Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 06-11-2009, 08:06   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Huron, Ohio
Boat: Albin Coronado 35(1972)
Posts: 640
Going 'Kinda' Solar / Renewable for Auxiliary Power

Everything I see about electric motors is "maximum" data.

Maximum Thrust
Maximum Horsepower
Maximum Wattage
Maximum Ampreage

These are, after all sailboats

The have their own propulsion units(sails)

For a twist on electric and renewable power I'm thinking more in line of using an electric motor for "assistance" to the sail.

Just a little more power . . . a little more movement . . . a little better pointing when needed.

When the sailboat is only moving 2+ knots, maybe the electric motor(running about 1/4 speed), would make about 3-4 knots achievable, which will get you to your destination "a little sooner".

When the sailboat can't quite make the high-up heading you're striving for, the electric motor(running at 1/4 power or so), will help make the heading more possible.

I'm not necessarily talking about the "electric" motor being the main source of auxillary power(although that's what I'd like).

BUT . . . rather using the electric motor at a greatly reduced power-level and coincidently using a solar panel to maintain(or better) that particular level of electrical usage.

Is it realistic to use self-sustaining electrical power to make the sailboat work just a little better?
SURV69 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2009, 08:18   #2
CF Adviser
 
Bash's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: sausalito
Boat: 14 meter sloop
Posts: 7,260
if you want a bit more speed and the ability to point higher, you'd probably be better off investing the money on a new suit of sails.
__________________
cruising is entirely about showing up--in boat shoes.
Bash is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2009, 09:32   #3
Senior Cruiser
 
GordMay's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,131
Images: 241
A large 200 watt solar array, when fully producing, might be the equivalent of about 1/4 HP; which (IMO) wouldn’t make any appreciable difference to boatspeed or heading.
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"



GordMay is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2009, 11:29   #4
Registered User
 
Eleven's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Southampton UK
Boat: Jaguar 22 mono called Arfur.
Posts: 1,220
Images: 3
The real option is a second small diesel engine, even outboard style, just to provide slow motion economically.
On my Cat, originally 27HP now 43 that gives me more than hull speed, or rather doesn't.
But a 5hp diesel would be really useful for plodding through a lull, just keeping steerage way for the auto-pilot, or charging the batteries during the night.
It's such a problem I'm considering a PETROL genny just to maintain lights and auto-p on the dark and shorter days of winter cruises.
Is there no viable diesel electric low power convertion unit besides a second hand car engine? There is a diesel quad bike 20hp, maybe skid-doo's already have the ideal diesel engine, light in weight, decent consumption, reliable starting. Life expectancy isn't relevant for sailing people?
__________________
Ex Prout 31 Sailor, Now it's a 22ft Jaguar called 'Arfur' here in sunny Southampton, UK.
A few places left in Quayside Marina and Kemps Marina.
Eleven is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2009, 19:10   #5
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Brisbane, Oz
Boat: Roberts 36 - Clarity
Posts: 24
SurV
Check out www.asmomarine.com for the Thoosa electric motors. Your ship is 26 foot, right? You could reasonably throw out the diesel auxiliary and replace it with electric, IF (big letters) you do more daysailing than cruising, AND your Pearson can sail at 6 knots or better (which my 10 tonne 37 footer just can't). Bill
clarity36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-11-2009, 11:23   #6
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Eastern Seaboard
Boat: Searunner 34 and Searunner Constant Camber 44
Posts: 949
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eleven View Post
Is there no viable diesel electric low power convertion unit besides a second hand car engine?
There is, or rather was and will be again. But not yet.
__________________
Regards,

Maren

The sea is always beautiful, sometimes mysterious and, on occasions, frighteningly powerful.
Maren is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-11-2009, 14:02   #7
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 257
Max power is perhaps the most important number you need when looking at electric motors. Their power output is linear, so there is no real cruising rpm or torque curve. Once you hang a propeller off one there is. So if you are ruinnning a 72v eletric motor and want a 3 hp boost to your speed, you need 2237 watts or 31 amps at 72v. Even a 1hp boost will need 10 amps. Figure a group 31 battery has 100amp hours, so you could run a 3 hp boost for a little under 2 hours or a 1 hp boost for 5. Then do some math based on what you want to use to recharge to determine if it is worth it. You could design a really simple system with a solar panel pretty much directly connected to an electric motor. The boost, however, would likely be minimal. And electric motors don't help you point higher. In fact, motors of any kind move the relative wind closer to your bow, meaning you point lower to keep your sails filled.

Brett
LtBrett is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Stirling Engine and Solar Power Wainui Flotsam & Sailing Miscellany 0 09-07-2009 07:41
Wind and Solar power-Payback silver heels Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 21 01-08-2008 07:44
Liveaboard solar power columbia Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 6 13-10-2007 21:57
Solar Power CaptainK Construction, Maintenance & Refit 1 02-10-2005 10:10
solar power kingfish Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 10 26-08-2004 09:32

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:00.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.