From: Penelope L. McFadin <timechick@gmail.
To: electricboats@
Sent: Fri, 14 May, 2010 10:55:12 AM
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Looking for Advice on a Electric Drive System Supplier
On 5/13/2010 4:11 PM, Rob Johnson wrote:
From: Timechick <timechick@gmail.com>
To: electricboats@yahoogroups. com
Sent: Fri, 14 May, 2010 5:51:49 AM
Subject: RE: [Electric Boats] Looking for Advice on a Electric Drive System Supplier
Here , the coastguard is the "sea tow".
Yes , the biggest problem is outboards , running the batteries flat , or fuel problems.
And that leads to my point , they had no backup !.
I think the point I'm trying to say is that even the best made, best maintained, most powerful engines can and do fail. If you have a sail boat with an engine then you have two power systems. Engine and Sail. I would say if you want to be really safe, you need to be very skilled in the operation of both. Relying on just an Engine is just about as "unsafe" as just on sail. Engines are easy to use and this makes us lazy. Just relying on the good ol' engine is a recipe for disaster.
-- Penelope L. McFadin lux libertas et caritas http://chaosbutterfly.com/ http://www.cafepress.com/chaosbutte 29N32'32.45" 95W2'12.58"rfly
I agree Penelope.
And , we sail as much as possible , we sail off our mooring , and back on to it.
But , I keep my diesel in tip top condition , and when I go out to the boat , the first thing I do is check the engine , and start it.
So then we have all of the batteries topped up , and the engine warm.
Then , by the time we are ready to sail , more often than not , we will shut it down , and sail off the mooring.
We do whatever is the safest , but most times sailing off is just fine.
I've been on sailboats that have been disabled , I've been on sailboats that have been overwhelmed by the conditions.
I've seen lots of boats disabled by mechanical failure.
I've seen crews unable to sail , because they were horribly seasick.
Just a week or so ago we had a boat disabled , and drifting to a lee shore.
He called for help , but we were unable to get to him straight away , so asked him to drop anchor.
We probably got a dozen calls pleading with us to hurray and rescue them , because they were all very seasick.
Everyones situation is different , but we should make safety first.
Regards Rob J.
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