Chat 18 motoring with electric outboard

Welcome aboard to the our video site for sailors. We are being constantly blasted by scammers and pirates, so registration is invite only

contact@sailorsahoy.com with "Invite". No spam, no newsletters. Just a free account

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/

This is how we stay cool on a boat. We use a ton of fans: 12v fans and battery-operated ryobi fans and 110v plug-in fans, but at the end of the day nothing can beat an air conditioner... we love A/C!!!! #boatlife #airconditioner #sailingchannel

12,187

S/V Iko Iko is a 2009 Wharram Tiki 38 Catamaran, for sale by owner. Iko Iko is a gaff-rigged schooner with a covered wheelhouse. Recent maintenance and improvements (2021 and 2022) include: new roller furler; all new Dyneema lashings and standing rigging; new suite of sails; new carburetors for both Yamaha 9.9 HP outboards; new, 3m hard-bottom dinghy; new ablative bottom paint and non-skid epoxy on the tops of both hulls; 5 new 12v batteries and charge controller for 600 W of solar panels on the wheel house roof. Iko Iko is a great boat from which to explore the Bahamas or Western Caribbean. For more adventurous sailors, Tiki 38’s have crossed the Atlantic and Pacific. This one is in good condition and ready to sail away. https://www.catamaransite.com/catamarans-for-sale/wharram-tiki-38/