Well, maybe we should say Mercury is going “bigger.” Their latest electric outboard to join the Avator family, the 48-volt 110e, is 11,000 watts, which equates to around 15 hp. That’s not exactly ginormous in the world of outboards, but it’s a nice step in the right direction. And if you have an aluminum Jon boat or a small, light skiff, it might prove to be plenty of power.
These outboards don’t require a fuel tank that needs filling and they’re nearly maintenance free since there’s no oil to change nor filters to replace. And yeah, great for the environment and all that stuff. However, the best advantage of running one is the ear-pleasing sound of… nothing. They’re virtually silent, and create nowhere near the vibrations of a gasoline outboard. In short, they’re just a lot more pleasant to run.
The downside with electric rigs is limited range and battery capacity, which Mercury addresses with a modular battery system. They offer a 5400Wh LiFePO4 batteries which can be configured into a modular system regulated by the 5400 Power Center, linking up to four batteries. Having the Power Center also allows for single-plug charging of all the batteries onboard. The same system can be used with the 7,500 watt Avator 75e, which is also a 48-volt model.
The Avator 110e is available in tiller and remote-control versions, and with power tilt. Total weight is 124 pounds for the motor and each 5400 weights about 93 pounds. Shaft lengths include 20″ and 25″ (the 750e also comes in 15″), and three-bladed aluminum props are available in eight, nine, and 10.5 pitch. In one nifty tech move Mercury decided to arm these motors with a SmartCraft Connect Mobile module, so you can use the Mercury Marine App to look at performance data, range estimates, and more right on your cell phone.
No, 15 horses isn’t a lot, but it is a lot more than where the Avator started when they introduced the 7.5e just two years ago at a mere 3.5 hp equivalent. Now, when they add a zero behind these numbers…