mswlogo wrote:
My rear motor (my wife) is getting old and tired
I know about Torqeedo / Hobie option and I love how it drops in place of the Mirage Drive.
But I'm not keen about putting the battery in the hull. The boat is already heavy enough for me to handle pulling out through soft sand (on nice dolly) on an incline.
If I put the battery in as needed, I'll be to lazy to put it in. I want the boat to be quick and easy to setup and I'm way more likely to use it at a moments notice.
I'd really love an all in one unit, even if it had less capacity.
Is anyone in the same boat (no pun intended).
If I could just drop the whole (heavier) unit in, I'd buy one in a heart beat. Seems doable these days. If not, what's the next best thing.
P.S. I just sold my motor boat (had one since early 80's). So I'd like to venture out a little further than I have prior. It's only a 6 mile long lake, but we tend to stay on the southern half in case a storm pops up, which can happen quickly. I'd go a little further if I had motor backup. Even if it's a small one.
I recommend a
Torqeedo 403. I've been using one for four years now and it's as close to ideal as anything else I've researched or used. It's better than the Mirage Drive because it's permanently mounted to the hull and it tilts. So when you're in shallow water you can easily tilt it up to avoid damage. There are now even more improvements and options for the 403 series than when I purchased mine.
The battery simply goes in the storage area behind the rear seat, not inside the hull. It's very easy to install/remove, just like any other cargo you might carry. No issue at all. It's a lithium-ion battery and doesn't weigh enough to be of any consequence when transporting the TI.
I wouldn't recommend a Torqeedo Travel for a TI. It's much harder to mount and the slight amount of extra power will be of little use. It will also use up battery power faster. The Travel series was meant for small boats with transoms such as inflatables and dinghies. The 403 is far better suited to the TI and was designed specifically for kayaks.
There is also the option for a gasoline-powered outboard. I've also tried this on my TI. This option provides considerably more power than electric motors. If you need to go as fast as possible (5-7 mph vs 3-5 mph), or you sail in conditions where bad weather, heavy waves, and currents can cause dangerous conditions, then a gas-powered outboard is the best choice. The downside is the size, the weight, the noise, having to use gasoline, and the extra work required to come up with a suitable mount.
I've covered all of this in detail in these two posts:
Torqeedo 403 Ultralight Motor / Hobie TI Application GuideOutboard Motor / Hobie TI Application Guide & 403 ComparisonI highly recommend reading both before making any decision.