EP Carry , Gen 2 ("Electric Paddle" / Electric Outboard)

[DaveInRI]

Starting a thread for my new EP Carry, which arrived superbly well packed yesterday. I intend to use this as a kicker on the existing, articulating Panther mount (from which I’m removing a 6hp long shaft Suzuki) while plugged (quick connect) into my 12V house battery via their 12v to 24V converter, and aboard the dinghy using a second, portable 24V battery. Both house and dinghy battery will be lifepo4.

EP Carry - Powerful and light electric outboard motor

EP Carry is a light and powerful electric outboard motor for your dinghy or small boat. A safer gas-alternative motor.

www.electricpaddle.com

I got the “motor only” kit so I can pick and choose my batteries. I also got an extra prop assembly (replacement item due to gears), a 3’ extension cord ready made, and their 12V to 24V converter so I can hook it to my house battery for duty as emergency kicker (anticipate 3.5-4 knots in fair weather).

The motor weighs 14 pounds and that makes me smile. As does the concept itself— can’t apples to apples compare it to other electric or even small gas outboards on any single spec. I anticipate trying it by month end once I take care of some projects on land first.

One picture below. Added rest to a new album, which I'll continue to add to:

https://www.c-brats.com/media/albums/ep-carry.22682/

(keywords to hopefully be helpful: Torqueedo, ePropulsion, Remigo, Newport)

 

[AK Chuck]

Quite interesting prop/gear design. Will be intriguing to see how she works.

 

[ssobol]

Typical for a low rpm prop.

 

[Tom Hruby]

My EP carry arrived last month and I have had it for one trip. I purchased it so I can better maneuver when docking and when docking solo. It works quite well on my 22' cruiser when docking, and I can get 2.4 mph at max throttle. As you have the 12-24 V booster like I do, be sure to disconnect the booster from your 12V battery when not in use. The booster has a small drain on the 12V battery even when not in use.

My two epropulsion motors are quite small and I was able to attach the EP carry between the two with only a small modification to the mount to make room for the steering rod.

 

[DaveInRI]

My EP carry arrived last month and I have had it for one trip. I purchased it so I can better maneuver when docking and when docking solo. It works quite well on my 22' cruiser when docking, and I can get 2.4 mph at max throttle. As you have the 12-24 V booster like I do, be sure to disconnect the booster from your 12V battery when not in use. The booster has a small drain on the 12V battery even when not in use.

My two epropulsion motors are quite small and I was able to attach the EP carry between the two with only a small modification to the mount to make room for the steering rod.

Thanks for the heads up on the 12-24 drain; would not have considered that. I’ll preferably leave it connected while underway and charging so the motor is ready to go, and make a reminder to disconnect when leaving the boat or overnighting.

I must admit, I’m quite disappointed to hear you’re only seeing 2.4mph. Joe was expecting me to hit 3.5-4 knots. Thats basically less than half and doesn’t allow any room for wind, currents, and/or or seas. Maybe I’ll do better with the Panther mount… and tacking.

Is the runtime matching expectations / calculations?

 

[Tom Hruby]

I think your expectations were too high. The EP carry puts out about 240 watts at maximum. 4 knots is possible on small boats that don't weigh much, but my 22' cruiser comes in at 4000 lbs on the water. My power vs speed curve is below, and to reach 4 knots would require about 1500 watts. I recalculated Dave Gerr's equations in the propeller handbook to estimate power requirements in watts and found that his equation is a great fit to my data. Power requirements are a function of hull speed and weight, where it takes 1500 watts to reach hull speed for every 1000 lbs of boat. My data are almost a perfect fit to his basic curve. The red stars are three of my data points normalized to his curve. My speed with the EP carry comes out about where it should be.

 

[DaveInRI]

I think your expectations were too high. The EP carry puts out about 240 watts at maximum. 4 knots is possible on small boats that don't weigh much, but my 22' cruiser comes in at 4000 lbs on the water. My power vs speed curve is below, and to reach 4 knots would require about 1500 watts. I recalculated Dave Gerr's equations in the propeller handbook to estimate power requirements in watts and found that his equation is a great fit to my data. Power requirements are a function of hull speed and weight, where it takes 1500 watts to reach hull speed for every 1000 lbs of boat. My data are almost a perfect fit to his basic curve. The red stars are three of my data points normalized to his curve. My speed with the EP carry comes out about where it should be.
View attachment 130788View attachment 130790

Good stuff. I went back to my emails with Joe and his guess was 3.5-3.7 knots (not 4 like I incorrectly said). He gave some examples of other large boats including his own. I read your earlier posts on the forum with your speed vs energy calcs, but was still cautiously optimistic there would be some sneaky black magic thanks to the lower prop speed and larger prop vs the mainstream electrics. It is still my goal that I’ll be able to exceed steerage-only and actually have a slow cruise option or “get back to [some, not necessarily the one I was headed to] shore”, under all but the worst conditions, but I don’t expect that anymore. I hope it is adequate for my inflatable, as I know they take more energy to push than a long “slippery” rigid hull. If not, then off to a canoe or similar it goes. Backup plan is a new 6hp four stroke (dinghy takes up to 8, but my back only takes up to 6!).

Thanks again, Tom. Very useful contributions.