Hmm, I rescued two diesel powered sailboats one summer using the old 6HP 2-stroke outboard on my 20 ft sloop. One big, expensive, 50-something footer had overheating problems a few miles off-shore and I towed him into the harbor. It was slow going, but the old Johnson sea-horse soldiered on, belching blue smoke all the way. The other boat was even bigger. He ran out of fuel, then got something fouled trying to sail single-handed in the marina, apparently something he'd never done before. I towed him to the fuel dock.
I'm not sure why I felt the need to tell these stories. I guess I'm making the point that it's not so much about what equipment you have, but how you install, maintain, and use it.
Cheers,
Jim
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "acsarfkram" <acsarfkram@...> wrote:
>
> The only time I was towed into a harbor was on a sailboat with a diesel.
>
> Mark
> Santa Cruz
>
> --- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, Rob Johnson <dopeydriver@> wrote:
> >
> > Mike , people do sail without auxilery power yes , and survive.
> > And they also do untold damage to the industry .
> > There was a fairly elderly couple who came in to Port Fairy a few years back ,
> > and caused chaos .
> > Because they refused to be towed in , insisted on towing their boat up the river
> > with their tender , and screwed up the operation of all of the charter boats ,
> > and professional fishermen for the day.
> > They are banned from the port now , and the harbourmaster is VERY suspicious of
> > any sailboat that asks for a mooring in his port .
> > Why ?, because some selfish elitist wouldn't accept that he is a hindrence , and
> > expects everyone else to bend for him.
> > I'll repeat , almost all of our 100+CG callouts a year are for outboard problems
> > , never diesel , and the useage of the different type of engines over the year
> > is probably 50-50.
> > Yes , survival does depend on skill , but also having the foresight to do what
> > is appropriate.
> > And that means having a "PLAN B" , and fastidious care and maintenance.
> > I can't believe you insist on recommending the use of a domestic Honda portable
> > generator for serious blue water sailors , I find that incredible !.
> > But , what more can I say ?.
> > Nothing , without the moderator jumping on me.
> > I certainly wouldn't even get on your boat , and I very much doubt if the Water
> > Police here would let you leave the port , blue water sailing , with that setup.
> > Regards Rob Johnson
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Mike <biankablog@>
> > To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Sun, 5 June, 2011 1:28:29 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Siandra unplugged
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Rob:
> >
> > There are many examples of people who have traveled thousands of miles on the
> > seas and continue to travel without any engine at all. Lin and Larry Pardy come
> > to mind. Survival at sea when things go bad on the water does not depend on any
> > particular type of "auxiliary power" you have on board. Survival depends on the
> > skills of the sailor and having a plan to deal with the conditions one finds
> > themselves in. Depending on a diesel as a backup plan does not guarantee a safe
> > outcome any more than relying on an electric propulsion system when the going
> > gets rough. I've had my diesel fail on me a few times for various reasons from
> > antifreeze leaks to a clogged intakes and filters. Luckily these failures did
> > not happen in storm conditions. I also had a YIKES moment when I recently
> > looked into my on board diesel fuel tank as I am converting it into a fresh
> > water wash down tank:
> > http://biankablog.blogspot.com/2011/04/in-tank-part-one-scene-of-grime.html
> > I wonder how many other diesel tanks are in boats with this type of tar coating
> > in their tanks just waiting for some rough conditions to dislodge it and clog
> > the fuel lines.
> > When I was deciding whether to switch to electric propulsion I did think about
> > the ramifications of the limited range due to the battery bank storage issue.
> > Would I be able to cruise the same way to the same places as when I had a
> > diesel. Happily I find I can and the trip is much more pleasant than when I had
> > a diesel. I decided to add the Honda 2000 into the charging mix because of this
> > concern. Though I find that I am using it less than I originally thought I would
> > to get me where I need to go. I think the problem with the Siandra conversion is
> > they were using the 48 volt bank not only for electric propulsion but, to power
> > their house bank too and they just wanted to use their limited solar and wind
> > generator setup to recharge the batteries. I think they expected too much from
> > the technology and were on also sold on the regen too which led to their
> > dissappointment. I think a lot of their problems would have been solved with the
> > addition of a small generator and at a much cheaper cost than going back to
> > diesel. Their issue was with charging the battery bank not the reliability of
> > the electric propulsion system
> >
> > Capt. Mike
> > http://biankablog.blogspot.com
> >
> >
> > --- On Sun, 6/5/11, Rob Johnson <dopeydriver@> wrote:
> >
> >
> > >From: Rob Johnson <dopeydriver@>
> > >Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Siandra unplugged
> > >To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
> > >Date: Sunday, June 5, 2011, 12:53 AM
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Richard , what is the percentage of people who have died in those situations ,
> > >to those that survive ?.
> > >Over the centuries , millions have died , for no other reason than they had
> > >inadequate auxilery power.
> > >We , in the Portland CG have 100 +rescues each year , almost all fuel or
> > >electrical problems with outboards (never diesels).
> > >No backup power , they had to be rescued.
> > >That means someone else had to risk their lives , to help them.
> > >I say , get it right the first time , don't deal with dreams and romance , deal
> > >with facts.
> > >The people on Siandra want to regain their independence , which they had lost
> > >with their electric setup.They had been sold a pup.
> > >And facts , I'm finding out , are hard to find , in this industry.
> > >Time to forget the BS , and deal with cold hard reality.
> > >Regards Rob J.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Richard Mair <fullkeel2000@>
> > >To: "electricboats@yahoogroups.com" <electricboats@yahoogroups.com>
> > >Sent: Sun, 5 June, 2011 10:37:47 AM
> > >Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Siandra unplugged
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >With a sailboat an engine is not always needed to get back to land..
> > > Read about Yves adventures here
> > >http://www.capehorn.com/sections/dematage/capsized.htm
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Rob Johnson <dopeydriver@>
> > >To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
> > >Sent: Friday, June 3, 2011 9:02:26 PM
> > >Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Siandra unplugged
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Kevin , when talking about serious ocean going , then you have to consider all
> > >possibilities , its not always possible to hide from bad weather.
> > >About this time last year , a Czech was getting well in to the last leg of a
> > >solo circumnavigation , from NZ to NZ.
> > >He was in the Southern ocean , 800 or so NM south of here , when he was hit by a
> > >storm , of a severity that he had never experienced before.
> > >After 3 days , his boat pitch poled , breaking the mast , and clearing the deck
> > >, including his life raft.
> > >He had to stay below for another 2 days , before the weather abated enough for
> > >him to come up , and survey the damage.
> > >He had a boom left , he made up a little jury rig , and there was a fair amount
> > >of diesel in his tank , so , over the next few weeks , he slowly made it to
> > >Portland , Australia , motoring , motorsailing.
> > >Tell me how he could have made it back here , by electric power.
> > >The only way I can see is by using a serial , or parallel diesel hybrid ,
> > >installed in the boat.
> > >There is a lot to dislike about diesel , but the reality is its hard to beat ,
> > >when the chips are down.
> > >Regards Rob J.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Kevin Pemberton <pembertonkevin@>
> > >To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
> > >Sent: Sat, 4 June, 2011 9:30:53 AM
> > >Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Siandra unplugged
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Like it or not, advertising or promoting something like re-gen that has shown
> > >makes up little of what is used is a bad idea.
> > >I have charmed in on the topic more than once just to remind people it is a pipe
> > >dream. It is disappointing to read that someone that went to the trouble of
> > >conversion went back to a complete dino system because someone sold them on such
> > >a thing. I hope people on this list will continue to discourage the hope of
> > >re-gen every time it is brought up. It has little to do with new tech and more
> > >to do with selling something that has failed the test more than one time just to
> > >make a buck.
> > >
> > >What you can expect from re-gen is:
> > >
> > >
> > > * Lost WMG that seems to mean little till you are caught in a storm because you
> > >failed to make port before the storm.
> > > * finding that recovery didn't even keep the house lit.
> > > * Finding that people that tried to discourage re-gen were right, and no
> > >matter, you are disappointed with your results.Just remember energy has to come
> > >from somewhere and all things moving require energy to do it. Most cruisers
> > >spend much effort to keep out of natures way. They hide in port for the right
> > >sailing conditions, and try to outrun any storm. So why consider re-gen? Sorry
> > >for the rant.
> > >
> > >Kevin Pemberton
> > >
> > >On 06/03/2011 09:53 AM, acsarfkram wrote:
> > >Hey Mike,
> > >>
> > >>I couldn't agree more, for me it would be depressing to go back to diesel or
> > >>gasoline. Regen is a weak point(so far) and it seems a prop in an aperture is
> > >>even more of a challenge. I can't shake the idea of a hydro-generator for regen
> > >>on an electric auxiliary.
> > >>
> > >>I guess they must of gotten one of the older Sevcons that restricts
> > >>forward/reverse shifting if the shaft is moving. They could have had the
> > >>controller re-programed or have done what I did with the shaft brake. The brake
> > >>would have also taken care of the freewheeling prop issue.
> > >>
> > >>Mark
> > >>Santa Cruz
> >
> >
> > -- AspireOne Netbook running Ubuntu 11.04 Safe, Secure, Easy to use, Free Open
> > Source Linux OS. Leaving Virus worries to the Windows Users!
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
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