When French manufacturer Temo launched the Temo 450, it effectively created a category that hadn't existed before. Compact and genuinely lightweight, the motor was built with dinghies in mind and offered something the market had been missing: truly portable electric propulsion. Quiet, simple, and well suited to short harbour runs or tender duties, it drew a growing following among boaties keen to leave the fuel can behind.
The range grew in 2023 with the arrival of the first Temo 1000, a motor that doubled the power of its smaller sibling and pushed Temo's ambitions beyond the dinghy market. The thinking was straightforward: one portable unit capable of doing real work on a tender and equally at home on a 26-foot day sailor.
Two years on, Temo has unveiled a substantially refined version of the Temo 1000. Not a cosmetic update, the new model arrives with a set of considered improvements all pointed in the same direction: greater versatility across a wider range of boats.
The power output now sits at 1100 W, with a static thrust of 27 kg, putting the Temo 1000 on par with a 3hp petrol outboard. That's enough grunt to move a six-person tender or push an 8-metre sailing yacht. Shaft length, previously a fixed choice, is no longer something buyers need to commit to at purchase. A sliding adjustable rail lets the operator fine-tune propeller depth to suit whatever hull the motor is mounted on.
Steering control has been rethought as well. On a tender, a twist-grip tiller gives the helm full command. Transfer the motor to a yacht and the tiller retracts cleanly out of the way, allowing the unit to be locked in a fixed position and freeing up valuable cockpit space. The rotating transom bracket adds to the flexibility, enabling quick installation, straightforward height adjustment, and full rotation for stowing.
Taken together, these changes mean a single Temo 1000 can move between platforms without compromise, working equally well as a dinghy motor, a yacht tender auxiliary, or the primary drive on a light keelboat.
Portability has always been central to the Temo 1000's appeal, and the numbers back that up. Total weight, battery included, comes in at 16 kg, with the 6 kg removable battery accounting for a significant portion of that. The motor's profile, slim and blade-like, is shaped for easy carrying and stowing, and a custom carry case makes transport between boat and shore straightforward.
The 949 Wh battery pack delivers between 50 minutes and just over an hour of autonomy at mixed speeds. A spare battery swapped in extends range without fuss. Charging is flexible, with compatibility across 220V, 12V, and 24V systems. The motor carries an IP67 waterproof rating, meaning it's built to handle the spray and splash that comes with typical harbour work.
Those who have used the Temo 1000 highlight its quiet running and clean integration, along with the 360-degree rotation that makes tight manoeuvring in marina berths straightforward. Some criticism has been directed at the limited runtime when running at full power, and at a connection system that could offer a firmer, more confidence-inspiring fit. For the kind of short, sheltered trips the motor is designed for, though, neither is a serious obstacle.
Temo calls one particular feature the "sleek position." The motor rotates to sit parallel with the transom, tucked out of the water and out of the way, with no effect on sailing performance. For sailors who resent losing time unshipping and reshipping an outboard every time they raise the sails, it's a practical answer to an everyday frustration.
The Temo 1000 makes no claim to replacing long-range auxiliary power. What it does offer is a credible solution for the boatie who needs quiet, clean, reliable propulsion for short passages, without the weight, smell, or maintenance demands that come with petrol.
