Ray Electric Outboards, Inc., electric boating, electric boats, electric outboard

On this page we will provide information we hope will increase your knowledge and appreciation of electric boats. We propose a broad range of electric boat subjects such as product and industry news, cruising and other activity stories, design, propulsion systems, performance, uses, and marketing.

Aly, my beautiful wife with an affinity for writing, will cover stories of electric boating activities and other subjects from the feminine viewpoint. Her career kicks off this summer with an extended cruise in the Electrocat.

Now available! An electric outboard effiecient displacement boat. We have teamed up with Atlas Boat Works, Inc. to offer this exciting new boat. Please contact us for more information.

Ray Electric Outboards, Inc. of Cape Coral, FL is pleased to announce that the Ray electric outboard motor has been selected by Silver Springs to power their extensive fleet of tour boats. Including their world famous glass bottom boats. The first group of the new motors arrived at Silver Springs on February 7, 2003. This is the first time in over half a century that Silver Springs has changed the propulsion units on its fleet. Silver Springs exhaustively tested the Ray electric outboard motor for a year before selecting the Ray motor. To meet Silver Springs' requirements a special motor was provided with increased power on 36 volts and with steering provided by a large steering wheel atop the outboard.

Ray electric outboard motors were developed and produced over the past thirty years, while keeping abreast of the latest technologies, by its owner Lt. Colonel Morton Ray (USA Ret.) a graduate of West Point and Carnegie Institute of Technology. The company is the largest producer of primary propulsion electric outboard motors in the world with many dealers nationwide.

Released Feb 7, 2003
Note: For additional tour boat information, see Applications.

JOHN CLAY- who bought his Explorer in July, 99 sends this unsolicited glowing praise of the Electric Explorer and the Ray Electric Outboard for exploring shallow waters.

I just wanted to let you know that I couldn’t be more pleased with my Electric Explorer. I’d estimate that it’s accumulated ~ 450 hours in Florida Panhandle rivers and tidewater since it was delivered to me. The motor was an insightful idea and is a fantastic product. Mine has no downtime and no failures. None. I don’t see how a better hull could have been selected or more sensible cockpit designed for exploring streams, rivers, and tidal areas either. I can row through perhaps 6 inches of water with 2 or 3 aboard and even power through as little as 10 by shifting people forward. I cruise all day long, and generally end up with at least 40% useable electrical reserve. That opens up, what is to me, the most interesting, unspoiled and peaceful part of Florida. It was well worth every penny. Thanks for a fantastic, unique product.

I now own an Electric Explorer, purchased used from Roger Bass last year. Roger and I had been using the boat together for a couple of years and I bought it from him when he purchased a larger boat.

My family of six (from age 7 to age 87) uses the boat in the rivers and creeks that flow into the St. Johns River here in northeast Florida. We trailer the boat between one and two hours to get to places like the Silver River, the Ichetucknee River, the Hontoon River, Trout Creek or Julington River. Every day has been a good one and I want to commend you for putting together such a useful, practical and reliable boat. It is a great pleasure to be able to focus on the water, the birds and the scenery, without worrying about whether or not we'll have mechanical troubles. The Electric Explorer has been a great platform for family time together.

Beyond the boats usefulness on the water, it is proving to be a excellent way to help my two boys (ages 12 and 14) learn some important basics about wiring, voltage, current flow, displacement versus planing hulls, propeller efficiency and the value of matching all components of a design. The boys are at a stage where they want to do mechanical work and understand mechanical things. I am glad to be able to share with them the basic elegance inherent in a system designed for reliability and efficiency at 6 mph. I appreciate the technical material you offer on your website and have found that the practical illustrations are very helpful in teaching my boys.

Again, the boat is wonderful. If you want to refer anyone to me who is considering an electric boat, please do so. I'd be glad to answer questions about the experience.

Electric boats are becoming more popular but the
market has not been touched, here's why.

There are no waters that electric boats can’t navigate safely except far offshore. They could, though, be designed for cruising the Bahamas, for example. They can be designed for practically any boating activity including extended cruising, fishing, rental and tour boats. With an efficient displacement hull, you can cruise continuously for 12 hours at 6 MPH in a 21 ft. boat. In a 40 footer you’d be capable of 9 MPH for 12 hours. With a range of 108 miles, this boat would be more than adequate for cruising the Bahamas. Solar panels will increase range, and provide a degree of independence from shore charging facilities. If a 40 footer displaces 8 tons you would need only 10 HP for cruising but a total of 30 HP for back up when the going gets rough. The science of electric boats has been around since the 1st decade of the 20th Century. That's when ELCO (Electric Launch Co.) of Bayonne, NJ built electric launches that exceeded the performance of most electric boats of today. In fact 90% of today’s electric powered boats are so inefficient, they help limit the interest of the public in electric boats.

No water-skiing yet though, at least not until hydrogen fuel cells get off the ground. I understand the cells work fine, that all we are waiting for is the day we can pull into a marina and fill up with hydrogen. But, making hydrogen available at marinas may take 20 years. Fuel cells generate electricity on board rather than just storing it like batteries. Power goes up. Imagine 100 HP electric outboards.

Meanwhile batteries are good enough for efficient displacement boats, we don’t have to wait for 20 years for hydrogen.

Efficient displacement boats are like having batteries
that are three times better.

To explain, let's take for example the boats that the Ray electric outboard ends up on and compare them with the best displacement boats. The Ray and other electric outboards are found on aluminum pontoon boats, aluminum jons, deck boats and tour boats. All these boats, contrary to what you might think, perform about equally well with the Ray outboard. All are designed for planing which requires more power than can be supplied electrically. Now if we compare the power required to propel these boats at below planing speeds, say 4 MPH, 6 MPH, and top speed with a good displacement boat of approximately equal weight we will discover that approximately one third of the power required to propel these boats propels the displacement boat at the same speed. The efficient boat will run three times longer with the Ray and the same battery pack than the inefficient boat, providing the same result as batteries with three times the energy. We're talking significance here.

The electric boat market is now estimated to be somewhere around 1%, about 90% of which goes to electric only lakes. These are lakes sized from about 30 to 400 acres, which the developer, community, or some level of government has restricted to electric, sail, or muscle power. Due primarily to relative small size, these lakes do not require boats designed for efficient displacement operation. Electric outboards on planing type boats are efficient enough for these waters.

Because it is an assured market, manufacturers have concentrated too much on the "cocktail circuit" as electric only lake boating is sometimes called, and have been reluctant to invest in boats for "general waters": large lakes, rivers, the intracoastals and limited offshore waters, which can be navigated by efficient displacement boats. The electric only lake market, perhaps 90% of the overall electric boat market, is too small, is shared by about 15 companies and grows at a snails pace. Manufacturers have little control over the growth of the electric only lake market which depends on how fast new lakes are developed and how fast new homes are built on existing electric only lakes.

The Electric Boat Market will be significantly expanded in reasonable time by the availability of efficient electric boats for general waters. These boats will be designed for cruising, all day fishing, rental and tour boats. Creative marketing based on known advantages, plus performance will sell people on general water electric boating. An estimated 10% of the pleasure boat market will be captured by electric boats. A collateral result will be more public access to Government controlled waters.

At Ray Electric Outboards we have been experimenting with boats for general waters for several year including building two prototypes, the 21 ft. Explorer and 26 ft. Electrocat to demonstrate electric boat performance. (See these boats at Articles.) Our goal has not only been product sales but selling people on electric boating through information about general water electric boats and boating activities. This theme is reflected throughout our website.

In 1995 my late wife and I took the Explorer on a 435 mile cruise from Fort Myers, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL, a delightful adventure, which demonstrated the feasibility of electric cruising and to us the fun.

We predict there will be Cruising in near term Electric Boating -- The Charging Grid is Ready

America is poised ready for quiet, nonpolluting, wakeless, economical, relaxing electric cruising. There is no better way to enjoy electric boating. You can listen to the view as it goes by.

Unlike electric cars, the charging grid is ready. The electrical outlets for boats at marinas, which are normally included in your dockage fee, are completely adequate for charging propulsion batteries. Since at least 80 miles per day can typically be covered, marinas along most boating routes are adequately spaced. Although recharging requires overnight, you have overnight to recharge and your boat will always be ready to go when you are.

You cruise along a 6 to 7 MPH, sailboat speed. You'll find sailors friendly because they know you won't rock them with a big wake. They will be happy to cruise along with you. Cruising at 6 MPH is delightful, you have time to smell the lilies, photograph at will and check all the markers. No wake zones are no problem.

If you are a boatbuilder interested in producing boats for electric outboards (which will be a first in the boating industry) call me at 1-800-259-1637. We can build efficient displacement pontoons for your standard pontoon boats, offer design assistance in other boats, and marketing.

Getting bleary eyed checking for markers at 30 miles per hour? Tired of being jostled by wakes, but afraid to get off the channel? Ever wonder if there’s anything wrong with all that smooth water over there and maybe you’ll just leave the crowd and find out?

Generally it’s not a good idea to leave the channel if you are trying to make time as boaters have learned the hard way. However, getting off the main drag and exploring unchartered waters offers the adventure and peace on the water many boaters seek. Ray electric outboards can enhance your ability to explore and give you more peace of mind when you are off channel, the result of one of its amazing capabilities.

You know, Oly Evenrude’s invention is even better than we realize, for now the modern electric version, the Ray electric outboard, permits some amazing capabilities that can make your boating easier and more enjoyable. You will use your boat more.

First off, you need to know that electric boats are not limited to “electric only lakes”, short outings and the “cocktail circuit”. At Ray Electric Outboards we have built two modern efficient electric outboard powered boats that maintain 6 MPH for 12 hours, The Explorer and The Electrocat. You may recognize 6 MPH as typical sail boat speed and 12 hours as all the boating you’ll want to do in a day. Why, you can cruise the Intracoastals. All that with quiet, fumeless, inexpensive easy operation. These boats are suitable for “general waters” including large lakes, rivers, and limited offshore. Similar and even improved boats will soon be available from us and other manufacturers.

So much for general capabilities, let’s explore those amazing capabilities beginning with:

Why? Because, although barnacles will attach to a propeller, rudder, and shaft in 6 to 8 months, good bottom paint will protect your hull for two years. Paint will not adhere well to moving metal parts. Once barnacles are on your prop it will vibrate and you’ll have to do something. If your boat is inboard, perhaps a lift is the best solution, but if your boat is outboard powered by a motor that will tilt completely out of the water, as the Ray does, you need protect only the hull with good bottom paint. Of course if you are on freshwater you don’t have to worry about sea growth.

So your boat is sitting there ready to go at the flip of a switch. You can go on short outings with ease, unwind in the evening with cocktails as the sun paints the sky like the electric only lakers, even though you are on, say, a salt water canal. You can also fish all day or cruise from D.C. to Cape Coral, FL. With an electric boat designed for and used on general waters, you get the best of both worlds.

Extended Cruising with “Fuel” Included in Your Dockage Fee
Amazing Capability #2

Ever heard about recharging stations for electric cars? For widespread use of electric cars the U.S. would need an extensive charging grid, which for the most part is non-existent. But, boaters already have an extensive existing grid, provided by marinas. The electrical outlets at marinas are more than adequate for charging the propulsion batteries of electric boats. Are we lucky!

With a range of 70 miles or more, you can reach the next marina on most of our popular waterways. If your destination is closer you can go a bit faster. Although it takes overnight to recharge you have overnight to recharge. The boat will be ready to go when you are. Larger, say 40 foot boats, will be able to cruise at 9 MPH with a 108 mile range. Electric cruising is a lot of fun and relaxing. At 6 MPH you can sightsee, smell the lilies, and listen to the view (and to each other), easily check the markers and not worry too much if you miss one. You arrive at your destination rested and relaxed.

Kicking Up Some Interest in the Ray Electric Outboard
Hit the Bottom and Keep Going
Amazing Capability #3

Oly’s idea was a machine you could easily attach to a boat to propel it without oars. He not only achieved this goal, but another that gave the outboard an advantage over inboard engines. His machine was pivoted near the top of the transom so that the whole machine would “kick up” if the underwater parts hit the bottom while underway, minimizing damage to the propeller and other parts.

Although minimizing damage due to forward motion was achieved, this was not quite enough; there was often damage due to the spinning propeller. To prevent spinning propeller damage some sort of torque limiter between the shaft and propeller was employed, the simplest being a shear pin. Today rubber hubs inside propellers cushion the blow to propeller and internal drive parts and some are designed to let the propeller slip (torque limiter). Despite cushioning and slipping rubber hubs, it’s not unusual for the propeller to need repair or replacement if it strikes firm bottom at high speed.

But, check this: the Ray electric outboard can hit the bottom repeatedly, kick up, return and keep going at full speed without bending or breaking the propeller or damaging any internal parts. It’s had this capability for years and we have always guaranteed the propeller (now for two years) not to bend or break under normal usage, hitting the bottom or other obstructions being normal. How did we succeed where others have failed? We made the prop strong out of the best aluminum alloy available. The prop is large and turns at a relative slow speed and we are dealing with a low powered outboard. A trip release mechanism allows the outboard to kick up and resets when gravity returns it to running position. So, the Ray will “kick up” without damage and keep going if the propeller hits the bottom. Amazing! This not only means more carefree boating and less repair expense, but it removes worry about the most often occurring type of damage due to shallow water, damage to the propeller and underwater parts.

We can’t advise you to get out of the channels even if you do have a shallow draft Ray powered boat, the decision and safety is up to you. We would like to remind you to be careful, when you are in unmarked waters, use charts, depth finders and navigation aides appropriately.

However, if you are among those who like to get away from the crowd, explore and enjoy peace on the water you will be delighted with a Ray electric outboard powered boat designed for general waters.

Rob Bertazon of the Baltimore Metropolitan Anglers Association sent some interesting pictures of boats with Ray motors. Here are thumbnails of some of them for your enjoyment. The Bass Tracker by the way, comes fully equipped with the Ray from Bass Pro Shops bow mount trolling motor and whatever else you need to bring them in.

Click on pictures to enlarge.

Posted 12/01/2007