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Displaying items by tag: Scouting Ireland

Scouting Ireland recently presented its highest award to Peter Tobin of 8ú Calafort Gasóga Mara (Cuan Dhún Laoghaire).

Chief Scout Jill Pitcher-Farrell presented the Order of CúChulainn award at Dun Laoghaire Sea Scout den to acknowledge over 50 years of voluntary contribution to Sea Scouting at a local and national level.

Having started his Sea Scouting journey at 5th Port Sea Scouts (Dollymount), he was a founder member of the Irish-speaking Sea Scout Group, originally based in Monkstown in 1966 along with Eoghan Lavelle and Sean Fitzgerald, and has been involved ever since. In the intervening years, he served in various voluntary capacities, including in recent years as Group Chairman. He also served as Deputy National Commissioner for Sea Scouting at a time of significant growth of the youth organisation.

Fewer than 25 Sea Scouts have been presented with Scouting Ireland’s highest award in the history of the Cup.

Fry Cup winners 2023 - Howth Sea ScoutsFry Cup winners 2023 - Howth Sea Scouts

His voluntary contributions are diverse, having served as Commodore of Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club and vice Commodore of Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club and being the current secretary of the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association.

The award was presented at the Sir William Fry Cup, Sea Scouting’s senior seamanship competition, which has run since 1918, testing seamanship and leadership skills, including navigation, water safety and boat maintenance. Howth Sea Scouts were winners for only the third time in their history.

Published in Youth Sailing

About Electric outboard engines

The direct-drive component in electric outboard engines means that the electric motors are incredibly efficient compared to conventional marine combustion motors, operating with considerably higher torque whilst using less power.

Without any need for gears, cooling systems and moving parts the motors are maintenance free, highly efficient and economic to run.

As a result, electric boat engines are becoming more popular on Irish waters as the world transitions from fossil fuels to green energy.

To date, popular electric engine sizes have been trolling engines typically used by fishermen on lakes.

These marine engines are available in models that can be used in fresh water and sea water, for your boat or kayak.

Electric motors are Ideal for fishermen because they are quiet and create little in the way of disturbance 

Popular electric trolling models range from 30lb thrust to 55lb thrust in a range of shaft lengths.

But use is becoming broader now in 2021 and electric outboard engines are being used on small runabouts and RIBS where electric outboard engine sizes are getting bigger.

Outboard electric engines are economical and environmentally friendly. Battery technology is also improving at a rapid rate meaning they are becoming smaller and lighter and run for longer.

Built in hydro-generation provides alternative recharging options whilst under sail are also options meaning the electric outboard now has a home on the stern on small yachts and dayboats too.

As far back as 2014, Torqeedo owner Jack O'Keefe from Cork Harbour told Afloat readers of his sailing adventures in a Drascombe Coaster dinghy and how after swapping from a petrol version the rewards from his new electric outboard engine are less noise, no smells, more stowage, better sailing performance and a motor that can be started by a small child. But it's still not silent, there's a whine he says here 

Popular brands in Ireland are Torqeedo, ePropulsion, Pulsar and Minn Kota but there are more arriving all the time as the technology advances