How can i have constant electricity on a boat

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by ArtM

Hi Chuck, ignore the monkeys.

Hey!!!

[s/v Beth]

Hey guys I think he's gone. Back to looking for humor somewhere else. If you want I can ask how to turn the little cylinder thingy to get that front cloth open. I need to shade the front of my boat...

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

Hey guys I think he's gone. Back to looking for humor somewhere else. If you want I can ask how to turn the little cylinder thingy to get that front cloth open. I need to shade the front of my boat...

Good.

How does that shade thing work?

[chucklet321]

Originally Posted by carstenb

Ok let's try serious, although with Chuckles you never know. The big ticket items on a sailboat (in terms of electricity) are (not in order)


1- Fridge/freezer (especially freezer)
2- Chartplotter(s)
3- Autopilots
4- electric water pumps

Most everything else uses very little and can, for the purposes of this discussion, probably be disregarded. What to do?

2 - only use the chart plotter when necessary. Meaning turn it off if you are off-shore where the water is deep and there are no channels or the like
3- Mount a wind rudder. Only use the electric autopilot when motoring
4- Mount a foot pedal and use it most of the time

1- Saved the best for last - take Capt. Forces advice and insulate the hell out of your fridge. Buy a new super energy efficient one while you are at it.

All that will reduce your consumption. Mount some solar cells to keep the batteries charged. Wind generator also. If you are completely paranoid after doing all the above, mount a water generator also. Finally a fuel cell will also help.

Failing all that - sell the sailboat and buy a motorboat - with the engines running you'll have all the electricity you want

Thanks, but my future boat will have a generator, so no need to buy a motoryacht, they are very nice though in the multiple floors aspect, theres alot more room and stoage on board.

[chucklet321]

Originally Posted by ArtM

Hi Chuck, ignore the monkeys.

Can you define "Constant Power"?

Many liveaboards get "constant power" from a large solar array and battery bank, but it is not a lot of power.

What are your applications? Why do you need it to be constant?

My boat will be chartered, therefor I wish to make maximum money so I allow kids, well with 6 people on board it's pretty likely someone will be playing video games or watching TV below deck so I need a way to have the inverter constantly going or for at least maybe 50% of the day, when that's not running I'll be using 12 volt, btw do they have 12 volt appliances, well apart from that I will need the chart plotter going all day.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by chucklet321

My boat will be chartered, therefor I wish to make maximum money so I allow kids, well with 6 people on board it's pretty likely someone will be playing video games or watching TV below deck so I need a way to have the inverter constantly going or for at least maybe 50% of the day, when that's not running I'll be using 12 volt, btw do they have 12 volt appliances, well apart from that I will need the chart plotter going all day.

have you decided you will get lonely on the single handed rtw trip

btw most inverters are 12v!

[Coops]

Better put an age limit on the kids, don't want them older than the skipper for instance.

Coops.

[carstenb]

Chuckles,

Just don't know where to begin.....

Have you ever been on a sailboat? I'm guessing the answer is no.

I'm overjoyed that your future boat will have a generator. Since you apparently won't have an engine (an engine is different from a motor) how are you expecting to turn the generator? By hand?

[Auzzee]

^What....watt....phwat....eh..huh....wot?

[ArtM]

Originally Posted by chucklet321

My boat will be chartered, therefor I wish to make maximum money so I allow kids, well with 6 people on board it's pretty likely someone will be playing video games or watching TV below deck so I need a way to have the inverter constantly going or for at least maybe 50% of the day, when that's not running I'll be using 12 volt, btw do they have 12 volt appliances, well apart from that I will need the chart plotter going all day.

Ok, it seems that you have some history with this group that I'm not in on.

Here is what I think:
1) You shouldn't need a chartplotter all day if you are chartering. In fact, you will probably not need it at all unless you're sailing in unfamiliar territory. Most of the time, you'll be navigating the same channels and bays all day every day (I'm assuming we're discussing a low-drafting multihull here and sailing in safe waters)
2) A "TV" in the future is more likely to be an iPad or laptop computer with a few videos and games installed. If you're in the US, it might be streaming from the Cellular network. There is NOT likely to be full blown COD tournament going on in your hulls (unless you specialize in that...I like it!)
3) Solar panels are getting lighter, cheaper, and more powerful every day. Same for batteries. More investment in panels = less time running your noisy smelly expensive engines.
4) I like the idea of a sailboat with no engines, even one which has electric trolling motors for marina work. For safety and practical reasons, though, you should plan on having to use the engines on some occasions. The winds will not always be in your favor. There will be days you need to meet a schedule. You could run into dangerous weather. On those days, you will need your engines.
5) If your solar and battery arrays just don't quite meet the load, and you can't or won't expand them further, your engines are your backup. However, if you invest in the very best solar technology and cruise in sunny locations, you may very well never need to start those engines except when you're going in or out of port.

I congratulate you on your conviction to a chartering lifestyle despite your seeming lack of experience with a boat. I won't discourage you, since I'm not much different from you in that I plan to liveaboard and cruise, despite having very little sailing experience myself.

However, I do suggest that you maintain a plan B in case (this is very basic) you simply don't like it.

[ArtM]

Originally Posted by chucklet321

My boat will be chartered, therefor I wish to make maximum money so I allow kids, well with 6 people on board it's pretty likely someone will be playing video games or watching TV below deck so I need a way to have the inverter constantly going or for at least maybe 50% of the day, when that's not running I'll be using 12 volt, btw do they have 12 volt appliances, well apart from that I will need the chart plotter going all day.

You won't need appliances, for the most part. A french press makes excellent coffee. A knife and cutting board do a fine job of chopping and slicing. If you are serious about skippering your own boat, you should plan on hiring or marrying an excellent cook, since fine cuisine is an expected part of any premium cruise.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by chucklet321

My boat will be chartered, therefor I wish to make maximum money so I allow kids, well with 6 people on board it's pretty likely someone will be playing video games or watching TV below deck so I need a way to have the inverter constantly going or for at least maybe 50% of the day, when that's not running I'll be using 12 volt, btw do they have 12 volt appliances, well apart from that I will need the chart plotter going all day.

This absolutely blows me away. Whatever happened to teaching kids to fish. Reading a good book? Playing dominoes? Strapping on a mask and snorkel and taking a swim?

A sailboat is the place where kids should get away from the video games and the TV. Period.

It sickens me that someone would feel the need for constant power on a sailboat just because children might be aboard, and that this is tied to the statement "therefor I wish to make maximum money." What is this world coming to?

[ArtM]

Originally Posted by Bash

This absolutely blows me away. Whatever happened to teaching kids to fish. Reading a good book? Playing dominoes? Strapping on a mask and snorkel and taking a swim?

A sailboat is the place where kids should get away from the video games and the TV. Period.

It sickens me that someone would feel the need for constant power on a sailboat just because children might be aboard, and that this is tied to the statement "therefor I wish to make maximum money." What is this world coming to?

It's coming to a global socialism - a world in which people will no longer have the option of maximizing their income by offering private cruises to families with kids, and in which families will no longer have the discretionary income to choose whether to sail aboard a yacht offering onboard Call of Duty tournaments.

Kids on board should feel that they have the option of returning to their comforts. There are many things for kids to learn on board a boat, and they may never feel a need to touch an iPad, but it should be there for them if they want it.

[GaryMayo]

Nikola Tesla technology of the last turn of the century was to broadcast electric power to ships at sea from Bradcliff NY but industrialist JP Morgan stopped the project because he did not want to provide power without being on an electric meter to collect from sale of electricity.

As far fetched as this sounds, a study of this period of American history is fascinating.

[avb3]

Originally Posted by ArtM

It's coming to a global socialism - a world in which people will no longer have the option of maximizing their income by offering private cruises to families with kids, and in which families will no longer have the discretionary income to choose whether to sail aboard a yacht offering onboard Call of Duty tournaments.

Kids on board should feel that they have the option of returning to their comforts. There are many things for kids to learn on board a boat, and they may never feel a need to touch an iPad, but it should be there for them if they want it.

I guess this is where parental guidance comes in.

I feel very fortunate that my kids were raised in a manner that they are teaching my grandkids that the world does not revolve around electronic toys.

They are restricted to one hour after school. Their choice is the internet, TV or Nintendo. Pick one, or all three, but you have one hour.

Interestingly enough my oldest grandson, 7, prefers reading or hiking. I can guarantee he won't need electronic toys on a sailboat.