solar power

[ted655]

"would a bigger battery and solor panal be efficiant?"
Solar works for things like that (electronics). Electric motors are more efficiant, with higher torque than engines. That is why railroads use them. Large ships are going over to them, and heavy equipment is using them. But they are powered by diesel generators. A very nice boat system called the "Electroc Wheel" is being installed on Yahcts.
It's only when someone thinks they can power a high consumption device with "free" sunbeams that a reality check is needed.
We ain't there yet! Wish we were. Anyone have there laptop burn their house or automobile up yet? I'd give more thought to bundling a few hundred Lithium batteries together & storing them in the hold of my boat.

[Leif HerrGesell]

How important is money? If this project has no budget go for the 20hp. If you have a budget you can push that boat adequately with a 10hp 2 stroke used and completely rebuilt like new for less than half of that 2300. Throw in a solar trickle charger to top the battery off when the engine and boat are not in use. Are you going for extended cruises or living on the boat? If not don't let everybody over complicate this matter. What system did the previous owner have and was his use of the boat the same as yours and how did he manage? Simplicity is key. The more complicated the systems the more you can rely on to go wrong. Is this a blue water boat, inland or coaster? If you are going to change uses like going from lake to off shore debug. A motor adequate for brown water is not going to cut it for off shore.

[longliner45]

Im building this boat. it is a 32 ft spencer,circa1967, I used to be a commercial fisherman , I intend to take the boat offshore on trips . for weeks at a time ,yes I realise that dead air happens .I did want an inboard diesle, butI thought I could get off a little cheaper ,,,,,2 kids in med school and a 18 year old at home, but I could still budget the inboard, just kicking around newer Ideas and tecknology to be more green and what not ,thanks for your help.longliner

[FAST FRED]

I did want an inboard diesle,

Then just buy a used unit , complete with tranny. Many are avilable , esp if you will accept a "lesser" brand.

Cat & Cummins are fine , but a used DD 71 series is still a very serious engine package and Perkins ect are half the DD cost.

Have you looked in Boats & Harbors for a low time takeout?

FAST FRED

FAST FRED

[Leif HerrGesell]

I kinda figured that the moniker "Longliner" indicated a fisherman. Did I see that you are sailing on Erie? Redundancy is a good thing when main sytstems fail, which as a commercial fisherman you know probably better than most. I understand Erie kicks up a storm quickly due to her relatively shallow basin. If thats the case wouldn't you want max hp in order to make a quick run? Do you intend cruising the other lakes? What about a good Yanmar-reconditioned? If you are only making short runs out into the lake in order to make sail or occasionally for mooring, docking and running before a storm your fuel consumption will be pretty low. You've probably found every web site known to man but I found a good link for diesels. You can browse for hours. . .
http://www.dieselenginetrader.com/index.cfm

[StianM]

Originally Posted by ted655

"Electric motors are more efficiant, with higher torque than engines. That is why railroads use them.

No it's not.

Electric motors are able too keep the torque regardless to RPM, but the max torque is not higher.

For comstat rpm and speed vesels direct shaft from proppeler to engine is still the most effician sulution. Electric is superior when you nead to do alot off maovering.

What I would do is find a second hand gear with output for shaft generator and you could see if you could find a electric motor that also can runn as generator.

Then you would have a option to runn the electic engine as propulsion or the diesel engine and use the electric as generator. You would nead a converter from the DC curret batterys to AC power.

[longliner45]

leif thanks for the link,,,,,,yes I will sail the other lakes .and the east coast,,I intend to wear the bottom paint off this boat,longliner

[kach22i]

UPDATE:

I found an interesting site today.

http://www.solarnavigator.net/solar_boat.htm

Aurinokvene, Solar Boat



There are many others in the links.

http://www.solarnavigator.net/solar_boat.htm

http://www.solarboats.net/pages/intro/introAng.html

[ted655]

Works for toy boats anyway.