Torqeedo Cruise 4.0R

[dwightsusan]

Has anyone else on the Forum had any experience with the Torqeedo electric outboards as main propulsion for a larger (40'+) cruising cat?

YouTube - Schools Out new Torqeedo Cruise 4

[44'cruisingcat]

The owners of "School's Out" are good friends of ours. I was there when the video was filmed.

The Torqeedo's perform adequately, but there have been some reliability issues, which Torqeedo are working to sort out. Their warranty support has been very good to date, but Bryan is losing faith in their dependability, to the extent he is fitting a central outboard motor to the boat.

I believe Torqeedo are developing a bigger motor for large boats, which hopefully might be more reliable.

If you're thinking of going down this path, I'd suggest waiting till that one becomes available.

[barnakiel]

Now, but they are strongly marketed in the EU.

Look up the Vetus electrical engines - they are a nice inboard option. Not the only one though.

barnie

[Abaco]

I understand Tony Grainger is going to build a 35 foot open bridge deck cat using the Torqeedo's. I'm looking forward to reading more about this build.

Grainger Designs For Custom Catamaran Design and Trimaran Design For Cruising or Racing

[robdyson]

so what powers these, i presume batteries. could solar panels do it? or would you need to cover the whole boat?
how far will it go on a full charge. is running the genny cheaper than running one engine

[Abaco]

Rob,

If you where to try to run on solar alone, it would require a large solar aray to push you at any speed. Presumably, you would use a combination of solar, wind generator, batteries, and genset to provide the power.

[barnakiel]

If your solars are big enough and many enough you can use them alone (via a battery bank) to drive the el-propulsion. But once the sun is out or down, you need (quite) some energy stored in the batteries or an optional source of energy (wind/genset/alt). Since the idea is to get rid of an inboard diesel then alt is out.

A genset+ el-motor? Well, why not plain inboard diesel then? And wind will not always be there, either.

Can be done. But probably a small dependable inboard diesel is cheaper / easier / more dependable.

b.

[44'cruisingcat]

Each Torqeedo at cruise speed is using in excess of 2000 watts. A 2000 - 4000 watt solar array is impractical on most boats. You need a genset.

[pwratch]

I'd like to know exactly what the "performance issues" are. Are we talking about bad parts, corrosion issues, leaking seals, etc.? I have read of some dissatisfaction with the performance of the mechanism by which the prop and prop shaft are protected in the event of the prop being fouled. Apparently, there is a shear pin of some sort that does not hold up to extended propulsion and fails regularly, or at least too often, w/o being actually fouled. What have been the issues on School's Out?

[44'cruisingcat]

I can only pass on what Bryan has told me, there have been problems with speed controllers burning out, motors burning out, and gearboxes failing. I think there was an incident of water ingress too.

AFAIK the sheer pins haven't been a problem.

As I said before, Torqeedo's warranty backup has been very very good, but reliability has been poor.

[downunder]

Poor reliability. Not what you want on a cruising vessel. In the Kimberlies or anywhere.

When you need motor power you need engines.

I note Nigel Calder in his new Nada is installing e-propultion but he still has standard diesel propulsion. This will allow him to do comparisons as a writer. Whilst the technology is coming sometime in the future it is not here yet.

He can afford to try the technology out.

It's a shame it is not working out for School's Out.

[sww914]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

I can only pass on what Bryan has told me, there have been problems with speed controllers burning out, motors burning out, and gearboxes failing. I think there was an incident of water ingress too.

AFAIK the sheer pins haven't been a problem.

As I said before, Torqeedo's warranty backup has been very very good, but reliability has been poor.

This all sounds like a Roomba. Their support was great and I still threw that $200.00 piece of crap away.