Having a backup motor on board provides an additional level of safety in the event of a main engine failure. But on a boat such as the Loxo 32, the challenge is to find a solution that is compact enough not to take up valuable space, easy to deploy and capable of providing auxiliary propulsion when needed.
That was exactly what the owner of this Loxo 32 by Pogo Structures was looking for. After discovering the TEMO OUTPOD·1000 at the Paris Boat Show, where it had just received an award, he contacted TEMO with a very specific brief: an electric motor intended solely for backup use, which could remain stored on board and be quickly deployed in the event of an engine failure.
The boat was at CN Diffusion in Loctudy, which carried out the installation.
The Boat: The Loxo 32, a Lightweight and Efficient Motorboat
Model: Loxo 32
Builder: Pogo Structures
Type: Motorboat
Length: 32 ft
Light displacement: Approx. 1.8 tonnes
TEMO OUTPOD·1000 motor use: Electric backup propulsion
Installation: CN Diffusion – Loctudy
The aim of this project was not to replace the Loxo 32's main propulsion system, but to provide a backup propulsion solution.
This is an important distinction, as it directly determined both the power rating and the way the system was integrated.
Why Choose an Electric Motor as Backup Propulsion?
The owner had considered several options, but no conventional outboard really met his requirements.
He did not want an additional motor permanently mounted on the transom. The solution needed to remain discreet and compact when not in use, while being immediately available when required.
This is where the OUTPOD·1000 concept comes into its own.
Mounted on a sliding system, the motor can remain stored inside the boat during normal operation. In the event of a main engine failure, it can simply be taken out, positioned on its mount and switched on.
The battery remains installed on its rack inside the boat, with all the necessary cabling already in place.
In just a few steps, the backup propulsion system is ready to use.
An Installation Designed to Be Ready in an Emergency
The key to this configuration lies in separating the permanently installed components from the motor itself.
The battery and its rack remain permanently installed inside the boat, while all the wiring required to power the OUTPOD is already integrated.
The motor can therefore remain safely stored on board until it is needed.
In the event of a problem with the main engine:
- The OUTPOD·1000 is taken out of storage.
- It is fitted onto its sliding mount.
- The motor is connected to the system already installed on board.
- The system is switched on.
- Electric propulsion is then available without complex connections or the need to handle an auxiliary combustion engine.
Why an OUTPOD·1000 on a Loxo 32?
With a light displacement of approximately 1.8 tonnes, the Loxo 32 is naturally a substantial boat for a 1 kW electric propulsion system.
The owner was fully aware of this from the outset.
For regular use as the boat's main propulsion system, a more powerful solution – such as the 3 kW OUTPOD·3000 – would have been the more natural choice.
But that was not the objective here.
In this installation, the OUTPOD·1000 is intended solely as emergency backup propulsion: to maintain control of the boat, reduce drift and provide low-speed propulsion in the event of a main engine failure.
For this specific purpose, the owner prioritised compactness and ease of handling over the power required for normal cruising performance.
A Compact System That Stays Out of the Way
For a backup motor, compactness is essential.
Since the main engine is used for the vast majority of trips, the owner did not want to sacrifice space or keep a second motor permanently mounted outside the boat.
The OUTPOD·1000 offers a particular advantage here: the motor is only installed in the water when it is actually needed.
The rest of the time, it can be stored inside the Loxo 32.
This configuration therefore provides a genuine backup propulsion solution without significantly affecting the boat's everyday use.
A Plug & Play Installation by the CN Diffusion Shipyard
The project also relied on close collaboration between the owner, TEMO and CN Diffusion in Loctudy.
TEMO worked directly with the owner on the technical requirements and choice of system, while supporting the boatyard with the installation and integration.
The installation itself proved particularly straightforward.
Thanks to the system's Plug & Play architecture, the battery, rack, wiring and motor could be integrated without major modifications to the boat.
It was a successful collaboration between owner, manufacturer and boatyard, resulting in a tailored yet simple solution for a very specific requirement.
Installed configuration:
Propulsion system: OUTPOD·1000
Motor output: 1,300 W
Nominal voltage: 48 V
Battery: 1 × TEMO 2.3 kWh battery with AutoConnect Rack
Chargers: 8 A domestic charger + onboard charger (7.5 A / 350 W)
An Electric Backup Motor Rather Than a Second Combustion Engine
This project also illustrates another valuable use for electric propulsion: it does not necessarily have to replace a combustion engine entirely.
On some boats, it can serve as auxiliary or emergency propulsion, available only when needed.
On this Loxo 32, the OUTPOD·1000 provides several advantages:
- a compact motor that is easy to store on board;
- no auxiliary motor permanently mounted outside the boat;
- a battery already connected and ready for use;
- quick deployment in the event of an engine failure;
- Plug & Play electrical installation;
- enough propulsion to maintain manoeuvrability at low speed.
The aim is therefore not to reproduce the performance of the main engine, but to provide an additional solution to help maintain control of the boat in the event of a breakdown.
A Different Way to Think About Electric Propulsion On Board
This Loxo 32 demonstrates that electrifying a boat does not necessarily mean replacing its main engine.
Electric propulsion can also address a much more specific need: providing a compact, quiet and quickly deployable backup motor, without permanently installing a second outboard.
With the OUTPOD·1000 stored on board and the electrical system already connected, the owner has a backup solution ready to deploy whenever the main propulsion system is unavailable.
Looking for an electric backup motor or considering electrifying your boat? Contact the TEMO team to find the propulsion solution best suited to your boat and cruising programme.
