Where do you store your dinghy/tender motor?

[Sarge]

I know very little about inverters, but something like this may work:

http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/gosocket_1000.html

-Sarge

[Doryman]

[Adeline]

Now that I've got my dinghy, where oh where shall I put her motor. On a 22 there wouldn't seem to be too many options. But, I found a spot. No new holes and it drains into the well. She sits atop my "Tackle Table" on her Fulton Aux motor-mount. The table itself is simply held in place by gravity and secured with teak cleats(5200).

[thataway]

I am not sure about the 800 watts for the charger. but there are several possibilities. "The Travel 801’s input power is 800 watts. Rated power is 29.6 volts. Final charge is 33.6 volts." (from the brochure) So, you should be able to rig up solar cells in series to provide a charging circuit. (three 12 volt solar panels with a 36 volt regulator)

Next, the inverter/charger: If you need 800 watts for 12 hours, this is a lot of power! and I question the amount, based on the following: 800 watts at 12 volts is about 67 amps--take into account ineffeciency of the inverter you are close to 70 amps for 12 hours--or a total of 840 amps. (I could have just used the 800 watts/direct conversion for 800 amps)--so if you have a 550 amp hour battery bank--which the Dreamer bank is--you would have run it down over three times (figuring 50% discharge max--or 275 amps effective available power). An outboard alternator puts out 35 to 45 amps (average) when running at full power, but that is only half of the 70 amps you will need. So this does not seem like a real effecient way of charging these motor's batteries--assuming it really needs 800 watts! So basically if it needs 800 watts for 12 hours it requires about 3x the two 8D battery banks....that is why I doubt the current draw.

Consider that the capacity of the battery is 800 watts @ 30 volts or 26 amps--that is perhaps more reasonable for a lithium ion battery. (the equivilant to about a 70 amp 12 volt battery--which is like a U1 or garden tractor)--and I suspect this is closer to the power. If this is the case, the power for a charger is signivicantly less. Some one with one of these chargers has to measure how much power it uses, or write the company.
I suspect that the charger will be more in the way of several amps at 110 volts or 10 to 20 amps for an inverter--and this is managable.

Yes, EU 1000 will produce 900 watts, but that would be running at full throttle, not eco throttle.

I would have to assume that the best use would be to leave with a fully charged battery (and perhaps a spare) and then recharge when you overnight at a dock (or use the solar cells).

[Doryman]

[thataway]

The local Boat US has of the 800's I'll see what their charger looks like this PM. It should give some numbers.

[thataway]

OK, I went to the Boat US/West Marine and they had one of the 800's. The charger is 80 amps--40 volts nominal max current at 2 amps charge rate. Converting this back to 110 volts, it is about .8 amps. Any 100 watt inverter--I would go to 200 watts, will handle this easily. The engine basicially is a 24 volt engine, but as I noted above the battery finish charge is about 36 volts.

This allows lots of options for charging--including the solar panels I mentioned. An inverter running off any battery bank, charged by the main engine. Or even a direct switching power supply 12 to 36 volts.

[Sarge]

"Thataway" Bob,

So, are you saying that I could get a 200 watt inverter, one that plugs into my cigarette lighter plug and recharge my Torqeedo 801 battery?

Thanks,

-Sarge/Carl

[Doryman]

Bob, thanks for the research and explanation. Looks like the Torqueedo option is back in play. Have to consider whether or not I would want to use a 3.5hp Tohatsu as a trolling motor like you did.

Sarge, how do you like your Torqueedo so far? What are the plusses and minuses?

Warren

[thataway]

Sarge, From what I saw at the dealer it should work on a 200 watt inverter. Do you have a "Kill-a Watt" meter? I suggest that all boat owners have one. They meassure amps use, volts, frequency and watts. The unit plugs into a socket, and you plug your chager into the Kill-a-watt, to find out exactly how much power it uses. The "Kil-a-watt" plus a good digital volt meter will allow you to solve almost 100% of your electrical probems on a boat (house RV etc).

There is what is called a "power factor" for a battery charger, and I am not sure what it is for this charger. The "power factor" for an inductive load in a battery charger is basically the amount more power (volts/amps) required to produce the charging output. For example if it is 80% more power required for this output, it has a power factor of .80.

The theoretical requirement is about 80 watts, but I suggest 200 watts to be sure that you have enough resever for an inverter.

[sportner]

I finally posted some pictures in my album of the bracket we use to carry our dinghy motor on our 25' cruiser. The bracket is made from plywood. The aluminum was given to me from scrap from a local supplier but it shouldn't cost much. Fastened with glue and stainless crews then painted. The Magma clamps were bought at West Marine and were about $45.

[Sea Wolf]

RUSS-

Very nice! Well thought out, simple, and very functional!

You may be getting requests for dimensions and drawings soon!

LINK to the rest of the photos.



Joe.

[Sarge]

Warren,

Earlier you asked me what I thought about the Torqeedo...I was waiting for the Navagear article to be put on line http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=6182&highlight=

Basically, the motor is very torquey and moves the boat well. Not spectacularly fast, but it can move two adults easily. The battery lasts a couple of hours and recharges easily. I do have an inverter (400 watts), but I've yet to use it to charge the batteries.

What I don't like is the throttle. Twist one way and it goes forward, twist the other it and it goes backward...that's fine but it is too easy to turn! There is no resistance it just twists so easily in your hand. I always seem to screw up also. I forget which way is forward and which is back and the slightest movement makes the torquey motor jerk me forward and backward.

It's probably me, but I find the tiller too long. Even at its shortest setting I find it difficult to make turns because my body is in the way. I use my right hand so turning left is easy, but turning right is hard.

Finally, to be honest I'm paranoid that if I leave it at the dinghy dock someone will just walk away with it! Or just take the $600 battery! There doesn't seem to be any way to secure it. A 26lb motor is light, until you feel obligated to carry it all day!!!!

I hope you found this helpful.

[El and Bill]

Our collapsible oars stand upright in the port rear corner of the cockpit.

[Dreamer]

Good one Bill & El! Simplify, Simplify....