LEHR Propane engine

[Irondaddy]

So, upon getting my beautiful COMPAC 16 a few days ago I was faced with the decision regarding which engine to put on it.  After much deliberation I went with a 5hp (yes overkill) standard shafted LEHR and I was wondering what others thought of the engine choice.  I know now that a smaller...cough...cough lighter, engine would have more than sufficed. 

[crazycarl]

funny, i have their brochure in front of me.

do your know if they have or are coming out with a long shaft 5hp?

if so,  it will be on the boat next spring.

cc

[Salty19]

We've talked about them but only recall one other member that bought one.

I think they are a great idea. Hopefully you'll have good luck with it.

Certainly should be much easier to maintain the fuel system and keeping fuel fresh won't be a problem.
Please keep us updated how you like it.

[Bob23]

Carl:
   Can't imagine why you want a more reliable outboard! What about your image, man?
Bob23

[wes]

I was gung-ho for the Lehr until I saw (and heard) one demonstrated at the Annapolis boat show. Loud! At least as loud as a gas outboard, maybe more. For me, sailing is about the quiet. Back to Torqueedo fantasizing, I guess. Or else I've got to learn to sail into and out of my slip.

Wes

[MacGyver]

Tohatsu 5hp Sailpro ultra shaft. regular gas, and add stabil and I literally have had no issues. The big thing I think Carl faces is expensive water gas...... what did the mechanic say about the outboard? Have you had it looked at yet?

A sailor at work has had the torqueedo on his Stiletto and it was neat, just the other day after a 1.5 month usage on the torqueedo he has the Lehr on the boat.... says the torqueedo is for sale. His problem? The torqueedo wouldnt come out of the water far enough on tilt....... oh, and 250 lbs of batteries.....

let us know how that LEHR is, I am waiting to see this one boat go out and listen to it...... One thing nice about people with money is you get to see the neat stuff that you cant afford and even get to see some comparisons from time to time.....

Mac

[wes]

250 lbs? The Torqueedo Travel 1003 (most common choice for our size boats, approx. equal to 4 hp) weighs 31 pounds total, of which 10 pounds is the battery.

Wes

[brackish]

I gotta say when you ask for opinions AFTER you've done the deed, you're a brave soul.  My thoughts:

I can't figure out why anyone would spring for the Lehr instead of buying a new, parts commonly available brand name outboard and converting it to propane if that was the desired fuel.  It would cost a lot less and it ain't that big a deal.

I won't choose that fuel because I spent a long time looking for a 6 gallon gasoline fuel tank that would fit in my fuel storage locker.  The equivalent BTU's in propane would be a whole lot more volume of storage and that would be a problem for me.  It just would not work with my cruising profile.

[MacGyver]

250 lbs? The Torqueedo Travel 1003 (most common choice for our size boats, approx. equal to 4 hp) weighs 31 pounds total, of which 10 pounds is the battery.

Wes

The one that he got was a 48 volt he told me, and required 4 golf cart looking batteries. All of this now sits in the shop at work when he switched to the LEHR. Lots of big cable (2 batteries in each hull) and the switches
I thought too that they had a onboard battery, but this one must not be that version.... The owner also told me it was a 10hp equivalent.... so I am not sure. I havent had time to look to see exactly what it all is for sure. Maybe on break tomorrow I might check it all out.

Mac

[crazycarl]

"The big thing I think Carl faces is expensive water gas...... what did the mechanic say about the outboard? Have you had it looked at yet?"


not yet.

the marina down the street works on mercurys but won't touch tohatsu.

i tried to explain that mercury, nissan, and tohatsu were the same, but they did want to hear it.

there is another shop not too far, but i haven't been able to contact them.

cc

[wes]

Mac - I'll bet your friend has a Cruise 4.0, not a Travel. The motor part is outboard but batteries are inboard. The a Torqueedo batteries weigh 110 lbs but he may have cobbled together a lot of series golf cart batteries to get the 48 volts needed.

Torqueedo says this model compares to an 8-10 hp gas motor.

Wes

[NateD]

I gotta say when you ask for opinions AFTER you've done the deed, you're a brave soul. 

Amen.