Thank you for sharing your project. I also purchased a Torqeedo cruise 2 for my sailboat (a 24 fts) 3 years ago. Its controller has got an issue just after the second use. When the issue ocured the motor continue to run in a fail-safe mode and then we have reached the port entry very slowly. I have received a new controller with the Torqeedo reseller one week later and it works very well since this event. It's very pleasant not to have the smell of the diesel and the bounding noise ! For my next motor I would prefer a sail drive or a propeller shaft based electric motor which kept the electronic and the engine far from the salt water which is always a possible issue with electronic components. And if possible, I would like an engine with the hydro generation feature which is specially optimized for a sailboat like a catamaran which can reach 6 knts easely. Fair wind !
Thank you for watching and sharing about your project. Yes, there is a learning curve and everyone's needs on different boats definitely varies. That is why you really have to consider what it is you plan to do when refitting your boat. It is pleasant not having the diesel smell along without having to carry diesel onboard. We love how quiet it is too. All the best to you!
This type of conversion seems to me to be a very good choice for reduced costs and potential problems. I'm sure you have already determined that you will need more solar panels. Try on the hard top those bifacial fve panels. And also in time you will definitely want to add more packs. You mentioned you have a portable honda 2kw generator. Still, try to find a place for a "Mastervolt 6kw Marine Generator" type solution
Thanks for watching! For our application it is working well so far. Funny that the generator wasn’t compatible with our charger so we sold it. We are looking into the bifacial solar panels but it feels like we have enough battery packs. Thanks for the input.
these torqeedo drives aren't just a diesel replacement, these pods also produce electricity and they have 2 of them. Also a wind gen and solar, i think they should focus on batteries instead. Still a generator is always a nice back up. Unless they do way more motor sailing than needed i doubt power generation is a problem.
@@sviriecat what do you think would be the approx. weight difference taking into account having larger solar-batteries-etc vs engines-fuel? loved the video
@@whenwasnow6062 thank you for watching! Here is what we came up with: Weight Difference: Diesel Setup Total = 1,170lbs Electric Motor Setup = 550lbs Difference = 620lbs Breakdown: Diesel Engines + Saildrives = 350lbs each *2 = 700lbs Throttle, Hoses, etc = 50lbs Diesel Tank: 55gallons (7lbs a gallon) = 420lbs Electric Motors = 50lbs each *2 = 100lbs Batteries = 100lbs each *4 = 400lbs Cables = 25lbs Additional Solar = 25lbs Our sailing speed has improved which makes us happy!
a week extra in a boat yard in florida for warranty work, and they didn't cover it.. what a let down. how else are you supposed to bring a motor back for warranty service.. especially for a motor that was brand new.. just saying.. cool project though.. wondering after 1 year, are you guys still using them, and what kind of draw are they using, and better yet,, how much battery power you guys got?
Yes, it was a tough break at the time. Issues can happen with any type of equipment. What makes a difference is how the company stands behind it. With that said we are still using them and happy with our decision. The draw is 12kw each at full power. We have 22kwh of batteries. There is a chance that we might add more battery power this winter.
Hi , glad your motor was fixed but kind of rediclious ! Did you ever come up with anything g on the performance of tbe boat with these motor? Cheers warren
Thank you for watching! With the size and weight of our boat, we could get away with 6 kW motors and 10 would probably be perfect so our 12 kW motors are a little oversized. That said, we have plenty of power. The question would be range! We sail 95% of the time so for our purposes, we have unlimited range. If you are asking, how far can we motor with no wind the answer would be around 50 nautical miles with our current battery bank. 50 nautical miles would also leave us with 10% left in the battery bank. I don't like the idea of running the batteries all the way down to zero. I hope this answers your question if you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.
@@sviriecat that is actually quite impressive range to be honest. That’s all day! Interesting that you are over powered too! A friend recently bought 2 ( expensive) torqudo outboard for a power catamaran project , I think the same size and I thought some real world feedback would be useful. Davey promised a follow up video on the performance of your drives but hasn’t as fare as I know . Max speed, (like getting thru a bridge or inlet) , range with 1 or 2 drives etc . I also think range with 1 or 2 drives trying to stay battery even with solar . I’m thinking powering slowly thru the doldrums, even 2 knows is better that just slatting around in 100 deg temps? I have another friend who pulled 2 ocean bolt drives out of a TRT CAT he bought as they barely moved the boat and no range. And that was a carbon light wt cat. They suggested more batteries and diesel generator! He replaced with 2x10 hp outboards on sleds. Cheers Warren
Interesting. We will do a follow-up soon. It has been on the “To do” list for months. We are happy to answer any questions or communicate via dm/phone if easier.
All that work and then an error so soon. Definitely no advertisement for Torqeedo. Did the E7 error affect both motors, or could you still use one of them (having some redundancy)? Also, what does the error mean? I have a smaller Epropulsion and it's still great.
Yes, it was frustrating at the time but Torqeedo has been good to work with it. It only prevented one motor from working. The E7 is an over voltage warning. It has been over a year now with both motors working and we are happy with the setup.
@@sviriecat hmmm.. but your video is very very encouraging as I'm also planning to buy a used catamaran with ok hull but old engine and covert it into electrical propulsion :) I guess that's the greenest way to own a cat:)
Your E7 error and poor service option sounds like a typical new Volvo warranty…… you may not have had that problem with your old Volvos but many have! Look forward to your ‘performance’ figures from the drives/batteries. Cheers Warren
I love the design of these but there are too many reports of failure. The fact that the motor had a critical error so quickly speaks to the lack of quality control and assurance taking place. You should have at least been compensated for the haul out.
And you plan to cruise long distances what happens when that happens in some distant place then what. Your stuck for months or even months. Nope sorry I would’ve just kept the diesels and rebuilt them
Can definitely understand your concern. We kept our diesels going for a long time by rebuilding. Fortunately we haven’t had any other issues. We are happy to be in remote places and have no diesel or gas concerns like finding it/having enough to travel. We definitely view irie cat as a sailboat so sailing is always first on our list. Enjoy your travels!
What a project! Wow.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing your project. I also purchased a Torqeedo cruise 2 for my sailboat (a 24 fts) 3 years ago. Its controller has got an issue just after the second use. When the issue ocured the motor continue to run in a fail-safe mode and then we have reached the port entry very slowly. I have received a new controller with the Torqeedo reseller one week later and it works very well since this event. It's very pleasant not to have the smell of the diesel and the bounding noise ! For my next motor I would prefer a sail drive or a propeller shaft based electric motor which kept the electronic and the engine far from the salt water which is always a possible issue with electronic components. And if possible, I would like an engine with the hydro generation feature which is specially optimized for a sailboat like a catamaran which can reach 6 knts easely. Fair wind !
Thank you for watching and sharing about your project. Yes, there is a learning curve and everyone's needs on different boats definitely varies. That is why you really have to consider what it is you plan to do when refitting your boat. It is pleasant not having the diesel smell along without having to carry diesel onboard. We love how quiet it is too. All the best to you!
What was the “e7” code? Was the motor tested prior to shipping and selling?
This type of conversion seems to me to be a very good choice for reduced costs and potential problems. I'm sure you have already determined that you will need more solar panels. Try on the hard top those bifacial fve panels. And also in time you will definitely want to add more packs. You mentioned you have a portable honda 2kw generator. Still, try to find a place for a "Mastervolt 6kw Marine Generator" type solution
Thanks for watching! For our application it is working well so far. Funny that the generator wasn’t compatible with our charger so we sold it. We are looking into the bifacial solar panels but it feels like we have enough battery packs. Thanks for the input.
these torqeedo drives aren't just a diesel replacement, these pods also produce electricity and they have 2 of them. Also a wind gen and solar, i think they should focus on batteries instead. Still a generator is always a nice back up. Unless they do way more motor sailing than needed i doubt power generation is a problem.
Good luck...congrats......I prefer build my electric motor. Torqueedo is fragile...but....go ahead
Impressive!
Could you add a water tight ring to above the waterline to make the motors removable while in the water?
Not that I can visualize.
I had a cat with yanmar drives. I made a box that could be bolted In the water over the drive so the drive could be uninstall and it worked great.
@@markbailey6051 what a good idea for the saildrives!
How much does the boat weigh and how fast did it go with the new drives?
It ways about 6 tons, we can reach hull speed at 8k. We don’t push it, usually sail. Sailing has improved with the new setup.
@@sviriecat what do you think would be the approx. weight difference taking into account having larger solar-batteries-etc vs engines-fuel? loved the video
@@whenwasnow6062 thank you for watching! Here is what we came up with:
Weight Difference:
Diesel Setup Total = 1,170lbs
Electric Motor Setup = 550lbs
Difference = 620lbs
Breakdown:
Diesel Engines + Saildrives = 350lbs each *2 = 700lbs
Throttle, Hoses, etc = 50lbs
Diesel Tank: 55gallons (7lbs a gallon) = 420lbs
Electric Motors = 50lbs each *2 = 100lbs
Batteries = 100lbs each *4 = 400lbs
Cables = 25lbs
Additional Solar = 25lbs
Our sailing speed has improved which makes us happy!
Sweeet @@sviriecat fair winds!
@@whenwasnow6062 thank you!
a week extra in a boat yard in florida for warranty work, and they didn't cover it.. what a let down. how else are you supposed to bring a motor back for warranty service.. especially for a motor that was brand new.. just saying.. cool project though.. wondering after 1 year, are you guys still using them, and what kind of draw are they using, and better yet,, how much battery power you guys got?
Yes, it was a tough break at the time. Issues can happen with any type of equipment. What makes a difference is how the company stands behind it. With that said we are still using them and happy with our decision. The draw is 12kw each at full power. We have 22kwh of batteries. There is a chance that we might add more battery power this winter.
Hi , glad your motor was fixed but kind of rediclious ! Did you ever come up with anything g on the performance of tbe boat with these motor? Cheers warren
Thank you for watching! With the size and weight of our boat, we could get away with 6 kW motors and 10 would probably be perfect so our 12 kW motors are a little oversized. That said, we have plenty of power. The question would be range! We sail 95% of the time so for our purposes, we have unlimited range. If you are asking, how far can we motor with no wind the answer would be around 50 nautical miles with our current battery bank. 50 nautical miles would also leave us with 10% left in the battery bank. I don't like the idea of running the batteries all the way down to zero. I hope this answers your question if you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.
@@sviriecat that is actually quite impressive range to be honest. That’s all day!
Interesting that you are over powered too!
A friend recently bought 2 ( expensive) torqudo outboard for a power catamaran project , I think the same size and I thought some real world feedback would be useful.
Davey promised a follow up video on the performance of your drives but hasn’t as fare as I know . Max speed, (like getting thru a bridge or inlet) , range with 1 or 2 drives etc . I also think range with 1 or 2 drives trying to stay battery even with solar . I’m thinking powering slowly thru the doldrums, even 2 knows is better that just slatting around in 100 deg temps?
I have another friend who pulled 2 ocean bolt drives out of a TRT CAT he bought as they barely moved the boat and no range. And that was a carbon light wt cat. They suggested more batteries and diesel generator! He replaced with 2x10 hp outboards on sleds.
Cheers Warren
Interesting. We will do a follow-up soon. It has been on the “To do” list for months. We are happy to answer any questions or communicate via dm/phone if easier.
Here is an update: th-cam.com/video/Brb9NkCnFjc/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
@@sviriecat thanks so much. I’ll check it out right away !!! Cheers Warren
All that work and then an error so soon. Definitely no advertisement for Torqeedo. Did the E7 error affect both motors, or could you still use one of them (having some redundancy)? Also, what does the error mean? I have a smaller Epropulsion and it's still great.
Yes, it was frustrating at the time but Torqeedo has been good to work with it. It only prevented one motor from working. The E7 is an over voltage warning. It has been over a year now with both motors working and we are happy with the setup.
@@sviriecat That's good to hear. Have fun sailing/cruising!
Thank you & all the best to you!
Will stick with my diesels…..but good video. Thx
Thanks for watching
Maybe should try e-propulsion instead...
You are right but at the time they did not have a 12kw motor.
@@sviriecat hmmm.. but your video is very very encouraging as I'm also planning to buy a used catamaran with ok hull but old engine and covert it into electrical propulsion :) I guess that's the greenest way to own a cat:)
It does make sense. Especially if you plan to sail. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Great video - keep us updated. Would love to see how you integrated your solar and battery systems. Jean and Ladson.
@@ladsonbeach5438 thanks for watching! We almost have the battery video done.
Your E7 error and poor service option sounds like a typical new Volvo warranty…… you may not have had that problem with your old Volvos but many have!
Look forward to your ‘performance’ figures from the drives/batteries.
Cheers Warren
I had the worst trouble with the MDI boxes. I actually took them out and bypassed all the Volvo electronics 3 years ago.
I love the design of these but there are too many reports of failure. The fact that the motor had a critical error so quickly speaks to the lack of quality control and assurance taking place. You should have at least been compensated for the haul out.
The replacement motor is working well. Besides the initial issue we have been happy with the overall experience/performance.
@@sviriecat that's great to hear. Do you have any data on your average speed and energy usage while motoring?
@@glsracer we don’t run them very hard so the best I can come up with is 1kw for 3 knots and just under 2kw pushes us at 4 knots.
@@sviriecat 2kw is pretty good for 4 knots. It would be interesting to see what it would take to reach and maintain 6 knots.
@@glsracer I will report back the next time we go out. We sail most of the time which is why I don’t know, lol.
Here is a 20 month update: th-cam.com/video/Brb9NkCnFjc/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
better to have that happen there and not out in the middle of ocean.
Yes, you’re absolutely correct. While we dreaded it we were aware of this.
And you plan to cruise long distances what happens when that happens in some distant place then what. Your stuck for months or even months. Nope sorry I would’ve just kept the diesels and rebuilt them
Can definitely understand your concern. We kept our diesels going for a long time by rebuilding. Fortunately we haven’t had any other issues. We are happy to be in remote places and have no diesel or gas concerns like finding it/having enough to travel.
We definitely view irie cat as a sailboat so sailing is always first on our list. Enjoy your travels!
@@sviriecat makes sense just the repairs would be worrisome. But it does look cool as hell