[quote="8GCBC"]Added a single 100W solar panel to the top of the dodger (Victron regulator). Enough to get me to San Pedro, California…it’s mostly a backup to the engine driven alternator. When I sail to Hawaii and then the Tuamotus Archipelago will definitely add more solars arrays. And possibly a water maker.

NOTE: My buddy talked me out of installing the GoPower flexible panels and an archaic regulator. I’m stoked with it so far! We are loading up the boat and moving to Southern California…yea haa.

We crossed the pacific with two 100w hard panels and a 50 amp alternator. No refrigeration but a 25 gal hour engine driven water maker. Having a shower every day far outweighed the cold drinks for me.

daedaluscan wrote:

8GCBC wrote:Added a single 100W solar panel to the top of the dodger (Victron regulator). Enough to get me to San Pedro, California…it’s mostly a backup to the engine driven alternator. When I sail to Hawaii and then the Tuamotus Archipelago will definitely add more solars arrays. And possibly a water maker.

NOTE: My buddy talked me out of installing the GoPower flexible panels and an archaic regulator. I’m stoked with it so far! We are loading up the boat and moving to Southern California…yea haa.

We crossed the pacific with two 100w hard panels and a 50 amp alternator. No refrigeration but a 25 gal hour engine driven water maker. Having a shower every day far outweighed the cold drinks for me.

Your setup is what I eventually want for offshore. I presently have a good size refrigerator that is “Solid state” and really does not use more that an AMP. This in contrast to my old steel cutter which had a cold plate and an external driven compressor. We also used a sextant too back then. The new boat (Beneteau) has (7) GPS units and AIS out/in. Plus full internet, voice and tracking. But, my favorite gear is still the wind vane (Hydrovane company in BC). Currently have (3) rudders + (3) electric autopilots connected to NEMA 2K network (and autonomous if needed). Still have paper charts, handheld bearing compass and sextant onboard however!

Note: My old steel cutter was constructed by Brent Swain from Nanaimo, BC. It was a battleship.

Honda 1000 gasoline power here.

I don't do green unless the gov is holding a gun to my head.

Diesel truck, Corvette LS, diesel tractors, gas SXS. Nat gas furnace, water, dryer, hot tub heat, cook top, shop heat.

Long live fossil fuel!

OregonMaule wrote:Honda 1000 gasoline power here.

I don't do green unless the gov is holding a gun to my head.

Diesel truck, Corvette LS, diesel tractors, gas SXS. Nat gas furnace, water, dryer, hot tub heat, cook top, shop heat.

Long live fossil fuel!

Hey genius, you think he has an issue with fossil fuel? He's flying a helicopter. He wants information on a solar setup because...he wants it.

If you want to help the planet stop, buying all this garbage from China

Seaplanes are the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Hovering a helicopter is Divine. Riding a dirt bike in the desert is unreal. Preheating a Lycoming with a genset is the best!

But, sailing with just an autonomous wind vane, navigating with a hand bearing compass and a sextant is surreal. I don’t have to burn 300 gallons a week to get off. People may gladly find that sailing without an engine cures a chronic addiction to carbon fuels. I find complete peace out there on the water.

On the other hand, I can’t endanger my crew if for some reason we need to turn on the RADAR or look at a chart plotter by starting the Yanmar.

On a perfect day…wind and solar perform the “Heavy lifting” and I can kick back and thoroughly enjoy. Lifting my middle finger to the rat race miles away.

Carry on men…

Zzz wrote: Hey genius.....

wow, kinda harsh.

hotrod180 wrote:

Zzz wrote: Hey genius.....

wow, kinda harsh.

But deserved when a response is useless.

I had a Solar system installed this winter for my house. Its pretty cool to run all my stuff and watch the meter spin backwards. Even got a battery that comes on when the solar stop producing that carries me through until bedtime so I dont have to pay peak rate power charges.
I used to have an electric bill that ran 400-500 a month. I havent had it for a full year so I cant say exact amount I will owe but I am told around 800-1000 a year.
Got a 30% Federal tax Credit and a rebate from the state on the battery. But, best of all ? No More petroleum products used to power my home.
Not for the " Green " aspect. Oh No..... I HATE BIG OIL. I grew up on the Gulf Coast. moved away because of oil slicks on the ocean on a regular basis and toxic discharges into waterways . Tired of price manipulation , publc price gouging , and wanting my kids to fight foreign wars for their profits

Yes, my plane and truck run of petroleum . No choice yet there but if I could, I would

OregonMaule wrote:Honda 1000 gasoline power here.

I don't do green unless the gov is holding a gun to my head.

Diesel truck, Corvette LS, diesel tractors, gas SXS. Nat gas furnace, water, dryer, hot tub heat, cook top, shop heat.

Long live fossil fuel!

And they say virtue signaling is dead...

Some many good people here. Definitely a few low lifes.

IMO. Zane hates opinions unless you agree with him. He flat out doesn't allow political opinions, even if it is going to effect our ability to fly gasoline airplanes. So be it.

I love my battery powered Milwaukee power tools. When they became as good or better than plug in I went all in.

For me it is the same with all things electric. When it is as good or better than fossil fuel I'm all in.

I don't virtue signal how green I am, because I'm not. I'm an unabashed fossil fuel HOG!

So, if my opinion offends you, you can criticize me all you want. My skin is like leather. I can't be offended. I can dish it out as good as I can take it.

Carry on men and little whining children.

I’m glad to find that the solar industry is about dedicated technical people, manufacturers and installers. It’s a market that is simply amazing. And I believe the industry is not trying to take your dirt bike or your AR15.

My preliminary installation panel and regulator (100W) is freaking me out! It is wonderful. Silent and no maintenance (except hose the salt off). Note: Latitude 43N

When people bring politics into the equation it’s a waste of time. Solar is good, the sun is apolitical.

Carry on men…

Very crafty! Power your tools and various other items i.e. iPAD etc.. Then recharge with solar. I’m heading down to Ace Hardware (The place with the friendly Hardware folks) to score this super smart concept.

It’s great to be alive and totally stoked…Carry on men.

I started using solar back in the 90s when A 42 watt Siemens panel was $900cdn for pumping water in remote locations. Sold the cattle in 2002 and panels were put in storage and have been using them again for other projects. They don’t last for ever only one out of 8 is not in the land fill. On the other hand I bought a used Honda 1500 watt gen set that my cousin used for years framing houses and it still is functional and reliable after 40 years of use.

There is absolutely no replacement for carbon fuels and engines. However, for very remote locations with no room to store carbon fuels and having an abundance of sunshine i.e. sailboat in Hawaii cruising for two or three months, solar really is awesome.

There is nothing so soothing as a Honda/Yamaha generator running for hours. But, it does require fuel and oil with the blessing of the neighbors (if any close by).

NOTE: my Solar Vitron regulator has Bluetooth which logs many performance variables to an iPAD. When the panel or battery starts to degrade, I just replace it.

What makes sense, for energy production, is dependent of many factors: Location, weather, seasons, access/price of fuel, maintenance requirements, noise, moral/social benefits etc…

8GCBC wrote:Your setup is what I eventually want for offshore. I presently have a good size refrigerator that is “Solid state” and really does not use more that an AMP. This in contrast to my old steel cutter which had a cold plate and an external driven compressor. We also used a sextant too back then. The new boat (Beneteau) has (7) GPS units and AIS out/in. Plus full internet, voice and tracking. But, my favorite gear is still the wind vane (Hydrovane company in BC). Currently have (3) rudders + (3) electric autopilots connected to NEMA 2K network (and autonomous if needed). Still have paper charts, handheld bearing compass and sextant onboard however!

Note: My old steel cutter was constructed by Brent Swain from Nanaimo, BC. It was a battleship.

Nice!


No stack pack for the main?


Cutters rock

Looking good. Where is that?

Definitely a “StackPack” is a good choice. I unfortunately didn’t have one on the old boat.

Since we are way off planes...

I put a solent stay on my last (Pacific) boat, it's astay about 18" behind the headstay. Ran hanked on sails (including stormsail) which are super cheap used. Two whisker poles, two topping lifts - left the poles up for weeks at a time. Wing on wing downwind, we even ran it at night if it was mellow.

daedaluscan wrote:Since we are way off planes...

I put a solent stay on my last (Pacific) boat, it's astay about 18' behind the headstay. Ran hanked on sails (including stormsail) which are super cheap used. Two whisker poles, two topping lifts - left the poles up for weeks at a time. Wing on wing downwind, we even ran it at night if it was mellow.

Good sidebar subject, nice setup!

Now back to Solar…Carry on men…