T-Pain Is On A Boat: Re: [Electric Boats] Solid Nav question for new boat

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Re: [Electric Boats] Solid Nav question for new boat

Richard,

A very similar unit to the Solid Nav is the Electric Yacht system. In fact I think they use different versions of the same etek clone electric motor. The primary difference is that the Electric Yachts system uses a brushed Etek/Mars type motor and the Solid Nav uses a brushless I believe.

Alot of people like brushless (Solid Nav). It is newer, higher tech, but relies on electronic commutation.

I like conventionally brushed. It is lower tech. It relies on mechanical commutation. If you have a controller/electronic failure, even a software glitch it can cause the system to not function.

With a brushed motor (Electric Yachts and maybe some others) you can just connect the positive and negative battery terminals to the motor with a mechanical switch and at least have on/ off control. Red to red,
black to black. good for a cromagnon type sailor like me.

There are lots of good arguments for the new higher tech brushless units, but I personally tip my hat to brushed motors.

For what its worth I am not affiliated with any of these businesses. I built my own system with a brushed etek 48 volts and I have been very happy with it. With gear and batts. my boat is about 6-tons, 32.5ft. I am in SF bay where we have lots of wind to work with. I do lots of anchoring and weekend trips in the bay and this system has worked well for my intended purposes.

Good luck,
Hans

--- On Thu, 8/6/09, Richard W. Sanders II <rwsandersii@hotmail.com> wrote:

From: Richard W. Sanders II <rwsandersii@hotmail.com>
Subject: [Electric Boats] Solid Nav question for new boat
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009, 2:19 PM

Hello,

I apologize in advance because I have discussed this unit here before and I know there are old posts, but my on-line time is limited.

My wife and I are working toward the purchase of a new Compac 27. We are definitely going electric. My prior research (which was about a year or two ago) indicated that the Solid Nav unit was the most reasonable in price and was the best fit for a "drop in" new installation.

The folks at Compac were impressed when they talked to the representative (they had a bad experience with the re-e-power and were hesitant about the electric motor).

Has there been any new products that are as good a match as the Solid Nav in terms of ease of installation, price, and you don't need to be an electronic engineer to run and maintain the system?

Thanks,

Richard

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