How to secure a Torqeedo

[RichandHelen]

The Torqeedo Travel 1003 is a wonderful, clean, extremely lightweight form of modest propulsion. We've added the 915WH battery to our arsenal so we can tool around virtually all day without a recharge. But how do we secure it while ashore? It disassembles into three pieces in seconds. Only the battery has a handle through which to pass a lock. Even at thirty pounds it's more than we care to lug to the grocery store.

[Hartleyg]

On our 1003, I installed a small (1/4" diameter bolt) U-bolt in the aluminum chassis below the battery "ears". I then Nicopressed a 30" long, 1/8" diameter SS cable onto it with a larger bronze clip on the other end. This gets used as a "don't drop it" safety when lowering and installing the motor, but will also allow a padlock to secure everything.
You could just drill a hole there, but I thought that would look ugly


Anything involving smaller SS cable and padlocks is pretty much just a "keep an honest man honest" tool anyway, especially around boats where every cruiser has a bolt cutter or better aboard.


I looked, but I couldn't find a picture - and I won't be back aboard until next week - sri!


Hartley
S/V Atsa

[RichandHelen]

Thanks for your reply. I will eagerly look forward to a pic when you are back aboard! Rich

[Hartleyg]

Hi Rich,


It was raining, so I went thru my pictures and I found three somewhat fuzzy ones of what I did .





We're looking at the right side of the chassis - the battery would extend to the left here, and the control would extend to the right. The U-bolt is about 1/2" above the bottom of the chassis - about as close as I could get it. There is actually quite a bit of room in there, but I figured that closest to the edge would be the strongest spot.





Another picture.. the loop of SS cable is hard to see, unfortunately.





This one is a bit bigger, but unfortunately it isn't very clear.


Do these help any?


Hartley
S/V Atsa

[RichandHelen]

I get what you did. Thanks! That u- bolt would allow me to secure the shaft and prop as well as the battery to the dink. I would only have to carry the tiller arm when ashore. Cheap and easy! Thanks so much! Rich

[FlyingScot]

I'm seriously considering one as well. How small are the parts when broken down?
Any chance they would fit in a bow locker on a AB Lammina 9.5? Ideally I'd like to store in there and add a lock to the bow locker for safe keeping.

[RichandHelen]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

I'm seriously considering one as well. How small are the parts when broken down?
Any chance they would fit in a bow locker on a AB Lammina 9.5? Ideally I'd like to store in there and add a lock to the bow locker for safe keeping.

We have an AB 10 and there is no way you could fit our Torqeedo in our bow locker. The motor section is about 2 1/2 feet long. You could fit the tiller arm and battery in there. I would not keep these engine parts out in the elements, however. I bought the Torqeedo storage bags and keep them on our aft cabin sole.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by RichandHelen

We have an AB 10 and there is no way you could fit our Torqeedo in our bow locker. The motor section is about 2 1/2 feet long. You could fit the tiller arm and battery in there. I would not keep these engine parts out in the elements, however. I bought the Torqeedo storage bags and keep them on our aft cabin sole.

Thanks for the reply. I was only thinking of locking the parts in there while ashore. While on the boat it seems light enough to store on board.

I'm in the process of removing weight out of the rear of my boat so I can replace that weight with solar panels. Ordered the Lammina 9.5 to replace an AB10 fiberglass. Moving my Yamaha Enduro 15 up front unless needed and using a 1003 seems like a good way to do it.
The Dinghy is about 70 pounds lighter. A Torqeedo would be around 55-60 less than the Yamaha.

[RichandHelen]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Thanks for the reply. I was only thinking of locking the parts in there while ashore. While on the boat it seems light enough to store on board.

I'm in the process of removing weight out of the rear of my boat so I can replace that weight with solar panels. Ordered the Lammina 9.5 to replace an AB10 fiberglass. Moving my Yamaha Enduro 15 up front unless needed and using a 1003 seems like a good way to do it.
The Dinghy is about 70 pounds lighter. A Torqeedo would be around 55-60 less than the Yamaha.

Ah. Gotcha. Different story. You'll need to leave the engine shaft on the boat with a lock. We bought a 915 wh battery to greatly extend our time/ range btw. The price match from West Marine is a wonderful thing.

[jkleins]

I use a Masterlock cable through the battery handle. I run it through a hole in the transom area and shorten it enough that it cannot be lifted enough to get it off the drive portion so it cannot be taken off the boat. I just put a lock through the screw on transom handles it in a sketchy area. Usually the battery lock is all I use.

Jim

[RichandHelen]

Originally Posted by jkleins

I use a Masterlock cable through the battery handle. I run it through a hole in the transom area and shorten it enough that it cannot be lifted enough to get it off the drive portion so it cannot be taken off the boat. I just put a lock through the screw on transom handles it in a sketchy area. Usually the battery lock is all I use.

Jim

You take the tiller with you?

[jkleins]

No. The tiller is someone’s if they want it. [emoji3] I really just assume the battery is the only thing that would be easy to fence. The rest would just be a headache to any good thief.

[SailFastTri]

Not shown in the pictures below: I added another cable to secure the handle, and a brass padlock to tie it all together. The other end of the cable is locked to the transom. This won't stop a determined thief with tools, but it might thwart the opportunist. I added my initials in permanent marker in a visible place on each piece, and engraved the undersides using a Dremel bit. Lock pin is 3/8" or 10mm aluminum.

[Tippingpoint]

SailFastTri, you receive the mechanical engineer of the forum award! Thank you for your idea, very neat and secure!