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Corti Creare
We got increasingly frustrated by our small petrol (gas) outboards that we use very infrequently on our dinghies and Chat 18 catamaran. Never quite knowing whether they would start, or how long they would run. Usually because the small jets would clog up, a problem aggravated by the ethanol fuel now used in the UK, USA and elsewhere. So earlier this year we bit the bullet and bought a used Torqeedo 1103 electric outboard. It was on ebay, from "one careful lady owner" - actually the advert said "only used on a fresh water trout farm" which we hoped was much the same thing. And we have been very pleased with it this summer, using it on Sagitta's tender, sometimes for long distances, yet never seeing the charge drop below 80% So we then tried using it on our Chat 18. And immediately discovered two problems, probably common to other small daysailing boats. First, the battery was much larger than the integral petrol fuel tank. So, when tilted up on the swingdown bracket, the Torqeedo hit the tillerbar. That meant we had to use the transom mount, which in turn meant the leg had to be angled back in use to clear the immersed rudder blade. Very inefficient and too close to the surface. And second, when tilted up and turned sideways the tiller control arm would detach - something that doesn't happen with a petrol outboard. So we had to remove it, and then reattach it whenever we wanted to motor. Fortunately Torqeedo has realised that many people have these problems and so supply reasonably priced, extra long cables, not just for the battery but also for the tiller arm. Accordingly we bought a 1.5m (5ft) battery cable and a 5m (16ft) tiller cable. This video shows the results of the first motor, one calm winter evening. I still have to re-route the cables through the back of the cockpit and more permanently mount the tiller arm. The deeper propellor is more efficient and there is no aeration when cornering or in waves. Top speed was very close to 5 knots, about hull speed on an 18ft boat. In reverse speed was about 3 knots. Although it's more awkward to lift the outboard leg without the battery in place it does now fit comfortably below the tillerbar when raised for sailing. So we're very happy so far! For once there is audio on this short video. But even if you turn the volume to high you won't hear the outboard - another bonus! More on the Chat 18 here https://sailingcatamarans.com/index.php/designs-2/2-catamarans-under-25ft/475-chat-18-daysailing-catamaran And Torqeedo here https://nestawayboats.com/
When we sailed into Luwuk Harbour in Central Sulawesi we never expected to find ourselves in the centre of the action as hundreds of motorcycles raced around the city streets competing for the Bangai Cup Join the Dreamtime Sail Virtual Crew: If you’d like access to our live-tracker to see where we are in real time, receive almost daily Sit Rep updates when we’re sailing via an exclusive crew Facebook Group, early, add free access to our episodes, free or heavily discounted downloads of all our e-books plus other exclusive benefits, you can become a member of our Dreamtime Sail Virtual Crew through either Ko-fi or Patreon. The funds help us offset the cost of upload data, music and editing software subscriptions, storage hard drives plus camera and audio equipment to improve the quality of our shows. Thank you so much crew. You’re the guys and girls who float our boat and keep us motivated. This video contains music used under license from Epidemic Sound. Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/dreamtimesail (Note: Ko-Fi has become our preferred platform for support as they take no commission from Crew Member’s contributions) Patreon https://www.patreon.com/DreamtimeSail Our Books and eBooks are available via Payhip HERE - https://tinyurl.com/DreamtimeSailebooks SOCIALS We’re on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DreamtimeSail Follow our Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dreamtimesail/ We’ve been blogging since 2011. Check it out at https://www.dreamtimesail.blogspot.com You can find Karen's recipes and tips from Our Galley at https://dreamtimesail.blogspot.com/p/our-galley.html #sailing #sailingindonesia #travelindonesia #liveaboardsailors #sailingaustralia