electric motor for typhoon

Dick Villamil · Post by **Dick Villamil** » Jan 28th, '10, 23:56

I only use the motor for leaving and entering the dock/mooring except when my wife is on board the one or two times a year. How does an electric trolling motor work for the Ty? Approximately how fast can it realistically propel the Ty? Just trying to search for a lighter, quieter and cleaner motor than the 4hp I currently use. No tides or currents - when there is wind I sail - no wind either paddle or use the iron jib.

seajunkie · Post by **seajunkie** » Jan 29th, '10, 01:25

When I'm just using the motor to get out of the slip and into the bay, I use a 2HP 2 Stroke Suzuki. They're pricey, but I would love to get one of those Torqeedo 801's which is supposed to be the same as a 2 HP. I think it would work great on my 25. It would probably work really well for your situation.

Sea Hunt · Post by **Sea Hunt** » Jan 29th, '10, 07:45

Hello Dick:

There is a good discussion of electric motors in the January 2010 issue of Practical Sailor . They tested a Solid Nav 4 hp on a Cape Dory Typhoon Weekender in Chesapeake Bay. The article also briefly discusses the Torqeedo and the Minn Kota.

Unfortunately, as you may recall, I am not able to send you a copy of this article. However, even if you do not subscribe to Practical Sailor, I believe you can order individual issues from them through their website.

There is also a thread on Torqeedo electric motors on this website. If you search "Torqeedo" you should find it.

Sea Hunt · Post by **Sea Hunt** » Jan 29th, '10, 09:00

Dick:

Found it (I think):

http://www.capedory.org/board/viewtopic ... t=torqeedo

sharkbait · Post by **sharkbait** » Jan 29th, '10, 09:24

One of my friends has a Torqeedo that he uses with this inflatable. It appears to work well. On one trip to and from shore he had 4 people in the inflatable and was towing our dinghy with two people in it. It didn't appear to want for power.

Klem · Post by **Klem** » Jan 29th, '10, 09:44

The two difficulties with electric propulsion are energy stored and charging. If you truly on use it to get in and out of a slip, the battery should provide plenty of juice. You will need to figure out how to charge it. If you are in a place with shore power, you can use that, otherwise you probably have to dinghy it in each time. This isn't a big deal with the torquedo but moving a car battery for an electric trolling motor would not be fun.

One other thing to be aware of is that the trolling motors don't have much thrust and might not give you any headway if there is much wind.

You won't get much weight benefit, that is the strong point of gasoline but you will be able to get rid of the noise and fumes which would definitely be nice.

seajunkie · Post by **seajunkie** » Jan 29th, '10, 09:55

The weight of the torqeedo is ony 28 lbs. The weight advantage of the larger battery operated motors is that you can take the weight off the transom and place it where ever you want it. The push button on off is also nice for coming into andeabing the slip. Also, there is no more flushing a motor that you only need to use for a few minutes.

Dick Villamil · Post by **Dick Villamil** » Jan 29th, '10, 13:24

Thanks everyone for your help - I guess that I will stay with the Mariner 4 for a while however I will research the Minn-Kota fishing/trolling motor because it serves a dual purpose and I could put it on my 12' row boat to go fishing with. I could buy it for the Typhoon as the excuse to do a test and to go fishing - meanwhile trying it out and reporting back to the board. ALSO it will give me the excuse to buy one to add to my "TOY" list for boating..... Now I have to find one with enough thrust to propel the boat adequately in tight quarters so I can furl the sails before sweeping everyine off the dock as I bring Victoria in to unload the crew and tie up!

EO · Post by EO » Jan 29th, '10, 17:07

I have a Minn Kota Endura 46, with a 38" shaft, on my Ty. It's wired to an Exide Orbital 12v marine deep cycle with Marinco connectors. The system works really well for my particular set-up, it pushes the Ty nicely... easy in/around the marina, and out to the no-wake bouys. It no doubt has it's limitations - not the best thing for high winds, large chop, and extended use - so I'm considering a 4hp gas for bigger water (in the future).

I also use the 46 for my 16'9" drift boat... just unhook/hook from one boat to the next. This battery/motor combo seems to be just right for both applications. A solar charger pretty much maintains the battery on the sailboat for a couple of weeks... after which I have to bring it in to charge with the 120VAC unit.

With the battery installed under the companionway, it seems to be relatively well balanced.

This has worked very nicely for me - hope you find a favorable solution.

Kilgore · Post by **Kilgore** » Jan 30th, '10, 13:26

http://www.torqeedo.com/us/hn/products/ ... sures.html
http://www.torqeedo.com/us/hn/products/ ... range.html
http://www.torqeedo.com/us/hn/products/ ... sures.html
http://www.torqeedo.com/us/hn/products/ ... range.html

If these #'s are accurate, either of these might make a decent kicker for a CD25, although at a 2-400% price premium over gas powered with a battery bank factored in.

Markst95 · Post by **Markst95** » Jan 31st, '10, 07:18

You guys need to stop arguing over the best motor for the Typhoon, its been found. Honda 2hp, 28lbs, air cooled, Honda quality, punches through anything I've thrown at it. Little noisy though but I like the putt putt sound...

Sea Hunt · Post by **Sea Hunt** » Feb 5th, '10, 21:32

Markst95:

I looked at the Honda Marine website for the 2 hp. If I am reading the material correctly, the longest shaft length is only 20". I have been told the minimum shaft length for an O/B for the transom on a Ty Weekender is 25", preferably 27".

Because the Honda 2hp is air cooled versus water cooled, the 25"/27" requirement for water intake may be different. I am not sure. What is your experience with this issue

Also, does the 2 hp have reverse gear

From the literature I have read, it says 360 degree pivot gear shift. From this I am assuming when you want to go in reverse you swing the motor 180 degrees. Given the wide transom on the Ty Weekenders, do you find this a problem

Do you ever use reverse

The literature also says "integral tank". I am assuming this means a small tank built into the O/B itself - what I call an "onboard tank".
Is this correct

Is there a hose connection for an external fuel tank

The literature does not appear to say one way or the other.

Sorry for so many questions. I am going to the Miami Boat Show next weekend and I may, just may, be in the market for a smaller O/B for S/V Tadpole. Right now I have a 6 hp Suzuki. It is OK but heavy and inconvenient to remove for servicing. It weighs a lot (58 lbs without any fuel in the onboard tank).

Your post says the 2 hp is sufficient to move your Ty Weekender. What area of the country do you live in

Do you have significant tides, currents, weather (waves, etc.)

I know, a lot of questions. Sorry.

Markst95 · Post by **Markst95** » Feb 6th, '10, 00:09

I have been very happy with the Honda 2 HP 20". I put on/take off the motor after each outing so the light weight was important. I've found I get about an hours running time on a fill at about half throttle, there is no hookup for an external tank. It is a little dicey to fill it if the waves are up but I haven't had any problems using a 1 gallon tank with spigot. My motor mount has an inch and a half cutout in it which lowers the motor slightly. The only time I get some cavitation is if I head up to the bow. Its nice not to have The worry about a water pump impeller. I've been on the Connecticut River with a 3 to 4 knot current, the motor pushes the boat at almost 4mph. Without any current the motor will push the boat to hull speed at about 1/2 throttle. Out in Long island sound and Narragansett Bay with 3 and 4 ft seas and 15 to 20 knot winds the motor pushes the boat along fine. There is only a neutral clutch so you have to swing the motor around for reverse. I find short bursts of the motor work pretty well. It will lift up the motor mount in reverse if you don't have it bolted down. Hope this helps. Mark

John Vigor · Post by **John Vigor** » Feb 6th, '10, 00:41

Markst95 wrote: I've been on the Connecticut River with a 3 to 4 knot current, the motor pushes the boat at almost 4mph. Without any current the motor will push the boat to hull speed at about 1/2 throttle. Mark

Mark, I often see this kind of remark and it puzzles me. When you say the motor pushes the boat at almost 4 mph, do you mean that's 4 mph (over the ground) against the current, or what?

And when you say the motor will push the boat at hull speed at half throttle without any current, does that mean the motor won't push the boat to hull speed through the water if there is any kind of current?

I've never had a 2 hp motor but I would consider one for an inflatable to replace my old fiberglass dinghy, which is driving me nuts because it has a leak into the aft buoyancy compartment and I can't find how the water is getting in.

Cheers,

John V.

shavdog · Post by **shavdog** » Feb 6th, '10, 07:44

I had a minkota 55 on my typhoon for two seasons...results were mixed...I'm on an interior lake...with no wind, no problem...but not much power into a wind...sometimes leaving a marina out to the lake into the wind was dicey......it is lightweight and easy to store..I was always nervous when far away from home with battery power...now I have a cd 22 and I tried the same minnkota with about the same results...I sold that motor and bought a 1976 evinrude 4 hp 2 cycle...big improvement for 250 dollars...and I'm not nervous far away from home...the outboard weighs 36 pounds..very lightweight..best...craig

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