Hi Woody,
Looking at the website, the Ray Electrics look like viable but expensive alternatives. The three models that I saw listed are the 3kW (2.5hp?) the 4kW (4hp?) and the 5kW (5hp?). I put question marks on the horsepower ratings because they vary so much from the electric draw. The smallest would be appropriate for the Nomad (maybe a little bigger than it needs to be) but at more than $3500 without batteries, I'm not sure that it would be justified on a $2000 boat.
Personally I would recommend the Torqeedo Cruise 2.0 (according to the manufacturer, at 2kW or 2.6hp, it provides the power and thrust of 5 to 6hp gasoline motors) for the boat, but that is still a little pricy at $3300 without batteries from places like Jamestown Distributors of other online vendors.
If Shelagh is really only looking for power in and out of a marina, the Torqeedo Travel 1003 (replaces 3 to 4hp gasoline motors) for $2000 including the integrated battery looks like a suitable answer. There are number of racers in my marina that have ditched their little gas outboards in favor of the Torqeedo for motoring to the start line and back to the slip, everyone that I have talked to has said that the little Torqeedo has been a big improvement over the traditional gasoline options. At 30 lbs for the 28" shaft (xtra longer) version, the motor is light enough that it can be taken home or locked below so that it doesn't walk away while you're not at the boat. I use the older Travel 801 (early adopter) for my inflatable dinghy motor, I get an entire weekend at the island of shore boat duty out of the 400Wh battery.
The biggest drawback to the newer small Torqeedo is the 520Wh battery and the limited range. Because the Travel 1003 has a built in GPS and range display that gives you real time range estimates, Torqeedo doesn't provide any options for larger or external batteries on the current Travel series. One could buy a spare battery, but if I remember correctly, they cost about $600. That would obviously double one's range and work seamlessly with the range monitor. Some might suggest the roll-up solar charger that Torqeedo sells, but again, the control system will only accept 45W or less at 12V nominal from the solar or plug in charger, so it really won't significantly extend one's range. A "nice to have" but at close to $1000 for the solar panel, I don't think that it is a very cost effective upgrade.
Fair winds,
Eric
Marina del Rey, CA
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, woody <boatnutwoody@...> wrote:
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> Ray Electric Outboards, would work well with a boat that size, Even have a 25" Xtra long shaft. http://www.rayeo.com/
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