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Sail Life - Electric outboard vs gasoline outboard. What's best?
25 February 2024 · 18 min · 77K views · Le Marin, Martinique
What this video covers
The owners of the 1987 Trident Warrior sailboat *Athena* replace their ePropulsion electric outboard with a 15-horsepower two-stroke Yamaha gasoline outboard to improve range and load-carrying capacity.0:19 After two years of full-time cruising, the crew found the electric motor’s 1.2 kilowatt-hour battery insufficient for their needs, as it required frequent recharging via the boat’s generator or main engine.4:26 The electric unit provided only 20 minutes of runtime at a three-knot top speed, limiting their ability to transport two people and scuba gear.3:28 The new 38-kilogram two-stroke Yamaha offers higher speeds and easier parts availability in remote regions compared to heavier four-stroke alternatives.10:58 To accommodate the increased weight, the crew installed a trailer winch on their arch to hoist the dinghy and plan to fabricate a lifting harness for the motor.9:22 They intend to keep the electric outboard as a backup for short trips.12:52 The transition confirms that gasoline power remains more practical for cruisers requiring high-speed, long-distance dinghy transport.
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