Why e-Canoe?

Why eCanoe?

Electric power for canoes and other small watercraft makes a lot of sense. The noise-free and non-polluting nature of electric motors makes for a pleasant cruise or a quiet troll. The problem arises with present motors on the market such as standard trolling motors or even the Old Town Power Paddle™ in that they must be mounted at the rear of the canoe and the operator must sit close to the motor. This causes the bow of the boat to ride up out of the water, propels the boat “kitty-corner” down the water, and makes the boat unmanageable in crosswind conditions. Due to these limitations, electric canoe cruising has been limited to smaller, calm bodies of water. Serious water travel such as ocean kayak routes, cruising large lakes or rivers, operating in windy conditions, and whitewater upstream travel is beyond the scope of these single motors. Previous attempts at designing dual-motor systems for small watercraft failed due to lack of modern, efficient electronics components. These earlier designs were very expensive, too inefficient for a marketable product, or too mechanically clumsy to be practical.

An eCanoe 12DD Motor powering a 20ft Old Town Tripper

The pilot is using electronic steering