DaySailer.org Forum

I am nearing completion on my ds2. I think I woulod like an outboard but started to think abot a trolling motor over a gas outboard. I figure the battery weighs about as much as the gas I would carry . A small trolling motor will run all day on a group 24 battery. What 'd ys think?

Many sailors on this site do use electric motors on their Dss. I am not one of them although I have considered it. I run a 1969 3.5 Clinton outboard that I paid $35 for at a yard sale that works just fine and runs for days on a couple gallons of gas. I see the main drawback to an electric motor being the available torque and juice supply versus the condition of the water body you are using it on. Things like currents and waves/winds and the like as well as other boats sharing your sailing area. I am not sure what size electric would be the best for your application.

If you do go with electric it would be best to “mount” the battery just forward of the mast step in the cuddy and run the powers wires aft. The battery will weigh considerable more than a gallon of gas and makes great ballast when mounted near the mast step. Also an onboard solar trickle charger would help to keep the battery charged up. Check Harbor Freight, they carry small solar charges at very small prices. Brad

thanks for the suggestion. didn't even think about the ballast pluses. I also think that the weight of the trolling motor will make it easy to remove and store in the lockable cuddy without the worry of fumes ,leaks etc.

Phil:

I just installed a MinnKota 55lb. thrust electric motor on my DSII this Spring. So far I have been very impressed. At top speed it pushes us along at about 3 knots. At full speed with my battery at full charge I should be able to motor for about 2 hrs, according to the manual. (55 amps/hr, 120 amp battery).

Like suggested, I mounted my battery just forward of the mast in the cabin. I have a batter box that I attached with strong Velcro. The only thing I worry about is that if I ever did capsize the battery might go flying through the top of the cuddy. I led the power cables aft along the port drainage channel in the cabin. A few weeks ago I just ran them through some PVC to keep them out of the sun and water.

MinnKota sells a quick disconnect for the motor that is very easy to install and makes taking it off and storing a breeze.

I purchased the motor, battery, disconnect, battery box, and charger through Wal-Mart. The wire (6 gauge) I had to get from West Marine. I also ordered a 60amp breaker which MinnKota recommends and mounted that on the outside of the battery box. Total cost for the project was probably between 500-600 dollars (6 gauge wire is expensive!) Cheaper than buying a new gas motor anyway, plus it is whisper quiet when you are moving along, doesn't pollute, and you can charge it for free.

It is worth noting that I probably wouldn't have gotten the trolling motor if I sailed anywhere with a strong current. This past weekend we were on Saratoga Lake and I tried to turn 90 degrees through the wind (about 15 knots) with the motor and could not. So I had to turn 270 degrees the other way to get around. Probably wouldn't have had to do that with a 4hp gas motor. I believe the rough conversion for the 55lb. thrust motor works out to be just under 2hp.

thanks . I'm still on the fence. Looking for a used outboard at the same time. i've been warned about used trolling motors (they're usually shot by the time they are for sale)
thanks again

During a very scary outing in 20+ mph winds, I found my minn kota 55 lb trolling motor didn't have enough juice to fight any substantial current. After researching the forums here, I purchased a Honda 2-hp 4-stroke longshaft for my DSII, and found it to push the boat along at least twice as fast as the trolling motor. It weighs only 29 lbs, runs forever on its 3/4 gallon tank, and provides all the peace of mind I need should the weather turn sour.

I found mine locally on craigslist, but know that it can be found brand new for $620:
http://www.boats.net/motors/honda/2HP/H-BF2DKSCAB.html

I would highly suggest it.

Here's a recent real world experience with a 2hp Suzuki and a DSI. I went out sailing yesterday around Buzzards Bay, constant 15mph winds with gusts of 25mph. I was able to motor out at half throttle into the wind. With full throttle i had no problem controlling the boat. The only challenge is that you need to work the tiller and the motor to get effective turns.

I've been using a 40# MinnKota, which is rather borderline. Great for docking and getting across a calm patch of water, but definitely a bit slow. Not the thing for returning from the far end of a daylong sailing trip if the wind dies, or for any attempts at motoring against the wind or tide.

I don't always bother with it, and even if it's on board, it remains stowed most of the time. But for certain things it's handy or even essential, as slow as it is. (There's a certain virtue to being able to sail faster in almost any wind).

I'm resistent to the idea of adding a noisemaker to a "silent" boat. If I upgrade, it might be to something like the Torqueedo 801; for the moment it's too pricey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0utXxauZOso

The problem with noisy and smelly is precisely why I hate the idea of gasoline motors, but nevertheless I have a 3.5 Merc that I have used and which has saved me (once I was suddenly and unexpectedly blown onto the bank and my mast was tangled in trees - the motor easily extracted me). I love the idea of a trolling motor because of the diminished noise, but I'm not one to replace a perfectly good option with another.

But, here's a question about motors that I have had lately - I've avoided using my motor lately because I keep breaking pins. Can anyone tell me why I might be breaking the brass propeller pin almost every time I use the motor? It's a real ordeal to haul the motor back into the boat and take it apart to replace the pin which I have had to do once. The rest of the times I just decided to hope I didn't crash into the dock when coming back in - which so far I've been successful in avoiding! I don't run the motor fast - I only usually throttle it up just enough to keep from stalling when I put it into gear, so I have a hard time believing that the pin is under an unusual amount of stress from the switch from neutral to drive, and I've even pulled the throttle all the way down first. When inspected, there doesn't seem to be any resistance or anything that could be problematic. In it's entire life I'm not sure if the motor has been used more than a total of about 25 times!

Thanks!

My guess would be that you have a bent shaft that binds just enough to shear the pin. Brad

My '68 DS1 came with a early '80's Johnson outboard (cover says 3hp, serial number indicated 4hp), which runs great, and I've yet to use it.

In fact, after I had it checked out at a local shop, I brought it home and stored it on the floor of my garage. One of the prop blades caught on an expansion cut in the floor and the tip snapped off (weird!).

I'll replace the prop, but I'm in no hurry. I have no intention of using it anyway, at least not at the lake where I keep the boat.

Maybe if I take it to some big water, I'll bring it along, but I really don't need it now and don't want to add the extra weight (about 35lbs).

Plus, if I install the motor, I'd have to register the boat.

albanysailer wrote:At full speed with my battery at full charge I should be able to motor for about 2 hrs, according to the manual. (55 amps/hr, 120 amp battery).

Just felt like pointing out that you should keep your battery at or above 50% discharge if you want to keep it around for a long time

Noted your info on the quick disconnect. Didn't know they existed and they might come in handy.

I had suitable winds for an experiment the other day, just strong enough so that the motor could still make progress going upwind, but with any angle to the wind, I had the same issue you described.

So I raised the jib and "motorsailed" to go upwind at something like a closehauled angle. Set the motor to compensate for lack of balance due to the missing main. Interesting experience, but it worked.

Saved me from having to wrestle with the main for what was a (relatively) short hop between nearby docks.