Has anybody switched over to electric yet for their dinks? I've got a huge/heavy/overkill Honda 9hp that I rarely actually use because of the size/weight and maintenance (especially in the world of Ethanol).
I saw a guy buzzing along the harbor the other day with a Torqeedo 6hp and realized that I didn't know anything about them... He said he loved it, about half the weight of his 4 cycle, etc...
Does anybody have actual experience with them? Are they reliable? Worth the extra cash?
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Steve Ramsey - Puget Sound
S/V Manonash - '96 C36 mkII (#1586) - M35B
Check out Webb Chiles' blog:
[url]http://www.inthepresentsea.com/the_actual_site/journal/journal.html[/url]
He bought one for his Moore 24 this year. I recall he had mixed feelings on it. I gathered the issue is range and re-charging time. Very green (if you ignore how the electricity is generated to recharge it) but nowhere near as practical as a gasser, unfortunately.
Manonash,
I will pipe up here but, understand I do not have a dink or a motor so my opinion is limited to my feeble thought process. I have seen several of the Torquedo's, they look great, light and quite. Their value, I would think depends on how you use your dink.
If you spend a lot of time on the hook and just need to get from the boat to the beach a short distance the low weight and portability sound great. If you just want to explore in your dink the limited range and long charge time sound like an issue. They are not great power houses, for most situations I would think a light weight 2HP Honda would be equivilent to the thrust of the Torquedo and it weight is not much more, it will run all day on very little fuel.
If you run out you can borrow a cup full from someone and get back home. If you run your Torquedo flat, you will need to spend the night with someone while it recharges.
Neat technology but, limited utility in my mind.
Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas
I'm holding out for Government Incentives. I figure if they can give you $ 12,500 to sucker you into buying a Chevy Volt, the Torqueedo should be worth at least a grand.:p
Mike
Deja Vu
1991 MK I # 1106
Marina del Rey, CA
There was a review in Practical Sailor in November 2007. Mostly disappointing...
Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY
[QUOTE=Chachere;10701]There was a review in Practical Sailor in November 2007. Mostly disappointing...[/QUOTE]
I wonder how much they have improved in the last 4 years?
For short trips, the electric is great. But, replacing two litres (of half a gallon in the old measure - not sure about US or English gallons) of petrol in battery power, will take a bit of effort.
Cat375 - Rock The Boat - Hull 54
Lake Macquarie - NSW - Australia
I have a Honda 2 hp 4 cycle gas powered air-cooled outboard for our dinghy. It weighs something like 24 lbs. so very easy to handle. If you're just wanting an outboard to get back and forth to shore, I recommend it.
SF Bay
1998 C36
Yeah, the more I think about it - the more I realize that a good hard dink and a set of oars is about all I need. ;^>
Anybody need a Honda 9hp 4-cycle? ;^>
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Steve Ramsey - Puget Sound
S/V Manonash - '96 C36 mkII (#1586) - M35B