Torqeedo launches electric-propulsion challenge

Posted on 23 November 2009

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Torqeedo has created the Torqeedo Catalina Solar/Electric Boat Challenge to prove that electric outboards are destination motors.

The challenge also honors Bob Nordskog, a man who, 30 years ago, traveled more than 26.5 nautical miles in the Pacific Ocean from Long Beach Harbor to Catalina Island in the first electric boat ever built, Torqeedo said in a statement.

The first Torqeedo Catalina Challenge took place Oct. 24 in a 16-foot, 7-inch Hobie Getaway Catamaran named the Kona Concept, modified to accommodate batteries and a solar panel and powered by the Cruise 4.0R Torqeedo Electric Outboard Motor.

The captain of Kona Concept and grandson of Bob Nordskog, Erik Robert Nordskog; and navigator Jim Czarnowski, director of engineering for Hobie Cat, completed it in six hours and 41 minutes with 35 percent battery power remaining.

"The purpose is to go beyond using electric propulsion only on green lakes, in marinas and on cocktail cruisers," the company said in a statement. "It's to demonstrate that electric propulsion can be developed into a destination motor in the mainstream boating industry."

There are four classes in which to compete: mono-hull, above and below 18 feet, as well as multi-hull, above and below 18 feet. Participants need to submit a proposal and document the voyage for consideration. Winners will be rewarded with a bronze medallion replica of the original Catalina Challenge trophy.

For information and challenge rules, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Comments

3 Tuesday, 24 November 2009 02:14

Gentlemen,

You are correct.  There was an omission in the story.  Mr. Nordskog's trip to Catalina Island was with a solar-powered electric boat.  Thank you for providing the additional history on the early days of electric boats.

2 Monday, 23 November 2009 18:14

It might be a good idea to check your facts before going on record with some of your comments. Alexander Graham Bell had an electric boat(20+ft) at the turn of the last century. He was also not the first. The worlds fair in the US circa 1876 Had a fleet of electric boats.By checking some of your facts you will prevent yourselves from becoming a laughing stock amongst many electric boaters who number in the 10's of thousands.

Holden Hayes

President

SpinCraft Electric Boats  ( est'd 1980 and definitely not the first )

1 Monday, 23 November 2009 18:06

I'm surprised by the statement that Bob Nordskog made the Long Beach to Catalina passage in "the first electric boat ever built".  My recollection is that there were a fair number of electric boats built during the last decade of the 19th century.  Probably the most notable early application of electric propulsion was in the Holland and Lake submarines of the first decade of the 20th century.  Admittedly these had internal combustion engines for surface travel, but with 60+ HP of electric propulsion for 4 hours they would also qualify as electric boats.

Sometime around 1910, the editor of The Electrical Engineer described a voyage of 50-60 miles without recharging.  I'd also direct your attention to www.hybrid-vehicle.org/hybrid-vehicle-history.html,  where they refer to an electric boat dating back to 1839.  In 1900 Elco, which is still in business today, constructed it's own boatyard to product electric launches.

Oh, yes...  the first electric boat speed record was set in France with a speed of  24 knots over a 26 km course.

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