> We learned that good working autopilots can quit at any moment. I > should have realized that, as I can't recall any deliveries where the > auto pilot worked the whole trip. Right. That's one big reason why I have a windvane even though I am an 'electronics' guy. > > We learned we are big power hogs. I thought our 550 watts of solar > would come close to keeping up. It probably would for real > conservationists, but that is not us. Our 125 amp alternator that puts > out about 65 amps doesn't do enough. So, we're scratching our heads > and sharpening our pencils trying to decide what is the best next > step. We're about solared out - it would require covering the entire > cockpit to do much more, and that has been veto'd by the first mate.
Try using LEDs for all critical power using lights like the anchor light and one or two cabin lights and a bunk light. Also wind gennys can put out a LOT of power, much more than solar, and they can charge up dead batteries with just a good summer T-storm front. Some are very quite although those weigh more than nosier models. A good wind genny and some LED lights are far more reliable and lighter and cheaper than a gen-set and extra battries. > > Nellie learned that, away from shore power, we can't run the tv, > microwave and toaster at once. Use a laptop for the tv it will use less power, run the mw only when the battreis are full and the toaster never...they sell gadgets that will do just fine with a stover burner to make toast. > We learned that downwind sailing without an autopilot is quite a bit > of work. And if you have to steer by hand 24 hrs a day for days and days at a time you will hate it to say the least! -Ken _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
