Sailing the seas of Confusing Portable Generators

[Alan de Enfield]

14 minutes ago, TNLI said:

The 230Ah batteries might be unsealed golf cart ones. They are good deep cycle ones, although I don't like them if they are not sealed due to Chlorine gas risk if the bilge floods. 

 

 

You are simply making lifeboat considerations and not looking at 'normal' boats and boating.

My 6x 230Ah are a bit heavy at 55kg-58kg but are 'liftable' on my own.

They are not golf buggy batteries they are 625 Truck batteries and I demand open-cell so I can check on water levels and top up as necessary,

It is a motor cruiser with twin 6-litre engines a 2000+ mile range with 3 fuel tanks carrying 2,800 litres.

We have a lot of electical & electronic 'comforts' and Nav gear on board.

Solar panels help keeping the batteries charged if we stay anchored up for a few days.

 

 

 

 

My other boat is a CatA Blue Water Catamaran and yes, we only have 1x 230Ah domestic battery (and 2x 100Ah starter batteries, one for each engine) 3x 100 watt Solar panels keep the batteries topped up for the fridge, microwave, TV and electronics / Nav gear,

 

 

 

Edited July 11, 2021 by Alan de Enfield

[TNLI]

4 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

 

You are simply making lifeboat considerations and not looking at 'normal' boats and boating.

My 6x 230Ah are a bit heavy at 55kg-58kg but are 'liftable' on my own.

They are not golf buggy batteries they are 625 Truck batteries and I demand open-cell so I can check on water levels and top up as necessary,

It is a motor cruiser with twin 6-litre engines a 2000+ mile range with 3 fuel tanks carrying 2,800 litres.

We have a lot of electical & electronic 'comforts' and Nav gear on board.

Solar panels help keeping the batteries charged if we stay anchored up for a few days.

 

 

 

 

My other boat is a CatA Blue Water Catamaran and yes, we only have 1x 230Ah domestic battery (and 2x 100Ah starter batteries, one for each engine) 3x 100 watt Solar panels keep the batteries topped up for the fridge, microwave, TV and electronics / Nav gear,

 

 

 

Like the Cat, but can't figure out why the engines in the fishing boat are so big. please don't say they are inboard petrol jobs, as I thought they were not insurable. Lifeboats, old ones in particular, are just normal boats certified to a standard that would be good for a normal boat, offshore fishing boats in particular. 

 

  Can you seal the lids of the battery boxes or bay shut? I have seen some good installation jobs done for folks that like topping up batteries, (Sealed battery bays must have a Hydrogen vent line), that were good. Saves money, as you don't really need regulators for solar panels and can use much cheaper car or truck batteries. 

   In some boats the battery boxes are the first place to flood if an engine hose fails, and for those folks that missed out on Chemistry O level classes, sea water and sulphuric acid do not like each other. The net result is Chlorine gas!

  My battery bay is under the central coffin berth I sleep in, but it does make lifting standing up or even bending over impossible, I have to lift a battetry out whilst lying down. I plan to add 4 more small NiCad's when I fit the 48V Aux power electric drive system, but they will be under the sealed tool box which is not in the picture, as the pic of the coffin berth is about 3 months ago. I will post a new pic when the engine is installed.

 

Most new offshore Cat's or Trimirans are unsinkable, but will burn very easily like most fiberglass boats. The last Sunseeker to burn in Poole was in a yard with good CCTV. First sign of external smoke was 6 minutes before it turned into a ball of fire that could not be approached from any direction. They do have good smoke detectors, BUT the idea of using handheld fire extinguishers is not too good in a serious fire. The solution that does work, is to fit flood valves to each water tight compartment, just like the military fit. You then just open up the valve for the smoking compartment, and then put the main fire hose through the top hatch nearest to the fire. Opening up that hatch, also allows you to check for occupants, like the chap with the welding torch! Engines fires are best delt with in a similar manner, IF the burst bottles that are often standard fit for the better quality boat manufacturers don't work as intended, or you can't find the fuel shut off lever. The deck wash pump can double up for a main fire hose, and often does, although bucket and chuck it can work for small boats.

 

PS: The coffin berth is just forward of the parrot and penguin, (My motley crew), where the deckchair and silver insulation roll is. The 4 battery boxes are directly below, and the fuel tank and floatation watertight compartmenta are on either side. The roll over and pitchpole proof berth is good for one person, BUT rather more interesting for two. The rescue deck is directly above and the forward cabin lower hatch is where my feet would be.

  The design is really based on singlehanded operation requrements, so it's a bit odd!

Edited July 12, 2021 by TNLI
editing itself

[Glynn]

Without a doubt Honda.