Going Electric on a CD25

[Jim Davis]

Or you could use a pair of sweeps with the winches as thole pins.

[Capt. Fritter]

Were I few years younger, a nice sculling oar would be a consideration.

[drysuit2]

Were I few years younger, a nice sculling oar would be a consideration.

Interested as well in how the Torqueedo works. Seen several here in the harbor but only on dinghies. Been lusting for one for a long time, but still out of my budget. Finally got rid of a POS mercury 4hp so currently without power other than sails.

OK. So to your sculling idea...I'm not very good at it, and using the winches as oarlock requires really long cumbersome oars. BUT... I do keep an old SUP Stand Up Paddleboard paddle on board. And it's adjustable, carbon, with an angled blade, and light. Fully extended it's about 6 3/4 feet tall. So I can paddle from the stern, standing on the lazarette.
Next: The Torqueedo.
1. Buy the storage bags. They are about $250, but the 1003 is so delicate feeling, I was worried about transport and storage. The shaft and tiller control unit with GPS, magnetic safety fit in one nicely padded travel bag. Even though the unit is light: it is awkward, and feels like I could easily damage it.
2. So I plan to leave that on the boat. Unless I use it. Then, I like the bag for taking it on the launch, so I can freshwater clean it after each use.
3. There is a separate bag just for the battery, and your charger brick. It only weighs 20 pounds. [the whole thing is only 30 something pounds! But that's perfect for me. My deep cycle battery is like 80 pounds and while I can keep it topped off with a solar panel, I'd hate to have to drag that thing back and forth all season.
4. Does it work? yes. In light to no wind it pushes my 5300 pounds at about 3 1/2 to 4 knots. This is fine for my purposes. But you're NOT going to fly at hull speed [6 1/2 knots].
5. Downside The damn LCD display is too small, and too hard to see, especially in direct sunlight. I down loaded the phone app, but have not tried it. Also I'm not to sure about charging it. It came out of the box fully charged at 100% my first ride took it down to about 65%. I know "they say" charging these newer batteries with out running them down does not shorten its battery life...but I have read complaints that it does.

I'll keep ya posted

Frank

[Peter Jackson]

Thanks for the update Frank.

[drysuit2]

https://vimeo.com/335634586

First day where I really used the electric outboard. Full throttle is 4.5 knots, but only 30 minutes battery life. 3/4 throttle was 4.0 knots. 1/2 throttle is a decent 3 to 3,5 knots. But you have about an hours battery life. I have the ability to buy an upgraded high capacity Lithium Ion at 2 hours battery life at 1/2 throttle. But the tech support told me to wait a year, since they will drop in price, and increase in capacity considerably next year.

[Kilgore]

Weight aside (being a fraction of 5300#) , assuming you could keep them topped off, and dollar for dollar, how many hours at 1/2 throttle could you store with a small bank of 2-4 cheapo lead-acid batteries?

[drysuit2]

Weight aside (being a fraction of 5300#) , assuming you could keep them topped off, and dollar for dollar, how many hours at 1/2 throttle could you store with a small bank of 2-4 cheapo lead-acid batteries?

https://youtu.be/d1AO7d14L00

You hit the nail on the head. Electric motors are very efficient. The problem is the battery.
Battery technology is still in the dark ages. But both Elco and Torqeedo make electric outboards and inboards much more powerful than the light 3.5HP Travel Torqeedo I purchased.

If you keep your boat at a slip, and can charge your bank of lead acid batteries the sky is the limit as far as HP and Range. https://www.torqeedo.com/us/en-us/produ ... /deep-blue
If you are "off grid" on a mooring. You either need one hell of a solar or wind power generator...or you can go with the light weight 30 pound 3.5HP travel like the Toreqeedo.

Remember for me weight IS an issue. Because I do not want to leave my engine in the water to corrode away.

[Capt. Fritter]

https://youtu.be/rRM2LUVAVd8

I’ve been an active kayaker and paddle boarder for 20 years now. Paddling doesn’t bother me but age is becoming a factor.
I too consider the weight issues with motors. I’m strictly solo so humping 50 pounds of motor around is not something I want to do. I’m tired of dealing with gas, oil, fumes, etc.
Your video of the first run is good. Gives an idea of how strong the motor is. For my purposes I need to get about 2 miles to get out of the harbor and to open water. Winds and currents here are usually mild. A lot of other boat traffic and a narrow channel. I don’t need much and the electric looks like it would be perfect.
Mahalo for all the good info.