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Torqeedo Electric Motor Update

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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/15/2012 : 13:54:06

<font face="Comic Sans MS">Torqeedo Update

Snickerdoodle is winterized and I’m officially “on-the-beach” till next spring. Oh, my…… One of the really nice things with this year’s winterizing was simply moving the Torqeedo from the outboard bracket to inside the main cabin. At about forty pounds, this was easily done. I didn’t have to worry about such things as “fogging oil”, lubing the lower unit, changing crankcase oil, “Stabil” in the gasoline tank, et al…… I put the starboard side settee cushion on edge in the V-berth, and moved the Torqeedo’s two twelve-volt batteries inside the main cabin to the starboard side settee. With shore power keeping the cabin temperature above freezing, this is ideal for both the motor and the batteries.
After a season with the Torqeedo, how do I feel about the whole “adventure”? For a lot of reasons, this was the right decision for Snickerdoodle. While the Torqeedo is a bit less powerful than the previous engine - Mercury 8hp outboard, it is more than adequate for 95% of the motor usage for this past season. And, electrical consumption for day sailing, and short trips of say 20 miles round-trip, was easily handled by the two twelve-volt deep-cycle batteries. The dedicated “smart” charger can recharge the batteries in just a couple hours.
Everyone loves the quiet of the Torqeedo. Some folks have started calling the motor “stealth”. Even at high rpms, the motor only makes a humming sound.
What was the biggest problem with the Torqeedo? My choice of motors was the Torqeedo 2.0 long shaft, tiller version. The long shaft is in keeping with outboard engines needs on a Catalina 25. Propellers on short shaft engines don’t allow for the prop to be deep enough in the water on “choppy” days. I chose the tiller version because I like to be able to set the propeller angle (relative to the boat’s centerline). This helps balance the rudder’s tiller when in forward and still allows me to angle the motor when I’m backing up while getting out of the slip. The Torqeedo 2.0 tiller version has an LED which shows available battery voltage as soon as the battery master switch is closed. A 100% charge will show about 26 volts. As the motor is used, the battery charge is depleted. The LED shows 24 volts, 23.5 volts, etc. as the charge is used. So, this LED is sort of like the fuel gauge on the fuel tank. The LED shows what’s left. The problem is that (just like a gasoline engine) the higher the motor rpms, the faster the battery charge is used up. Unlike a gasoline engine though, the usage curve is not a straight line. Rather, the curve accelerates as the rpms increase. This makes it difficult to estimate how much longer the batteries will last and provide enough voltage to run the motor. BTW: the owner’s manual says that 18 volts is minimum voltage to run the motor.
Interestingly, the Torqeedo 2.0 cruise model has a remote throttle instead of having the throttle as part of the tiller (like mine). The remote throttle can be placed anywhere in the boat up to ten feet away from the motor. The remote throttle also has an LED. But this LED is four times larger and has much more information. The remote throttle has a built-in GPS receiver. So, the remote throttle’s LED shows: battery charge (volts); remaining range at current speed; speed; and input power consumption in watts. This remote LED gives all of the critical information needed to determine whether the batteries can get the boat to the intended destination at the present speed. Just what I would really like to have. AND, HORRAY…… I just learned that this remote throttle can be linked to my motor. Guess what’s already on my “Santa” list???????
When we went on our “sail-around-the-lake” in August, there was a mix of no-wind motoring and plenty of wind sailing. The longest no-wind day was on Saturday when we motored all the way from Hope at the north end of Lake Pend Oreille to Button Hook Cove at the extreme southwest end of the lake. The total distance traveled that day was 23.8 nautical miles. I kept the boat’s speed at 3 knots. The LED read the following:
0930 25.0 volts as we left Hope; 1130 24.0 volts (1 volt used in two hours);
1230 23.7 volts (.3 volts used in an hour); 1330 23.5 volts (.2 volts used in an hour); 1430 23.3 volts (.2 volts used in an hour); 1530 23.0 volts (.3 volts used in an hour); 1430 22.7 volts (.3 volts used in an hour); 1730 22.4 volts (.3 volts used in an hour)
The boat speed during this day varied with any light breeze. If the breeze was from ahead, the speed would diminish to as slow as 2.7 knots. If the breeze was from behind, the speed might increase to 3.2 knots.
Using a Klein multi-meter to measure amperage though, things get interesting. Here’s what I found at different speeds:
1.5 knots speed = 1.5 amps usage; 2.0 knots speed = 3 amps usage; 2.5 knots speed = 8 amps usage; 3.0 knots speed = 10 amps usage; then the rpms start using more and more amps…… 3.5 knots speed = 18 amps usage; 4.0 knots = 36 amps usage; 4.5 knots speed = 41.5 amps usage; and at 5 knots speed = 68 amps usage.
The total amp hour rating on the batteries is 110 amps. So, at 5 knots – using 68 amps /hour – there is about a 1.5 hour charge - - equaling about 7.5 nautical miles. I don’t plan on many days or very many miles at 5 knots……
In addition to the dedicated deep-cycle battery bank for the Torqeedo, Snickerdoodle also has two 12-volt deep-cycle batteries for the “house” batteries - - to power the VHF radio, depth sounder, interior and running lights, etc. I purchased the extra-long power cord in addition to the power cord that came with the motor. With this extra-long power cord, I can connect the “house” batteries in a series to power the Torqeedo in a pinch. At 85 amp/hour rating – these two “house” batteries should be able to get us home from just about any place on the lake.
All-in-all, was this a good purchase? And, more importantly, would I make the same purchase decision again knowing what I know now? The answer is a resounding YES to both. And, I’d have purchased the 2.0 cruise remote throttle too…… right from the start.
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putzmeister
Navigator

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100 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2012 : 17:50:36

Wow, Bill, how generous of you to share all of the above.

When we had problems with our Yamaha in September, we threw a small off-brand, 12V trolling motor on the boat. What a pleasant experience. Light weight, no heavy gas can, no gas line. Easy to hook up and yes, real quite. We're toying with keeping the Yamaha in storage until our next trip - using the 12V on our inland lake.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2012 : 05:46:39

Interesting article about the Torqeedo in the current <i>Crusing World</i>.

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glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 12/03/2012 : 18:44:44

Bill....I seemed to have somehow missed your thread on the Torqeedo...Thanks for posting. Very interesting. The technology/cost/performance are not suitable to all but it is great that it is proving itself in your venue. Please continue to update us as you gain more experience.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 12/04/2012 : 09:22:25

Sounds like it would be suitable for a small/medium lake but I don't think I could ever trust it and I want a reasonable amount of overkill for emergency situations. What happens if you need to move 50 feet out of the way FAST?

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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2012 : 07:44:32

Actually Dave the "move 50 feet out of the way fast" scenario is exactly what the Torqeedo might do best. The propeller is 10 X 12 and it really moves a lot of water. The torque curve is constant at all RPMs because that's how electric motors work. So, zero to five happens much quicker than with a gasoline outboard. Plus, the long shaft version is actually extra-long at 29 inches; so, the propeller doesn't cavitate as much or as often compared with 24 and 25 inch long-shaft engines.
I'm not trying to convince you to go out and buy a Torqeedo - - but they are certainly NOT a little trolling motor on a fishing dinghy.
Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.