Torqueedo Travel 1003 some 3 years on

My experience buying and using a Torqeedo Travel 1003. Problems I had, and conditions it is used in

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

Mine is over 10 years old now, and still going. I did have to have some maintenance done by Torqeedo this year which they told me should be done every 5 years. Fortunately there is an official Torqeedo service center an hour from me. I doubt there would be one near by for any of their new competitors.They changed the bearings, propeller and other things they said should be changed after 5 years (other than the propeller), and the propeller. I also had needed to buy a new battery after maybe 6 years. For the kind of boating I do where I transport an inflatable in the trunk of my sedan for every use, there is no motor that is more convenient and avoids storing gas inside my car. I don't even have to take the time to buy gas, just re-charge over night. I use my motor frequently, and have taken my boat to more than 150 locations along the east coast of the USA. I had a trolling motor before the Torqeedo and kept struggling to get back. The Torqeedo allows me to take the boat to places that are off limits without a motor of this power out in the bay and on large lakes, and when the wind kicks up strong. Although Torqeedo is expensive, they are widely available and easy to buy parts for locally and get serviced. Over 10 years later and you can still buy batteries and parts. I don't have as much trust in ePropultion or their competitors. When I bought mine, they were truly unique with no competitors. If you have a large vehicle and can tow your boat and aren't concerned about gasoline in your car, or don't mind the hassle of buying gas and mixing the additives or getting winter maintenance done every year, a gas motor will certainly be cheaper and offer better range. Even still, I see a lot of people struggling to pull the lawn motor ropes to get their small gas motors working. I also like that the Torqeedo once started can sit idol quietly and come on in s split second as needed when I switch to sailing or paddling my boat, and it's perfect to get out of the way of moored boats or a boat racing along. With a gas motor, I'd have to leave it running to do that, and it would be noisy. Over all, love my Torqeedo.

[@davidseymour6246]

Thanks for that - a very helpful, honest & fair review.

[@decti]

6:56 Impressive that the battery has kept 100% charge for 6 months. But I guess that for such a long period of non-use, it should ideally has a 50-80% charge? (As for electric cars, for instance.)

[@sailingsheriff3349]

The battery is very impressive as is the motor, the rest I’d junk though

[@kauaislash5]

All of the issues you have had seem to be common problems with these motors. IMO, the propellor shear pin is undersized for the thrust/prop size of these motors and on top of that, it appears to made of an inferior grade of metal compared to the prop shaft because they often seem to show signs corrosion.

[@sailingsheriff3349]

I have now fitted a stainless steel skeg to hopefully protect the prop and be more robust than the plastic skeg. The question is why I have to do this considering the price you pay for such an item?

[@kauaislash5]

@@sailingsheriff3349 I totally agree. Torqeedo as the industry leader has to set a better example. All the great features they brought to the market are worthless if the product has fundamental design and manufacturing flaws. The major issues that drive people nuts like the broken plastic bits, broken skegs, sheared prop pins that damage the prop, poor connectors, poor finishes, etc.. are all easy fixes. They’ve been in business long enough to know what the issues are, but they do t bother to fix them. And why would they? From what I understand they aren’t even a profitable business, just a line item loss/acquisition for some larger parent corporation. The criminal part is people spend a premium and make the commitment to make the change, then get fed up and switch back to ICE after having bad experiences. I think most people will agree when they work, they are great.

[@sailingsheriff3349]

@@kauaislash5 well put. That sums up the company in one paragraph. I have written to them and told them but are they interested, as you say no.

[@mesutpeynirci9568]

nice to see that it still works after all that abuse...

[@sailingsheriff3349]

Not really abuse, just not resting in a marina. Most bits broke in the first 6 months

​@@sailingsheriff3349if it was withing the guarantee period, I think it would have been wise to contact the commercial support team to get the parts replaced

[@viscocoa9855]

You didn't treat it nicely.

[@sailingwithandyonthedee6129]

How many hours average use on a full charge 👍

[@sailingsheriff3349]

4 to 6 hours. I haven’t really pushed it to that but one charge lasts me most of the season without going below 50% equivalent to about 18 x 10 min plus journeys over the season. full revs mainly

[@stefanoskolovouris7223]

Sir. You do not care at all for your Torqeedo. First you do not use anode, for this reason there is a lot of damage in the metallic part of the motor, second you do not clean at all with fresh water after every use, third you do not care at at all about yourself because your Torqeedo, became apart and there is no way to use it if you need it, many regards from Greece.

[@sailingsheriff3349]

Hi there. You do know this is an electric which does not require cleaning in fresh water after every use. It is also plastic which does not require anodes. Take a look at the specification.

[@rickmurray1952]

Hi, I've been trying to find out where the zinc anode goes on the travel. Can you help? Thanks Rick

[@rickmurray1952]

Rick from Western Australia

[@staryi5119]

Какое небрежное отношение к вещам: грязное, поломанное, потертое.