Torquedo electric outboard - feedback

[VicS]

I don't understand Vics comparison of a seagull outboard and a new Torqeedo, two more extreme examples couldn't be found, the idea that one can compare their features is laughable. A bit like comparing a modern Hanse and an old wooden Hillyard.

"I think my Seagull will see me out" and "I recharge my seagull from a can. Only take a few seconds too."

Cannot by any stretch of an intelligent mind be considered to be a comparison.

 

[ghostlymoron]

The Torqeedo is far from perfect, but it is without doubt the first step on a long road which will eventually lead to a future generation saying "they used petrol to get themselves round the moorings? Yuk!!'

I agree that eventually electric will take over but at present there are many problems that need to be solved.
1. If the torqueedo is so simple, how come its so expensive?
2. Recharge time
3. Endurance
4. Cost of replacement battery (and life of battery)

Points 2-4 apply to electric cars as well although point 4 is never mentioned.

 

[pvb]

I agree that eventually electric will take over but at present there are many problems that need to be solved.
1. If the torqueedo is so simple, how come its so expensive?
2. Recharge time
3. Endurance
4. Cost of replacement battery (and life of battery)

Points 2-4 apply to electric cars as well although point 4 is never mentioned.

Well, it's expensive because it's currently a fairly low volume product, and development costs must have been substantial and have to be recouped. As production volume increases, the retail price may well reduce.

Recharge time for most people won't be an issue. On the basis of my (limited) experience of my Torqeedo, I reckon it'll give me a couple of hours of pottering about easily, which is usually more than I'd need. Recharging from the boat's 12v supply will happen overnight easily.

Battery life and cost are important, certainly, but I'd hope the original battery will give 5-8 years of service. By then, I'd expect battery technology would have progressed and so the replacement would be both cheaper and better.

 

[Otter]

A Torqeedo and a small tender outboard both do the same job for 95% of people - a short journey to the boat or ashore. For that both are suitable, just the torqeedo does it very cleanly and quietly, it's also light and easily stowed. A normal Torqeedo would be rubbish for a two hour full throttle journey, but how often does anyone do that? Once at the boat, if it's done half a dozen trips it's plugged into the ship's batteries and ready for the next time you need it. My dad was reminiscing last night about his old Seagul outboard, how an annual spark plug and HT lead change was all it needed. I reminded him of the times it wouldn't start, of the times he'd had us cowering in the bows as he flailed about with the whip chord starting and the oily film that we left on the water like a snail's slick. Thank goodness we've come a long way since!

 

[planteater]

The Torqueedo is expensive but so is a new small outboard if you take it to a dealer for servicing to preserve the warranty. Over the first three years the TCO probably isn't so different.

 

[Otter]

It's a shame there aren't three or four manufacturers of outboards like the Torqeedo, the price would come down then. I met their head of dealers and distribution a few years ago, there is a huge amount of R&D expenditure to recover! What was surprising was in fact just how simple a piece of kit it is, but he described the process of design and how they decided to make it all themselves, the actual motor is no bigger than a smartphone and the huge amount of trial and error and rework that goes into getting it all to work. Engineering development at its best.