Watersnake Advance 70lb Trolling Motor review
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- Опубліковано 13 січ 2024
- A review of our new Watersnake Advance, 12v, 70lb Brushless Trolling motor for use with our 8.5m RL28 Trailersailer and dinghy. The motor was purchased to replace our previous Pelican Trolling Motor. I talk about its various uses, batteries used and some of its limitations. I also draw some comparisons between the trolling motor and some of the more expensive electric outboards on the market.
I’m so appreciative of this video! I recently purchased a Newport Vessels L-Series 62 lb 12v for my 3,000 lb (1360 kg) Jeanneau Tonic 23 to supplement the 9.9 hp petrol outboard (i.e., use in light weather). Excellent to see that a motor in that ballpark performs in normal conditions on a similar vessel. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the comment. Yes I love the electric and as long as people realize it is not a replacement for the petrol it has many great applications on a sail boat. Cheers Mark
Thank you for posting
Hi Mark, I like your set up for the batteries and was going to say how long do you have when you have it connected to the solar panels and you beat me to it.
So now my question is, if you had more solar ( with out putting to much on your yacht) could you run it nonstop at say 3 knots?
Hi Mark, It would take a lot of panels. The motor at full power uses just on 50amps. The current panels under ideal solar conditions can produce about 10amp under ideal condition (theoretically 12.5amps). So to run the motor you would need 5 times the current panels which would almost be possible space wise. The problem is that ideal conditions are rare and no matter how you place the panels on a sail boat there will often be times panels are shaded. So to be sure of running a 50amp motor on panels alone you would need 10 times the current solar panels and that would be difficult given the size of the boat.
I have some amusing discussions with people saying they are going to make their boat entirely solar running much larger electric motors, induction cooktops, microwaves, water makers, electric hot water, etc etc... and only have 180w of solar panels and 150 amp hours of batteries. When you do the maths the battery would be flattened in minutes and sufficient batteries would take up huge space and the solar panels to charge them in a reasonable amount of time would take a boat 10 times the size. Solar powered things on a boat need to be modest and charging needs time at anchor and supplement from a generator, an outboard alternator, or a wind generator or all three.
At the end of the day I am happy to have a 3 hour battery for the trolling motor with some extension of this from the panels and the ability to fully recharge at anchor. Cheers Mark
@@TRAILERYACHTADVENTURES Hi Mark, thanks for your reply.
My brother wants to do what other have said and I keep coming back to what you said.
Was thinking of going down the Murray River just on solar and I kept on saying you need more panels and batteries. I also said maybe you could have a wind turbine as well and maybe a water turbine. But as you and I know it comes back to apps and room and most important money.
I tell him it will take a lot on money to set up but I say this… you are sending all your fuel now ( for let’s say 5/7 years) upfront and now you can go for 5/7 years with out having to pay for any more fuel.
With a modest battery bank and a few more solar panels its workable as long as you don't think you can go all day every day and take time to stop for a day or 2 to let your battery bank charge up again. After all that's what most people would do travelling the Murray, stop regularly to enjoy the bush and the river from the bank :)
I been told it is cheaper to get a second battery for longer range.@@TRAILERYACHTADVENTURES
Did you test out the boost button?
Yes, but only on the yacht where it added about 0.2 of a knot in speed. The instructions warn not to use it for longer periods as I often do on the yacht as it can cause damage to the motor so I avoid doing so. I am sure on the dinghy it would give 0.5 of a knot or more in extra speed. For the difference in speed I prefer not to over stress the motor.
Cheers Mark
Whats the weight of the motor? Doesnt say on the website.
13.4kg, its not super light but still quite manageable. Cheers Mark