"I want me an electric outboard!" said no serious boater ever!!!

[george]

I'm all in on new tech and I do see an application for it. I'd be curious to know how many they're selling.

 

[Roccus7]

I'm all in on new tech and I do see an application for it. I'd be curious to know how many they're selling.

Apparently, they’ve been on the market in some form for a few years.

 

[Fishing Nerd]

Plenty of people bitched when 4 strokes started coming out. How did that turn out? Most of the resistance was the result of being forced to make engines more efficient and with less emissions. And in the end, the four stroke was just a better engine.

Granted, 4 stroke combustion engines were very mature tech when they were adapted to marine applications, but I can't tell you how many people complained and said they'd never make the switch over from two strokes (notably because of the hole shot differential).

I still have my two stroke, but I'd be nuts not to pick a 4 when it craps out. They're quieter and a lot more efficient. They're newer tech, with some compromises but overall a better product.

Electric outboards are still new. With all the R&D around battery tech and motors that's about to take place, these are going to move from the drawing board to practical applications within the decade. They may not be ubiquitous, but they'll be here before too long.

And when one's available, provided the compromises work out, I'll gladly get one. The ability to charge my boat in the driveway without having to drag it and the trailer through tight gas stations? Near silent operation when I'm running vs. getting a headache? Losing that gasoline smell? Even compared to four strokes with their improved emissions and more quiet operations, they can't come close to the zeros that an electric motor would put out.

It still has to make sense for broad adoption. It will likely be a long time before anyone's making canyon runs with three electric outboards and a ton of batteries, but there's no reason why we won't see smaller lake and bay boats running with them. Most of my trips in the LIS and Peconic Bay with my single 250HP would probably be easily replaced with the equivalent weight of a full tank of gas in battery power.

Don't let silly political stances stand in the way of innovation.

 

[WhatKnot]

Plenty of people bitched when 4 strokes started coming out. How did that turn out? Most of the resistance was the result of being forced to make engines more efficient and with less emissions. And in the end, the four stroke was just a better engine.

Granted, 4 stroke combustion engines were very mature tech when they were adapted to marine applications, but I can't tell you how many people complained and said they'd never make the switch over from two strokes (notably because of the hole shot differential).

I still have my two stroke, but I'd be nuts not to pick a 4 when it craps out. They're quieter and a lot more efficient. They're newer tech, with some compromises but overall a better product.

Electric outboards are still new. With all the R&D around battery tech and motors that's about to take place, these are going to move from the drawing board to practical applications within the decade. They may not be ubiquitous, but they'll be here before too long.

And when one's available, provided the compromises work out, I'll gladly get one. The ability to charge my boat in the driveway without having to drag it and the trailer through tight gas stations? Near silent operation when I'm running vs. getting a headache? Losing that gasoline smell? Even compared to four strokes with their improved emissions and more quiet operations, they can't come close to the zeros that an electric motor would put out.

It still has to make sense for broad adoption. It will likely be a long time before anyone's making canyon runs with three electric outboards and a ton of batteries, but there's no reason why we won't see smaller lake and bay boats running with them. Most of my trips in the LIS and Peconic Bay with my single 250HP would probably be easily replaced with the equivalent weight of a full tank of gas in battery power.

Don't let silly political stances stand in the way of innovation.

Well said.

 

[Fluke Whisperer]

High voltage + water....I'd pass

It's not the voltage, it's the amperage that gets you.

 

[jpd]

It's not the voltage, it's the amperage that gets you.

I'm not sure how you die matters, you died lol.

 

[Old Mud]

I'm not sure how you die matters, you died lol.

Wouldn't you rather not die Crispy !!?

 

[jpd]

Wouldn't you rather not die Crispy !!?

Simple answer - I'd rather not die! ?

 

[Old Mud]

Aw come on.

 

[Fluke Whisperer]

I'm not sure how you die matters, you died lol.

I've been there, I backed into an 11kva line that was supposed to be dead and grounded. I had an out of body experience I never felt a thing till I came to in an ambulance on my way to the Portchester Memorial Hospital ER, I begged them to finish me off, took 2 and half years of physical therapy to lean how to control my bodily functions again, psychologically I still suffer from PTSD, that being said, Batteries carry serious amperage, mixed with saltwater, perfect scenario for a heart stopper.