dammit wrote:
Keep fighting the good fight !! I will email them too. But I find Torqeedo's service far from desirable.
I had a question about my 403 Ultralight was wondering if anyone know's the answer. If I ever flip it, I'm assuming the motor will be fine given it gets submerged anyway (except for the top cord), as long as I get the battery out of the drink asap given it has that little hole in the bottom of it? Or any salt water submersion likely to ruin it? Should I put it in a waterproof case?
Now I've bought a suzuki 2.5hp (yet to mount it) I am a little bit lost as to what to do re the torqeedo. Do I keep it for day trips or short stints on the water, where the Suzuki might be too heavy to rig up for the short time on the water?
What about multi-day camping expeditions, like 3-5 days +, is there any point bringing the torqeedo? Carrying capacity on the boat is a premium and weight to bring that battery and motor for basically emergency use seems redundant, unless its best to have two motors for safety reasons if travelling 30 miles a day and the wind dies or I'm far out to sea... however the Torqeedo does not perform well out in the swell. It would however, be a renewable power source if I charged it with solar and then used it managing the power usage, for longer expeditions, compared to the Suzuki which is non-renewable and will only work for as much gasoline as I carry.
Interested to hear other's thoughts on this!
The battery is rated as submergible, even in saltwater. Still, it wouldn't hurt to protect it further if you wish but I wouldn't worry about it too much. The little hole in the bottom is a one-way relief valve in case an internal battery cell explodes. They had a recall recently to test the valve. Each battery was tested at a service facility for proper operation. Internal over-pressurized gasses can escape this valve but water cannot get in if it's working properly. The battery is even designed to float if it goes overboard.
I too have a Suzuki 2.5 Hp outboard. I use both motors. The Suzuki is great when I want to get somewhere as fast as possible or if I need the most power such as in heavy waves or currents. What I don't like about it is that the noise gets to me after a while, the constant loud drone so close to my ears becomes tedious and gives me a headache if I use it too long. It also lacks the finesse of an electric motor and has no practical reverse. This is critical during low-speed maneuverers such as coming or going to/from docks and when in tight spaces.
I use the Suzuki for long distances and speed only. In all other circumstances, I use the 403 because it's so quiet and maneuverable. Each motor has its strengths and weaknesses, so it's great to have both. Neither interferes with the operation of the other when used either-or, so they can easily be used to complement each other. Having both may seem excessive, but for the relatively low cost of the Suzuki, it gives you the best of both worlds.
For multi-day camping expeditions, I would definitely use both motors as this gives you significant advantages. Unless you're close to the weight limit of the Hobie, the little added weight of the 403 is no big deal. If you are close, I would give the 403 precedence over some other optional weight. Having both motors to complement each other is highly advantageous.