Sorry if this has been covered before. I've been away from boats for a while now.

I just dusted off a scratch built outrigger that I built many years ago. It has a 45 OPS nitro motor on it. It's a screamer. This was a 70+mph boat - when it would run. I think it would be a fun project to convert it to electric. The boat is about 8 pounds. I'd like to get similar performance. I think I am running a Prather 245 prop at around 18,000rpm.

What would it take to convert and get similar performance? Motor? ESC? Batteries? Are there some web sites that can help me out?
Thanks

matched 3700 batts and a 900bb motor but u wont get 70mph out of it.

It would take a great weight reduction in your current hull. Weight is a great killer of top speed in an electric boat (if you can call a rigger a boat!). True, fast electrics are all about power/weight. Is your boat 8lbs rtr, or is the hull alone 8lbs? If your hull is that heavy, if it were me I wouldn't put it in use for electric power, pick up another engine, it'll be quite a bit cheaper.

If you can get the hull/hardware down to around 6 pounds, then a Lehner 2080 might be a good choice, but you'll probably change your mind once your price out the motor and appropriate controller, and the 30+ cells that will be required to run it.... As is, maybe a Lehner 3060 will do.

If you really want a good, fast electric rigger that won't be as costly (not nearly) look into a Climate Blizzard. You can use a much smaller motor and it only requires 6-8 cells, and a controller that costs less than half of what the BIG motor will require.

It would be quite a challenge. Seriously, I'd sell the boat and buy one made for electrics as it really doesn't have the room for all of the batteries that you'd need to carry without a lot of mods. The other choice would be to get a hot new engine for it like a MAC for less money than the conversion would cost.