Equipment testElectric outboards in a comparison test

Fridtjof Gunkel

 · 31.08.2020

Equipment test: Electric outboards in a comparison testPhoto: YACHT/N. Theurer
Comparison test of electric outboards
What can modern electric drives with an integrated battery do? And how do they compare with a petrol engine? Five types tested in practice

Average speed in the range test and the range itself, but also weight, noise emissions and battery charging time are the most important parameters that determine the quality of an electric drive. Another general question is the comparison with a good petrol engine. The test field: Aquamot's Trend 1.6, the Spirit 1.0 plus from ePropulsion, the Ultima 3.0 from Haswing, the Dingituner from SailnSea, Torqeedo's Travel 1103C and, as a reference, Yamaha's petrol F 2.5 AMHL.

We tested the models in a practical and comparative manner in the harbour basin of the Ultramarin Marina in Kressbronn on Lake Constance, always sailing the same laps and measuring the various data. We tested the drives on small cruisers of the Scholz 22 type and on an inflatable inflatable boat of the KL 320 type from the manufacturer Alpuna.

In the latest comparison test in YACHT 19, which will be available from newsagents from 2 September, you can read whether electric motors are now suitable for dinghies as well as for the main drive of a small cruiser, how they compare with petrol engines and which type has which strengths and weaknesses. A subscription is more convenient, cheaper and faster (the issue was already delivered on Saturday), the details can be found at here.

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Fridtjof Gunkel

Fridtjof Gunkel

Deputy Chief Editor YACHT

Fridtjof Gunkel was born on Helgoland in 1962; he started his sailing career there in the Opti and quickly switched to keelboats. North Sea Week, Cowes Week and Kiel Week were early stops, followed by many years in the Admiral's Cup scene on the cuppers “Container” and “Rubin” World Championships and international regattas in the Starboat, with the mini-maxi “SiSiSi” and various tonner yachts as well as participation in the Whitbread Round the World Race were further formative stations, flanked by extensive cruising trips. Fridtjof Gunkel joined YACHT back in 1985 as part of a traineeship, where he later became Head of the Test & Technology department and then Deputy Editor-in-Chief around 25 years ago. He is also responsible for the regatta and sports section. Fridtjof Gunkel privately sails a performance/cruiser moored on the Baltic coast, his favorite areas are the eastern Swedish archipelago and Brittany.

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