Helidan
Well-Known Member
I did actually consider the Spirit prior to purchasing the Kicker, Torqeedo was another option and has the advantage of GPS range calculation. I have a feeling that they will get it right with Kicker version 2.
ThrustMe Kicker Electric Outboard Failure <12 Months Old!
- Thread starter Helidan
- Start date
rodm
New Member
Have you ever considered a dakota 60ah battery..Mine weighs a total of 17lbs..You could leave that on the boat and purchase a 30-55lb thrust minn koda motor..Just another option...l think the thrustme kicker is going to be a head ache..I really wanted to keep mine as well but not worth the stress.
Helidan
Well-Known Member
Definitely an option, although I do like the convenience of an integrated battery. Another one that is gaining popularity is the French TEMO, not sure what that one would be like in the long run?
Plum
Well-Known Member
Following this thread with intetest as I was considering a ThrustMe Kicker. The Torqueedo and ePropulsion are too big and heavy for me . I am not replacing a petrol outboard, just need one to be slightly better than rowing.
www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
rodm
New Member
I think patience is the key here..im sure there will be more kickers coming out soon with the built in batteries...but i doubt they will be 10lbs..I agree about the spirit and torqeedo being to heavy..I would like to see a longer run time as well
Helidan
Well-Known Member
So another update, Force 4 have agreed to take back the Kicker for a full refund. I'm a bit disappointed tbh as there are quite a few things I really like about this particular outboard but reliability is paramount. I'm currently leaning towards the Torqueedo 603, with the current cashback offer it would work out a bit cheaper than the Kicker. It splits down into three lightweight and manageable components and has a bit more range and thrust. Importantly, it appears to have a fully sealed motor which I believe the Kicker lacks.
rodm
New Member
I was thinking about the 603 as well but want something a tad lighter..but a great choice.
Plum
Well-Known Member
Several reports here of early failures. Has anyone had one for over 12 months with a positive experience?
Helidan
Well-Known Member
It's the lower units that seem to be giving trouble. The manufacturer told me that they had made some revisions.
Gazzap
New Member
I bought one of these very early on when first released, (in December 21 I think) so didn’t get to use it in earnest until the following April 22. Great little tender, lightweight, perfect for what we needed. By August the same year the motor suddenly seized and could not be freed off. Got in touch with Thrustme direct as the UK distributor at the time (prior to SMG) had gone to ground and they were fantastic and sent me another lower unit. Roll on 2023, been using the Kicker this summer no problem until about a month ago after removing it from my boat for the winter found the motor seized solid again. I have always flushed it in fresh water after use so I am pretty disappointed that this has happened again. I’ve got in touch with Thrustme again so let’s see what comes of it. It’s a shame, as when it’s working it’s fantastic, but expensive it is only lasts about a year before the lower unit seizes
Helidan
Well-Known Member
It's a shame to hear this, the Kicker ought to be a great little product but considering the price compared to a conventional 2.5hp outboard people aren't going to want to change to electric with question marks over reliability.
Gazzap
New Member
Update from Thrustme. They are going to replace my motor with the latest version, so all in all, fantastic customer service from them
[199490]
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Just wondered how you had got on with this motor since this last post in November last year?
Reason I ask is I've been effectively given a little Seago tender but no means of propelling apart from one oar/paddle (the other got lost apparently). The guy fitting my new nav gear and battery/inverter says he can get me one of these for 1200 Euro. Is it worth it? it would be very occasional use.
Gazzap
New Member
Hi. Thrustme sent me the new ceramic coated motor directly from Norway, I’ve only used it a handful of times due to our fabulous summer, but so far it’s all working well. Can’t fault the support from the factory
Helidan
Well-Known Member
Hopefully this new motor will stand the test of time. The problem is, Epropulsion have released the Elite which seems to offer more for less dosh.
owen_b2
New Member
Nope! Bought ours at the start of last summer, looks like it was an early model (2021 serial number) - failed completely earlier this year!
Took it back for repair, but after 3 little trips it was cutting out after putting in neutral and wouldn't go again without a reboot, and the battery display jumped from 60% -> 0% -> 100% over the course of 3 minutes. Fair play to Force4, they gave me a full refund with (barely any) quibbles.
Felt like I was doing a beta test for thrustme, and it's rather telling that there's a v2 out now. I really loved the lightness and portability, but the build quality didnt feel good - plastic tiller handle got a crack in it, some of the metal fittings had rusted and overall felt like it was built to the bare minimum weight - which may or may not be a good thing depending on your point of view - but at 1400 quid I expect a bit better build quality.
Just replaced it with an epropulsion eLite which is only a bit heavier and a) 400 quid cheaper b) 50% bigger battery c) feels solidly made - particularly the transom fitting d) according to my little girl: i)has a twist throttle which she likes much more and ii) comes with a free car sticker
will report back in a year or so on the eLite...
rmathieson
New Member
I bought a kicker just over a year ago, i use it on a sailing canoe, compact & lightweight with enough power to make sure i get home.
I have been having several problems which have made me lose faith in it: not charging properly (trouble getting the charging light on), transom lock working loose on the water through operation (need to carry an allen key), battery level reading inaccurate- wouldnt charge above 70% then dropped way too fast on the water (had to run the battery down to 0 and then recharge to reboot, which did resolve this), but now the propeller has seized up - cant be turned by hand or forwards/reverse thrust. i have sent it to SMG for service, so no motor atm.
It is still under warranty until september so i am considering a refund as i am not confident in its reliability. I sail on the Tay estuary which has strong tides and i need to know the outboard is going to do what i paid all that money for. E-lite looks like a better option for me atm, heavier but with bigger range, plus it doesn't need flushed out in fresh water after salt water use. I have always done this rinse and run after each use but think that the motor has seized up from salt water ingress ?. Any thoughts/experience on this would be much appreciated, thanks
I have been having several problems which have made me lose faith in it: not charging properly (trouble getting the charging light on), transom lock working loose on the water through operation (need to carry an allen key), battery level reading inaccurate- wouldnt charge above 70% then dropped way too fast on the water (had to run the battery down to 0 and then recharge to reboot, which did resolve this), but now the propeller has seized up - cant be turned by hand or forwards/reverse thrust. i have sent it to SMG for service, so no motor atm.
It is still under warranty until september so i am considering a refund as i am not confident in its reliability. I sail on the Tay estuary which has strong tides and i need to know the outboard is going to do what i paid all that money for. E-lite looks like a better option for me atm, heavier but with bigger range, plus it doesn't need flushed out in fresh water after salt water use. I have always done this rinse and run after each use but think that the motor has seized up from salt water ingress ?. Any thoughts/experience on this would be much appreciated, thanks
Cerebus
N/A
Am I the only one that thinks placing a (presumably electronic) motor controller in the leg below the waterline is a poor design choice?
So many prop shaft seals fail on petrol outboards resulting in emulsified oil that I would have though any outboard designer would learn from that.
KJF
New Member
I've had a Thustme Cruiser (running on a Gumotex Seawave inflatable kayak) for a few years.
My first one developed a crack in the plastic near the controller. It was replaced promptly with no fuss and much helpful email conversation with the company.
The replacement has been fine. I do notice that the prop goes stiff at one particular location over time; preesumably a spot of surface corrosion on the shaft and seal? It is also run in freshwater and sprayed with WD40, as suggested by the company.
I leave it out of its bag and in a place where I regularly walk past it in the garage, so I always just spin it. I get no problems then.
That said, clearly something is causing that problem. I also can't get the prop off (I should have taken it off and greased it from new!), so when/if it ever breaks it will be a Dremel exercise to cut the plastic to refit the (free) replacement.
Its a great product otherwise, and the only option for a kayak. It is not heavily used wrt hours of power - but it serves an emergency get-me-home role against wind and tide.
My first one developed a crack in the plastic near the controller. It was replaced promptly with no fuss and much helpful email conversation with the company.
The replacement has been fine. I do notice that the prop goes stiff at one particular location over time; preesumably a spot of surface corrosion on the shaft and seal? It is also run in freshwater and sprayed with WD40, as suggested by the company.
I leave it out of its bag and in a place where I regularly walk past it in the garage, so I always just spin it. I get no problems then.
That said, clearly something is causing that problem. I also can't get the prop off (I should have taken it off and greased it from new!), so when/if it ever breaks it will be a Dremel exercise to cut the plastic to refit the (free) replacement.
Its a great product otherwise, and the only option for a kayak. It is not heavily used wrt hours of power - but it serves an emergency get-me-home role against wind and tide.
KJF
New Member
And I should have mentioned:
1) I was told not to recharge it unless it was drained to <70% else the battery status recalibrates and goes into a spiral of under reporting its status. I see this on a DJI drone controller as well - it is a feature of lithium battery systems apparently; you either than have to drain to 0%, (never a good thing to do with a Li battery - a sure way to shorten its life!!), or disconnect the battery from the controller for 20min or so, and reconnect and charge as usual. Not easy to get to disconnect it with the DJI drone controller (!) and I have no idea about accessibility into the Thrustme battery case.
2) like my ICE o/b's, I run the Cruiser (which is the same guts as the Kicker) in a dustbin of water every few months for a short time. As I use the same dustbin, that water has 2-stroke oil in it, so I likely inadvertantly also apply oil to the Thrustme surfaces as well (!), which I guess helps against corrosion (and yes, every so often I replace the water to ensure no salt is building up in the bin).
I can well suspect that like all o/b's, the Kicker/Cruiser really does not appreciate being unused for months on end. Perhaps just running it every few months would be good? Afterall, it is trivial and clean to run in a dustbin for a few seconds, forwards and reverse, remove, and then spray WD40 into the drain points near the motor.
Hope that all helps someone
