I didn't want to hijack the Torqeedo thread, so I started this one.
Did anyone take a look at the Electric Paddle at the SBS? It looks pretty cool; light weight (18 lbs.), recharge in 3 hours, easy to pack and store. It sounds like a good solution for using around the harbor and protected anchorages.
I looked at the electric paddle at a previous show and last weekend again and also ran one in a test tank. While it is a modernized and relatively elegant solution for light craft, it can't do double duty as kicker for a larger boat very well and the price is still a bit dear compared to alternatives.
If all I wanted was some simple and modest thrust for a smaller tender in anchorages, I would get a U1 sized deep cycle battery plus a smaller basic trolling motor.
We used a couple of models including one 55lb thrust salt water unit and one 30lb thrust fresh water unit and I was most impressed by the smaller model. It even endured abuse in saltwater with only corrosion of the battery clamps after of couple of years of marina storage. Cheap to fix that.
Less than 10 lbs for motor and 25 for battery and about $200 combined. Should provide 1-2 hours of less than full throttle speeds without flattening the battery and can be charged back up with many standard chargers. I would also be happy to put the 800 savings into a nice solar setup.
The electric paddle seems best suited to kayak and canoe powering or perhaps a sleek rowing shell. I am an avid kayaker and can appreciate that option as a neat way to cruise a bay in silence. The common inflatables most carry as tenders are not quite in the same league of sleekness.
