ThrustMe Kicker Electric Outboard Failure <12 Months Old!

[KJF]

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

see my post made earlier today .. it might help

 

[KJF]

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.

see my post from earlier today
.... its fine for (very) occasional use provided you give it a spin every month or so in a dustbin of water for ca.20sec each way, and dont recharge unless it reads <70%. You can run it down to 70% quite quickly at full power in a dustbin of water, but dont underestimate the power and where the water will go !! - so dont leave it unattended ;-)