eleictric outboard for a dinghy

[s.v.Wavelength]

To replace a heavy mercury outboard I intend to buy an electric one for my Zodiac 2.60S.

I think I have mainly two options:

- Torqeedo 1103C  (new from march 2019)

- Epropulsion Spirit

The Spirit is cheaper, the battery is a bit larger, and the engine  is partly made of aluminium (zinc-anode protected) and exists of 2 parts.

The new Torqeedo claims only 33 dB soundlevel, and has an incorporated GPS and a possible link to smartphone exists of 3 parts  and is partly plastic.

When I read all(?) comments on the forum I think the complaints on noiselevel do not count anymore for the new Torqeedo. It looks like they copied the good things from the Spirit in this 1103C and if the specifications on paper are correct they are maybe better than  the spirit in that matter?

What I miss in both engines is that there is no anti-theft protection for the battery. If I sail in the dinghy to a place and go for a walk (or a drink or  meal) I can lock the complete engine with some outboard-lock but somebody can easily steal the battery. And if the figures are right, the weight of the Torqeedo 9kW battery is 7 kg, the Spirit battery almost 10kg, so not a pleasure to carry.

Maybe somebody has already a solution for this problem for a torqeedo or for the spirit?

 

[Veeger]

You've just gotta have a lockable locker on the dinghy.  At least the Spirit only has the removable battery.  The Torqueedo has a removable battery AND the tiller/brains piece....   

 

[Andy McCann]

Bull City has reported good results with his Torqeedo, but he has it on an H-boat rather than on a dinghy.

 

[BobC]

I never thought much about theft but have owned and used the Torqueedo for three years now. We added the larger battery last year to extend the range and kept the 5kw as a hot spare. Couldn't be happier with the performance, convenience and portability.

 

[Ishmael]

There is a thread in CA...

 

[foiledagain]

Might want to also consider the Electric Paddle EP carry.  I have one of these and it is a bit more efficient and lighter than the other options out there.

https://www.electricpaddle.com/

I think we are going to see more and more electric propulsion systems for dinghies and sailboats as the batteries get better and cheaper.

 

[Calypso]

I have a 2018 Torqueedo on a 2.4 mtr dinghy and I love the concept and not having and petrol/oil on board but the outboard is a bit disappointing. 

The paint is blowing off the ali top section, the tiller handle is too long, long a delay on the throttle and the shaft way too long for a dinghy. I see that they have fixed the last 2 items. I am also on my 3rd sheer pin for no good reason. 

Battery lasts for ages though and being modular it is easy to get on and off. 

I cut down the shaft by 100mm and cut a bit of the tiller which has helped. 

 

[jimbojones]

I've had a torqueedo 1003 for about 5 years and love it. No complaints at all. As to theft, I lock the body to the transom as you do any outboard and either take the battery with me or lock it with a cable lock 

 

[jimbojones]

I wouldn't even think of an electric o/b for a dinghy, I want a dinghy to be as simple as possible to deploy and use.

An electric is 100 times simpler than a gas outboard. Far far less to go wrong. Pick what you like, but I've cleaned enough carbs and fouled plugs for one lifetime.

 

[SCANAS]

An electric is 100 times simpler than a gas outboard. Far far less to go wrong. Pick what you like, but I've cleaned enough carbs and fouled plugs for one lifetime.

Can’t say I agree either. 

Brand new Merc 3.3 $700 US 

 

[Zonker]

An electric is 100 times simpler than a gas outboard

Friends of ours with a Torquedo on their dinghy. In an uninhabited Tuamoto atoll. They stared in dismay at the LCD that showed an error message.

Their outboard needed a software upgrade... Try doing that with a rusty screwdriver and a 10mm wrench.

Conceptually simpler, but a lot less that the consumer can work on if things aren't working

 

[Hawaiidart]

A bit off topic- but has anyone tried the Lehr propane outboards?  I like the concept, especially with the smaller dinghy/tender versions that use a normal BBQ bottle.  I am not in favor of storing gas anywhere on the boat, especially in the one lazarette locker in transom that a gas can would have to share with the propane tank.  I am curious if the Lehr has any merit.

 

[s.v.Wavelength]

I've had a torqueedo 1003 for about 5 years and love it. No complaints at all. As to theft, I lock the body to the transom as you do any outboard and either take the battery with me or lock it with a cable lock 

I wonder how you attached the cable lock on the battery? Is there something foreseen to attach a cable?

The dealer of the Spirit saw no solution for it. Would this be an advantage of the Torqeedo? Or did you find a solution yourself?

 

[IStream]

A bit off topic- but has anyone tried the Lehr propane outboards?  I like the concept, especially with the smaller dinghy/tender versions that use a normal BBQ bottle.  I am not in favor of storing gas anywhere on the boat, especially in the one lazarette locker in transom that a gas can would have to share with the propane tank.  I am curious if the Lehr has any merit.

Okay concept, shitty execution.

 

[Grande Mastere Dreade]

A bit off topic- but has anyone tried the Lehr propane outboards?  I like the concept, especially with the smaller dinghy/tender versions that use a normal BBQ bottle.  I am not in favor of storing gas anywhere on the boat, especially in the one lazarette locker in transom that a gas can would have to share with the propane tank.  I am curious if the Lehr has any merit.

friend of mine has one,  he likes it...   bottles easy to screw on / off    no worry about which direction in storing the motor...   a lot more power than the electrics   pretty quiet too

istream,  what is the issue  ?  i've never heard my friend complain about his..

 

[IStream]

Heavy for its power, low quality construction. I know a couple people who have them. Both have buyer's remorse. 

 

[Ishmael]

A review from Amazon:

Garbage. Poor design and terrible quality control.

The box my 5hp Lehr came in was perfect, it hadn't been dropped or mishandled in any way.

The gaskets don't line up. One of the brass connections is digging into the housing. The idle speed fluctuates. Tiller seems like it could break off easily. The worst part is that the engine doesn't turn the propeller. It will not turn the propeller in forward or reverse. Something is binding up the drive line. They must ship these directly from China to you without testing anything.

I read all the bad reviews before I bought it, and they all seemed to be related to the engine. I decided to buy it anyway since I'm a mechanic, and wouldn't have trouble fixing little issues.

I bought it at Worst Marine, and the guy I ordered it with said I could return it if I had a problem. When I tried to return it a few days later they said they don't take outboard returns. They still have a sign on the wall at Worst Marine that says they will exchange/refund/credit any purchase you are unsatisfied with. Fraud.

It appears that Lehr is not trying to improve their product over time. It looks like buying a Lehr next year will not mean that they have worked out any problems people had this year. There might be more problems. This is just greed with an eco friendly sticker on it.

 

[jimbojones]

I wonder how you attached the cable lock on the battery? Is there something foreseen to attach a cable?

The dealer of the Spirit saw no solution for it. Would this be an advantage of the Torqeedo? Or did you find a solution yourself

On a torqueedo, around the handle on the battery.

 

[jimbojones]

Friends of ours with a Torquedo on their dinghy. In an uninhabited Tuamoto atoll. They stared in dismay at the LCD that showed an error message.

Their outboard needed a software upgrade... Try doing that with a rusty screwdriver and a 10mm wrench.

Conceptually simpler, but a lot less that the consumer can work on if things aren't working

Since they first became available electric outboard discussions often turn into traditionalist debates. Like the Pardey  readers telling folks they need to use oil lamps for nav lights. (Not that there is anything wrong with that)

I think there are strong arguments in favor of gas, range and power in particular, whereas electric is great for to and from a mooring, anchorage or beach with a smaller dingy. 

There are so many things on a modern boat that can fail that would be nearly impossible to fix in a remote place that I think that argument is specious. From parts for a diesel or outboard to navigation instruments you carry the spares and tools for the things you can fix and adapt when something fails that you can't fix.

Having grown up sailing dinghies, I like simple systems on my boats and feel my torqueedo fits with that.