Well-Built and Easy to Install

Out of the box, the motor feels hefty and is made almost entirely of metal. The 90cm (35″) shaft is a great length for use with most inflatables and small boats, offering enough depth without dragging or snagging in shallow water. The clamp mount is sturdy and easy to adjust, and the tiller handle is telescopic and rotates easily, which helps with comfort and control while steering.

We mounted it to our Excursion 5 using the Intex Motor Mount Kit and it fits and works great. Everything lines up well, and the motor is locked on securely when clamped to the Intex Motor Mount. You can adjust the angle of the shaft easily with the tilt mechanism, making it simple to lift out of the water when launching or beaching the boat.

Smooth, Quiet Performance

The Osapian 55 delivers smooth, quiet propulsion with surprisingly good control. It has 5 forward speeds and 3 reverse, which offer a nice range from slow drifting to a steady cruise. We typically cruise on speed 3 or 4 to increase the range from the battery, and ramp up to 5 when we want to cover distance more quickly. It’s definitely not fast – it’s a trolling motor, not a speedboat engine, but it moves our inflatable with ease, even against a gentle current. Speeds 1-4 increase gradually while the different between mode 4 and 5 is quite profound. Going from 4 to 5 gives the boat a little kick and gets you moving nicely.

The reverse speeds work well and are helpful when docking or repositioning in tight spots. Most importantly, the motor is whisper quiet at all speeds. You can talk normally, hear nature, and enjoy the calm without any of the loud hum or fumes of a petrol outboard.

Power Consumption and Battery Pairing

We’re powering the Osapian 55 with an Eco-worthy 100Ah 12V LiFePO4 battery, and it’s been a great. On moderate throttle (speed 3 or 4), we get around 3-4 hours of use, and around 2 hours at full speed before voltage starts dropping. The motor draws about 55 amps at full power (hence the name), so having a decent capacity battery is important if you plan on being out for a while.

The battery cables are fitted with ring terminals as standard. We cut these off and fit Anderson AB50 connectors to the motor and battery cable (from a 70A fuse) for easy and quick connection and disconnection. The motor cable is around 1m long, which was a little short for us so we extended the cable from the battery. The built-in LED battery meter on the motor’s head is a good feature, though I’m not sure that its very accurate so tend to rely on a voltage reading from the battery directly.

Practical Considerations and Limitations

While the Osapian 55 is ideal for calm lakes and rivers, it’s not built for strong currents or coastal use. You’ll struggle to make decent progress against anything more than a gentle flow, and it’s not rated for saltwater, although I’ve read that some people do use it in saltwater occasionally and rinse immediate with no problems.

At full throttle, the battery drains much faster, so it’s best to use a lower setting and leisurely cruise rather than zooming around.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Osapian 55 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable electric motor for a small inflatable or fishing boat. It’s powerful enough to move an inflatable boat comfortably, very quiet, and efficient when paired with the right battery. Installation is simple, operation is intuitive, and the price is very reasonable for the quality.

If you’re exploring calm inland waters and want a peaceful, low maintenance alternative to petrol engines, the Osapian 55 is easy to recommend.