Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Retrofiting a classic

 

Dan , I actually much prefer sailing , its just my problem getting up the main that curtails me somewhat.
But , I often have a mate come out with me , and yep , we sail .
Off the swing mooring , to the fishing grounds , around the fishing grounds , and back to the mooring.
But , I don't want to be stopped , just because my mate isn't on board sometimes.
So , I motor sail.
I'd prefer to use hybrid , but it won't be on this boat .
I'm planning on buying a motor sailer that should be easily converted to hybrid diesel , and also easier for me to sail.
It may well be that in summer at least that the new boat would still be mostly sailed , with some electric propulsion .
But , if for whatever reason I can't sail , or use the electric power  , I'll have the diesel engine.
I'm probably like most on this forum , I'd prefer not to be using an IC engine , but I'd prefer to use an IC engine than not be out on the water at all.
Regards Rob J. 


From: Daniel Michaels <nov32394@yahoo.com>
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 31 August, 2010 5:18:37 PM
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Retrofiting a classic



In approved battery boxes. Fastened to the boat. Since mine are going to be where the engine was they will be on a shelf similar to a golf cart fastened down enclosed with the vent going to the transom. The reason I went with electric was because I was not planning on using it much. In your case it sounds like you want to use power more than sail. I think you would be better off with an inboard engine with a clutch to release the engine and power when you wish to be silent with an electric motor on the prop side of the clutch. Or just use an inboard fuel with a outboard electric.

The first thing you need to decide is the mission. I for one would not want to plan on sailing (Or boating) if I was going to be using the generator all the time. I would rather just stay with the fuel inboard. For me it was "I do not want ANY fuel onboard". If I was going to carry fuel I might as well carry it for the inboard engine. If you use your inboard for the heavy traveling a nice little electric outboard will power you around nicely for fishing.

Dan

--- On Tue, 8/31/10, Rob Johnson <dopeydriver@yahoo.com.au> wrote:

From: Rob Johnson <dopeydriver@yahoo.com.au>
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Retrofiting a classic
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 1:40 AM

 

Dan , I've already explained that I suffer from Arthritis , and some times my hands don't allow me to raise the gaff on my main.
I still have 2 headsails to use , but on those days , I still go out , motoring , using the headsails as steadying sails .
In the future , I may well sell this boat and get something I can sail easier , and set up with hybrid power.
My query is to find out how people are securing batteries etc , with this boat in mind.
Regards Rob J.


From: Daniel Michaels <nov32394@yahoo.com>
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 31 August, 2010 4:18:21 PM
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Retrofiting a classic



Well the battery bank is supposed to be in an approved enclosed container with a vent. Mine has a vent on the transom 1/2" line more than likely something for the engine. So I have an enclosed box with a vent above the water line. Salt water and batteries do not mix. I used to mix chloride and acid to make Chlorine dioxide for cleaning wells. I found out it works rather well to kill gophers also. As far as a generator on deck I am not sure why you would have one on deck if you have such big waves (Why aren't you sailing at this point). On calm days when you have to motor... The same thing can happen to a gas or diesel engine so I still do not see the point. Splash just a little water on a gas engine and I do not think it will run. My car quits every time I wash it. I guess a water tight bulkhead would come to mind for electrical or gas engines.

Dan

--- On Tue, 8/31/10, Rob Johnson <dopeydriver@yahoo.com.au> wrote:

From: Rob Johnson <dopeydriver@yahoo.com.au>
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Retrofiting a classic
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 12:40 AM

 

Dan , my question was what do people do to protect their battery bank , or on deck generator from being swamped .
All of the boat owners we have to assist would have done things differently , in hindsight , I'm looking to other peoples foresight .
Regards Rob J.  


From: Daniel Michaels <nov32394@yahoo.com>
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 31 August, 2010 2:04:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Retrofiting a classic



If you have to safe guard against everything to the point that if you leave the house there has to be 100% chance you are going to return you would never be able to leave the house. Further more how safe are you in the house to begin with.

If the boat got swamped by a wave why was the hatch open? Owners fault.
Boats have been sailing for decades without an electrical bilge pump. Why did they not have a manual bilge pump? Owners fault.
No backup battery for the radio or even a handheld. Owners fault.

Pilots hit mountains all the time in airplanes, it is rarely if ever the planes fault or anything to do with the plane. It is almost always pilot error. Same holds true for a ship at sea.

Dan


--- On Mon, 8/30/10, Rob Johnson <dopeydriver@yahoo.com.au> wrote:

From: Rob Johnson <dopeydriver@yahoo.com.au>
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Retrofiting a classic
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, August 30, 2010, 10:01 PM

 

I'd really like to have a hybrid marine diesel setup , with some solar panels also.
It would mean , like I have done over the last few weeks , when the arthritis is playing up too much to get the mainsail up , I can motor .
Over 2 hours of motoring , I probably wouldn't use 3 litres of diesel , so its no big deal.
But when I get out to the fishing grounds it would be nice to then switch to electric , and just troll around like I do now .
Trolling in engine mode , well its not as much fun as under sail , but over this winter , I'd only put the main up 1/2 the times I've gone out , and I go out at least once a week , over winter , every second day , or more , in the warmer months.
I won't have petrol or gas on the boat , and all electrical work is done by a very experienced marine electrician.
I work also in the radio room of the volunteer Coastguard , and all of our callouts have been involving petrol engines , fires and explosions , and electrical.
None with diesel engines failing.
Its pretty chilling , to get a "mayday" from a boat way out to sea , after a petrol fumes explosion and fire.
I'd love to have the best of both worlds , diesel , and electric.
My concern though , is we read of these big banks of batteries , and petrol generators , I presume on deck , what happens if they get swamped ?.
One of our last responses was to an epirb , set off by a boat owner after his boat was hit by a rogue wave , and was in real danger of sinking.
No electrics , no way of starting the outboard , no radio , no electric bilge pump.
Could someone please tell us how they have safeguarded against this occurrence ?.
Regards Rob J. 


From: sirdarnell <sirdarnell@yahoo.com>
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 31 August, 2010 11:59:43 AM
Subject: [Electric Boats] Re: Retrofiting a classic

No one has developed the controller for this in smaller sizes.  Also, I think in small systems the fuel savings don't make up for the costs of the electric drive system.

The trick is to use any excess energy in a useful and needed fashion while keeping the diesel generator running in it's ideal power band, usually 65-85% of full speed (rpms.)  However, a possibility would be a smart battery controller with remote generator start up (you can find these on some websites selling to the off-grid market.)  Assuming you have a good sized house battery so you can sit in a nice anchorage and enjoy nature without a generator constantly running...  Use the house (not starting) battery drive your motor, but have the charge controller automatically turn on the generator when the batteries hit some level, say 50% dept of discharge.  Now if you've an efficient, preferably DC generator, that can provide full power to the charger and the motor, we're set.  When you hear the generator start or see the indicator light come on, if possible, adjust boat speed until the generator is running at 65-80% of maximum rpms.

BTW hybrids are not diesel-electrics or gas-electrics, unless they are what one company calls an extended range electric car.  Since in a diesel-electric system the diesel doesn't attached to the drive train, not even in trains.  (Except one Canadian brand that has diesel/electric hybrid train engine.)

--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "Eric" <ewdysar@...> wrote:
>
> Sid,
>
> You're absolutely correct.  Diesel-electric has been used for many decades and has proven to be more efficient than diesel alone.  But there appears to be a problem of scale.  Do you know of any specific examples of successful diesel-electric vehicles or vessels that weigh less than 100 tons?
>
> Fair winds,
> Eric
> Marina del Rey, CA 
>
> --- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "sirdarnell" <sirdarnell@> wrote:
> >
> > I keep seeing this.  The military has been using diesel generators with electric engines since the 1930s (maybe earlier) to get more range.  So it must be work.  Not to mention trains, cruise ships, Ice breakers, freighters, etc.
> >
> > --- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, Daniel Michaels <nov32394@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Unless you are going to supplement the generator with solar and wind or shore power I think you will get less range than by just using a diesel engine.
> > >
> > > Dan
> >
>




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