TORQEEDO electric motor

[seadaddler]

I would like to here the bad or good of anyone who has purchased
one of these electric outboards for sure.
Every year I seem to have problems with my outboard when planning a long cruise which really is a pain getting everything all ready and than out cruising and my outboard starts giving a problem either running really shitty
or not running at all and my wife thinks the electric is the answer.
I do have 2 big solar panels and 4200 panda Gen.
Nick

 

[CaptGregg]

There are two main sizes from what I hear. I've never owned one but from what I've read from other owners, the smaller one is NOT GOOD for salt water. The larger is better for marine conditions. I've heard mixed reports on battery life and charging.

 

[Delezynski]

Seadadler,

You might want to review my short Youtube Mini Op-Eval of one. It's at;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lxXKGqvs_8&feature=share&list=TL5YeCSCn3oQNdZ6Ca-Ekh80kutxduCfww

You can see and hear how it was working for me.

Greg

 

[paul1938]

I have one for the last two years. It is great, I used it for our Portabote dinghy. in Cat harbor which was sheltered and it lasted the entire 4 days going back and forth for the people in our boat as well as the boat we were tied too. I'm not sure that i would like to go in open waters for more than a mile to town and back if it was lumpy and windy.

 

[Mark Price]

Got fed up with the outboard I HAD on the H23 so I got a Torqeedo. Had some problems with water getting in the sealed motor and shorting it out but Torqeedo was fantastic to deal with and stood behind the product. Sent me the box to send it back and they paid postage both ways. Took about a week, got a new and improved motor back. That was a few years ago and have not had any problems since. Got two solar panels wired to give 24 volts to recharge two 12 volt batteries run in series for 24 volts. Works great. I saill on the weekends at the lake and they recharge all week, are ready to go by the next weekend. Have not used it much this year as Ive been gone overseas all summer. I would recommend them if you do not have far to go to get sailing. It pushes the H23 at 5 kts for about 45 min. or all day at about 1.5 kts. Great control around the dock!! NO GAS no need for electric at the dock. Only problem, I spent more to change over to all electric drive than i paid for the boat!! Oh well its all good fun.

 

[seadaddler]

Thanks

Thank you guy's for your info and still trying to decide what to do and I think after I take the carb apart on my 8HP Yamaha and if it runs OK I guess I will give another chance and maybe do more pecautions to keep it running well.
I guess I am trying to decide if the Torqeedo 1003s will be worth the $$$$ and will I be happy with it when cruising and will it the battery hold up when
I go from our sailboat to shore and if charging it while out anchored and it
will not be a problem.
I do like that it very easy and light to handle and store on boat will be easy and on and off my 9'6'' aluminum floor.
nick

 

[jepomer]

My Capri 22 has been powered by a Torqeedo Cruise 2.0 for the past three seasons. It is on a mooring using a single 100 watt solar panel to keep the four GC2 golf cart batteries charged. It has a Genasun Charge Boost controller. Battery life has been the same as listed on Torqeedo's web site.

I have been very happy with it. Performance is very similar to the Nissan 5 HP gas engine that came with the boat.

 

[seadaddler]

Thanks

I have been cleaning the carb on my 8hp 2 stroke Yamaha after it sat for 3 months and finally it is running like new again.
Every year it gives me a problem on our long cruises and usually take it to the repair shop but with only one week before leaving for a 3 week cruise I
decided to do it myself and it worked out good.
I am putting off the Torqeedo for now but will be looking at them for the future and will be doing more to the 2 stroke before storing it for a long time.
Nick

 

[Rocket1]

FWIW-

The Torqeedo looks like a great idea, but let's be real about this. 99% of us use the dink to run back and forth to shore, or to run around the cove to BS with others.

An OB is a PITA (in my opinion), and I couldn't justify the cost of the Torqeedo for our purposes. Too many other projects on board that could use those boat bucks. I guess if funds weren't an issue, then why not?

We utilize a MinnKota electric (40lbs thrust) on our 9'6" Achilles, and carry a spare battery just for the dink. Sure, you won't waterski behind it - but it cruises us around the anchorage (quietly) with no issues. Actually, most people are shocked at how fast we go with just a little trolling motor. Stores nicely in the v-berth when not in use. Also gives us the added comfort of having a spare battery available if the start battery needs a little help.

$150 for the motor, $80 for the spare battery. Going on 3 years now with no issues. And if it does go T/U, gets stolen, or falls overboard - it's not such a big deal to buy another one.

Now, if we were cruising the world - that's another story.

 

[rufus1138]

sitting an outboard up without being used for long periods of time is the worst and i mean WORST thing in the world for them. mabey some merit to more fastidious maintenance or those new lehrs propane outboards ive been seeing lately, they just use a coleman green mini bottle it looks like.

 

[FB111A]

It is the crap fuel today. We used to use outboards for 3 months a year in Maine and they would last for 30 or 40 years if we winterized them. The crap fuel today messes up my Yamaha if I don't run it at least once a week. It makes the propane and electrics very attractive.

 

[steve77]

I have a Torqeedo, only one year of use but no problems so far.

 

[Tom G P-21]

If you are going to stick with the Yamaha for now try running it with ethanol free gas. Here is a website that lists locations.
http://pure-gas.org/

 

[Tom J]

Rebuilt the carb on my 3.3HP Mercury at the beginning of the season, but didn't use the OB much this summer, so again needs to be cleaned/rebuilt. Definitely the crap fuel we have in Massachusetts. No ethanol-free gas available that I know of. (Picked up some in St. Augustine, FL, when we headed north in 2010). Torqueedo 1003 is top of my list for next season. We have a 135 watt solar panel on board for charging the Torqueedo. Yes, it's expensive, but not having gasoline and 2-stroke oil on board, priceless!

 

[seadaddler]

Yes i do

I do buy nothing but ethanol free gas and put sea foam in the tank but i guess i need to let it run until it is all stopped and than drain the fuel bowl and maybe even blow it out with air too.
I just took the carb all apart and cleaned it all real good and it starts right up and runs for 5 or 10 minutes and than starts right up again and same thing many times and if I keep pressing the gas tank bulb it will keep running but if i stopping pressing bulb it will stop running but start right up again.
i checked the gas tank and hose and getting plenty of gas right up to the filter
so maybe the fuel pump on the side of the carb needs replacement.
Nick

 

[zeehag]

i traded a cruising spinnaker for a used torqueedo t1003s with some few problems.
it is actually a good motor. it will let you know when you are going to be stuck needing oars and a recharge, and only things wrong are...
you cannot ground with it..run aground will hurt the lower unit.
it NEEDS fresh water after each use.
there is an unfortunate mother board or some such that stops allowing battery to charge. can be an issue. i have found someone to fix this.
should b e fun running my 10 ft wb to shore and back using a torqueedo motor....lol