blodger

Solar panels don't run at 12/23/14 volts but 18/22.5 hence the need for the itermediary controller the more expensive of which MPPT are converters with some wizadry to give you 25% more than the cheaper MPW ones. Folk will recommend 'quality' branded ones at price beyond that which I would pay. Cheapo Chinese ones on EBay or even second hand ones will do the job at about 0.50p per watt. I used to reckon that two 55 watt panels ran my old fridge in the summer; No need for it in the winter. Considerations are how much roof space you want to give them and what pay back time you are aiming for. I prefer panels up to 100 watt, 12v nominal, that I have added too over time and, that I can hop scotch over when single handing at locks etc. There are lots of other considerations but not worth getting in to if you are just trying to obviate the fridge load using the batts

Does this mean you are taking up a home mooring of the brick variety? Good fortune regardless

Can't help but conjure up Penelope

Aye some contributors that are NABO members put me off others seem OK but it is not easy to clarify what they are for and against. Joining helps them numbers wise and financially but seems to have aspects of shooting yourself in the foot. For now I'll help out the 'riff raff' with my 25.00 methinks more usefully.

Because its an old wives and Naughty Cal thing

That sounds about right. That's reminded me to stick a panel on the dash of the Rover I have just laid up awaiting the scrap man as I'll take the batt off before it goes

Yes we went boating on the Thames for a month leaving the car a Thrup (Kidlington) when we got back the car was dead as a dodo. Had to take a batt off the boat to get it started. Since I have had soal panels even on top of the car. Saved replacing a battery last winter!

Yes. & No I do not necesarily agree with majority rule. It's where democracy gets it wrong IMHO. The perversity of my nature means I find it difficult not to see things from an alternative view and see a real role for devil's advocates in nearly all decision making.

I agree with the sentiments of that. As I have said I am being tempted towards NABO but I think if its stance on Roving Permits and Enforcement Fines are contrary to my own as I suspect they are I will not be joining but looking for an alternative, not necessarily that agrees with me but also puts the alternative view.

I think you will find the orientation and glass intervening will cut down what you might have otherwise got but the ones for cars are designed for just lying on the dash board so I suspect it will achieve its purpose. To be honest I would recommend 10watts minimum and I must admit to having two of those 4w jobbies because they were cheap for portability and emergencies

Patently there is if one feels one is not represented by the organisations purportedly set up to obviate such need. One aspect of collective organised representation that gets missed is representation of monorities or of those with alternative views. Echoing concerns you have been expressing regarding CWDF. There will always be a need to do things in other ways if the needs of such other are to hold any weight rather than following the blind or uncaring majority. ETA second paragraph

What's to worry about. I do not know how waterproof they are but I would be tempted to put some blutack around the connector to keep water out. It will do a better job than the 1/2 watt ones sold for cars that you sometimes see mounted around the stern for the starter battery.

I have three banks of batts plus starters so I have made up a box of diodes, switches and voltmeters so that when the batts are isolated at the isolators they each get charge from the solar. It just seems that when so much effort goes into keeping the starter circuit separate from the domestics it is wrong to connect them together. Giving the starter battery a feed from the same source, solar, with a diode the right way round in the line just maintains the electrical isolation somewhat.

I do not think the newbie stuff was so much a factor as the content/style of your OP. Welcome aboard. It seems to be just one of those things when a discussion is one sided and someone comes in playing devils advocate that a concerted attempt gets made to shoot such down. Its the same in life face to face.

I had a look and the spoof 'The last day in the Canal and River Trust Office' with Robin Evans played by Hitler is worth a watch for tips

As long as you are not moored in the shade of trees or buildings 200 watts solar even in Winter would more than combat the tendency of the batts to self discharge IMO. The age and type of the batts may also be a factor and a more sphisticated charge controller might do a better job if it equalises a bit every now and again. I presume that you would be commoning your starter battery with the domestics while you are away or better giving the starter battery its own feed from the controller with a diode in the lead to maintain its isolation?

Except that the battery usage and charging will be better balanced if you shift one of the battery supply lines to the new battery so that the take offs are diagonally opposit each other. The Smartguage site and threads on here explain it better

Yes that looks to be one of the older acr alternators 25/30 amp. I think you would find upgrading to a 70a replacement would be adequate for 3 + 1 starter. You can do that job yourself for less than 50.00 if you source the alt from somewhere like Middletons in Manchester

You mean as apposed to a recoil hand start

A strange definition of a trade union

You must have seen a few boats where the box with the genny in is abaft the tiller mounted over the stern fender. Would not that be a safer prospect for you. With a few pulleys, switch move and, maybe a grommet in the back doors you could still remote it?

The same as BW eh

In my experience gennys don't work too well unless you can kick them. I would experiment with your sound insulation berween the roof and genny first because I think you may find the silent bit amplified by the hull to a more intolerable level. I wish you well

Other vested interests in BW/CaRT Have better input into them than 'boaters' . That may in part be down to lack of boaters membership of 'associations' purporting to represent boaters and whatever one thinks of the representation they make. In some ways, I agree with you, it should not be necessary but I see the end point being myself and others giving up boating.

I do not know if the Nabo structure is fit for purpose but I would suggest echoing as much as makes sense and is practical rather than inventing the wheel and so as to be attractive to those who have resorted to Nabo because there is nothing else. I am worried about where CaRT is going and want to be represented within CaRT. I'll end up Naboing if nothing else takes off in consequence.