T-Pain Is On A Boat: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Powerboat converstion to SOLAR-DC

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Powerboat converstion to SOLAR-DC

Hello Rocco.

Do an internet search for a boat called Sun 21. This was a retrofitted catamaran that crossed the atlantic ocean. It averaged about 5knts I think. It is worth bearing in mind that they ran day and night 24hrs/day on the energy they were able to collect only during the days. There was no "space race" technology on this boat. Just a roof covered in solar panels and lead acid batteries. Most of the components on the boat were off the shelf commercial products.

In my opinion, what you want to do is about as reasonable as powering a residential house with solar. Maybe even easier as you do not to use a sophisticated grid tied inverter system. You can plug into shorepower for recharching on cloudy days or charge from a regular AC generator.

If you have the budget it is doable. I hope you go for it!

Good luck

Hans K

--- On Sun, 2/21/10, Rocco <fisherman_rocco@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Rocco <fisherman_rocco@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Powerboat converstion to SOLAR-DC
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, February 21, 2010, 9:33 AM

Eric =
"House boats or pontoon boats that run much slower and have flat roofs that cover most of the footprint of the hull can almost operate under solar power. "

This is exactly what I plan to do, using a forward cabin, flat roof aft ( above the work deck on a fishing rod and reel boat). I will have to go digging into my pile of CD's to get pictures of a boat that I would use. I worked on a Commercial Fishing boat that I think would be perfect for the application I am looking for. I will be using this boat as a work boat, not a pleasure boat. There is no such thing as "ugly" on a work boat. Clean is good.

Twin screw Hull of 35 feet minimum. Roof space of an area of say 12 feet by 18 to 25 foot square for the SOLAR Panels. Battery's and motor weight will replace fuel tank[s] and engine[s] weight. A generator will be an alternate source of power, a back-up system to get me home.
Speed. I would be Happy with 5 kts all day long with a max of ? 8 kts? for safe passage through fast moving currents. I am asking this because I have not found the answer.
Plum Gut, The Race and Mountalk Point have currents that scream in two direction every 6 hours or so. I am from Port Jefferson Long Island. In 1980 I was stationed at Governors Island on the CGC Tamaora, 1983 New London CT on the CGC Vigiorus and 1983 to 85 I was Stationed at Eaton's Neck. As a BM3 I was a Search and Rescue Coxswain on the 41422 and the 41343. Small world....

My sister and mom live in Port Jeff and Sound Beach. I went to St. Anthony's in Smithtown way back when......

With what I have been seen and learned from this site, My plan is workable!

Thanks Rocco

NEVER FORGET Sept 11, 2001

--- On Sun, 2/21/10, Eric <ewdysar@yahoo. com> wrote:

From: Eric <ewdysar@yahoo. com>
Subject: [Electric Boats] Re: Powerboat converstion to SOLAR-DC
To: electricboats@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Sunday, February 21, 2010, 2:42 AM

The biggest limitation to solar powered vessels is the surface area that you can reasonably collect solar energy from. As someone recently discussed on this board, power boats will typically have power requirements that are much higher than auxiliary sailboats.

For the sake of the conversation, lets say that you find a drive system that meets your specs, comprised of two 10 Kw drives. The amount of energy in sunlight hitting the surface of the earth is about 1 Kw per square meter. Photovoltaic panels are now reaching approximately 25% efficiency, but many are less. So a generous estimate is 4 square meters of panels to generate 1 Kw. To collect enough electricity in a day to drive a boat for 1 hour at 20 Kw, one would need 3.33 Kw of panels which would be 13 square meters or 10' x 15' of panels. These figures are theoretical and do not factor in any losses for charging, storage or operational efficiencies, so in practice, the panels would have to be considerably larger.

House boats or pontoon boats that run much slower and have flat roofs that cover most of the footprint of the hull can almost operate under solar power. The solar land racers in Australia succeed by reducing their power requirements to almost nothing. Pushing a big displacement boat at 10 knots takes considerable energy. More batteries make the problem worse by increasing the power requirements.

It all comes down to math, balancing the energy needed with the available energy.

Fair winds,
Eric
Marina del Rey

--- In electricboats@ yahoogroups. com, "fisherman_rocco" <fisherman_rocco@ ...> wrote:
>
> SOLAR / DC is the way I am looking to go on my 36 to 40 foot, twin screw, fiberglass live aboard Project. (Just started looking for the boat having made up my mind on propulsion) Solar panels to power battery chargers. Replacement of fuel tanks and engines, with Batteries and DC motors. SOLAR Panels will be mounted on the fore deck and bridge. Diesel Generator for power back-up and emergency power. 10 Knots should be fine on battery power.
>
> Having 6 years in the US Coast Guard, CG Certified Marine Drill Conductor, Commercial Fishing boat Captain for over 25 years, from Maine to Texas, I have retired. :D
>
> 48 volt or 96 volt? motor size will determine the voltage?
> Gel or Sealed?
> There will be enough room for 16 to 20 ,estimated, D-8 size batteries. (Fuel tank replacement space) Judging by the motor size, I should have room for a motor the approx size of a small V-8.
>
> Any help? Thanks Rocco
>