Two New Specialized Outboard Engines Are Highly Use-Specific.
Marine propulsion systems have many components and are designed to power vessels through the water. Inboards, outboards, even sails harness a source (fuel or electricity or wind) to get you moving along. Each system is built specifically to a vessel’s requirements, and though there are similarities in the method, they are not all the same. That’s easy to understand when you think of an inboard engine built for a freighter and an outboard built for a center console; they’re not interchangeable and provide a precise power range for the vessel’s purpose. There are two new propulsion systems specific in their use and completely different than your usual inboard or outboard. Let’s dive into these specialized outboard engines.
GatorTail GT-Z Outboard
ZF Marine is well-known in the marine industry for propulsion systems and components. GatorTail is just as recognized in the hunting and fishing industry for its outboard mud motors and surface drive boats. The two have joined forces to introduce a new air-cooled, heavy-duty outboard that incorporates ZF Marine’s rugged (and customized) transmission—the GatorTail GT-Z.
The new engine was introduced at the 2023 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and incorporates a unique transmission with a custom gear ratio and U-drive shaft arrangement. The GT-Z allows specialized aluminum boats to traverse harsh swamp and marsh-type environments with unmatched power and reliability. How about the ability to reach up to 35 mph through the shallows, areas with dense vegetation, mud, and over stumps and logs? Its innovative, air-cooled engine with a robust belt-driven drive (that absorbs impact more efficiently than a chain-driven motor) and ZF’s specialized, strong, and durable gear box not only take hunters and anglers places where few boaters go but is also used by search and rescue teams when floods and hurricanes make the going tough.
The new transmission has gone through three years of testing and validation to confirm that the 40-hp electronic fuel injection engine delivers exceptional durability and dependability. GatorTail’s free-floating handle adds enhanced safety and control when standing or sitting down on long rides. The GT-Z begins shipping this year through the GatorTail dealer network. gator-tail.com
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Specialized Outboard Engine Focused On Portability
TEMO
On the other side of the outboard spectrum is an innovative electro-portable engine that looks like a pole. Actually, the TEMO·450 is just that—a tubular motor that is lightweight and easy to store, carry, and move to wherever you need a small engine. Winner of the 2023 IBEX Innovation Award in the Electric Motor/Battery Powered Propulsion/Hybrids category, the four-foot-three-inch tube with power source and propeller weighs just fewer than 11 pounds. Designed for dinghies and small boats, including sailboats, the TEMO·450 adapts to a variety of uses thanks to its telescopic handle that adjusts from four feet to five-and-a-half feet.
The TEMO·450 is waterproof and designed around two main components: the motor and the built-in battery. Most of the weight is distributed between the two, and the design team figured out how to optimize the propulsion in order to limit the amount of lithium on board. A 450-watt motor delivers enough power to navigate any small boat at full speed for 45 minutes. Engine torque along with the propeller design ensures optimal performance and limits energy consumption.
The “electric paddle” or “sculling oar,” as some refer to it, draws about eight inches, so getting to the beach isn’t a problem. The lightweight, simple design also doesn’t require much to mount. A single rowlock (fixed or removable) is all you need. You can even hold it in your hands. The TEMO·450 can propel sailing boats up to 1,100 pounds or up to 8-foot tenders. Another nice feature is that the unit plugs directly into a 220V, 12V, or 24V socket to charge, no need to remove the battery.
An upgrade to the TEMO·450 comes with a carbon tube and weighs barely over 10 pounds with a 323Wh battery. TEMO also adds the TEMO·1000 that will power larger dinghies or small boats to 26 feet with a static thrust of 62 pounds, equivalent to a 3-hp. temofrance.com
-by Jeremy Peters
