On the hook without an inverter?

[AdagioBoulder]

We are about to spend the upcoming season on our new, to us, boat in Florida at Ft. Pierce City Marina getting used to the life. We intend to cruise the Florida coast and also take a trip to the Bahamas. Newbie question: Is it possible to spend some time overnight on the hook without an inverter and without running the gennie at night? How do you do it? Store refrigerated items in the Yeti, etc? How do you handle other electrical needs?

[ttex]

Battery bank with solar. 12v refrigerator/freezer.

[verb88]

Originally Posted by ttex

Battery bank with solar. 12v refrigerator/freezer.

this.... no gen & rarely need to use the 1000w inverter.... family of 5 cruising the Caribbean

[Adelie]

What are your AC uses?

You won’t be able to do AirConditioning without shore power or a Generator.

[Nicholson58]

Big batteries, big solar. Some also have wind. No reason to run an inverter. All loads are DC. All lights are PWM LED.

[Hudson Force]

My answer might sound weird to you, but the question sounds weird to me. From 1971 until 1995 we had shore power at the dock, but we still cruised often including trips to the Bahamas. We didn't have an inverter, generator, refrigeration, power windlass or anything beyond a couple of 12VDC circuits that we used only for an anchor light and engine starting. Most of the time while it was dark, we were sleeping. We had crackers, canned meats, even some canned breads. We bought local produce and ate local seafood. Our drinks were at cabin temperature. During the dark time before sleeping we were in the deck hammocks with our young children spotting satellites in the beautiful true dark of the wilderness and sharing stories.
I will admit to having a good 12VDC refrigeration system, diesel generator, wind generator, solar panels, and AC options at anchor during our more recent 25 years of cruising, but we didn't actually enjoy cruising more.
We did adapt better to that dark than the heat, but we were anchored facing the breeze selecting places out of the current and kept wind scoops on our hatches.

[Shrew]

For how many consecutive days? (What is Some Time?)

What kind of head?

LED or Halogen lights?

Basically, what is the capacity of the house bank and your anticipated draw?

Lights, pumps, fridge are all going to be 12v. Even just 1-2 nights is going to be dictated by (capacity / draw).

[AndyEss]

The fridge is my biggest power consumer but it's a 12Vdc evaporator plate unit. The only time I turn on my inverter is to watch a movie or run some power tools.
Inverters are pretty cheap these days.
Batteries and their charging system are where the boat bucks add up fast.
I have no ICE generator, refuse to get one, but I have no AC. I cruise to try to simplify my life, and gennies are yet another mechanical master to serve. I dont want the noise either.

[LoudMusic]

Big batteries and an electric fridge?

I don't mean to be an ass, but how does someone own a 50' boat and not know how to keep food cold through the night? Seems like steps might have been done out of order.

[Reefmagnet]

It sounds like you may only have AC only refrigeration onboard. If so, this doesn't draw a lot of power so a cheap, dedicated inverter can be used specifically for powering the fridge.


Although it does beg the question. What keeps the fridge running during the day?

[model 10]

I can't imagine not having an inverter. Even if I had a generator, who would want to listen to it? I have several AC power tools and a brand new (quiet) 2.5hp aspiradora!

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Ecos

I can't imagine not having an inverter. Even if I had a generator, who would want to listen to it? I have several AC power tools and a brand new (quiet) 2.5hp aspiradora!

2.5 hp! Wow, dont get any sensitive body parts near that thing!

Is it a big beast of a shop vac?

[model 10]

[QUOTE=belizesailor; is it a big beast of a shop vac?


No, it's a reasonably priced bright yellow job from the concrete mall. Fits in a regular inside locker. The old one would smoke and spark with a terrible noise.

[CarlF]

Your boat was built with the assumption you would run the genset all night at anchor to power the 110v fridge, electric stove, and air conditioning. That's why there's no inveter.

Even if you put in a big inverter, I doubt you have enough battery for the load.

Most people at anchor are running very efficient refrigerators with perhaps 4" of insulation. Stove is propane. And the boats have lots of natural ventilation so A/C isn't needed.

[OS2Dude]

Our 1985 Catalina 30 has two 100W solar panels charging two 98AH AGM batteries. Our cooler has a dual voltage refrigeration conversion, 110 when available and 12v otherwise. TV is 24" 12V with built in DVD, some 12V fans, LED lights and Magna grill. Shore power is for mini-fridge, induction cooktop, Air Conditioner, WiFi access, AppleTV and charging laptop and cell phones. (If needed, a small inverter is carried but not built in to any circuit.)