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From: electricboats@yahoogroups.com [mailto:electricboats@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Eric
Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2011 3:11 AM
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Electric Boats] Re: Newbie
Hi George,
As a fellow Torqeedo owner, I agree that buying another battery (though somewhat pricey) is an excellent way to double your range. I have often thought to do the same. Since my Torqeedo is merely a dinghy motor, I have a lot less riding on it's operation. When I spend a long weekend at Catalina Island, I carry the battery and charger with me every time I go ashore so that I can "opportunity charge" while eating breakfast or passing time at the bar.
I find that the integrated battery is both good and bad, the energy density is excellent, but the proprietary nature of the design locks you into their product (and their pricing). Overall, I think that the customer comes out ahead.
Some people here have discussed the possibility that Torqeedo may release an external battery adapter for the 1003, similiar to what was available for the 801. If that becomes available, then you would be able to build your own battery bank to meet your specific range requirements and locate it down low in the hull. I would stick with Lithium batteries, to keep the overall system weight as light as possible (lighter is faster when racing). An external battery made of nine 40Ah 3.2V cells (1,150Wh) would have a nominal voltage of 28.8V, weigh about 30 pounds and cost about 500 dollars. You would also need the external battery adapter, a different battery charger for your homebuilt battery bank and the integrated Torqeedo display would probably not correctly display your battery bank status. Because of these complications, buying another integrated battery from Torqeedo seems a much simpler way to double your range while retaining all of the built in features. For me, that would justify the extra expense.
I am a firm believer that the Torqeedo is significantly more efficient that any other electric outboard with similar output, and for me, that justifies the extra cost. The Electric Paddle, sold by a group member here, may be just as efficient, but it is designed for smaller, lighter boats. I don't believe that trolling motors or the regular outboards that have been converted to electric, like the Parsun, are anyewhere close to the same range of overall efficiency.
It sounds like you've got a good solution for your particular usage.
Fair winds,
Eric
Marina del Rey, CA
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "George Homme" <georgeh@...> wrote:
>
> I don’t disagree. Good comments.
>
> I believe with a second battery the Torqueedo may very well be our perfect solution. Honestly, in a racing situation we can always find a tow home (if we really need one) so the problem is not difficult to overcome. We are very happy with our Torqueedo. We’ve dropped about 20 pounds off the race boat (include fuel), it’s easier to move the battery to centerline of the boat for racing vs. taking off a motor, quieter, more reliable (outboards seldom used are seldom reliable), etc. etc...
>
> My comments were more directed to point out that EP is just not quite there yet; in our case due to range. If we have to carry a Johnson or a Weed Eater on board then EV is not totally here yet.
>
> This is a great forum and cultivates great thoughts and ideas. I have to tell you that using a weed eater never crossed my mind but I can see how it might work!
>
> From: electricboats@yahoogroups.com [mailto:electricboats@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of John Green
> Sent: Friday, June 10, 2011 6:59 AM
> To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Electric Boats] Re: Newbie
>
> 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....
>
> You might soon find, after adding an extra battery, that the Torqueedo
> IS in fact the perfect solution....
>
> John
>
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