Shopping for a Small Electric Outboard

A deep dive into current electric propulsion solutions

Article by Jerry Culik

Maybe you’re thinking of replacing your good old gas outboard with something that needs less maintenance…or tired of looking for fuel that won’t gum up its carburetor. When introduced, Torqeedo’s electric outboards were targeted as less-finicky, high-tech replacements on the RIBs and tenders that serviced yachts. Today the electric outboard’s advantages—convenience, reliability, and quiet operation—are unchallenged, and range anxiety has become less of a show-stopper. But prices remain significantly higher than that of gas outboards. Torqeedo’s legacy Travel 903, for example, still lists for around $2,600. ePropulsion sells their Spirit 1.0 Plus (equivalent to 3 hp) for $2,700. And recently Remigo, a Slovenian company, has just begun to market a 1-kW electric outboard with an integrated battery, listing it at $2,999.

Yes, buying an electric outboard is an expensive proposition. But those small electric outboards listed above have more power than most of our trailersailers really need—and therefore cost more than we’d like to spend. Experience has shown that 100 or 200 watts is enough power to propel a small sailboat or rowboat at hull speed. Now, finally, electric outboards that are smaller and priced a little more competitively are becoming available.

Consider the Temo 450 Electric Outboard, a rather unconventional-looking electric “sculling oar” or “long shaft” outboard that has a permanent 290 W-hr lithium-ion battery located inside the handle. That’s enough to run its 450W motor at half power for about 80 minutes. Designed and built in France, it was introduced a couple of years ago and is sold by Defender for $1,700—significantly less than the Torqeedo. It weighs 11 pounds, and it’s light enough to carry along to prevent theft if you don't want to “handcuff” it to your RIB with its optional security device!

The 14-lb EP Carry electric outboard looks more like a conventional outboard and was designed and is manufactured in the U.S. Due to its reduction-gearing and an efficient 13-inch prop that looks like it could power an RC plane or a drone, the energy-frugal EP Carry outboard draws a mere 220 watts of power (and 270 watts in “boost” mode). It sells for about $1,500—and a companion lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery adds $500 to the tab. But the EP Carry can also be powered by a lower-cost 12V battery using its optional voltage converter ($99).