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/

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Summer 2026 is calling! 📞 ☀️ 🔥 Contact your Adriatic Sailing team and get the best charter offers! 😍 👉 charter@adriatic-sailing.hr 👉 www.adriatic-sailing.hr

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Today was my birthday. We had hoped to be in Faial by now, but we are still one day away due to a low pressure system that pushed us in the wrong direction for days. Birthdays for me is my favorite thing. I love to spoil others, make them feel special on their day - but even more I love my birthday! And Gabi knows this. And she knew it would be a chance it would be celebrated at sea - so she came prepared and made my birthday absolutely amazing. The highlight was maybe the letters she had gathered from family and friends for me to bring with me to the GGR and read of I’m having a bad day. It’s such a privilege to have friends like that. That will go through all that work to make sure I feel loved 🫶🏼 Thank you Gabi for making my day so special. Love you 🩷 ⚓ Life on the Showgirl is my journey toward one of the toughest solo sailing races on the planet: the Golden Globe Race — sailed solo, non-stop, and without modern technology. Follow along as I learn, prepare, and chase a dream that feels bigger than me. ------------------------------------------ New videos EVERY 7th of the month ------------------------------------------ EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!!: https://www.patreon.com/classicmara ------------------------------------------ Follow Mara: https://www.instagram.com/classicmara_/ __________________________ Support me: PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/helgamarielk Vipps: 39088 - Classic Mara Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/griedy1 GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/173a9a5e6 __________________________ Affiliate links: Dakota Lithium Batteries: https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=79634&awinaffid=2732466&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dakotalithium.com Orca Navigation System: https://getorca.com/?via=classicmara PitViper: https://www.pitviper.com/discount/CLASSICMARA?redirect=%2F&utm_campaign=money%2Bcounters&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=upfluence

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founder and CEO of OutSail Technologies, @outsailtech a company dedicated to moving maritime freight economically, using wind power. Before founding OutSail, Arpan was a Systems Engineer and Product Manager serving organizations like SpaceX, Relativity Space, Momentus Space, Impossible Aerospace, and Nuro. OutSail Technologies is building unlimited-range wind-powered vessels using aerospace technology. OutSail is backed by Y Combinator (W23), and founded by two engineers and an aerodynamics PhD who have led teams, managed products, and designed hardware for Momentus, Nuro, AEye, Tesla and SpaceX

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