Anyone tried one of these/opinions/reviews?

Airflo Wavehopper Stoway 55lb Thrust Engine - Boat & Float Tube Fishing Fishtec

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Hmmm, quiet in here - strikes me if no-one is buying them they may be "on sale" sometime soon........

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Just on the face of it, it looks like a bad idea to me. Adding that telescoping shaft introduces a weak point and an added potential for water entry.

Even something like gently drifting in too shallow and grounding the motor on a mud or sand bottom puts a pretty good bend in the shaft. Hit something at speed and it's even worse. Minnkota went to unbreakable composite shafts almost 20 years ago because bent steel shafts were fairly common.

Now think about the strength loss that would be inherent in adding a telescoping joint to the shaft. Honestly, I can't see that thing surviving the first good hit.

Also, another thing that leaves me shaking my head at these cheap Chinese electrics is look at the tiny size of that motor! It's absolutely tiny compared to a 55 pound thrust Minnkota motor. But it's still rated at 55 pounds? Right. There's no way that's going to survive sustained use. For the twice a year angler who goes out for a few hours each time, sure, it'd probably work for a few years. For a serious angler who uses an electric for long days of fishing, I don't think you can beat a real outboard like a Minnkota.

Grouse

Cheers Grouse - that's kinda what I was thinking. Can't beat an opinion from someone with a bit of experience in these matters.
The idea of a motor that fits right in the car boot leaving room for other kit is indeed attractive, but not if it only lasts 5 mins until you snag the first rock......

I guess it's down to the price. Currently my boat outings are only a handful per year. If I could buy this half price I'd probably risk it as it would be effecively free after the first year. On the other hand, if my boat trips end up increasing, I guess there's only one answer....MK!

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The other thing to keep in mind is that you cannot just own and carry an electric outboard.

The big PITA factor in electric outboards is that you also need to own the battery. And batteries are big and heavy as hell and just a general PITA because they need to be carted around and kept charged and they have a finite lifespan even if seldom used.

This is one of those things where you really want to ask yourself does the PITA aspect of ownership overcome the cost of renting it when needed?

The old saying about the 3 F's comes to mind. If it flies, floats, or fornicates, it'll always be cheaper to rent it. It just might not be as much fun.

Grouse

What's with all the references to Indian flatbread ?