musicmanx2 Posted January 10, 2022 Report Share Posted January 10, 2022 Im going to be using this motor and batteries and solar panel charger for my travels on the south west coast of Florida island sailing shallow waters and electric when I want it. Down the south west coast of Florida exploring. Will be posting on my Youtube Channel. Getting things ready for this year after winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Tim Posted January 10, 2022 Report Share Posted January 10, 2022 I found this on the Torqeedo web site. Please don't ask me what it says. To what depth must the propeller be immersed under water? The immersion depth of a propeller has a major influence on the efficiency of the drive. Measurements performed by Torqeedo have revealed differences of up to 10 % in overall efficiency, of up to 20 % in range and of up to 5 % in top speed depending on the immersion depth of the propeller. The reason for the significant influence of the immersion depth of the propeller can be found in the importance of the boat's wake for the propeller. Generally speaking, propellers can achieve optimum levels of efficiency when they make best use of the boat's wake. The best position for this varies from boat to boat. A propeller usually achieves very good levels of efficiency at extremely slight immersion depths (as close to the water's surface as possible but deep enough to avoid drawing air). The general rule of thumb is that the top of the propeller should be 3-5 cm below the bottom of the boat. Irrespective of this, we recommend determining an efficient depth of immersion through trial and error. The easiest way to do this is to determine the maximum speed for various depths of immersion using our GPS-based on-board computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted January 11, 2022 Report Share Posted January 11, 2022 What boat? I worked super hard to do exactly what Captain Tim says above on my Coresound 20.3 and it was perfect for a bit, until the first time I went forward under power the prop came half out of the water. If anyone needs a Suzuki 2.5 short shaft I still have it. Less than 20 minutes of use! Replaced it with a long shaft and all is well. In short, think it completely through! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricknriver Posted January 11, 2022 Report Share Posted January 11, 2022 Also believe hull rocker, trim underway, and expected sea conditions need to be considered to ensure prop is consistently under water. That's why I like electric trolling motors with adjustable depth. Also read once that an outboard prop (gas) running too deep can put extra stress on the transom. Sounds like a fun adventure coming up musicmanx. Just thoughts, R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Silsbe Posted January 12, 2022 Report Share Posted January 12, 2022 @musicmanx2— first of all, you can buy a lot of “expensive fuel” for what they charge for one of those Torqueedos. But never mind that. @Alan Stewart, (part owner of B and B ) put somebody’s Torq on the transom of his CS17 at the last Messabout. It flew like the wind! Hopefully, he’ll tell us here if it was long or short. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy B Posted January 12, 2022 Report Share Posted January 12, 2022 The short shaft is about 24.5 inches (62.5 centimeters). The long shaft is a bit over 29 inches (75 centimeters). One thing to evaluate is whether you whip out the motor in gnarly conditions--I know I sometimes do, especially to windward. In those instances of higher seas, your motor will be more prone to cavitate as the boat rocks. Small boats don't have a lot of inertia, so there's a chance you get nearly stuck in the waves as the prop cavitates out and you lose momentum. It's frustrating, and a little scary, to have the system failing (somewhat) just when you need it most. I personally would take the hit on efficiency/range and go for the deeper prop if you are in between sizes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Silsbe Posted January 13, 2022 Report Share Posted January 13, 2022 I have a 2.5 Suzuki on my Bay River Skiff. It has a short shaft. I had to notch the transom, to get it down far enough. (I’d put an outboard bracket on my transom, if I had it to do over.) I did notice that if it is in neutral and idling, and I go forward to furl the main, the transom lifts out of the water enough to suck air into the cooling system. This is an indication that the long shaft might be better. I think @Joe Anderson just bought a Torqueedo for his EC 22 last year. Maybe he’ll chime in. I’ll have my Suzi with me, when I come to Sarasota in March. Maybe we can play with it on yours, to get a feel for shaft length. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Batchelor Posted January 19, 2022 Report Share Posted January 19, 2022 I used a long shaft Honda air cooled 2HP motor on my CS17, and never had any issues with cavitation. Previously I had used a Minn Kota RT55 long shaft, which was great, but the 100AH battery that I used weighed over 30KG, and that was mounted in the aft locker, making the stern pretty much always sit in the water. I changed over to the Honda because of the weight, and the ability to top up the motor while out on the water... Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Silsbe Posted January 19, 2022 Report Share Posted January 19, 2022 I’ve tried my Minnkota 35, with the battery mounted in the center of the boat in the bilge. I wasn’t impressed with the performance. I do know that the Torqueedo’s prop and thrust provide much more power and speed. For me, it’s a matter of economics. My Suzuki 2.5 cost less than $1,000, and $5 worth of gasoline goes a very long way. No chance of running out of fuel on a becalmed day (famous last words). If I’m cruising with a Torqueedo, and need it recharged, I’d be forced to plug in somewhere. If I add solar panels to the boat to eliminate that, how much gasoline could that have boughten with my solar panel money? I know everybody’s going green, but I need to be practical. And electricity is made from coal in the USA— not exactly green. If this sounds like a rant, I apologize. I’m mainly trying to provide another perspective to the Torqueedo trend. I guess I need another cup of coffee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hirilonde Posted January 19, 2022 Report Share Posted January 19, 2022 https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/how-electricity-is-generated.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy B Posted January 19, 2022 Report Share Posted January 19, 2022 Hirilonde, I get all that and you don't need to apologize for presenting economic and energy facts. What excites me most about an electric motor is the quiet! Torqueedo is still expensive for something that is less power and runs the risk of leaving you stalled. I wish there were more competitors, but the ones I've looked at seem to have zero to little distribution networks set up, and it's frankly confusing on how I would purchase one if I wanted to. Hopefully some of these competitors can get better organized so there is price competition. Of course, I could always row, but that's not quiet due to the muttering, panting, and complaining coming from the rower! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Ludwig Posted January 19, 2022 Report Share Posted January 19, 2022 I used to use a Merc Thruster electric on a Skipper 20. It had enough power unless it was too windy or rough. I mainly had it to get in and out of where the boat was in a slip down a long narrow channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted January 19, 2022 Report Share Posted January 19, 2022 I have a Suzuki long shaft 2.5 on Skeena for all the economic reasons presented. I also run a 50w solar panel that runs the ballast water pump, charges my phone and for nav and anchor lights. But I run my house (heat and ac plus everything else), one of my cars on 13kw Solar. I am on track for an $80,000 dollar ROI over it's lifespan. The times they are a changing. I am hopeful to someday run my boat on solar charged by the sun. The quiet instant power of electric is hard to beat. My ICE car feels like the flintstone mobile (google it kids) when I drive it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicmanx2 Posted February 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 I also have the Honda 2.5hp that came with the boat so I guess I could take that along too for backup. But it would take up a little room. I do like the idea of the electric with low noise. Will see what I do this summer. I noticed looking at the socket base for the mizzen on this boat is seems to be tilted back just a little. Im not sure if that is normal for the build or when in the water it will look a little different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradW Posted February 11, 2022 Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 Another consideration for an electric motor vs. one burning dino juice is that if you have ever wrestled with an outboard that won't start or quits for no obvious reason when you really don't want it to quit, then a motor which just turns on and runs so long as it has the energy source is an attractive thing. I can't count the number of times I've watched boaters at a launching dock curse, grind, tug, tweak and pray to get the kicker going. Especially the first trip of the season. yeah, if you do all the right maintenance, storage, and commissioning, you won't have as many fubar situations but how many of us are that diligent? On my big boat, as long as I had an active season, sailing and cruising every week or so, the diesel never pooped out. Let it sit for a couple months and ignore it, and all kinds of things happened. An electric motor can still crap out, but the number of user actions needed to keep a well made e-motor like the Torqeedo from failing unduly is pretty small. That's also why I'd likely opt for a full system rather than getting components and putting them together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Silsbe Posted February 11, 2022 Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 There is some mast rake specified, but that seems to be a bit excessive. Maybe somebody with access to their plans will chime in and tell you just how much rake is called for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanmi Posted February 16, 2022 Report Share Posted February 16, 2022 I want to get an electric outboard but they weigh more than my Suzuki 2.5 and I'm concerned about the added weight to the transom. A Suzuki 2.5 which only weighs 28 lbs. A torqueedo is 38lbs and an e-Propulsion outboard is 44lbs (bigger battery, more range). How much weight on the transom is too much weight? Here's a picture with me standing at the tiller and my wife sitting close by. Even with a light outboard you can see the transom is low in the water. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy B Posted February 16, 2022 Report Share Posted February 16, 2022 I don't think it would be a problem to have the extra weight on back while actually using the motor. But in some sailing conditions you would probably want to take it off and stow it more forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanmi Posted February 16, 2022 Report Share Posted February 16, 2022 I like that idea. I don't rely on my motor as a safety feature so I don't see a downside to storing the battery when not in use. I only use the motor when there is no wind or approaching a crowded marina, and in those cases there should be plenty of time to prepare. The main downside is that taking the battery on and off increases the chance of loosing it overboard. The ePropulsion battery floats, but the torqueedo battery will sink like a rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy B Posted February 16, 2022 Report Share Posted February 16, 2022 1 hour ago, sanmi said: The ePropulsion battery floats, but the torqueedo battery will sink like a rock. The newer Torqeedo, the 603, equivalent to 2 hp, has a battery that floats. Total weight is 34 pounds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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