Torqeedo Cruise Outboards

Torqeedo’s Cruise 3.0 to 12kW electric outboards are lightweight, efficient and smooth alternatives to petrol motors, offered in the popular 6-25hp equivalent market.

Whilst “new and updated” – and also uprated (in power) – for 2022, Torqeedo’s Cruise electric outboard motors are well-proven designs with reliable design architecture going back 10 years or so. The biggest difference between these and Epropulsion’s Navy series outboards is the drivetrain… Torqeedo use relatively fast-spinning motors with reduction gearboxes to shaft, Epropulsion motors are direct-drive. There are plusses and minuses to both approaches, with the main advantage to the gearbox design being a significant weight saving – at the 6kW size the Torqeedo is actually less than half the weight of equivalent Epropulsion.

There are 12 different models of Torqeedo Cruise outboard motors, the variables being:

• Power (3, 6, 10 or 12kW)
• Tiller or remote control (models suffixed T or R accordingly)
• Shaft length (S Short or L Long)

The Cruise 3kW models need a 24V supply, all others are 48V.

Tiller-controlled Cruise T models are very simple, just clamp them on transom, connect to batteries and go! As long as you take into account the weight of batteries etc, the light weight of the 3.0 and 6.0 models means they can be considered “portable”.

Remote-controlled Cruise R models also clamp (or bolt) on but are generally part of a slightly more permanent installation, as they include connections to/set up with steering systems etc. The remote controls for Torqeedo Cruise motors are wired, and incorporate a digital display screen that shows you information like speed, range and how much battery is left (this information is on the tiller for Cruise T models).

Generally speaking all the other components – motor, leg, clamp, propeller etc – are common to the remote and tiller versions. Having had many of their basic structural elements in production for so long, the Torqeedo Cruise motors of today are a very “refined” product.

Whilst Torqeedo Cruise motors can be used with other makes of battery, optimal efficiency and information will be obtained in conjunction with the Torqeedo Power series batteries {link}, developed in conjunction with BMW.