Reversing Entropy · video

What this video covers

Paulo paid $1,200 for an ePropulsion eLite electric outboard and ran it in real conditions near La Línea, Gibraltar — 15–20 knots of wind, chop — on a Zodiac 310 RIB dinghy for a quarter-mile round trip to a chandlery.0:44 Starting at 67% battery, he reached the dock in 15 minutes at 250 watts; the return trip against wind and wave took 30 minutes and dropped the battery to 40%.5:02 The motor completed the trip but exposed several design flaws. The small propeller cavitates frequently even in calm water, reducing efficiency compared to the older ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 at the same 250-watt draw.1:38 The 750-watt sport mode delivers only about 60 seconds of peak power — too brief to be useful — and the motor cannot plane.3:55 The telescoping tiller handle and the motor-removal latch both bind with salt crystal buildup.2:42 The anti-theft chain hook sits directly in the engine's pivot path, interfering with steering.5:47 Most critically, the kill switch is so flimsy it pops loose with normal movement, rendering it non-functional; Paulo reports most owners disable it with duct tape or a zip tie.7:05 He would not buy the eLite again and would return to the Spirit 1.0 or consider ePropulsion's newer 2.5 kW model for a dinghy that can plane.10:56

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