Hi, George,
You have the classic experimental situation. The main limitation of
electric would seem to be range, and range is proprtional to battery
bank size, or generator presence. But it is probably not the Torqueedo
that is the problem, but the item that you are already going to address,
the battery bank size.
That is why, for learning to sail in a sheltered inlet, I feel that I
can chance going small on power, at least for now, and also for peace of
mind assuming that I carry the ICE (Johnson) outboard backup that I hope
I will never need.
Provided that I live long enough to gain the confidence to go out of
that inlet, the setup might have to be upgraded.
You might soon find, after adding an extra battery, that the Torqueedo
IS in fact the perfect solution.
Another option, and try not to laugh, would be to try out a weedwhacker
(ICE) conversion 'outboard'. Light, portable, and capable I have been
told, of propelling lighter boats very well. I will know more later this
summer, I have a new weedwhacker, I have the nut to replace the spool,
(special pitch Chinese screw thread!) and just need a prop and I can run
some tests. Again, this would be backup only, thus allowing more
'risk-taking' if that is what it is, in being minimal with batteries.
There might be cost gains, as well as weight gains in doing that.
Another resolution would be to alter what you do, as far as timing goes.
Not always possible, I realise. But the power consumption is so much
lower at lower speeds, like maybe 10% at 2/3 of hull speed, of what it
is at hull speed.
John
4.3. Re: Newbie
Posted by: "George Homme" georgeh@hommeonline.net georgeh3ci
Date: Thu Jun 9, 2011 4:19 pm ((PDT))
My wife and I race a Ranger 22 sailboat around the buoys. We recently
put a Torqueedo 1003 on her for propulsion. We are real sailors that
sail blue water races(example Annapolis to Bermuda) in our other
sailboat a Swan 38. My first keel boat (about 30 years ago) had it's
second tank of fuel still in it when I sold it three years later. We
hate using the diesel for all the reasons cited but I must agree with
John Bortner. ICE is not the enemy and electric is not here "yet".
We thought the Torqueedo was perfect for our around the buoy day racer
because we just "needed to get out of the marina". We'll what happens
when you truly don't have any wind and the race committee sets up the
starting 3 miles from the marina? The race has a starting time so you
may need to "steam all ahead full" and use up more battery then you
originally intended. How do you get back with limited battery……… again,
assuming no wind. This was the real life experience we had this weekend
when racing the Leukemia Cup Regatta @ Riverdunes. Good news is that
we made it. Good news is that we will buy a second battery and that
WILL solve our problem but to say that the Torqueedo is a perfect
solution would be inaccurate.
Don't bash ICE. It's done a lot of good historically although it's time
to be replaced may have come. Don't be a cult "electric"; you won't
convince the rational ones. Electric is progressing rapidly. It's
going to be great. But it's not "there yet"………………………….sailor or not.
Just my opinion,
George Homme
S/V SPIRIT and TENACITY
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