ePropulsion Spirit Carry Bags

[CaspersCruiser]

I recently made my first cruise carrying an ePropulsion Spirit battery electric outboard for my dinghy. When I bought the ePropulsion Spirit, I was undecided whether I should buy the pricy ($150) carrying bags.

I did buy them and I’m glad I did. The motor shaft has a lot of protrusions that can catch on things wherever it is stored. The bag streamlines it. I kept the motor shaft in the cave and the bag made it very easy to slide in and out. The battery bag has backpack straps and I used them a couple times when transporting the battery and motor shaft to/from truck. The AC charger can also be stored in the battery bag.

If you choose to purchase one of these outboards and you don’t tow very often or at all and plan to keep it on your boat, you likely don’t need the carry bags. But if you’re going to transport the motor a lot, the bags will that process easier.

 

[johnbenj]

Thanks for the review and comments. I am waiting for the bags to arrive before I bring my new ePropulsion Spirit to the boat. I expect to keep the shaft in the cave in the bag and thought that the bag would be helpful for all sorts of reasons.

How was your performance/experience using the motor on the dingy?

John

 

[CaspersCruiser]

How was your performance/experience using the motor on the dingy?

I have an Achilles LEX 77. It’s probably the smallest hypalon dinghy made. The ePropulsion at full throttle moves it at 4.5mph. According to the battery life indicator, the battery at full throttle will last 1:15. Back off the throttle to 3.5mph, and battery life rises to four hours. Slower still, battery life rises exponentially.

A longer dinghy with a hard bottom and better keel would likely go faster at the same throttle positions. The LEX-77 has an inflatable keel, but it’s essentially a big fat donut being pushed around. The ePropulsion is best used to bop around an anchorage or to shore. ePropulsion promotional materials on their website illustrate a 22 mile trip at 4.5mph in a 12 foot aluminum boat, but I certainly wouldn’t want to “press-to-test” that claim. Also, 22 miles at 4.5mph is 4 hours and 53 minutes. That’s a long haul in a little boat.

I really like not carrying gasoline and the motor’s light weight and easy handling.

 

[Dawn Treader]

I am looking at the ePropulsion Spirit outboard and have a similar dingy did you buy the short or extra short model?

 

[CaspersCruiser]

I bought the short shaft. An extra short shaft would likely work, but it will limit your choices should you later decide to switch to a larger dinghy.