An electric outboard motor is becoming increasingly popular. The difference with a gasoline engine is that an electric outboard motor runs on electricity instead of gasoline. The power is supplied by a battery. Although the speed and sailing time of an electric motor cannot yet match that of a petrol engine, there are many advantages to choosing an electric outboard motor. We also give you a number of tips for purchasing your new outboard motor.
Difference between electric outboard motor and whisper motor
In addition to an electric outboard motor, it is often also referred to as a whisper motor. A whisper motor is basically an electric outboard motor, but with a power of 12 volts. A ‘normal’ electric outboard motor has a power of 24 volts or higher. The difference is in the power of the engine. The higher the voltage of the motor, the more powerful it is. And the lower the voltage, the quieter the motor is. That is why whisper motors are very popular among fishermen, among others, because they allow them to sail almost silently. A combination of both engines is also often used by fishermen. In this case, the higher power of the electric outboard motor is used first to sail to the location. The last part is then sailed with a whisper motor. The whisper motor is also suitable for inflatable boats, kayaks, canoes (up to approximately 25 kg) and rubber boats (up to approximately 50 kg).
Advantages of electric outboard motors
Electric outboard motors have a number of advantages, both now and in the future.
- An electric outboard motor is very quiet. That is why this engine is popular with anyone who wants to sail silently and enjoy nature.
- An outboard motor on electricity is environmentally friendly. This way you help the climate.
- An electric outboard motor is very light without the battery.
- Naturally, you will not be bothered by gasoline smells when you sail with an electric outboard motor.
- A battery-powered motor requires little maintenance.
- Electric outboard motors are the future, because environmentally polluting petrol engines are increasingly banned. Consider, for example, waters such as the Biesbosch and the Utrecht and Amsterdam canals.
7 tips for purchasing an electric outboard motor
Do you intend to buy an electric outboard motor? Then the tips below may be useful to you, so that you can be sure that you are buying the right outboard motor. Of course you can always contact us if you have any questions.
1 Sailing in fresh or salt water
Electric outboard motors are best used in fresh water. This is because all electric motors can be used on fresh water, even if they are made for salt water. However, this is not possible the other way around; an engine intended for fresh water cannot be used structurally on salt water. This can cause irreparable damage. An electric outboard motor for fresh water is not protected against the influences of salt water. This can cause damage and rust in the long term.
If you sail on both fresh and salt water, it is wise to buy an electric outboard motor that is suitable for salt water.
2 Electric motors have less speed
If you want an electric outboard motor, you must keep in mind that the motors are not made for fast sailing. So if you want a boat that can sail quickly, an electric outboard motor is not a suitable choice.
An electric outboard motor is ideal for pleasure boating. The average speed of an electric outboard motor is approximately 10 km per hour. The speed of a whisper motor is approximately 7-8 km per hour. The exact speed depends on your boat, engine power and water conditions.
3 Sailing time varies from halfday to a full day
Petrol engines have an unlimited sailing time, because you can easily and quickly refuel on the water. This is not the case with an electric outboard motor. Electric motors depend on a limited battery capacity. How long you can sail depends on the usable battery capacity and how much power the motor uses. With most electric outboard motors you can sail for approximately 4-5 hours at half throttle and approximately 10 hours at slow throttle. If you want to sail longer and/or faster, a petrol engine is a better idea.
Would you like to calculate the sailing time of an electric outboard motor? This can be done with the sailing time formula: Divide the usable battery capacity by the number of amperes the motor has, and you have the sailing time.
4 Correct battery for your electric outboard motor
To get the most out of your electric outboard motor, you need the right battery. But what is the right battery? There are different types of batteries available for the electric outboard motor, namely lead-acid batteries, AGM batteries and lithium batteries.
- Lead batteries are the cheapest, but the least durable. In addition, they can only be discharged to 50% and they have a heavy weight.
- AGM batteries are the best batteries when it comes to price/quality ratio. They can be discharged up to 70% and maintenance-free.
- Lithium batteries are the most luxurious batteries. You can discharge these up to 100% and they are particularly lightweight.
There are built-in batteries and external batteries. In the latter case, make sure that your outboard motor and battery have the same voltage.
5 Electric outboard motor has a long service life
An electric outboard motor has a lifespan of many years. How long your electric outboard motor lasts depends on the battery. Do you have a good full-traction battery pack and do you keep it neatly maintained during summer and winter? Then you can enjoy it for up to 10 years. If we assume the use of the AGM battery, you can assume a lifespan of approximately 6-7 years.
6 Easily do the maintenance yourself
You can extend the life of your electric outboard motor by maintaining it regularly. If you have sailed for 100 hours, especially in salt water, maintenance is necessary. Maintenance of an electric outboard motor is simple, cheap and easy to do yourself. All you need to do is check the propeller blades and pin for wear and damage. In addition, the anode also needs to be replaced occasionally. You can easily do this yourself by following the steps in the user manual of your electric outboard motor.
7 Higher purchase costs, low maintenance costs
The costs of purchasing an electric outboard motor are somewhat more expensive than a regular petrol outboard motor. The exact price depends on the specifications of the outboard motor, such as brand, year of manufacture, mileage and voltage.
Although the purchase costs are somewhat higher for an electric outboard motor than for a petrol engine, the maintenance costs are considerably lower. This is because an electric motor is made maintenance-free. This means that far fewer parts need to be maintained. Often you can even carry out the maintenance yourself. If you want to outsource the maintenance, you will pay approximately €50 plus any parts that need to be replaced.
Our electric outboard motors
The Pulsar 3 HP is an electric outboard motor in long shaft and short shaft with a 29.6V Li-ion battery pack. This motor has a continuously adjustable speed control in forward or reverse and a magnetic safety cord. The motor can be easily tilted in and out of the water, allowing you to cruise in almost any depth of water. The LIPO battery is easy to remove for charging and a spare battery option is available. The LED battery level indicator shows battery status at a glance. The electric motor is suitable for both salt and fresh water.
Are you curious about our other outboard motors? Then take a look at our complete stock of outboard motors.
