Wren's Camper

We run our washing machine off the solar panels (400 watts in 4 panels currently) The Candy washer has a setting for 'use whatever comes from the tap' so no heater involved. Washer draws only about 260W so is easy off our 1500W inverter on a sunny day. (It's all very well having big inverters but can the engine/alternater keep up with demand?) We use the genny only in winter and the engine about once every two weeks for an hour to go get water and empty tanks. Without the solar our batteries would be run low every night - shortening their life. Without the solar we would have double the petrol bill Without the solar we would be lugging the generator on and off the boat every day, all year AND listening to the thrumming of the thing not to mention annoying neighbours Without the solar we would be polluting twice as much as we currently do. Solar panels need no servicing, no oil changes, no carrying about, no worrying about whether they'll start. We could also go and buy an extra panel at any time and make ourselves even more smug about our (semi) free electric. Oh and I forgot - we are big users and 100% off grid with an electric fridge, all the gadgets and we hardly ever give our battery levels a thought for about 5/6 months of the year they are always above 12.2V The less we rely on generators the better and it's just so easy with a bit of thought. One thing I can't help with is the hair dryer! only use during the winter?

That's a good thought, I was just thinking boats. It's just that I have heard stories of people who have done it on a boat but never seen any real live evidence. Right - Google it is...

Hi Luctor et emergo, Does it do the business? should I do the same? I was thinking of having an exchanger made from something like stainless steel.

I'd like to know and I'm guessing I'm not the only one... Has anybody got any experiences to share on taking heat from an SR2/3 exhaust via any kind of exchanger to feed a calorifier? Thanks, Tim

Ian might be a handful... but if you did want a project there's always this (another Taurus) and you could keep the Taurus name!

In reply to Paul, I think I might be able to pleasantly surpise you. I pass this boat regularly on the Oxford and have noticed a couple of things. Firstly it isn't motorised or if it is the conversion is well hidden and for the last few years it has been towed between it's different mooring places. Secondly, the remains of the Willow Wren livery can be clearly seen on the back cabin sides (at least from the canal side) not sure about the towpath. She's certainly seen better days and sits very high in the water, just as well considering the number of holes and ill-fitting planks.