Electric outboard motors

Technology keeps advancing, and engines are no exception. Electric outboard motors for saltwater have been around for a while now and are gaining strength over time. They will undoubtedly become the primary motor for your auxiliary boat or as an auxiliary engine for an outboard motor in the future.

Today, we're here to talk about them.

Why buy an electric outboard motor?

First of all, let's start by discussing the advantages that these electric outboard motors offer compared to conventional combustion outboard motors (if you want information about fuel outboard motors, click here to read our article on outboard motors).

• Low maintenance requirement: This is due to their simpler mechanics compared to fuel engines.
• Minimal mechanical wear: For the same reason, these motors experience minimal wear.
• Good torque: They provide optimal torque even at low speeds, offering greater efficiency. For example, a 2 kW electric motor would be equivalent to a traditional 5 HP (3.7 kW) motor.
• Zero emissions: These motors are more environmentally friendly since they do not use gasoline or diesel, reducing emissions and pollutants.
• Oil-free outboard motors: Being purely electric, they don't require oil, resulting in cost savings and an eco-friendly feature.
• Quiet outboard motors: Besides being eco-friendly, these motors produce very little noise and significantly reduce vibration, making them ideal for activities such as fishing.
• Lighter weight: These motors are lighter than conventional ones due to their simpler mechanical composition, making transportation easier.

Electric outboard motors are currently focused on small boats, inflatables, and other small vessels, so one of the limitations to consider is their power range (3-10 HP), as electric motors operate within these lower power ranges.

Why choose an electric outboard motor?

If you still have doubts about which motor is right for you, here are the situations in which we recommend an electric outboard motor as the preferred option:

• Your vessel is a semi-rigid inflatable, auxiliary boat, or sailboat.
• You are concerned about the environment and pollution.
• You plan to navigate in areas where conventional fuel motors are restricted, such as natural reserves.
• Your boat will mainly be used for fishing.
• You want a motor that requires minimal maintenance and causes little inconvenience.
• You prefer your motor to be as lightweight as possible.

You don't need to travel excessively long distances or at high speeds, just leisurely cruise in calm waters.

What do you need to consider when installing an electric outboard motor?

To install an electric outboard motor, you will need three basic elements:

• The electric outboard motor itself.
• The battery or batteries (if not built into the motor).
• Support for your vessel.

With these three elements, you can complete the installation. Keep in mind that the motor's runtime, speed, and autonomy will be directly proportional to its usage (higher speeds result in shorter autonomy, and vice versa). Other factors, such as the weight of the boat and ocean currents, also affect the motor's performance.

If you're looking for an electric outboard motor for your vessel, click here to find one on Mercanautic.