Eric:
I've always planned my trips to go with the currents even when I still had my diesel engine on board. Not only was it fuelish not to it also meant that I would have to put up the with the noise and vibration from the ICE that much longer. With electric it's all about saving the amps champs. Going with the tidal currents and electro sailing can increase your boat speed using minimal amps. Most of the currents I have to deal with are in the 1 to 2 knot range. But, in certain areas they can be 4- 6 knots. You know I go with the flow in those waters. Always have, electric or diesel. In my east coast waters the Eldridge Tide and Pilot http://biankablog.blogspot.com/2011/12/gifts-for-boaters-eldridge-tide-pilot.html is always in the cockpit with me. I've found it's always good to study the currents in your area. I found some surprises where the currrent around a point of land does not change until 90 minutes after other areas nearby have changed. When you look at a chart it does not make sense. I thought it was a misprint in the Eldridge but, I found out from actual experience it is correct. This research into using the currents for the subs and drones should help us with EP as we are all electric boats that want to save the amps. Interesting research to keep an eye on IMO.
Capt. Mike
From: Eric <ewdysar@yahoo.com>
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 1:46 PM
Subject: [Electric Boats] Re: Good seamanship, using currents.
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 1:46 PM
Subject: [Electric Boats] Re: Good seamanship, using currents.
Hi Kirk,
While the article is interesting, it doesn't sound like we, as recreational boaters, will have access to anything like this for the forseeable future.
As far as planning your route to take advantage of local currents, that's been a good practice of mariners since there's been mariners. Whenever I'm going out for more than a day sail, I alway check my tide chart, the only current in my area that runs faster than 1 kt, is the tidal current going in and out of the maarina, it can run higher than 2 kts at maximum. If you're fighting that current, it can really slow you down.
I have found that since I've become an electric sailor I pay even more attention to the tidal current, since my motoring speeds are slower than when it was just fuel. For example, 20 minutes at 4kts in still water turns into 40 minutes against the current and 14 minutes with the current. Since the maximum current only lasts less than an hour, waiting for 90 minutes allows the current to slow to 1kt and will can save 13 minutes compared to the maximum flow. That's saving more than 30% of the run time to get to the open ocean.
What kind of currents do you have to deal with in your area?
Fair winds,
Eric
Marina del Rey, CA
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, Kirk McLoren <kirkmcloren@...> wrote:
>
> http://www.gizmag.com/auv-current-algorithm-system/21780/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=57459459f9-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email
>
While the article is interesting, it doesn't sound like we, as recreational boaters, will have access to anything like this for the forseeable future.
As far as planning your route to take advantage of local currents, that's been a good practice of mariners since there's been mariners. Whenever I'm going out for more than a day sail, I alway check my tide chart, the only current in my area that runs faster than 1 kt, is the tidal current going in and out of the maarina, it can run higher than 2 kts at maximum. If you're fighting that current, it can really slow you down.
I have found that since I've become an electric sailor I pay even more attention to the tidal current, since my motoring speeds are slower than when it was just fuel. For example, 20 minutes at 4kts in still water turns into 40 minutes against the current and 14 minutes with the current. Since the maximum current only lasts less than an hour, waiting for 90 minutes allows the current to slow to 1kt and will can save 13 minutes compared to the maximum flow. That's saving more than 30% of the run time to get to the open ocean.
What kind of currents do you have to deal with in your area?
Fair winds,
Eric
Marina del Rey, CA
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, Kirk McLoren <kirkmcloren@...> wrote:
>
> http://www.gizmag.com/auv-current-algorithm-system/21780/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=57459459f9-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email
>
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