Electric outboards

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Drascombedabber

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What does everybody think of Toqueedo range of electric outboards?

I have a very old unreliable 1.5hp two stroke, it's noisey smelly and now very hard to start. I don't even know why I cart it around on my drascombe dabber, it's just a dead weight that very rarely works. I usually end up rowing when I can't start it.

It needs replacing.

The prices are similar for an electric outboard new, p,us the savings from buying petrol and oil and servicing.

Why doesn't every small boat owner go for an electric outboard?
 
Am also considering one for our dinghy so I'm also interested to see what current users think. The main reasons for considering change are ease of handling (low weight), no petrol and oil to deal with, less maintenance, quieter although of course there is a price to pay for these benefits.
 
Same old problem of range anxiety. However, torqeedo do seem to have brought out a more powerful battery but it is not cheap. I hope they have made them more waterproof than they were 3 or 4 years ago when I bought mine. I might try again soon as I went back to a petrol outboard and hate the noise and smell.
 
We bought the 1003 at the London boat show this year for use on our tender in Greece. It certainly was not cheap, but as like you, we needed a replacement we decided to go for it. IMO the biggest advantages are the weight and the lack of complications with fuel. Each part can be held easily with one hand, and it makes transfer from boat to tender much less stressful. We charge it directly from our main solar panels which in Greece is very effective.

It is quieter than a conventional outboard but no means silent, it does have a noticeable whine. The biggest question is of course the range, we use it on a 2.5 metre inflatable with a slatted floor, and it really depends on how fast you want to travel. At 2 knots (on the internal GPS) the range is shown as around 8 hours; if you increase the speed to 2.5 knots it drops to around 4 hours, and about 90 minutes at 3 knots. If we wind the throttle wide open it shows less than 60 minutes. Having said all that I have never dropped it below 80% charge. I use to suffer with range anxiety when we first got it, but now am very relaxed about it. Luckily I cannot comment on how waterproof it is.

I would just add that the throttle takes a little getting used to, there is a short delay maybe 0.5 to 1 second between opening the throttle and the motor beginning to spin, I have to resist the temptation to wind it further open and take off like a bat out of hell.
 
I have a rib, bought to be for emergency tender and a bit of leisure on rivers or lakes.

I got a 4hp mariner 4 stroke outboard to drive the rib, and be a backup for my 23 foot cruiser, on which i use a 9.9hp Mariner 4 stroke engine, which works very well so far on the canal. but both engines are bery heavy for me to lift and handle.

Notice that now electric outboards start very cheaply, mid size about £100.00 offering shatter proof shafts, weed cutting props and salt water protected.

I agree you get what you pay for in general, you can also get great value at lower prices, doubt if i'd buy second hand 'good one' unless i knew the person, puts auction sites out.

I don't have the justification or budget for high end electric units, so what has been others experiences of reliability with the cheaper electric Outboards, i'd expect less range from the same battery, then i'm not going 'bear grills' on it. ?

Alan
 
Our Torqueedo 1003 is now 3 years old and after first hour of using it we have had no range anxiety with it pushing a 3m rib with up to 6 people plus luggage.
I would be a bit more concerned if anchor to harbourside was more than half a mile regularly or frequently pushing against strong tides, but even then it would probably be fine. Speedwise we don't do much more than 2-3 knots as that's the most I'd do through an anchorage anyway due to wash on other boats and swimmers but in more open water we do more.
The Torqueedo battery capacity (whilst fine for it) is small compared to our domestic battery bank so when we do have to recharge it I just put the inverter on and use the fast charger. When we happen to have mains then so much the better but not a necessity at all.

Advantages:
Much much much lighter than our 5hp which has sat unused on the stern rail long enough now for us to get rid of it. No more awkward passing of the engine from boat to tender and back - it's all one handed.
No fuel
Starting isn't a thing any more - just turn the throttle
Display of battery percentage left and range at current throttle setting - removed any potential anxiety
It's a quiet whine and we get chatting to other Torqueedo users (and others) who for now enjoy the novelty
Unexpected advantage - more reading and DIY time on board at anchor as I used to have to go along on shopping trips just in case my wife couldn't start the outboard herself on the way back.

So when (if) we get over to the Caribbean in a few years we will probably get outboard davits and a 15hp conventional engine but until then I can't see a situation where the Torqueedo won't work.
 
Hi

Have had a Torqeedo 1003 for some years now. Initially bought to use with an inflatable, and as backup for my Suzuki DF6 on the 20ft 1.2 tonne Redfox Trailer Sailer. Very happy with performance on the dinghy, and range anxiety solved with a spare battery, although I now regard this as overkill, even on a boat with little onboard charging available.

Last season, had reason to use it in anger as backup for the Redfox - in the well, it pushes her along in calm conditions at 2kn on half throttle. I have also used it to motorsail, which extends the range considerably. The only slight worry, is that the manufacturers specifically exclude allowing the prop to turn while switched off; if this were allowed - and the motor used as a water generator, it would be fantastic! Ah me - can't have everything!
 
Torquedo 1003's are £1500.00. Thanks fhor the info, i said i can't justify that budget for a 'Top range' engine.

Like i can't justify buying a new van when my venerable 05 Toyota power van simply won't cooperate and die!

Near 150k miles, same everythink except oil, filters and tyres, and yes even the same damn brakes, never been changed.

Alan
 
Happy Dayz said:
Torquedo 1003's are £1500.00. Thanks fhor the info, i said i can't justify that budget for a 'Top range' engine.

Like i can't justify buying a new van when my venerable 05 Toyota power van simply won't cooperate and die!

Near 150k miles, same everythink except oil, filters and tyres, and yes even the same damn brakes, never been changed.

Alan
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Am I mistaken in thinking this isn't your thread and the torque do references are in response to the op?
 
I've had my Torqeedo 1003 for a couple of years. It's very well made, and very cleverly designed. I recharge it from the 12v boat supply. If I have a criticism, it would be the poor legibility of the LCD display.
 
Nooka said:
Am I mistaken in thinking this isn't your thread and the torque do references are in response to the op?
Click to expand...
1) Your absolutely right, it is not my thread.

2) Please re-read the last paragraph of post 1

Basically - Why don't 'all' msmall boat owners use 'electric outboards' (de-restricts stating only one make).

do you not agree that opens the discussion wider at the off?,

To expand, i think qualified to post firstly as a small boat owner as within that last paragraph.

I think i qualify to post a response as i have not bought an electric engine thus far of any make.

O/p asked why

I think i qualify to post exsplaining my lack of any experience of any make, and in
my position, the cost of high end units like the ine mention for my needs is not a justified spend is my reason why not.

If you can justify your comment please do, meanwhile If i can be if service in clarifying any further to you, please feel free to ask.

Respects
Alan
 
Happy Dayz said:
1) Your absolutely right, it is not my thread.

2) Please re-read the last paragraph of post 1

Basically - Why don't 'all' msmall boat owners use 'electric outboards' (de-restricts stating only one make).

do you not agree that opens the discussion wider at the off?,

To expand, i think qualified to post firstly as a small boat owner as within that last paragraph.

I think i qualify to post a response as i have not bought an electric engine thus far of any make.

O/p asked why

I think i qualify to post exsplaining my lack of any experience of any make, and in
my position, the cost of high end units like the ine mention for my needs is not a justified spend is my reason why not.

If you can justify your comment please do, meanwhile If i can be if service in clarifying any further to you, please feel free to ask.

Respects
Alan
Click to expand...

Fair enough - suspect it's just a case of different languages.
 
I like the idea of one but for example two weeks ago we went from the Dandy Hole up to St Germans and back twice during our stay. Would an electric outboard do that there is no way to have re-charged between journeys, I am not sure of the distance but it is quite a way.

A month ago we were anchored in Swanage and we watched two men traveling very slowly back to their yacht with a battery that was obviously not at full charge. Luckily there was very little in the way of tide.
 
Seven Spades said:
I like the idea of one but for example two weeks ago we went from the Dandy Hole up to St Germans and back twice during our stay. Would an electric outboard do that there is no way to have re-charged between journeys, I am not sure of the distance but it is quite a way.
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The return trip is around 3nm. A Torqeedo would do that twice easily. You could get a partial recharge overnight directly from the ship's batteries without the need for an inverter, or if a sunny day use the solar panel to recharge. Or buy a spare battery if you are really worried and want to do long trips....just like carrying a spare can of fuel. Torqeedos are expensive but good stuff tends to be so.
 
We also have a Torquedo 1003, it came with the boat. Was a bit sceptical before I used it, even telling my wife we could get a petrol outboard again. Very much a convert now and would agree with the positive comments from current users above. Range is more than enough and the ease of handling is great.
 
FWB said:
The return trip is around 3nm. A Torqeedo would do that twice easily. You could get a partial recharge overnight directly from the ship's batteries without the need for an inverter, or if a sunny day use the solar panel to recharge. Or buy a spare battery if you are really worried and want to do long trips....just like carrying a spare can of fuel. Torqeedos are expensive but good stuff tends to be so.
Click to expand...

Absolutely - range anxiety is a condition only experienced by those who haven't got an electric outboard. And there is no need to buy a Torqueedo battery as spare as any old car battery will do fine to recharge the Torqueedo one. So logic basically says use your own domestic supply - but mostly you won't need to.
They are very expensive compared to petrol ones but that, so far for us, is their only disadvantage.
 
That t is very interesting, I think range and charging are the issues that concern me so what you say sounds promising. It is hard enough to keep domestic batteries powered up for all the gadgets so trying to charge another battery from my domestic batteries when I am anchored is not very appealing, however I find lifting a petrol engine on and off both heavy and dirty. What HP equivalent are they, can you get a boat to plane with an electric outboard?
 
Seven Spades said:
That t is very interesting, I think range and charging are the issues that concern me so what you say sounds promising. It is hard enough to keep domestic batteries powered up for all the gadgets so trying to charge another battery from my domestic batteries when I am anchored is not very appealing, however I find lifting a petrol engine on and off both heavy and dirty. What HP equivalent are they, can you get a boat to plane with an electric outboard?
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The HP equivalent is low - about 2.5hp max so no planing - they are great for puttering along but not good for speed - we can get about 4knots, sometimes 4.5 in our 3m rib but rarely do that as most of our motoring is through calm anchorages. But we couldn't get on the plan with our 5hp petrol one anyway.
 
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