Why EP Carry
Small Boats are different. So is EP Carry.
Small boats require a motor that delivers on four key pillars: value, customization, weight savings, and survivability. Because EP Carry focuses exclusively on portable motors for small craft, these goals guide everything we build.
Now, after 15 years of continuous development, real-world testing, and customers logging tens of thousands of miles in the demanding saltwater environments of the Pacific Northwest, EP Carry stands as the first electric outboard truly ready for mainstream adoption.
Built to the right scale for small boats.
Typical small outboards are designed for 2,000 lb craft. As a result, they are far too heavy and inefficient when used on small boats. That over-engineering makes them clumsy on a tender, unsafe on a canoe, and incapable of matching the unique speed and drag physics of a light sailboat hull. Motors built for bigger craft simply cannot address the true needs of the small-boat community.
Our modular design accommodates both the boat and the boater.
We offer custom shaft lengths from 8″ to 25″, tiller setups in standard or long configurations (with extendable extensions available), and a fully remote throttle option. Our mounting systems are purpose-built for specific small craft—including fishing kayaks, solar camp cruisers, tenders, dinghies, sailboat auxiliaries, and double-enders.
Our defining feature is Universal Battery Compatibility (UBC™). UBC™ lets you power your motor with whatever battery or solar setup fits your needs—eliminating the need to buy proprietary batteries that can cost up to 10x more per mile of range.
Lightweight + robust
Starting at just 11.4 lbs, EP Carry gives you maximum propulsion without sacrificing payload capacity. But lightness means nothing if a motor can’t survive real-world beach landings. The architecture of our motor, as well as every component is built for superior durability.
Core Engineering Innovations:
Universal Battery Compatibility (UBC™): Connect any 12V, 24V, or 36V battery. Includes an integrated 12V “Get Home” Mode to run emergency partial power off 12V portable power stations.
Above-Water Motor Placement: Air-cooled design places the motor and controller safely in the upper powerhead. Zero underwater seals eliminates the consequence of seal failure.
Efficiency Tuning: Optimized for small-craft speed and drag curves. Superior efficiency means less battery weight and longer ranges.
Indestructible Materials: Constructed with a thick fiberglass torque tube, high-ductility 5-series aluminum, and an ultra-tough urethane lower unit that resists impact and saltwater corrosion. We use no brittle, and corrosion-prone die-cast alloy housings.
AutoTilt™ One-Touch Beaching: Pulling the tiller arm unlocks the reverse latch and lifts the lower unit clear of the water in one motion. Re-latches automatically when lowered, and trips safely upon accidental grounding.
Electronic Shear Pin: Impact-sensing circuitry cuts motor power instantly during a strike to preserve the propeller and drivetrain on rocky shores.
FlexDraft™ Shallow-Water Drive: Slide the motor up the shaft to operate in inches of water, then lower it for maximum thrust in open water.
This graph shows data taken on a 9 ft rowboat. At 3 knots, EP Carry requires around 50W of input power, the “high efficiency” outboard requires a little over 100W and the trolling motor requires 240W. So for a given battery capacity, EP Carry goes roughly 2x to 5x farther at the same speed as other electric motors commonly used on small boats.
Made in the U.S.A., with U.S. based Customer Support
At EP Carry, we believe in supporting our workforce and community by building high-performance marine products right here in the Pacific Northwest.
Why Domestic Manufacturing Matters:
- Local & In-House Production: Located 30 miles east of Seattle, we manufacture dozens of components directly in our North Bend facility and source remaining parts from trusted U.S. suppliers.
- Inflation-Resistant Value: A short, local supply chain allows us to make rapid value-engineering updates. While competitor prices have surged 20% to 40%, EP Carry has held pricing flat for three consecutive years.
- Investing in the Next Generation: Our summer internship program gives aspiring engineers hands-on design and manufacturing experience, empowering them to run independent innovation projects that help launch their careers.
Direct Support from Expert Builders
When you contact EP Carry for technical guidance or customer support, you won’t reach a third-party call center. You’ll speak directly with a North Bend engineer or technician who builds and services our motors every day—a commitment to service that earns us consistently top-rated customer reviews.
Made for Life
Our motors are intended to be repairable, upgradeable, and compatible with any marine battery
One of the most frustrating things about consumer electronics nowadays is that they aren’t made to last. We are fighting against this trend by holding to three main philosophies that guide our design principles and operations from the ground up:
- Right to Repair. You own it, so we believe you should be able to service it, repair it, and keep it running as long as you want. Troubleshooting guides and repair kits make EP Carry field-serviceable, by the owner, with simple tools. There is simply no other motor better suited for service off the beaten path.
- Right to Upgrade. As technologies continue to improve and become more affordable, we want your motor to be able to take advantage rather than be destined for the landfill. EP Carry is future-proof and upgradeable, with firmware and hardware components that can be upgraded over time. Our modular system of swappable parts lets you reconfigure your motor as your boating needs change. Need to go from a long-tiller to a short-tiller, or even a remote throttle? Different shaft length? Add a battery monitor or solar panels for a longer journey? It’s all possible with EP Carry, with easy-to-follow instructions you can do at home.
- Universal Battery Compatibility. Unlike competing electric motors, we don’t lock you into any proprietary battery platform… you can use any marine LFP battery (12V, 24V, or even 36V). As batteries become smaller and more powerful, and continue to come down in price, you’ll be able to swap out your battery, at will, and without paying for an expensive proprietary replacement. You can match your battery to your particular range and runtime needs at any time.
Made by and for people who love small boats…
Every summer back in the day, Joe, Linda, and their young daughter would head to the San Juan Islands for a week with their bikes and their 14-foot wooden powerboat, Swe’Pea. In 2009, the boat’s registration arrived with a carbon monoxide (CO) warning sticker that gave them serious pause—the risk of CO poisoning to their 3-year-old’s small body was far greater than to an adult’s.
Joe completed the electric conversion on Swe’Pea, just a month before their annual vacation. The difference on the water was immediate: no fuel leaks, no exhaust fumes, no frustrating pull-start stalls, and a pleasantly quieter sound that let them hear seals breathing and let them talk without shouting. Most importantly, it gave them peace of mind knowing their young daughter was safe from fumes that had been so close on a small boat. They were hooked.
Combining his business background with technical expertise—built over a career developing solar panels, aerospace countermeasures, outdoor gear, and Sonicare toothbrushes—Joe set out to make lightweight, reliable electric propulsion accessible to every boater. He launched EP Carry with a single guiding mantra:
“Portable Motors for Portable Boats.”
Read more about our history.
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