We compare the Torqeedo 1103 and the EPropulsion Spirit 1 Plus with each other and with a 4-stroke outboard. Is it really worth the extra cost to buy an electric outboard?
I've been been a Torqeedo owner for more than a decade. I absolutely love it, but have mixed feelings as for cost of ownership vs a comparable gasoline motor. As a small car owner (sedan), I really don't want to keep gasoline or oil inside my car which could leak and I'll be smelling that for ages even when the motor isn't inside the car. Smelling it on the water is not a big concern though. My Sea Eagle Paddleski 435ps inflatable boat, the Torqeedo and accessories fit inside my trunk. With the angles you have to store gas motors when transported, it might take up more room I don't have too. You can't beat the Torqeedo for convenience. You don't have to make a trip to buy gas, mix additives, etc. On a trip you can leave the Torqeedo in your vehicles for days at a time if needed. I think it would generally be a lot easier to start it than a small gas motor, which I always see people struggling with them. And with wrist issues now, pulling the lawn motor rope would probably not be good for it. There is one lake around here that allows electric only as one of many I go to. As for the cost of maintenance between the Torqeedo or a gas outboard, it's hard to say. Yes, when I asked the service center last week what a small Honda costs for annual maintenance. They told me $250 (USA). I asked a few Honda owners about it, and they said the shop might be taking people for a ride. Just some oil to change yourself and pretty easy. So I dunno, looking into that more as I might also want a gas motor too. The Torqeedo being 100% maintenance free is not 100% true. I have an authorized Torqeedo Service Center an hour from me. They work on Honda's too. They told me about every 5 years, there is some maintenance that should be done which includes changing the seals and a few things. When my Torqeedo 1003s was approx 9 years old, it completely lost all thrust power. I bottomed out, but didn't seem like I hit anything too hard. Instead of having it repaired, someone offered to sell me another very cheap that worked (minus battery). It was about the same age as mine. Last year, it too had the same issue. I thought the pylons had gone or I broke he sheer pin if I was lucky. The propeller broke on this one (not sure about my original one), and the shop did what they said was 5 year annual maintenance, and replaced the propeller too. I spent $530, but $100 of that was for the propeller part. They said most of the remaining fee would have been considered the maintenance I didn't do after 5 years. I replaced the battery after it was about 7 years old. That was expected I'd say. The new battery was about $1000 but lasted 50% longer than the original one, and I got it on sale cheaper but it sat for a couple years on the shelf so likely won't last as long as newly manufactured. I noticed an ongoing issue early last season of the power button not working correctly, but I wasn't sure if it was something else besides the button the tiller. They diagnosed it, and said the tiler control board needed to be replaced. It was a $380 repair bill. It did start on the first shot when I tried it out the other day. The good news about the motor was, since I mostly used it in fresh water, and always rise with my water bottle when I'm done and make sure I use the motor in a lake with in a few days after salt water use (to really clean it out), they said there was next to no corrosion inside the motor. So that part was good news. I think the real question is.....how realistic is annual maintenance needed on a small gas motor such as a Honda, and is it so simple, you can really just do it yourself? But yes, if you ask a service center, they are going to say it needs to be done, they aren't going to suggest you do it yourself even if it is that simple, and it's going to be pretty expensive. Do I love the motor? Absolutely. I think even if I owned a gas motor, I'd still want to own a Torqeedo too. Both would be nice. I'd mostly use the Torqeedo, and the gas motor when I need better range, would not be most of the time, but there would be times it would be nice. Torqeedo vs ePropultion. I'd agree that I'd favor Torqeedo. My reasons would have more to do with getting it serviced, and availability of parts and batteries. Torqeedo is the originator of this kind of product, and ePropultion is nothing more than a Chinese rip off of Torqeedo, and not even at enough of a lower price to consider a Chinese knock off. Torqeedo is widely distributed. They can be bought all over, and so can batteries and replacement parts. I guess the real question is.....when you need servicing, as these are both highly specialized products, how far is the service center for ePropultion vs Torqeedo for you? I tend to think finding a Torqeedo center in general will be easier for most people, unless you live closer to China. And do you trust Chinese Engineering as much as German? Another thing to consider. Eventually, just about any mechanical product will need servicing. You can see a few videos of me using my boats & 1003s motor on RU-vid. Type is Paddleski 435ps Torqeedo 1003. I also show my Paddleski 437ps, and posted the first video that boat.
Hi same as Chris comment , nice review, how do you factor in electricity cost, and battery life. I use my tender maybe 2 or 3 times a year, during the summer’s short sailing period ( north … North America)😊 came with the boat so for now not an option but eventually will, I do find the handling and storing of torkedo is the best, we can always find some nooks and corners where to hide them on the boat. Cheers
Battery life is not an additional cost because we are looking at 10 years, and most electric outboard batteries last longer than that. Mine is 8 years old and showing no signs of degradation. However, a spare battery is about £600 with taxes, which doesn’t change the outcome.
Thanks for the video . I have owned a torqeedo for 7 years now, a 1003 great when new , not so good with age , always wash salt water off as my corroded badly , you will also get a communication fault come up as the bend on the cable is far to much of a angle for the thickness of cable and over time pulls at the wires inside a design fault , not cheap to fix , happened to me twice now. i will not be buying another one. Maintenance free they are not . The transom locking lever is also prone to breaking. still better than petrol outboard . There are web sites out there with other people who have had same issue. cheers
I think the comparisons are a bit contrived if I’m being honest. I get your point about Germany vs China, but unless you apply this approach to the rest of your life with electronics, clothing, etc it is moot. I am a big fan of electric over petrol, but I would also look at robustness of connectors on an electric to make sure corrosion and breakage weren’t an issue.
Your points are all well made - but the comparisons were clearly labelled as my preferences, and I am certain others will arrive at different conclusions depending on where they live, what their politics are etc.
I don't think you'd notice an increase in your electric bill even if you used it a few times a week. I've been a Torqeedo owner for more than 10 years. That said, a comparable powered gasoline motor uses next to no fuel to operate. Fuel costs aren't a reason to buy the Torqeedo.
