Does anyone have experience with Torqeedo electric motors?  I'm getting a SeaEagle inflatable in the spring and only need about 4 or 6 HP.  I'm going to fish mainly on small lakes like Burke (212 acres), nothing that I need a big motor for.    I live in a high rise apartment, so the light weight and no oil / gasoline with the Torqeedo looks attractive, but I am a little leery and plus it has a lot of plastic where a gas outboard would have metal.   Do any members have any experience with these motors?  

 

 

 

The Torqueedos are reported to be quiet and reliable. The downside is cost and weight. Two group 31 batteries are probably near 175 lbs for the pair, and I'm not sure how much range you would get. What kind of load capacity does the boat you are looking at have? You would probably need a boat rated at 700 lbs or so if you wanted to fish with a buddy, more if both of you are large guys with a lot of tackle. Just playing devil's advocate here. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

The boat I'm looking at is rated for 1600 pounds   so that's no problem.

http://www.seaeagle.com/SportRunabouts.aspx

Humping 175 pounds worth of batteries is definitely a problem       I had no idea they would weigh that much.  Although....West Marine lists some that are smaller.

 

 

Model Dimensions Weight 319830 8.32" x 5.12" x7.25"

24.2lb.

 

437467 10.87" x 6.75" x 9.88"

 

53.6lb.

437475 12.75" x 6.75" x 9.88"

 

63.2lb.

327025 12.94" x 6.75" x 9.38"

 

71.7lb.

350462 20.75" x 8.50" x 10.125"

 

129.8lb.

350470 20.75" x 11" x 10.00"

 

160.8lb.

129355 10.25" x 7.125" x 10.875" 68.4lb.

 

Here's the rub. Smaller battery=smaller capacity. Remember you can't charge a battery as quickly as you can fill a gas can! A group 27 battery will run my 45# thrust trolling motor for the best part of the day if I don't run it wide open. It would be interesting to know how long a pair of gr. 31s will run that torqueedo. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

"A group 27 battery will run my 45# thrust trolling motor for the best part of the day if I don't run it wide open."

That's good to know, I definitley do not envision using the motor all day, and not to travel any farther than a mile out and back on most of the lakes and resevoirs in this area.      The real issue is living in a high-rise and not wanting to haul a gasoline motor in and out all summer, store it in my closet,  avoid gas or oil dripping on the carpet, etc.     Still looking at all the options, but the Torqeedo seems like a good option given my circumstances. 

 

Thanks for the info.

Why not get a MinnKota or Motor Guide for a couple hundred bucks with a 12 volt battery? It sounds to me like the Torqeeda is way overkill for what you want to do.

Here's another option: MotorGuide has a transom mount 105# thrust 24v trolling motor for under $500. You would still be hauling 2 batteries, but saving $2000. The downside is that trolling motors are not proped for speed. No mater what I put it on, my 45# motor gives me about 3.5mph max no matter what I mount it on. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

The main reason the Torqeedo looks appealing is no gas, no oil, and 25 pounds weight.   I have to haul it up to my apartment and store it when not in use.   That's also the main reason I'm getting an inflatable boat - so I can take it anywhere in my truck, no trailer, no winterizing, etc.  and I can store it in my closet. 

 

Also  several of the smaller lakes I fish do not allow gas motors at all.   So I'm comparing the pros and cons of a battery-powered Minkota or similar trolling motor,  or a Torqeedo.

 

What I am looking for is a motor that could get me, say, 3.5 miles up and 3.5 miles back in a large reservoir like Occoquan here in the DC area.

 

 

Thanks again for all the input.  

 

Jobu: It depends on how much of a hurry you are in! A trolling motor will get you there, but it might take over an hour. I did a bit of research, and Torqueedo has a 45 lb. battery available that should work for you. I have no idea what the price may be, it is a lithium battery and may be pricey. From your posts, I'm thinking that you could buy a Tracker 16' on a trailer with a 20hp motor for about the same money. Can you park a trailered boat? I have space to park a boat, but I sure don't want to spend that kind of money on a 6hp motor, there are too many deals available on used boats these days. Keep me posted. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

No,  that's the number one problem I have --  I would love a Tracker bass boat. But where to keep it?  Lake Anna in mid-southern Virginia is ideal,  big lake, great fishing, several marinas.....but it's 2.5 hours each way to get there.   Storage somewhere in the DC area-- plenty of places, but the Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir are the only bodies of water I would use a 16-foot bass boat on, and Occoquan has a 10 HP limit.  

 

So,  just due to where I live, almost all of my fishing is on smaller lakes like Burke (220 acres, no gas motors allowed),  Brittle  (100 acres, no gas motors) that I can get to in an hour or less.    For those little lakes an inflatable is just as good and in many ways better.    And especially since I can store it in my closet, throw it in the back of the truck and take it anywhere,  don't have to winterize, etc.    Believe me, if I lived in Fredericksburg I'd already have an 18-footer with a 75 HP at High Point Marina.....

 

 

Pegsguy     after doing some research, I am going to take your advice and just get a MinnKota and a battery.   Torqeedo looks nice, but for what I'm doing it's probably too much and it's definitely too expensive.

 

Thanks again for your comments.

Jobu: Did you get my PM? The site gave me some grief while trying to send it(as usual) and I wanted to see if you got it. BTW, I have been unsuccesful replying to PMs. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

No   I didn't get a PM.    

TTT
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois