Heating vs Power: thoughts

[nathanlee]

Hi All,

I'm probably, although not absolutely certain yet, going to be taking the boat for a bit of a long cruise over the summer, starting from next month. The problem I have is that I have no means of charging my battery aside from my shore power system.

I have a single 85ah leisure battery on my Corribee.

Firstly, given that I only really need it for lights in the evening and running the nav gear (wind, depth, log, and plotter), do you think a Rutland 514 will be enough to sustain it?

The other problem is I effectively have 0 budget to do this with, so I'm probably going to have to sell the Eberspacher I bought, but as yet haven't fitted. I'm a bit concerned about not having any heat, so thought perhaps a Tilley lamp will take the chill off during the evenings... also save on running the cabin lights.

Does this seem reasonable?

 

[TiggerToo]

go for a R913. I think the smaller one is really only good for trickle charging.

As for Tilley: great bit of kit but beware that they are not really made for indoor use: you run the risk of gassing yourself in a closed environment.

 

[vyv_cox]

Tilley is superb for your purpose. I used one for years as a heat and light source in a succession of VW vans. They might emit a bit of CO, not really certain about that, but so long as you don't try to run it all night I doubt if you will have any problems.

It might be worth making up a base clamp or purpose built stand for it. Tilleys will hang from their handles but the roof above gets very warm and the heat is concentrated immediately below it. Better to keep the lamp a little lower for optimum light and heat but they are a bit tippy, so best held down.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

Yep, CO poisoning a definite risk. Make sure you have airflow in from somewhere.
Options we have used on our 20fter(and still do on our big un) are a Dimplex 5kw greenhouse heater- about £45 now from Chandleries, cheaper from DIY, etc?
A Fastnet (with heatshield)or Miners Safety Lamp(our preference) in gimbals gives a nice glow and takes the chill off a small cabin like a Redfox or Corribee.
We've also used the candle under a flowerpot and the heated brick systems, but you need to secure them.

 

[Blueboatman]

And don't forget the upturned earthenware flowerpot on the cooker..

Most outboards over 4 hp can be retrofitted with a charging circuit though for the same money I would buy a 18watt rigid solar panel- Sun or wind, covers most days.
Nathan, I hope you have a low energy fluorescent strip light and not halogen spotlights in the cabin ?
Tilley lamp excellent. Shame you don't cook with pressurised paraffin really as well=does anyone these days?
Have fun venturing off..

 

[nathanlee]

[ QUOTE ]
go for a R913. I think the smaller one is really only good for trickle charging.

As for Tilley: great bit of kit but beware that they are not really made for indoor use: you run the risk of gassing yourself in a closed environment.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm already used to gassing myself with the curries I make /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

The 913 would be my preferred choice because of it's power output, but I think it might be just too big for the 21ft Corribee, and also, too expensive.

I was hoping the 514 would do for the time being if I'm very careful on power consumption, then supplementing it with a solar cell when I get some money from one of those money tree's I had gotten used to having around, and now miss. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Tidewaiter2]

Agree with that, forgot about the Tilleyso long as they warm up and light outside first /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
If zero budget, could do like we did and clamp it to stove with existing pan clamps?
Could do that with a lamp oil fuelled hurricane lamp too, if Tilley cost/logistics(meths & paraffin) outside budget.

 

[nathanlee]

[ QUOTE ]
18watt rigid solar panel- Sun or wind, covers most days.
Nathan, I hope you have a low energy fluorescent strip light and not halogen spotlights in the cabin ?
Tilley lamp excellent. Shame you don't cook with pressurised paraffin really as well=does anyone these days?
Have fun venturing off..

[/ QUOTE ]

I do indeed. No halogen in here /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I've got an Origo meths burner. To be honest, I'd never have anything else after having that, it's brilliant, although I'd probably upgrade to the 3000 and take advantage of the extra burner should I buy another one.

 

[vyv_cox]

<<< And don't forget the upturned earthenware flowerpot on the cooker.. >>>

Somebody reported experiments with this recently on Scuttlebutt. Seems it's another yachtie myth - the flowerpots shattered.

 

[Blueboatman]

NO Sir, kept me toasty on a boat identical to that of the OP.
How toasty? Try ice on the decks, both sides of t'Atlantic..

.. Of course what I really wanted was a Taylors stove..

 

[nathanlee]

http://www.piplers.co.uk/2710/Sctt-Produ...ampaign=pid2710

These things seem to be quite cheap. Do they kick out much heat?

 

[maxi77]

I must admit that I have never really thought I ever got much out of the charging circuit on my outboards. I had 2 85 amp/hr batteries on my last two boats and kept them going with a Forgen wind generator so expect the 514 which has a greater output will do. We used to cruise for up to a week with that set up. Good overnight charge before we set of and all seemed to go OK.

 

[FullCircle]

Nathan, i have a 503, and its only useful for keeping the essential circuits like radio memories going, keeping the start battery topped up.
In 20kts of breeze I get just under 1 amp, which is wnough to light a 10w bulb for an hour, including wiring losses.
Not much.

Summer is coming, you wont need the Eberspacher. You will need the Rutland. No brainer for me.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I think you should forget about the eber as you won't have enough power to run it for any legnth of time unless you are in a marina when an electrical fan heater will do.

 

[nathanlee]

Yeah, I'm pretty settles on the fact that the ebber is going to have to go.

Prices on ebay don't look to clever at the moment though. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Laundryman]

I dont have the experience to offer advice on heating but i have just bought a lamp like that from a normal outdoor suppliers and paid less than half that price. £5 will buy one of those. Good Luck

 

[vyv_cox]

<<< These things seem to be quite cheap. Do they kick out much heat? >>>

Let's face it, it's a glorified candle and it gives out about the same heat.

If you can weld, you might like to make one of these.

 

[ghostlymoron]

We used to sail a leisure 17 which had a 55Ah battery charged by a 10watt solar panel. This never let us down even in Wales where there is more wind than sun. We ran cabin light, depth, log, gps and radio. Had nav lights but rarely used them - anchor light used often. I charged the battery at Easter and it lasted till October. Heating was limited to turning the grill on and using sleeping bag.

 

[Tarka1]

Nathan,

Having had a small wind generator on one boat followed by solar on the next I would go for solar every time (and that was in mid Wales!)

 

[Ceirwan]

Used a towed log, and turn off the log and wind, you will barely have any draw then except lights, i imagine your wind generator could keep up with that...