Electric or petrol motor for an aluminium boat?
Fuber Global 1.5 or a 6 HP petrol? We compare electric and petrol motors for Kimple boats by power, range, weight and cost.
Five years ago an electric boat motor meant a 40 lb trolling motor for slow creeping. Today the Fuber Global 3.0 gets a 4.4 m boat on the plane and the Aiqidi E7HS matches a 7 HP petrol. For a light aluminium boat the question has become a real choice.
Power: what kilowatts mean
1 kW = 1.36 HP on paper, but an electric motor delivers full torque from the first second, so makers quote a petrol equivalent 2–3 times the kW figure. The Fuber Global 1.5 (1.5 kW) behaves like ~5 HP, the Fuber 3.0 like ~7 HP.
When electric wins
- Lakes where petrol engines are banned – increasingly common.
- Silence – trolling and fishing near reeds without spooking fish.
- No maintenance – no oil, plugs or carburettor; just charge from a socket.
- Weight – the Fuber 1.5 with integrated battery weighs less than a 6 HP petrol with a full tank.
When petrol stays
- Long distances – Fuber 1.5 runs ~10 h slow but 1–1.5 h at full speed; a petrol with a 24 L tank runs all day.
- Planing the Hunter 420/460 – these need 40–50 HP.
- Cold – lithium loses capacity below 0 °C.
Which motor for which Kimple
| Boat | Electric | Petrol |
|---|---|---|
| Trout 370, Hunter 350W, Hunter 370 | Fuber Global 1.5 | 5–10 HP |
| Trout 440, Hunter 395 | Fuber Global 3.0 or Aiqidi E7HS | 15–25 HP |
| Hunter 420, Hunter 460 | Aiqidi E7HS as auxiliary only | 40–50 HP |
Battery and charging
Fuber 1.5 has everything built in. Fuber 3.0 and Aiqidi need an external battery: we recommend the LiFePO4 24 V 80 Ah (~2 kWh, ~15 kg) with a Bluetooth app and the waterproof 29.2 V charger. A lead-acid battery of the same capacity would weigh 50+ kg.
Cost over 5 years
The Fuber 1.5 costs €2,950 – the same as a new 9.9 HP petrol – but a petrol burns 100–200 L a season and needs annual service. We fit both on any Kimple boat.
Three real scenarios
Protected lake, Trout 370. Fuber Global 1.5 with integrated battery: charge at home, troll 6–8 h, no fuel smell in the car. Lagoon, Hunter 395. Petrol 25 HP stays the main motor for 15 km runs; a bow-mount electric with GPS anchor holds position in wind. Big lake, Hunter 420. Petrol 40 HP plus a Fuber Global 3.0 on the transom as a silent trolling motor with a 24 V 80 Ah battery.
Installation
We fit a sealed battery box aft, a 100 A fuse, main switch, waterproof charger with a 230 V socket and correctly sized cables – standard when you buy an electric motor with a Kimple boat. Battery care in winter: maintenance article.
FAQ
Questions and answers
Will an electric motor get the boat on the plane?
Fuber 3.0 planes the Trout 440 and Hunter 395 with one person; Hunter 420/460 need 40–50 HP petrol.
What does a charge cost?
About €0.40–0.60 for a 2 kWh battery – a full day of trolling for less than a litre of petrol.
Licence with an electric motor?
No – all our electric motors are under 5.1 kW.
