Planning To Buy an Electric Outboard: Things That RV Boaters Must Know
Boaters experience a unique sense of freedom when towing an inflatable dinghy behind their RV. You have to reach a river, a lake, or a coastal campground, and you will be ready to hit the water. You don’t have to wait for marina fees or boat ramp crowds.
However, if you are running a gas outboard, there might be small issues. The outboard engine will be heavy, with disturbing fumes in the enclosed storage bay. There is constant noise and a smell that doesn’t go away. This is the reason more and more RV boaters are switching to electric outboards. These engines offer the best service without any headache. Before you purchase an electric outboard, read this.
- The no-fumes advantage is a great one
Gas engines produce carbon monoxide. It is dangerous to store a gas outboard in a rear garage bay, a truck bed box, or an enclosed trailer compartment. The place must have proper ventilation. Also, while storing, it is recommended to remove any residual fuel.
There is no such problem with an electric outboard. There is no residual smell, fumes, or vapors. You can store them in the same compartment as your food cooler, camping gear, and bedding without any problem. This is extremely helpful for full-time RVers.
- Weight becomes a real difference maker on the road
A mid-range gas outboard weighs around 30 to 45 pounds. You have to add a couple of gallons of mixed fuel and a separate fuel tank, which increases the weight to almost 55-65 pounds. This weight is quite a lot to haul, mount, and manage.
Most electric outboard engines weigh significantly less. Even after pairing it with a lithium battery, the overall weight remains below 40 pounds. Since most solo RVers mount and dismount the engine at almost every stop, the engine must be lightweight.
- Battery setup: realistic options
You can use a dedicated lithium battery, charged via solar or shore power. A 50-100Ah lithium battery is great for casual boating and also for a few hours of cruising at moderate speed. You can recharge the battery overnight.
Some boaters pull from the coach’s existing battery system. If you are running lithium, don’t drain the power below 50%. The figure is 30% for AGM.
Do not overstretch a small battery by running the motor at full throttle. Run at 60-70% throttle, and the range can double.
- Silence of the electric outboards
Gas outboards are loud when idle and louder at speed. On the contrary, electric outboards from furthercustoms.com are nearly silent. This is a great advantage you cannot ignore, especially during quiet hours at the campgrounds.
Summing it up
As an RV boater on short recreational trips, an electric outboard is definitely a better choice than a gas outboard. There is minimal hassle with storage, quiet operation, no fuel logistics, and ease of handling. Only the battery setup needs careful planning. If you like to keep things simple, then you should shift to the electric outboard right away. Make sure to purchase it from a reliable dealer.