I also have had no problems with my Torqeedo. It is at least 7 years old. I have the original battery. Of course I know how it has been used, never fully discharged, always stored with about 80% charge etc.
I would go with the used one. There is a very simple 12 volt charger available for minimal cost, if not included. But with the excellent suggestions that you get to try it out--and return if not as represented...
As for a kicker--it is to get steerage way--and would be nice to have the extra battery for that purpose, since you would be running it close to wide open.
The nearest we came to fully discharging the 1003 battery, was at Powell when we had the emergency and had to chase down the park ranger who went to the wrong part of the cove. We were running it at full capacity with two of us in the dinghy, plus had been using the motor most of the day. Steve Parsons brought it back at a slower speed as I rode with the ranger in the Park Service boat--and it still had about 15% charge.
There are several competitors for the Torqeedo, but I would buy another Torqeedo if I was purchasing today.
I would go with the used one. There is a very simple 12 volt charger available for minimal cost, if not included. But with the excellent suggestions that you get to try it out--and return if not as represented...
As for a kicker--it is to get steerage way--and would be nice to have the extra battery for that purpose, since you would be running it close to wide open.
The nearest we came to fully discharging the 1003 battery, was at Powell when we had the emergency and had to chase down the park ranger who went to the wrong part of the cove. We were running it at full capacity with two of us in the dinghy, plus had been using the motor most of the day. Steve Parsons brought it back at a slower speed as I rode with the ranger in the Park Service boat--and it still had about 15% charge.
There are several competitors for the Torqeedo, but I would buy another Torqeedo if I was purchasing today.