Groundhog

I don't think there's a way of using a 12v alternator on a 24 v system. The 24v could be 2 12v batteries in series or it could be 4 6v, 12 2v etc. Apart from the advantage of volt drop being half the problem it is on 12v systems solar is much cheaper when it comes to buying a controller. A 30amp MPPT controller feeding 24v can support 700watts of solar panels, a 60amp controller would be needed on a 12v system. If I was designing a system from scratch I'd give serious consideration to using 24v.

I have a friend who is 20 stones plus, he's 6'7" tall and about as wide. I've told him he can come boating if he dresses like a Viking.

I did some scumble work in the back cabin of my previous boat. It looked like a dirty protest

Thanks, I will. I'm at the boat over the weekend, take a measure of things and think about placements and start a thread.

Those forum links of yours have given me a few hours well spent pete. I think I'll stick with the squirrel, fit a back boiler and run 2 perhaps 3 gravity fed rads. If I can get that working it looks like by far the best way of doing the job. A fun project as well.

I'm certain the squirrel will have enough grunt for the job and my current thinking is to keep it and fit a back boiler. I've had 3 boats in my time and they've all had squirrels. They must be the most popular stoves on the cut but that doesn't mean there aren't improvements to be had. I went straight to the links in your signature. That's my bed time reading taken care of. Thanks!

My boat is currently fitted with a Morso Squirrel with no back boiler. During the course of this year as part of the changes to the boat before I leave the marina for good I want to get radiators in the bedroom and bathroom. I could get a back boiler fitted to the existing stove or I could swap it out for a new one. I've seen stoves with a top oven in them but I don't know who they were made by. This feature would be nice but not critical. There will be a lot of work involved in running pipework for the radiators I'm approaching this with the "do it right, do it once" ethos.

Exactly right. At best the the 'motor' will bounce a little bit from the energy input of moving the last magnet into place. Once that has dissipated everything will stop dead with the magnetic forces in equilibrium.

I've spent a lot of time reading posts on here about electrics over the last week or so and from what I've seen there's limitations to the SG and also limitations to shunt based monitors. It seems the only way to overcome those limitations is to install both which is what I've decided on and what the OP will have when their work is done. I think NickNorman's posts on the subject persuaded me it was the way to go but I've read that many I could be unfairly apportioning blame with that statement.

Do you think the desulphenation device could cause a problem then or do you think it's just pretty much useless?

I'm interested in this price drop as well. I'm planning a solar install. People here have recommended Bimble and having spoken to them I can see why. Very knowledgeable, very helpful and their prices are competitive.

Everything you say is right which is why naming the yard isn't a good plan, it could lead to a slanging match between supporters and detractors. Whatever the reason though, the "other side" of the story doesn't alter the fact of a weld being unfit for purpose. It's why the second half of my post suggested the best approach to this is positive rather than negative.List yards that do consistently good work, only employ competent welders and used the right equipment. There must be plenty of people on here with truly great experiences of using yards. I don't need any welding but in the future I may well do. I would trust this forum as a whole to be able to make recommendations of places I could use. Far better and ultimately more useful than slating the bad ones.

I understand what you're saying and to an extent I agree but I can't help thinking based on the posts here from those in the know about welding that there is no other side to the story. The weld is unfit for purpose. I don't think naming the yard or welder would be sensible from this site owners perspective but perhaps it would be good if with the the help of the resident experts here a thread existed with details of yards that were objectively good. Welded properly, decent service, reasonable prices for work carried out etc. Maybe the thread exists and I just didn't notice it.

Clever. So the 4th stage isn't so much a charging stage as it is the charger being clever about maintaining the batteries. If the previous owner did keep the boat on shore power and go out as little as I'm led to believe it would explain the batteries being nearly 8 years old and appearing to be in great condition. Do I refit the desulphation device though or is it completely useless?