Of ball park numbers and bits of string

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Wansworth

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If I bought a suitable tiller pilot for my Albin Vega how much engine running say on a 6 hour trip would I need to run the engine to err charge the battery.
 
Have you got the Dynastart or the later Alternator? I did a trip from Whitehaven to Fleetwood when I had my Vega, it was a rough ride in a following sea, the auto pilot flattened the battery, both of them, I had the 1/2 both switches at the time, probably my fault, the Dynastart did not put enough juice back in. The Volvo could be started by hand (MD6A) luckily.
 
Figures for my Autohelm st1000 say 90ma standby and 0.5 - 1.5a (depending on load) so the max you'd take out the battery for six hours is 9amps (for the St1000, not sure about other types).
 
9 Amp hours could significantly discharge a small engine start battery that was near the end of it s life. On the other hand a large twin bank of batteries might hardly notice 9AH. Charge time for replenish will depend on size of battery and the capability of the alternator (or dynastart) Big batteries well discharged will soak up a lot of charge current but when near charged will not soak up much at all. Smaller batteries even less. So how long is a piece of string? good luck olewill
 
Davy_S said:
Have you got the Dynastart or the later Alternator? I did a trip from Whitehaven to Fleetwood when I had my Vega, it was a rough ride in a following sea, the auto pilot flattened the battery, both of them, I had the 1/2 both switches at the time, probably my fault, the Dynastart did not put enough juice back in. The Volvo could be started by hand (MD6A) luckily.
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Its a new ish engine and I dont know boats in uk and I am in Spain...anyway what pilot did you have and how did the boat behave?
 
Its a new ish engine and I dont know boats in uk and I am in Spain...anyway what pilot did you have and how did the boat behave?
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A Vega is a Vega wherever it lives!:) The original Vegas came with the albin petrol engine and combi drive, then they were fitted with the Volvo md6a with combi drive, the md6a had a Dynastart, combined starter and generator, it only generated around 8/9 amps. Later 6b and md7 engines had alternators fitted so generated more power.
I think I had the autohelm 1000 pilot, the 2000 would have been better in a following sea. The boat itself behaved very well, felt very safe, heeled early but soon stiffened up, I bought new sails and they really improved the handling, then I sold the boat, I wish I had brought her out here!
 
Davy_S said:
A Vega is a Vega wherever it lives!:) The original Vegas came with the albin petrol engine and combi drive, then they were fitted with the Volvo md6a with combi drive, the md6a had a Dynastart, combined starter and generator, it only generated around 8/9 amps. Later 6b and md7 engines had alternators fitted so generated more power.
I think I had the autohelm 1000 pilot, the 2000 would have been better in a following sea. The boat itself behaved very well, felt very safe, heeled early but soon stiffened up, I bought new sails and they really improved the handling, then I sold the boat, I wish I had brought her out here!
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Thanks....only been a few weeks last year so not actually ben to sea...Its fitted witha standard sharft arrangement now with a nearly new 13 HP lOMBARDINI ......
 
Its fitted witha standard sharft arrangement now with a nearly new 13 HP lOMBARDINI ......
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I have only ever seen a Lombardini that was fitted into a centaur, it drove the yacht well. Most of the Vegas had their engines replaced with a Beta and standard shaft, although I have seen a couple with Yanmars fitted.
In case you do not know, Steve Birch of these forums runs the Vega club, he supplies all sorts of spares for the Vegas, although I have not seen him on here for a while, he was always very helpful. good luck.
 
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