LEHR outboards???

[Blown Away]

Blown Away,

Looking at the picture of your boat, it appears to be a 16. If that is the case, you also have the option of using the same motor for your boat and dinghy. What a winning solution that would be.

Also, I perceived the water in your picture to be of  southern latitude quality. Where do you sail?

Yes that's my little 16 in the picture, a great little boat to explore with! I also own a fully restored Pearson Vanguard 32 that I keep closer to home in South Louisiana, and I just purchased a CP23 that I'm picking up this Thursday to keep in the Destin / Fort Walton area. To answer your question I mostly sail between New Orleans and the Florida panhandle and drag the 16 to other areas of interest. 

[Bilge Rat]

The LEHR is somewhat appealing due to not having to fool with the maintenance of gas and potential for a clogged gummed up carb etc.  However, from reading reviews and feedback on LEHRs it sounds like they have quality and reliability issues. If NISSAN or Honda were to come out with a propane-outboard then I would definitely be interested.  It would likely be much more reliable. Who is LEHR anyway?

[Blown Away]

The LEHR is somewhat appealing due to not having to fool with the maintenance of gas and potential for a clogged gummed up carb etc.  However, from reading reviews and feedback on LEHRs it sounds like they have quality and reliability issues. If NISSAN or Honda were to come out with a propane-outboard then I would definitely be interested.  It would likely be much more reliable. Who is LEHR anyway?

Thanks Bilge Rat, how awesome that would be if NISSAN or Honda offered a propane option!

[Potcake boy]

I would be surprised if other major players like Nissan don't already build such motors. Many years ago as a young airman I spent a couple of years in Japan and I did note that many of their vehicles especially cabs were operated by propane. Japanese companies differ from American companies in that they produce products that are designed to serve a purpose more than a marketing goal. I recall going to Tokyo and you could find anything you could imagine you'd need. But in the U.S. every store seems to have the same products. Likely for many of the same reasons we don't get a lot of items that the rest of the world enjoys. The marketing strategy here is to present a product that is suitable for the producer and use marketing to convince consumers that it's just what we need.

But there is hope for you propane fans, check out this youtube vid for the simplicity of converting your present motor:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp7GUyKkWKc   and another:  https://tammynorie.wordpress.com/2015/05/24/propane-outboard-hack/

[rbh1515]

Thanks Rob, I know nothing about the Torqeedo and would surely appreciate any info that you can  share.

Torqeedos are IMO the best electric outboards out there.  I have had 2 excellent seasons with mine.  I have the 1003.  Its equivalent to 3 or 3.5 hp or so.  The motor weighs 20# and the battery which fits on top weighs 10#.  I leave my motor locked to the mount on the transom and bring the battery home to charge it.  One thing I like a lot is the remote throttle.  You can remove the tiller throttle and attach a remote throttle, and there is no reaching back.
What are the negatives:
Price:  $1999....but I got mine on sale at Defender for 20% off.
Range:  not good if you are cruising.  I think it is great for daysailing.  If you need to motor a longs ways, that may be a problem.  For me, going in and out of slip to the harbor, I always come back with about 70% power.
Power:  I can get my 2500# Horizon Day cat going about 4 knots at full throttle, but your range drops dramatically at full throttle...about 30 minutes.  It you go half throttle at about 3 knots I think I have almost 2 hours or so.  They do have a new battery out that will go 1 hour full throttle.
I think the Torqeedo would be great on a small dingy.  In fact a lot of dingy manufacturers recommend it such as the Portland Pudgy.
Its a great little motor.  Almost zero maintenance.  No oil change.  Minimal noise.  No ethanol gas!
Rob

[Shawn]

Regarding the Torqeedo I wonder if that is the right application in this case. Anchored out for days at a time with frequent trips to shore. Do you have the ability to recharge it while anchored? Are you comfortable leaving a fairly expensive, very light easily carried outboard on an inflatable in what sounds like a high traffic area? 

Shawn

[moonlight]

Lehr and Torqeedo are both awesome ideas, both suffering price point problems and supply chain/service issues.  I get lots of inquiries, not so much in sales.

For the discussions ranging in 2~2.5HP, I'd certainly have to give quite a bit of thought to a good old fashioned trolling motor.  You'll give up some speed, but have longevity.  And if you bite down hard enough for a Lithium battery, weight of "fuel" is no longer an issue.  And if this is for the 16, 19, 23 ComPac-er ... well the trolling motor battery bank could be easily "convertable" for both shipboard power and propulsion power (recognizing that trolling motor may take you up to 24 or 36V; but I can still get you that battery bank under 45#)

[Finbar Beagle]

I decided on the Torqeedo because it was not easy to switch the propane tanks while underway with the Lehr.  I have spare battery for the Torqeedo 1003 and switching is very quick and easy.  I always attach a line the the battery handle just in case, when I switch batteries on my CP 19.  The I phone app is great showing range left on charge at current speed.  Allows for you to choose convenient time to change battery.

I recommend visiting your local West Marine and try changing tanks on the Lehr, it was an eye opener for me.

[Bilge Rat]

I guess in summary folks I would say there is no perfect outboard for all situations (yet). As a Torqeedo and gas outboard owner myself I can easily cite drawbacks of each. While I do not have a Lehr, I have read enough online to believe they have quality and reliability issues.

[Potcake boy]

A friend and I had taken my SunCat for a trip down the shore of Charlotte Harbor to Burnt Store to have lunch. Everything was well until just after our return began the motor quit. Turned out to be the fuel hose at the motor fitting and I no tools with me - shame on me. We only had a couple hundred yards to clear the channel out of the marina and of course the wind was blowing straight in. The little Yamaha 4 has a built in tank so we switched over and voila we were under way, almost. Near the end of the channel, it quite again(another problem which I fixed later). We were headed North so we could now sail, but it was a light wind. We made it back to the entrance of Alligator Creek after dark, and an even lighter wind - think whisper. Luckily it was flood tide as we had about 3-4 miles to sail up the creek. The breeze behind us gave us some steerage and slowly we made our way in the dark without a proper light to spot markers with. We cheered at reaching 1/2 knot on the GPS. When we finally reached the slip we didn't need to slow down. So who needs a schtinkin' motor antway?

[hoddinr]

I had continual problems with aftermarket fuel lines for my Yamaha 4.  They kept leaking air and causing the engine to quit.  After three (?) of them, I finally bit the bullet and bought a genuine expensive Yamaha fuel line.  Think it was $112 dollars.  No problem since.

Ron