Electric Scooters on islands?

[Morndenkainen]

Originally Posted by jdaltonpe

I have had 3 e-bikes on boats cruising the islands. My favorite by far is the Rad Mini. Have ridden it for 3 years all over the place with no problems and no rust (20 mile range & 20mph). A little heavy for a fold up but solid with fat tires for beaches, island potholes, etc. Also has great racks that hold an easy 2 weeks of groceries if you bring backpack. Brought home 4 cases of beer one day with it and have done some really fun exploring. Solar panels handle daily charge with ease.
Good luck and have fun with whatever you get.

How's getting something like that in/out of the dinghy and boat? That's basically what I'm looking for. something to ride from the dock to stores and back for groceries or maybe carry a 5 gallon jug of gas/diesel or two

The guy with the vespa.. Would be cool, but wrong idea. When I say scooter, I mean one of those little e-scooters that weigh like 20lbs and go 15mph or so with a range of 10-15 miles and you can fold em up and toss em in a closet for storage. Enough to get from a dock to a restaurant or a store with a backpack.

[wingssail]

I would encourage you to give up on this idea. You will be adding some complexity to your cruising life that isn't needed. (Storing it on the boat, keeping it recharged, avoiding rust, salt air and electrical issues, getting it unsecured and into the dingy, fitting yourselves into the dingy with the scooter, getting it out of the dingy, avoiding getting killed on the local roads, protecting it from theft, legal issues, getting it back into the dingy, getting it back onto the boat, getting it secured for sea or into it's storage location, etc, etc,).

And for what? So you don't have to walk 100 ft?

You can simplify things quite a lot by just walking to the store or taking a cab, they are always present. And you avoid people who judge you to be an idiot spoiled rich foreigner with your crazy dumb toys.

[Sand crab]

You should just call it an ebike because that's what it is. A scooter can mean different things which is confusing the posters here. I have 2 ebikes both of which are the heavier, faster, longer range models which are a blast. Because of the size and weight they are not so good for boat life. Just about all are made in China but try to get one from a company that actually stocks them in the US. Many vendors are vague about this. I say go for it if you can deal with the issues.

[Yellowtulip]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

You should just call it an ebike because that's what it is. A scooter can mean different things which is confusing the posters here. I have 2 ebikes both of which are the heavier, faster, longer range models which are a blast. Because of the size and weight they are not so good for boat life. Just about all are made in China but try to get one from a company that actually stocks them in the US. Many vendors are vague about this. I say go for it if you can deal with the issues.

I really do think he means something like this:

https://www.pureelectric.com/product...BoCWoUQAvD_BwE

[rabbi]

Which islands?
In the Antilles I don't think I'd want one. Too much hassle to put it in the dinghy, risk of theft, not many roads I would dare to use a bike, too little use and too much corrosion problems. Too much hassle for the few times it would actually be useful.

Greek islands is an entirely different story: med moored to the town quay I could see a simple e-scooter getting way more use.

[flightlead404]

Originally Posted by chris mac

My wife has ordered a light weight e scooter. 26 lbs, 20 mile range.
I have an e unicycle. 34 lbs, 40 mile range.
I have had it for about 3 weeks and love the ease of use and portability. Charging is easy as long as you have an inverter capable. Most only will charge on ac. My wheel is 67.2 v DC.
Lots of options out there, I recommend browsing ewheels.com

Which EUC did you get? How is it for anything other than smooth blacktop?
How is charging when not on shore power?

[flightlead404]

Originally Posted by singlespeed

I had one stolen in Deshaies, Guadeloupe, locked with a very heavy Kryptonite lock to a light standard

They are a joke to pick. Self impressioning tool or even a cheap ballpoint pen can open in seconds.

[Group9]

Originally Posted by flightlead404

They are a joke to pick. Self impressioning tool or even a cheap ballpoint pen can open in seconds.

For the right person, all locks are a joke. We had several trained locksmiths where I worked. I was always amazed at how easily they defeated every lock.

[wingssail]

All of these logical arguments will get us nowhere. The OP wants this toy. He will get it.

People who can afford it think that all the toys will be fun when they get "out there" in the islands. They buy and stack onto their boats all sorts of stuff.

Kayaks, SUP's, Dive tanks, etc. Now scooters. Oh the list goes on. The boat becomes cluttered. The stuff hardly gets used after the first six months, but you have to live with it in the way 24/7/365.

And it does not enhance your sailing or cruising enjoyment. Just enjoy the simple pleasures.

Plus there is the seamanship aspect. Anything on deck is just waiting for the right wave to take it away or at least break it loose. When the conditions are terrible I'd rather not be on deck trying to re-secure that kayak or scooter. A fellow cruiser who crewed for me last season carried a small motorbike (an expensive one) on his Hylas 49. He lost it at sea. Gone!

You can build a huge rack on the back for every thing, but as another friend found when he got to Fiji, the momentum of all that stuff caused major breakage of the stainless welds. Another guy I met had the whole arch break loose from the deck, splintering fiberglass 2-3 feet either way.

My cousin famously wrote, "freedom is nothing left to lose". Takes on special meaning in a storm when waves are sweeping the deck clean.

So keep life simple. Take less stuff. Take nothing on deck.

[Sand crab]

Originally Posted by Yellowtulip

I really do think he means something like this:

https://www.pureelectric.com/product...BoCWoUQAvD_BwE

After reviewing the posts I think you may be right. His comment about hauling one or two 5 gallon jerry cans made me think he needed something more substantial. How would you haul 2 of those on the little scooter?

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

After reviewing the posts I think you may be right. His comment about hauling one or two 5 gallon jerry cans made me think he needed something more substantial. How would you haul 2 of those on the little scooter?

In the first place, you don't!

In 35 years living aboard and cruising, including around the world, we only filled jerry cans that had to be brought to the boat three times, if I recall correctly. Almost all the time we filled whatever we needed to fill at a fuel dock. Just brought the hose on deck. There are fuel docks everywhere. Once, in Sumatra, where there was no fuel dock, we filled two six gallon jerry jugs and two 40 liter plastic jugs, (filled with a hand scoop from a barrel) hired a local guy with a truck to take them to the dingy, and used halyards to get them on deck.

There will always be a taxi or a local when you need them.

Usually, to go shopping, we walk or take public transportation to the store, and take a taxi back with our bags filled.

[Group9]

We carried a plain old aluminum frame double bike on our last cruise. By about month seven or eight, despite drenching it in WD-40 at every opportunity, it was a rusted mess. I gave it to one of the people working at the Exuma Markets in Georgetown.

[chris mac]

Originally Posted by flightlead404

Which EUC did you get? How is it for anything other than smooth blacktop?

How is charging when not on shore power?

I got the kingsong 14s. I've taken it on gravel roads, over speed bumps, shore power cords, paths through the trees and up grass and dirt hills. Your knees are the shock absorbers so as long as you keep them bent it's pretty smooth. The only real problem is an unseen pothole if it catches you unaware.
The charge cord is 110v so it has to be done on inverter/generator/shore. So far it hasn't been a problem but I have a 3000watt pure sine inverter.
It also has a larger "fun" factor than bikes or scooters and definitely draws attention. There aren't many around outside big city

[tcpbob]

while in the Canary islands i got hot and bothered to have a E scooter. they were very popular and i was tired of walking. riders used the bicycle paths or roads if no path. that is spanish territory, so EU laws apply i think. they were just good sense. when i went to buy one i found that they had just changed so that you were required to have a app loaded on your phone to operate them. several brands all did the same thing at same time. STUFF THAT! so am in granada now and the hills and potholed roads would make them less atractive. i have not seen one here in 9 months.



so for med waters or Canary islands, great idea. not so much for caribbean as far as i know. glad i passed on the spyware equipped model in the Canarys

[Gerrit Coetzee]

Originally Posted by singlespeed

Do your homework for each island, prior to taking any motorized vehicle (gas or battery) or bicycle onto a foreign island. I have been stopped by the police twice in St. Georges, Grenada to verify that the bicycle I was riding was indeed registered to me. The Customs officer at the dock in Luperon, Dominican Republic, tried to charge me an import fee to bring my bicycle ashore. The US Fish & Game warden in Culebrita, Puerto Rico would not allow me to take my bicycle ashore to ride the almost deserted trails to a very surfable remote beach.

If you do decide to pursue this, have a fool proof locking system. Vehicles, vehicle replacement parts and fuel costs are well above reach for many islanders, so bicycles are a desirable means of transportation by many. I had one stolen in Deshaies, Guadeloupe, locked with a very heavy Kryptonite lock to a light standard while shopping in a store less than 100' away. The Gendarmes were sympathetic, but realistic about recovery. Rechargeable angle grinders are sold there too. Another was stolen off the boat in Simpson Bay Lagoon, Sint Maartin. Someone entered the cockpit and cut off the lock on the chain looped around cockpit table. The Marine police wouldn't come out to the boat or take a report, despite touring the lagoon every morning and passing by our boat within 100'.

In a world where one (I), try to get away from criminals, on a boat, it is a pity that nothing is sacred, not even your bicycle.

And the problem is fueled by police who refuse to tackle the problem (any problem).

Not to sidetrack the issue. Just wish to convey my sympathy for your losses.

Too often we hear of such, and sympathy does not emerge. But, I have suffered plenty, to know your loss.

Back on point, after walking 10miles in St.Croix and no phone connection to get a taxi or a lift, alternative transport would have been great.

It was ironic...owning a $½m boat, helps nothing when hiking - you join the ranks of perceived vagabonds on the side of the road.
Get alternative transport.