Electric outboards

This is an old video, the battery and solar panel have been upgraded since but it gives an insight into the Torqeedo 1003S.
 
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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For charging at anchor I bought a 50W solar panel you can set this up to charge the Torqeedo directly but I have it attached to the main domestic bank to keep them topped up and then charge the Torqueedo from the lighter socket - unless you have money to burn don't go for the Torqeedo branded solar panel any similarly spec'd panel with the correct cabling will work and be less than a quarter of the price.

The other thing that doesn't really get mentioned about them is the lack of vibration compared to a petrol engine - my other half has hand problems and could probably only steer our petrol outboard for a couple of minutes without getting pain in her hands but she can use the Torqeedo indefinitely without any problems.
 
Although likely i won't be buying a Torqueedo been some great info posted not very easy to find.

I had wondered about a solar panel to charge battery while stopped to extend range, and even if needed in practice.

Is it not a problem about possible theft of such an expensive engine and being such a light item?

Think at the price i'd want to take it in the pub with me, just to go to the loo! ?

Alan
 
Happy Dayz said:
Although likely i won't be buying a Torqueedo been some great info posted not very easy to find.

I had wondered about a solar panel to charge battery while stopped to extend range, and even if needed in practice.

Is it not a problem about possible theft of such an expensive engine and being such a light item?

Think at the price i'd want to take it in the pub with me, just to go to the loo! ��

Alan
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We used to padlock the old 5hp to the dinghy and do the same with the Torqueedo but with a wire through the battery handle. But the rib is just tied with rope so I suppose they could steal the whole thing. We don't worry about it. We are not very good at worrying.
 
We don't worry either but the expensive bits are the tiller arm and battery, just take one or both of those with you if you are concerned, the tiller arm is very light.
 
There's little point worrying unnecessarily about theft, as long as you make sure you're properly insured, with all the serial numbers recorded, etc, (take photos too). Most people are inherently honest, and the determined baddies will take your stuff if they really want it.
 
RupertW said:
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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Really?

I can get my 3.1 m Zodiac Fastroller on the plane with a 5hp 2t Tohatsu on the back. I weigh 14.5 stone and it doesn't struggle at all but if I load the dinghy up it won't get above 6knots.
 
pvb said:
There's little point worrying unnecessarily about theft, as long as you make sure you're properly insured, with all the serial numbers recorded, etc, (take photos too). Most people are inherently honest, and the determined baddies will take your stuff if they really want it.
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Very true but not much help when you return to the dinghy pontoon and find your means of transport gone. And FYI there has been a spate of such thefts on the south west coast this year. For us this is not just a problem for immediate return to the boat it would be a disaster for the remainder of the cruise. So my outboard is locked to the RIB and the RIB is padlocked to the pontoon with a 3m long link chain.
 
Hadenough said:
Very true but not much help when you return to the dinghy pontoon and find your means of transport gone. And FYI there has been a spate of such thefts on the south west coast this year. For us this is not just a problem for immediate return to the boat it would be a disaster for the remainder of the cruise. So my outboard is locked to the RIB and the RIB is padlocked to the pontoon with a 3m long link chain.
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Yes, theft is inconvenient, but in reality it's not that common, so you shouldn't get paranoid about it. How many of us take the £300 chart cartridge out of our cockpit plotter every time we leave the boat? Or remove the liferaft?
 
Default Re: Electric outboards
Since the wife and the junior crew weren't very keen on dealing with my outboard, and since I was getting a bit fed up with the smell of petrol, we decided to go electric. Considered the Torqueedo... but, oh my, the cost!

Decided to try a Bison 65, bought from amazon. Initially I got a 50Ah AGM battery (from a mobility scooter supplier)to power it, but it was deemed too heavy by w&jc, so I swapped it for 2x 22Ah ones. This combination has worked really well for me this season so far. I'm not very far offshore, so a tender run is only 5-10 minutes each way, but even with quite a lot of backwards and forwards over a two-day fettling session, I didn't run the active battery below 60% capacity, and didn't use the other (reserve) one at all.

Total cost, about £160 for the motor, about £40 for the batteries, and about £15 for some high amperage online connectors for ease of use and swapping over batteries. Also £80 for a smart charger, but that was needed anyway, as my old charger dates from probably the late 70s, and has probably caused the demise of a long line of motorcycle batteries!

(This repeats the previous post that was deleted in error while trying to edit it.)
 
Would it be an idea to chain engine and boat to the pontoon using a longer legnth, use perhaps an alarmed padlock (i've seen for motorbikes)?
 
FirstAway said:
We don't worry either but the expensive bits are the tiller arm and battery, just take one or both of those with you if you are concerned, the tiller arm is very light.
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Good tip thanks,
I appreciate Torqueedo superior qualities, and always bought top range tools for my job. Until i got fed up with supplying low life work shy thieves with an income off my hard working back.

A given, lower priced alternative tend not last as long, or loose performance quicker, i find dome have been superior with exception of battery life.

Having them lost or stolen at any price is stil inconvenient, cost delays, but the capital loss is not as painful. if they do die, just go get another with warranty, which is 3 years from likrs if ALDI or LIDLE.

My thinking transfers to the idea of spending £1500.00 ish for the Toequeedo 1003, against say £200.00 for a Bison or Eatersnake

I'm just being practical, if i were going to use it every day, or was a rod crazy fisherman then i'd likely join the club.

In comparison, bought for emergencies after loosing all drive, so far i've not used my RIB or the 4HP i bought for it in 18 months - both in my shed - 35 miles away from my boat, so how daft is that?

I can buy 6 replacement Bisons, carry a complete spare engine aboard in main boat to protect against electric engine failure or theft, and still be financially well ahead, just needing a lift off a friendly native (seen never in short supply) to go get it and be going again.

Just my opinion :).

Alan
 
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