these turbine alternaters are easy to make

Keep on seeking inspirational ideas

 

am working on it
Im sure we would all love to find a viable application of alternative energies
maybe a mass that would be raised in the storage process and allowed to fall in the discharge process
gives up the benefits of the physics of spinning objects
but still stores the energy
course it raised the center of gravity
Ill work out the answer to the question of how far would you have to raise the 6 tons of batteries it takes to run the vessel for 8 hours to a sufficient height to gain an equal amount of potential energy

 

The most efficient (also least cost) would be sails... if the boat was already set-up to carry sails.... and probably the next best would be PV panels on a light weight and easily driven pair of hulls (a light weight catamaran).... unless you like the idea of a canoe and paddling.... - I understand that it is an old Indian trick...

 

still would be interesting to work out the simple clock like mechanism of falling mass in regards to energy storage

sails are actually expensive
when you look at the life span of even a good sail
plus all the tackle and rigging

I could spend 50,000 on carbon fiber masts and booms for the Christina
along with standing and running rigging
then all the winches and the rope itself
then the sails custom made cause nothing is standard
the iron work
the roller reefing jib and flying jib
holly crap bat man it adds up fast

finding a viable eco friendly alternative would be a godsend


there must be a way to use all of the environmental energies in unison to achieve the best possible result

 

Ahhhh come on, no need to go over the top.... You are a wood worker, so how about getting some straight grained good timber, and BUILD a mast - I have spotted several "how to build a mast" projects using wood and epoxy and a bit of glass to attach stuff (no holes and bolts as that would weaken the structure)... same for the chain-plates - made of glass and epoxy as mine will be!

Hanked on flat cut battened jibs and genoas wear quite well and do not need to be carbon fibre or exotic fibres - just take care of them and hemp is still highly regarded material in the marine environment - not the smoking variety - but if you do use that variety - then on expiry of use as a sail or rope, then smoke it in a peace pipe

I am starting with a cruising laminate, and may graduate to hemp if I live long enough - and hanked on flat cut with battens, means no special sail-loft designs....

 

oh I could definitely build wood masts
Sitka spruce just like back in the day no problem I hardly need the a set of plans
although the gaff rig requires a little blocking in the throat sets
but they would not be as stiff and light as cf

we had a neighbor who lofted all out sails who we traded for
so Im not so slick with making sails as I should be

the power yacht just looks so comfortable were the christina although dam handsome in her own right is a tad more cramped and a tad more expensive

I like your cat though
that sun roof looks right convenient

Im realy torn
I could build the bigger motor sailor and have more room cheaper
or the smaller sailor and have less at a higher original cost but little fuel bill

 

I was told, when I was seeking an appropriate design, go for the smallest option that meets ones needs (remember that a boat is a hole in the water into which one must throw money to keep afloat - or words to that effect...)

So long as you remember that to carry less on a cat is better and you have more "space" under cover and she sals without leaning so the ladies will feel more comfortable doing the cooking.

 

another thing is that the draft on the Elco is only 3'9" were the draft of the Christina is 5'9'' if I remember

its lots cheaper to build

and that shallow draft could come in dam handy in a pinch

 

Yes sir - sneak up a creek to shelter from a storm.... do a bit of "gunkhole" exploration.... sneak in behind some of the tropical fringing reefs for a "quiet anchorage" in shallower waters - Melanesian region has few areas of 'continental shelf' so anchoring outside the fringing reef could be in water several hundred feet deep.... a vessel that can happily sit on its own bottom and stay 'un-tilted' is also an advantage if caught with a falling tide, for the occasional scrub, or, repair to screw etc...

 

I was thinking it could also fit twin keels and be built to sit on its bottom
so we are on the same track there

I got a hot date so talk to you later
B out

 

If all you are looking to do is cruise inshore (where there is fuel) you should consider a steam engine.

Old waste oil , wood or scraps of GRP boats will feed a fire , and with free fuel efficiency is hardly a concern.

Happy Trails,

FF

 

hmmmm
I kinda like that idea
how hard is it to find an old steam engine large enough
and I wonder if it could be converted to burn pellets
I can get pellets for a pellet stove dirt cheep


interesting idea Red these things are sure pack a lot of torque for there horse power rating

 

ok this thing is manufactured new for a cost of $6,500
its 20 hp at 200 ft/lb
so I need two of em
then there is the boilers
boilers are the tricky part
for efficiency its best to have smaller boilers and more of em than one big one
the Titanic ( nice pick of examples eh ) had two cylinder steam engines but had 33 boilers for each ( I think )
I would need 6 boilers four at 6 hp output and 2 at 8 hp
they also run $6,500 each
and eat about 1/2 gallon pr minute each or 250lb steam pr hour
and had a lovely habit of exploding

thats about fifty thousand dollars worth of now you need to light a fire in the bottom of a wooden boat
and so died the age of steam

B

on the other hand
I did just find this thing
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=15&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pioneer.net%2F~carlich&ei=MJHdSeb-GIPOMtDPtdYN&usg=AFQjCNHm8kNx0I569q1slRfLvlWxDuCxKg&sig2=JhQJGHl6WFO74gRnBMk2Rw



$2,000

1050 ft/lb torque

200 HP, V - 4 Single Acting

HP @ 600psi & 1,000rpm............. 200
Working Pressure.................. 600psi
Cylinders.............................. 4 @ 90o
Bore & Stroke.................... 5" x 3.86"
RPM Range.......................... to 1,000
Overall............ 34" W x 36" L x 21" H
Weight.................................. 700 lbs.

and would two boilers for which DIY plans are available $32



50 - 125 HP Monotube Boiler

Horsepower.......................... 50 - 125
Rated Working Pressure....... 1000psi
Heating Surface................... 80 sq.ft.
Weight, dry........................... 350 lbs.
Overall..................... 36" dia. x 28" H
Firing............... Fuel Oil or Kerosene

and Ild do my damdest to convert it to pellets with a auto screw feed box

cost is about 9C per 8000 btu at $225 per ton
cost of diesel is about 9C per 3954 btu at $3/gallon
or half what the value of pellets are

Dam Red you might be onto something here
course 1000 lbs of steam is going to hurt if it gets loose and Im still lighting a fire in the bottom of a wooden boat

been doing a little searching on pellet boilers

and this guy has a miniature pellet making machine
poor in some sawdust and out flies some pellets ( all they are is compressed wood pulp anyway )



and this thing would make it one step easier to modify that DIY boiler

 

"...Dam Red you might be onto something here course 1000 lbs of steam is going to hurt if it gets loose and Im still lighting a fire in the bottom of a wooden boat..." - - - seems boats are a compromise between this or that... keep on cooking those ideas

 

ok
putting it all together
I started with this
57' Elco



the latest best idea is a steam engine ($2,000)
200 hp 1050 ft/lb torque
two boilers converted to pellets (say another ($4,000)
and a pellet mill to make the pellets from anything from hay and straw to wood pulp or corn stalks ($700) (might even catch me trying sea weed)
or $225 pr ton to buy and a boiler typically burns about 1 to 5 lbs an hour

Im going with three Vawt generators 2500 watts each at 13 amps ( $500 each ) placed in line under the canopy augmenting one steam powered genset ($2500) and a battery pack of six gorilla batteries ($7,200) at 8 volts and 1150 amp hrs each and an auxiliary ( something to limp home with ) elec torquito 17hp (?)

2000
4000
700
1500
2500
7200
------
$17,900

and I still need a transmission, drive line, screw and a few other bits and pieces (the engine is reversible and the torque is insane so do I really need a trany if I use a large enough screw ?)

I could skinny up on the batteries by maybe half and get that down to
$14,700 not including the auxiliary torquido

and my favorite part
free fuel
with the pellet mill any number of low or no cost fuel sources could be used to manufacture the pellets
or if Im feeling lazy I might just break down and spring the $225 on a bloody ton of fuel

the wood only cost for the vessel is about $15,000
White Oak Cedar and Cherry traditional build plank on frame
with all the bits and pieces the drive train could end up $25,000

now for the electronics
whats a comfortable level of electronics in a boat like this?
radio back up radio, weather com, satellite tracking system, depth, Eprb's,

what am I forgetting?