New from Torqeedo for 2021: a lighter, more affordable Travel
by Tess Smallridge 19 Mar 2021 03:46 AEDT
Torqeedo Travel 603 © Christian Brecheis
Torqeedo has added a lighter and more affordable electric outboard to its product line and a limited number of journalist test motors are now available.
The new Travel 603 is the latest addition to Torqeedo's line-up of clean, quiet portable electric outboards (video). The two-horsepower-equivalent, direct-drive, short shaft motor is the lightest in its power class, weighing just 15.5 kg (34 lbs) complete, including battery. It's the perfect electric drive for small racing sailboats, tenders, light freshwater fishing boats and canoes up to one ton.
It's also the quietest outboard on the market but still has an outstanding dynamic response with instant torque.
Like the bestselling Travel 1103, the Travel 603 is ethically manufactured in Germany. It features a built-in high-performance lithium-ion battery rated at 500 Wh, which boasts individually welded steel safety cells with Torqeedo's proprietary 5-stage safety system. At slow speeds, you can cruise for more than 5 half hours on a single battery charge, and the battery can be quickly and easily swapped out with a fully charged spare to extend operating range. The battery even floats on the water in the event it's accidentally dropped overboard.
An onboard computer with GPS is built into the Travel motor, providing instant readouts of operating range at current RPMs, battery charge status and other critical safety information. With Torqeedo's TorqTrac mobile app, you can view all vital information on your Apple or Android smartphone or tablet.
The Travel 603 ships with a plug-in charger or you can charge directly from your boat's 12 or 24-volt supply. Solar charging is easy - an integrated solar charge controller is built into every Travel battery. Torqeedo also offers a wide variety of Travel accessories, including a weedless propeller and a remote throttle option that lets you operate the motor from the helm station instead of the outboard arm.
"Our goal in introducing the Travel 603 is to make it easier for boaters to discover the unique benefits of clean, green electric propulsion for smaller craft. There's nothing quite like the experience of gliding silently through the water with no odours or exhaust fumes," said Dr Ralf Plieninger, Torqeedo's managing director.
The Travel 603 is covered by a two-year warranty for recreational use, backed by Torqeedo's worldwide service network.