Sailboat Outdrive

Sailboat Auxiliary Outdrive

A new concept in powering pocket cruisers, dinghy sailors, and traditional craft up to 19 ft and 1,000 lbs. (Scamps, Pelicans, Thistles, many CLC designs, etc.).

Why It Outperforms Standard Outboards:

• Kerfuffle-Free: Raise, lower, steer, and adjust the throttle from your natural seating position using two lanyards and a streamlined remote throttle that won’t catch your sheets (See images below).

• Zero Interference: Mounts completely aft of the transom, leaving traveler lines and sheets 100% clear.

• Ultralight: Total motor + bracket weight is only 12.4 lbs.

• Ultra-Compact: At just 35″ long, it stows easily in small lockers or under seats.

• 30-Second Setup: Locks onto a simple, low-profile baseplate bolted 9″ above the waterline—No heavy transom bracket.

Range & Performance Metrics (1,000 lb Sailboat, powered with a 24 lb LFP Battery)

• Full Throttle (3.5–4.2 knots): 17–20 Nautical Miles (5-hour runtime)

• Half Throttle (2.5–3.5 knots): 25–35 Nautical Miles (10-hour runtime)

• Solar Expansion: Adding a 100W panel provides long distance remote capabilities when there’s no land-based AC power available.

Call (425) 502-5232 or email info@electricpaddle.com for mounting guidance.

Here’s a Thistle with the motor shown in lowered and raised positions.  Using two lines enables steering; pulling on the port line steers the boat to port and so on.  Motor is secured in the raised position with clam cleats.

The remote throttle is streamlined to avoid catching sheets and can be mounted anywhere.  It comes with a 3 ft cord and a 6 ft extension.  More extensions can be added.  In this image the throttle is mounted to the seat front of an Old Salt 15.

This motor quickly pins to a baseplate bolted to the transom 9″ above the waterline, eliminating the need for a traditional heavy and corrosion-prone transom bracket. The motor, along with its integral bracket weighs just 12.4 lb so it will not affect your sailing performance by weighing down the stern.

On a sailboat up to 1,000lb and 19 ft in length, a 21- 24 lb LFP battery costing around $300 will provide:

• 17-20 nautical miles at full throttle ( 3.5 – 4.2 knots for 5 hrs).
• 25-30 nautical miles at half throttle ( 2.5 – 3.2 knots for 10 hrs)

Real life example:  Sunnyside, a micro-camp cruiser built on a 14-ft C Lark sailboat hull, weighs 1,000 lb, and using a 24 lb, 24V, 50 Ah battery has a range of 19 nm at 3.8-4 knots over the water.   Incidentally, Sunnyside’s solar panels add even more daily range and eliminate the need for overnight charging at a dock.

The motor’s baseplate works best with a vertical surface for mounting.  If you need help making an adapter wedge to match your transom rake, ask for help in the comments section while ordering.  Or you can contact us first to discuss.