.5 2 stroke which has been a great motor, and is also about 29 lbs. Plenty of power for any inflatable less than 11 feet. Be careful about wind and 2 hp outboards. In a heavy breeze, the 2hp may not be enough to get back to the boat!
Tom on Icarus
New member
We just love our 2.5 Suzuki. 
Cheers :beer
Tom
Cheers :beer
Tom
prosimedia
New member
I have a 2009 yamaha 2.5 HP four stroke on my current dinghy and it is amazing. Built-in fuel tank with shutoff valve - every time I put it away I close the valve and let it run dry and that way the carbs never "shellac" from unused gas. Always starts first pul and easy to maintain. Not very noisy except at wot.
Simon
Simon
The problem with electric trolling motors is two fold--(probably more and they have never taken off) First is the recharging of the battery. Second is the lack of power to push an inflatable against heavy winds. (I have mentioned that even a 2 hp outboard may not be sufficient in some cases--the electric is worse). If you boat in salt water, then you want to have a salt water designed electric motor. These are more expensive, but will last much longer.
Propane outboards. You are not going to carry a 5 gallon propane tank in the dinghy! There are corrosion problems with the screw in cylinders, and these have to be kept in an area which is vented overboard in the "mother ship". Propane vapor is heavier than air, and will sink into a bilge.
Propane as a fuel is good, in that it causes less contamination to the lube oil.
Propane outboards. You are not going to carry a 5 gallon propane tank in the dinghy! There are corrosion problems with the screw in cylinders, and these have to be kept in an area which is vented overboard in the "mother ship". Propane vapor is heavier than air, and will sink into a bilge.
Propane as a fuel is good, in that it causes less contamination to the lube oil.
I'm considering the Torqeedo Travel 1003 electric outboard for my dinghy. Its about double the price of a 2-3hp gas outboard.
The value for me is that it can be disassembled for storage and is lighter.
There are several video clips on Youtube of it in action. I wouldn't want to use it in rough waters, but it would be handy to get to/from shore without paddling.
The value for me is that it can be disassembled for storage and is lighter.
There are several video clips on Youtube of it in action. I wouldn't want to use it in rough waters, but it would be handy to get to/from shore without paddling.
When talking about the weight of an electric trolling motor or the Torqeedo, is everyone taking the weight of an additional battery into consideration? Our 2.5 hp dinghy motor (and an extra one gallon can of fuel) weighs less than an individual battery. If we need to go further than the fuel capacity (internal tank), we just pour more fuel in... recharging one of those batteries is tough to do when you are swinging on the hook (without running a generator for hours).
Seems to me that the concern with electric outboards is that same as with electric autos: the range and the time it takes to recharge.
Seems to me that the concern with electric outboards is that same as with electric autos: the range and the time it takes to recharge.
The Torqeedo motors are not the same as normal electric trolling motors. The motors and props are of different designs and Torqeedo makes up to 9-10hp equivalents now. The 1003 model is the largest to have a built-in but removable battery so no big deep cycle to haul around for that one. Charging away from shore power is a real concern bit if your range needs are shorter, they can work very well and that 1003 unit pushes like a 2.5hp gas motor. They are actually a bit noisy so try one first before buying if silence is one of the big selling points for you. I love electric toys but the purr of a little 4 stroke is a nicer sound to me than the wirring of the Torqeedo.
Torqeedo 1003 only $2000 ! Then add in the extra battery for $700, and the solar charger for $900! This comes to about $3600! If you want a charging source. It might work fine if you are at a dock regularly, but to charge the battery from a generator takes about 10 yours on 110 v--and you don't want to do that on an inverter!
Suzuki 2.5 hp gas outboard: about $670! Gas can $ 5, gallon of gas $4---or for $700 you can buy the outboard (which actually weighs less than the Torqeedo --the 29 lbs does not include the battery)--so it comes in closer to 40 lbs) and enough gas to power the dinghy about as long as that battery will last... On the plus side of the Torqueedo 1003, it sounds as if you can get about 9 hours of cruising at 2.5 knots--or a range of about 25 miles. On the other hand a couple of gallons of gas would give close to the same range at 2.5 knots.
Suzuki 2.5 hp gas outboard: about $670! Gas can $ 5, gallon of gas $4---or for $700 you can buy the outboard (which actually weighs less than the Torqeedo --the 29 lbs does not include the battery)--so it comes in closer to 40 lbs) and enough gas to power the dinghy about as long as that battery will last... On the plus side of the Torqueedo 1003, it sounds as if you can get about 9 hours of cruising at 2.5 knots--or a range of about 25 miles. On the other hand a couple of gallons of gas would give close to the same range at 2.5 knots.
We tried like heck to justify a cruise 2.0 tiller model as an emergency auxiliary for our boat on order that has the room for 24v of batteries but ended up with a great little Yamaha instead. Maybe next time around the price/range equation will be appealing enough. The propane units have more appeal for us right now so we will be watching those for sure.
starcrafttom
Active member
I just looked at the lehr propane motor site and video. I caught him in a little lie, well not a lie but a misstatement of truth. He said that propane in some states is cheaper then gas ??/ Well he maybe right about that if you are buying 200 gallons at a time for your house tank in the back yard. current here in snohomish county is $2.68 a gallon in bulk. but those little tanks cost more. The only price I can find on the net is $5 each. That's for 1 lbs tank. I am not sure what that equals to in gallons??. Now you can fill you own off of larger tanks and I do. Tim sold me a nice adapter to me that makes the job easy. But unless you do that I am not sure it cost less then gas.
starcrafttom
Active member
ok I found it.
so it would take 4 and half little tanks to equal on gallon. SO my next question is do you get the same, more or less power, distance from a gallon of gas and a gallon of propane? 4 1/2 little tanks is $22.50 if that 5 dollar price is right.
so it would take 4 and half little tanks to equal on gallon. SO my next question is do you get the same, more or less power, distance from a gallon of gas and a gallon of propane? 4 1/2 little tanks is $22.50 if that 5 dollar price is right.
Tom,
I've found them much cheaper than that at Walmart on sale, but right on the nose in Southeast Alaska during our 2010 cruise. Bought one heck of a lot of those one pound bottles in Sitka at $5.00 per when the Wallas died & we heated with the Buddy Heater & cooked on the back up Coleman stove. In some of the more remote smaller town stores they were 6 bucks plus if I remember correctly.
Jay
I've found them much cheaper than that at Walmart on sale, but right on the nose in Southeast Alaska during our 2010 cruise. Bought one heck of a lot of those one pound bottles in Sitka at $5.00 per when the Wallas died & we heated with the Buddy Heater & cooked on the back up Coleman stove. In some of the more remote smaller town stores they were 6 bucks plus if I remember correctly.
Jay
To be fair, I remember being able to buy the cylinders for about $1.70 each on sale, though it's been awhile since I've bought any.
The prices may be higher now with the current prices for petroleum, from which most of the propane and butane is derived.
Of course, everything costs more in a place like Alaska, especially the remote towns and villages.
What do they get for quality D-cell batteries, like Duracells? Fishing gear? Cold Medicine? Milk? Gasoline? Toilet Paper?
Let's see, we'll have to forgo something to stay within our budget……….what can we do without? :shock:
Joe. :teeth :thup
The prices may be higher now with the current prices for petroleum, from which most of the propane and butane is derived.
Of course, everything costs more in a place like Alaska, especially the remote towns and villages.
What do they get for quality D-cell batteries, like Duracells? Fishing gear? Cold Medicine? Milk? Gasoline? Toilet Paper?
Let's see, we'll have to forgo something to stay within our budget……….what can we do without? :shock:
Joe. :teeth :thup
Sea Wolf":3grmm7b5 said:
Joe, I only remember exact cost for the propane in Sitka. Just know in other places it was more. Actually, usually was surprised about how reasonable the prices were in the out of the way places & the variety of items for sale whether food, hardware or marine, at least it was like that where the big container barges had access.
Jay
Hunkydory":1x4ajxzn said:
Jay-
Good point!
I kind of exaggerated it a bit!
I guess I got off on a rant (again)!
But we've all experienced that kind of thing, sooner or later.
Hey-
You live in Wyoming. Do they still have drive through liquor stores so you don't have to get out of your car (nice in the snow in winter)? Or is that Montana?
Couldn't believe the drive through thing when I first saw it in about 1970.
I knew we were pretty liberal with our liquor laws here in California when compared with the laws and state owned stores in Oregon, Washington, and Canada, but it seemed ironic or paradoxical when there were stores where you didn't have to even get out of your car! (Or off your horse?) :lol:
It's a crazy world, full of both differences and similarities at the same time!
Joe. :teeth :thup
Last week we filled up the RV propane tank at the largest bulk propane terminal in the area--it took 28 gallons and cost $93 dollars, so that is pretty close to the cost of gasoline. But when you buy the cylinders or get the 5 gallon tanks refilled/exchanged it will be more expensive than gasoline
The energy density of propane and gasoline are about the same per mass - 46.4MJ/kg for propane vs 47.2MJ/kg for gasoline. However, the mass per unit volume is considerably higher for gasoline than for propane. One liter of propane weighs about .5kg where as a liter of gasoline weighs about .73kg. Hence the ratio in energy density per unit volume is (0.73*47.2)/(0.5*46.4) = approximately 1.5 (in favor of gasoline). That is you'll get 1.5 times as much energy from a gallon of gasoline as you get from a gallon of liquid propane. So in your comparison of prices, multiply the cost of liquid propane by 1.5 to get a fair comparison against gasoline.
On edit - I see other sites that use slightly different numbers and come up with a difference of 1.35 (due to variability in composition as some LPG has butane mixed in). So, a factor someplace between 1.35 and 1.5 is probably more reasonable.
On edit - I see other sites that use slightly different numbers and come up with a difference of 1.35 (due to variability in composition as some LPG has butane mixed in). So, a factor someplace between 1.35 and 1.5 is probably more reasonable.