Recent content by geem

We have just dealt with the nightmare of osmosis. My boat had osmosis treatment, circa 20 years ago. We have owned her for 13 years and sailed her 42,000nm. We came back to the UK last summer and whilst we were home we opted to deal with osmosis blisters. We needed to do the Coppercoat again but...

Is no longer an issue since we built a hardtop to replace the sprayhood. We have 300W of framed panels going on top. They are good quality 24v panels purchased from Germany. Added to the existing 720w of panels mounted on the guardrails, we are pretty maxed out on solar.

In your second photo the panel is very curved. What we have found with flexible panels is that the flex in the panel is its downfall. If you buy a brand new flexible panel and glue it to a slightly curved deck, such that it bends just that once, you can expect reasonable performance from it. If...

We are now fully up and running on all electric cooking. Gas has been removed completely. We have installed a Panasonic 4 way combi stove that is a convection oven, steamer, microwave and grill all in one. In addition we have a single ring induction hob mounted above the gimbaled stove and a...

Install one of these. Convert 12v direct to 5v 5A. More than enough to run the tablet 24V 12V To 5V 5A Power Supply Buck Converter Step Down Converter Charging Module–OKY3502-4 – OKYSTAR

Assuming you have some form of charging for domestic bank whilst the boat is not in use, you could add a DC/DC charger to keep the engine battery charged from the domestic bank.

I guess we all have different experiences. We did away with the remote. We never used it. We have foot switches, perfectly located at the bow. The windlass and foot switches are mounted on a plinth such that nothing sits in standing water. The foot switches have been installed for more than 12...

I am insured through Pants. I have done consultancy work on a liquid cooled lithium battery project. As a mechanical and electrical design engineer I consider myself a professional. I was told by Pant that the batteries needed professional installation. I explained my credentials and they...

My main mast has steps at the top. Really useful but make sure you place them carefully. The previous owner fitted mine but they are in a less than ideal location. Too close to the top. Ideally you want to be able to stand up straight with them and be able to see over the top of the mast to work...

We have extracted 420w from 360w of solar with a Victron Mppt on regular occasions in the tropics.

They can't. As the battery Ah rating goes up, so doesn't the aic fusing requirements. There is lots of evidence from smarter people than me that the short potential on a 100Ah lithium will generate circa 1000A or so. This is well within the capability of low AIC fuses. Put together a 16 x280A...

I was referring to the fact that the batteries are only 100Ah. You don't necessarily need NH fuses for such small batteries. Less capable fuses may suffice

Fuse each battery with a NH fuse as close to the battery as possible. You could use a fuse with a lower AIC than NH fuses since your batteries are only 100Ah, but that up to you. 160A fuses would work. Also add an isolator for each battery after the fuse. I used a breaker for the inverter...

For our kind of sailing, it's more than that. The on watch crew can swap headsails in the night without going on the foredeck. Flying a sail of the right size. My experience of a reefed genoa is poor sail shape and ultimately the sail doesn't last as long. We already have a folding prop🙂

I have the same view on living on land. I have spent 8 out of the last 10 years living aboard a 44ft ketch. We are now back in the UK for 12 months, living in our house. I am seriously missing the life aboard the boat in the Caribbean and instead of a lovely winter climate, I am freezing. Have...