ePropulsion eLite Review | which is best: eLite, Spirit or Petrol outboard?
We have been using an electric outboard full time as live-aboards for the last 5 years. First, we had an Aquamot outboard which ended up not being reliable but then we found ePropulsion and switched to their Spirit model when we were in Venice. We never looked back!
Having an electric outboard suits us perfectly. We tend to put the dinghy on deck when we are sailing so the outboard is constantly being taken off and on. Even with a small 3hp or 5hp petrol 2 stroke this is a hassle and involved using our rope and tackle to hoist it up onto the guard rail. If you’re in Europe then you cannot buy 2 strokes anymore so you are stuck with the weight of a 4 stroke. We borrowed a 10hp 4 stroke in Turkey from a friend (thank you, Frank) which was essential for getting around in Gocek, but we found it impossible to get it on and off at anchor.
The electric outboards are a whole different ball game. They are light enough to lift with one hand. The Spirit is split into two pieces, the battery and the engine. Both very light. The eLlte is in one piece, but it’s super light, it’s also an easy shape to handle.
But what are they actually like to use? Well our Spirit gives us the same speed and power than the old 3hp petrol engine we had and is much more reliable!
The surprising thing about the eLite is it’s pretty close to the performance of the 3hp engine we used to have as well. You wouldn’t want to be using the motor at full throttle all the time as all these motors become much more efficient when using at lower revs. If you are using them at really low trolling speeds then the range you will get is huge. We haven’t properly tested the eLite’s range yet but it seems similar to the Spirit which will easily get 10nm at fast speeds and a lot more if you take it very easy with the throttle.
Where these outboards really win though, other than their lightness, is their reliability and the fact you do not need to have petrol on board the boat. You can charge the battery from anything, 12v, solar or mains.
You also get to travel in silence with no fumes and have amazing maneuverability in forward and reverse.
Further information on the eLite here: https://www.epropulsion.com/outboards/eLite/would
——————————————————————————————————
PLEASE DO SUBSCRIBE – IT COSTS YOU NOTHING AND HELPS US OUT WITH THE YOUTUBE ALGORITHM
—————————————————————————————————–
PATREON:
We couldn’t make these videos without the support of you, our patrons. You are our first line of feedback, our team, our support and our friends. We are really grateful and it means we can keep the videos coming! If you would like to join us you get to see (and comment on, which really helps us) the current videos with no ads at all before they get released to the public. There are also lots of extra videos available on Patreon and you can contact us directly on board. Ask us anything! We have regular ZOOM sessions and a WhatsApp group where we talk about boats, passages and life onboard. Join us!
https://www.patreon.com/sailingfairisle
We have been using an electric outboard full time as live-aboards for the last 5 years. First, we had an Aquamot outboard which ended up not being reliable but then we found ePropulsion and switched to their Spirit model when we were in Venice. We never looked back!
Having an electric outboard suits us perfectly. We tend to put the dinghy on deck when we are sailing so the outboard is constantly being taken off and on. Even with a small 3hp or 5hp petrol 2 stroke this is a hassle and involved using our rope and tackle to hoist it up onto the guard rail. If you're in Europe then you cannot buy 2 strokes anymore so you are stuck with the weight of a 4 stroke. We borrowed a 10hp 4 stroke in Turkey from a friend (thank you, Frank) which was essential for getting around in Gocek, but we found it impossible to get it on and off at anchor.
The electric outboards are a whole different ball game. They are light enough to lift with one hand. The Spirit is split into two pieces, the battery and the engine. Both very light. The eLlte is in one piece, but it's super light, it's also an easy shape to handle.
But what are they actually like to use? Well our Spirit gives us the same speed and power than the old 3hp petrol engine we had and is much more reliable!
The surprising thing about the eLite is it's pretty close to the performance of the 3hp engine we used to have as well. You wouldn't want to be using the motor at full throttle all the time as all these motors become much more efficient when using at lower revs. If you are using them at really low trolling speeds then the range you will get is huge. We haven't properly tested the eLite's range yet but it seems similar to the Spirit which will easily get 10nm at fast speeds and a lot more if you take it very easy with the throttle.
Where these outboards really win though, other than their lightness, is their reliability and the fact you do not need to have petrol on board the boat. You can charge the battery from anything, 12v, solar or mains.
You also get to travel in silence with no fumes and have amazing maneuverability in forward and reverse.
Further information on the eLite here: https://www.epropulsion.com/outboards/eLite/would
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE DO SUBSCRIBE - IT COSTS YOU NOTHING AND HELPS US OUT WITH THE YOUTUBE ALGORITHM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PATREON:
We couldn't make these videos without the support of you, our patrons. You are our first line of feedback, our team, our support and our friends. We are really grateful and it means we can keep the videos coming! If you would like to join us you get to see (and comment on, which really helps us) the current videos with no ads at all before they get released to the public. There are also lots of extra videos available on Patreon and you can contact us directly on board. Ask us anything! We have regular ZOOM sessions and a WhatsApp group where we talk about boats, passages and life onboard. Join us!
https://www.patreon.com/sailingfairisle
Sailing Fair Isle
We have sold our house in the UK and moved aboard our boat. She is a classic cutter rigged 48 foot Hans Christian; a very strong blue water boat more than capable of sailing around the world. Just hope we are! We are professional documentary filmmakers working for the BBC and many other TV stations around the world. Broadcasters aren't interested in commissioning sailing programs these days so we are launching our channel online. Sailing Fair Isle is aiming to be more than just a vlog showing our travels. It will be a travel log, but also a documentary style show with proper content and broadcast technical standards. That's the plan anyway. Lets see how it goes.
Channel Information:
Social Media Links:
Note of Recognition for Sailing Fair Isle
At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that Sailing Fair Isle and other creators invests in crafting each and every video. Their passion for delivering exceptional content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.
We invite you to watch their captivating videos and actively engage with their content, including their social media links above. Liking, commenting, and sharing their work goes a long way in fueling their creative fire.
We're also inviting you to explore any sponsorships and partnerships highlighted in the video description of "ePropulsion eLite Review | which is best: eLite, Spirit or Petrol outboard?", or directly on YouTube. By considering their offerings or purchasing services and items, you not only support Sailing Fair Isle but also the brands and collaborators they're associated with.
If you have any feedback, corrections, or additional information about Sailing Fair Isle or their videos, please use the comment form below to share your thoughts with us.
Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the creators we cherish. Your time and support truly matter!
Sailing Fair Isle Lastest Videos
We’re struggling to leave the Azores! | Ep151
Sao Miguel is the last Azorian island we will sail to before completing the Atlantic crossing and sailing on to the European Mainland. It's the largest island in the chain and the most popular for visitors. It's the island that has everything .Lakes, mount...
In how many ways can you explore the Azores?! | Ep150
We continue on sailing through the wonderful Azorian islands in this episode, starting in Sao Jorge anchored off the lovely town of Velas we find some amazing hikes before sailing on to the lovely to the island of Terciera where they have a very different ...
Wine, beer and an old sea dog : The islands EVERY sailor needs to visit | Ep149
✅ Support our channel by getting Fishing Clash on your phone for free https://fishingclash.link/SailingFairIsle! Use our gift code FAIRISLE to get a $20 reward The Azores are definitely one of the must go places for any sailor, in fact we think they ar...
Interview with Barry ‘the old sea dog’ He’s about to finish his circumnavigation!
When we arrived in Horta a few weeks ago we were met at the dock by our friend Barry 'the old sea dog'. This was a surprise because although we knew he was a bit behind with his videos (he's in South Africa in his current videos) but we didn't know quite h...
The best Atlantic crossing ever! until… | Ep148
This is our second Atlantic crossing but the first going from West to East which can be a much more challenging route. Thanks to constant up to date and detailed weather modelling we managed to have over a week of perfect sailing positioning ourselves just...
Atlantic crossing; 1,700 nm Bermuda to the Azores (with some very strange dolphins!) | Ep148
We have a last tour of Bermuda before setting off on our second Atlantic crossing, this one looks like it could be tricky! If you are looking for new Mainsail cars then we can't recommend Ronstan enough. Check them out at http://www.ronstan.com/ -------...
Building a J-Pole AIS Antenna
I had been meaning to build a J-Pole Antenna for oue AIS for years. I had heard they perform very well and do away with the complexity of having a splitter in line which can compromise the VHF and the AIS if things go wrong. Well of course with the constan...
Is Bermuda better than the Bahamas for cruising? Ep 147
Many people just use Bermuda as a quick staging post on a West East Atlantic crossing. We think that is a massive mistake as Bermuda is one of our favourite places. Now that The Bahamas have hiked their cruising costs to thousands of pounds per vessel, Ber...
What’s it like sailing 800 miles offshore? | Ep146
The first leg of an Atlantic crossing is often the most tricky. Coming West the trade winds from the Canaries to the Caribbean are pretty reliable but getting down the the Canaries from Portugal can be a challenge. It was for us as you can see in Ep104 whe...
Is the eWincher a good buy?
Having sailing Fair Isle full time for 8 years and 25,000 miles we know we can cope without electric winches so we had the eWincher down as a 'nice to have' item rather than a 'must have' But there were certainly occasions when we would have loved to have ...
Sweating over a dangerous fault | Ep145
We are now in the really nice bits of the Bahamas, we did have to spend a day fixing a potentially boat destroying fault, but we are enjoying the prettiest spot so far this side of the Atlantic. Eleuthera is a lovely region and the jewel in the crown is ...
Anchor Test Mantus M2
We keep hearing good things about the Mantus anchors and we told you in last week's episode we've had major problems with the Ultra swivel so it was definitely time to test out a Mantus anchor while we are in the crystal clear waters of the Bahamas.This fi...
A Testing Time in the Bahamas | Ep144
With packages delivered and the major boat jobs done, we are finally getting to see the best parts of the Bahamas. We are not just sitting around drinking cocktails though! We have some serious anchor testing to do, and what better place with the crystal c...
Tropical storms, blue holes and the other side of the Bahamas | Ep143
Andros is not a well travelled cruising ground, but it has a lot to offer. It's the largest island in the Bahamas, in fact it could fit every other island in it's space with room to spare. It's known as the 'family island' and is very friendly it also has ...
Heidi and Franny, follow up interview – 3 years into cruising
Regular viewers will be familiar with Heidi and Franny as we interviewed them 3 years ago at the Annapolis boat show when they were first looking for a catamaran and we have stayed with them on board in Annapolis for the last two boat shows. Since then th...
Can you afford to come to the Bahamas?!!! | Ep142
Everyone tells us we can't afford not to come to the Bahamas. It has the clearest waters at the perfect temperature. Strings of fabulous islands and perfect trade wind sailing in protected waters. However, there's a way to come to the Bahamas and that's we...
Epic Sail in the clearest water with the largest fish yet! | Ep141
It's the last of the Cuba series, but it all happens in this episode. We sail the whole Northern coast of Cuba, hide from a storm, dock in over 30 knots of wind (without the bow thruster), run out of food and then see the other side of Cuba (it's a shock!)...
FIX IT! No help – off grid cruising | Ep140
A big part of cruising is fixing things as you go along and you can bet things will go wrong at the most inopportune moments. We've had more things break in the last month than ever before and we are in the one place in the Caribbean that you can get no he...
BROKEN! You’re on your own in Cuba | Ep139
After running aground in the last episode sailing through Southern Cuba, our luck doesn't really get any better this week. Cuba is not the place to have things fail as there is no way of getting anything here directly and importing spares is very difficult...
Run Aground #sailing #travel #boating#boatlife #cuba#sailing cuba
Don't miss this weeks episode!
The worst place to run aground | Ep138
The Cuban coastguard doesn't have a boat. One sailor we spoke to here was told that if he wanted his boat pulled off the rocks they would have to hire a boat from Jamaica. So, this is not the place to find yourself hard aground! Added to that, we can 't ...
Sailing CUBA! | Ep137
Cuba is without doubt the friendliest and most fascinating place we've been in the Caribbean - but somewhat surprisingly, there are hardly any tourists here (and they could really use more!). Cruising here on a boat is not like other countries. Officially...
Scuppering a 2000 tonne ship then sailing to Cuba! | Ep136
We have been in the Cayman Islands longer than expected. It's a hard place to leave! But we were equally excited to be sailing to Cuba. Somewhere we have never been before. We couldn't leave without diving on the Kittiwake, an ex navy submarine rescue vess...
Do we have STRAY CURRENTS? | Ep135
On the list of jobs for this week was to properly test for stray currents. This can be a very serious problem which if you follow the Wynns you will be very much aware of. We have no corrosion that we can see, but we did have some haloing ( loss of paint a...
Something AWESOME is coming!
Be the FIRST to know⛵
Sign up for exclusive updates and be the first to hear when we go live!
Get sneak peeks, exciting announcement, and special content straight to your inbox!
We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.