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Ditching my outboard for Trolling Motor + WattCycle Lithium Battery (March 2026)
March 23, 2026 · 7 min · 536 views
Hand steers dinghy with trolling motor and battery
What this video covers
Mark aboard his Valiant Yachts 40-2 replaces a Yamaha 2.5 hp four-stroke outboard with a Newport 55 trolling motor and a WattCycle 100 Ah 12.8V lithium iron phosphate smart battery after repeated carburetor failures stranded him in Nuka Hiva, Rangiroa, and nearly in Fakarava.2:01 The outboard was professionally serviced multiple times without lasting results.2:12 The WattCycle battery charges via a 60-amp lithium-compatible charger run off a generator, reaching roughly 80% in about half an hour at 57.6 amps.1:39 Its Bluetooth app, called WattCycle, displays state of charge, real-time amps, and watts output, and calculates remaining run time at each throttle setting — eliminating the range anxiety Mark cites as his earlier reason for avoiding the switch.4:28 At full throttle the battery draws around 48–50 amps, yielding roughly an hour of run time; at lower settings it stretched across a three-day weekend on an 80–85% charge.4:56 Mark plans to run two batteries in rotation so one is always charged.3:42 The trolling motor and battery together cost less than the Yamaha alone.6:29 For anchorages more than a mile or two from the boat, he still recommends a gas backup.6:39 The WattCycle Bluetooth app resolves the core objection to electric dinghy propulsion: knowing exactly how much range remains.6:07
Boats in this video
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