Electric outboards vs. trolling motor?

adamcu280

adamcu280

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I'm contemplating getting some saltwater-friendly electric power for my 14' Whitehall Tyee Spirit rowboat. Whitehall recommends Torqeedo outboards which seem pretty sweet but they're also $2200 to $3600.

On the other hand, some transom-mounted trolling motors like the Minn Kota Riptide are only $400. Obviously I'd need a battery too, but it seems like the price is right and I could probably find a used setup. I'm not looking to win any speed races; it'd just be nice to get a bit farther/faster than I can get with just my oars.

Anyone have any firsthand experience with Torqeedo vs. a "normal" trolling motor for such an application?

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The Minn Kota with 45lb of thrust isn't going to be much even in a small boat like that. I'd consider one of the Minn Kota 24v models as that would be a closer comparison to the Torqueedo as far as thrust goes, but still isn't built for speed. Having that extra torque will be very welcome, though.

Also consider the battery situation in that boat. You'll definitely want lithium. They won't save you any space, but they'll be way lighter than lead batteries. Just doesn't look like there's a whole lot of room to put them, though.
 
the difference in spending hundreds vs a lot more won't make much speed difference in a deep V chine hull, so why not keep it simple just like the skiff...a 55# MK with either an inexpensive LiPo like those made by TimeUSB or a couple of even less expensive AGM lightweight 35A wheelchair batteries from Amazon strung together will push you around the lake just fine.
From your oar position it appears you're rowing from the forward thwart?
 
Evan B said:
The Minn Kota with 45lb of thrust isn't going to be much even in a small boat like that. I'd consider one of the Minn Kota 24v models as that would be a closer comparison to the Torqueedo as far as thrust goes, but still isn't built for speed. Having that extra torque will be very welcome, though.

Also consider the battery situation in that boat. You'll definitely want lithium. They won't save you any space, but they'll be way lighter than lead batteries. Just doesn't look like there's a whole lot of room to put them, though.
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Good to know re. battery type. There's a pretty big bow storage area that used to be where the portable gas tank went for the little outboard the previous owner had on board where I can fit a small cooler, dry bags, anchor bucket, and so forth with a dedicated channel in the keel for the fuel hose which could be used for the wiring. There's also a storage compartment under the rear seat but the access is one of those 6" (?) twisty kayak-style hatches so possibly not great for passing batteries through.

Re. speed: I'm not trying to get on plane and race around; I suppose "endurance" is more of a factor. It'd be nice to have an aux. propulsion system for then the main"one human power" engine needs a break. 🤪

Fourbtgait said:
A sail?
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That would require a ton of mods and rigging that would take up a lot of fishing space, not to mention cost. I have a sailing dinghy (Ranger Minto) and it's super fun, but to me, sailing's a different style of boating than fishing.

SurfnFish said:
the difference in spending hundreds vs a lot more won't make much speed difference in a deep V chine hull, so why not keep it simple just like the skiff...a 55# MK with either an inexpensive LiPo like those made by TimeUSB or a couple of even less expensive AGM lightweight 35A wheelchair batteries from Amazon strung together will push you around the lake just fine.
From your oar position it appears you're rowing from the forward thwart?
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I generally row from the forward position to keep the oars mostly out of the way when anchored and fishing. I guess my saying "speed" was a bit misleading because I'm not looking to exceed hull speed or and handful of knots, whatever comes first. By "speed" I mean I'd get farther faster by actually having the energy to get there at all. This boat's pretty much 100% saltwater use and there are often currents that I don't want to fight, so my range under human power is limited. There are a couple coho-y kelp beds that are just out of my endurance/range that I'd love to explore.



Thanks for the responses! For the trolling motors; what's the endurance on those things? I suppose it depends on battery type/setup. Seems like the Torqeedos and ePropulsions can putter around for a handful of hours at full output or all day at trollling speed which is what I'd likely be doing.
 
The "endurance" is largely going to depend on the model and what battery you end up with. a 100 amp hour battery will last way longer than a 50ah battery. Additionally, for the same propulsion, a 24v model will last longer than a 12v model as it's not working nearly as hard to get the same thrust generated. If this is an auxiliary power on a lake and not needed for several hours of movement, then a 12v may get the job done.... I just always advocate for getting more than you think you need.

On my 16' super light weight aluminum boat I use on the Columbia, I got the 36v bow mount Minn Kota Terrova... a motor recommended for boats in the 30' range. Haven't regretted going bigger for one second, especially when using the spot lock.
 
Evan B said:
The "endurance" is largely going to depend on the model and what battery you end up with. a 100 amp hour battery will last way longer than a 50ah battery. Additionally, for the same propulsion, a 24v model will last longer than a 12v model as it's not working nearly as hard to get the same thrust generated. If this is an auxiliary power on a lake and not needed for several hours of movement, then a 12v may get the job done.... I just always advocate for getting more than you think you need.

On my 16' super light weight aluminum boat I use on the Columbia, I got the 36v bow mount Minn Kota Terrova... a motor recommended for boats in the 30' range. Haven't regretted going bigger for one second, especially when using the spot lock.
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Good info! Thank you. It'd be nice to have at least a few hours of movement at my disposal in addition to human power.

This rowboat's saltwater use only for now, so getting through currents is definitely a factor. No room for bow mount/spot lock though unfortunately, although anywhere I'd likely need to "spot lock" I could probably just tie up to kelp or anchor.
 
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Questions rather than advice: It's my understanding that not all Minn Kota's are created equal for use in saltwater. Am I mistaken? Can I use my "freshwater" Minn Kota in the Canal and simply rinse it after use or is this poor practice. And, isn't it so that Minn Kota and the other manufacturer's sell "salt water" versions of these motor systems?
 
Buzzy said:
Questions rather than advice: It's my understanding that not all Minn Kota's are created equal for use in saltwater. Am I mistaken? Can I use my "freshwater" Minn Kota in the Canal and simply rinse it after use or is this poor practice. And, isn't it so that Minn Kota and the other manufacturer's sell "salt water" versions of these motor systems?
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My limited research shows that most of the manufacturers sell "saltwater" versions of their motors. I'm guessing they probably have better corrosion resistance (and higher prices) than their freshwater equivalents.

I use "freshwater" fly reels in saltwater and rinse them after every use, but I'm not sure how well that would work long-term with motors and electronics that I'm relying on for my safety.
 
adamcu280 said:
Good info! Thank you. It'd be nice to have at least a few hours of movement at my disposal in addition to human power.

This rowboat's saltwater use only for now, so getting through currents is definitely a factor. No room for bow mount/spot lock though unfortunately, although anywhere I'd likely need to "spot lock" I could probably just tie up to kelp or anchor.
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If currents are a factor, and the Puget Sound has some legit currents, then I'd aim high. A 12v really should be for lake use only in my opinion.

As far as saltwater vs freshwater; the Riptides are a saltwater model. The Terrova and PowerDrive are freshwater models.
 
Also remember that no matter how powerful as far as thrust/volts, trolling motors max out at like 5mph.

Josh

Thread 'Explain trolling motor lb thrust to me, more doesn't mean faster?'

I had always assumed that trolling motor lb thrust was like gas engine horsepower. But now I understand that to be incorrect? In reality, more lb thrust won't push you faster, it just lets you push bigger/heavier boats? Is that right or am I missing something?

So if you have a, say, 12ft jon boat there's really no reason to get a 55-70lb thrust motor over a 40? I mean, aside from future-proofing your motor in the case of getting a bigger boat (or gaining a lot of weight).
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I'd say it's less about top speed and more about the torque to deal with current, as well as the added battery life when dealing with a higher capacity motor running at full power into the current. Or rather, the equivalent power of the 45lb motor vs the same output in an 85lb motor.

A torque-y truck isn't going to go faster up the hill, but it can keep the tires turning. Similar things happen with boat motors when met with resistance.
 
adamcu280 said:
Good to know re. battery type. There's a pretty big bow storage area that used to be where the portable gas tank went for the little outboard the previous owner had
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Why not go with a small gas powered motor?
 
Buzzy said:
Why not go with a small gas powered motor?
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I was thinking one of those little 2.5hp motors would not be a bad option. Less overall weight, too, when you factor in the battery.
 
Evan B said:
I was thinking one of those little 2.5hp motors would not be a bad option. Less overall weight, too, when you factor in the battery.
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I've seen a couple pontoon boats fitted with small gas motors; the motor you shared looks like it would work on my pram ;)
 
Buzzy said:
I've seen a couple pontoon boats fitted with small gas motors; the motor you shared looks like it would work on my pram ;)
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My buddy in Alaska has that one on his cataraft. Got that boat plus towed the raft I was on Skilak lake for like 10mi after our float.

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yeah the more I think about it, the more I think small gas motor is the way to go for you. If you're not planning to use a lanyard remote, spot lock, or anything of that nature, plus the whole space and capacity for battery and all that, then this is definitely the way to go. The whole thing will be lighter, faster, and just all around a better fit.
 
a small OB will be lighter than a robust electric salt worthy setup,and with far more range and speed if heading into the salt where currents and tides are battery killers in the smaller setups.
A 4hp Tohatsu four stroke weighs 57#, 2.5 gal can of gas 15# and will run for 7 to 10 hrs on med to high speed
A 24V Riptide MK 80 weighs 74#, 100A battery 22#, and will run 3 to 5 hours on med to high speed
Cost of Tohatsu $1100
Cost of Mk 80 Riptide and battery set-up around $800
 
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