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Welcome to Robust-MT Insiders, where we'll tell you what happens behind the scenes at the company! Let's talk about our own boat, the Iroquois MKII Karemaniya, and the story behind Robust-MT.
By: Yara Putker
In 2018, we bought a boat (a shipwreck). We stripped it down to its hull and rebuilt it from there into what is now the Karemaniya. We're still working on this, and during the process, Nils and Yara told Remco they wanted to keep doing this. Nils, in particular, said this is what he wants to do with his life. And that's how Robust-MT was born.
Our Karemaniya has two Epropulsion Pod 3.0 (kW) Evo motors, which are two motors mounted underneath the boat, with two batteries . These are two separate motors, each with its own controls and charger .
The drive system cost around €12,000 when we bought it, but the problem was that you couldn't charge both engines simultaneously, so the Karemaniya needed a complete system (Remco is cleverly lazy; he devises an impossible system and makes it like a puzzle so he only has to plug in a connector to charge the boat) that could power everything at once. The total cost was around €30,000.
A drawback to the pods is that you have to clean them in the water in your swim trunks for standard maintenance. However, you can access the pods just as easily as with an inboard motor, so that's only half the drawback. Furthermore, these pods are always hanging there, which creates a bit more drag than a motor that can be lifted out of the water.
The easiest distinction is that whisper motors usually operate on 12 volts (with some exceptions), while electric motors operate on 24, 48, 96, or even 400 volts (again, with some exceptions). Whisper motors are usually outboard motors with a thin shaft and an external battery. Relatively heavy lead-acid batteries are also often used.
Our electric motors up to 1.7 kW have a compact lithium battery mounted on the engine, where the fuel tank used to be. This makes them much more like a traditional outboard motor than a whisper motor (anything above 1.7 kWh is no longer comparable to a whisper motor at all). Moreover, they deliver significantly more torque and offer a much greater range. An electric motor is a fully-fledged alternative to a gasoline outboard motor; a whisper motor is more of an auxiliary engine.
Robust-MT Marine Technology BV is located in Monster , on the edge of the water-rich Westland region . Situated in South Holland, between Rotterdam and The Hague, but also near Delft and the North Sea, our showroom and workshop are also located on a main waterway. We also have a mooring on the Haringvliet, near Zeeland, where we can also conduct sea trials. We also collaborate with a renowned yacht builder and shipyard in Woubrugge, near Amsterdam and North Holland. This location also has its own marina, a large crane, and both heated and unheated hangars. In short, no matter how large or small your project, we can provide you with the necessary products and support.
Looking to buy a new electric motor for your boat or, for example, convert an existing boat to electric propulsion? Our webshop has everything you need to make your project a success. We offer the widest range of electric motors and propulsion systems for recreational boating in the Netherlands, all at the most competitive prices. Our experience with electrifying existing boats sets us apart, guaranteeing that your valuable purchase will be a positive experience. You'll regularly find special offers in webshop , we post our own test reports on our blog , and we also offer complete sets that include a motor, battery, and all additional necessary equipment. Our homepage also features several reviews and ratings from satisfied customers; we'd be happy to add yours.
