20/30 minutes? What did you use to charge the batteries ? And which generator was that?
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Interested in a boat for 2018 TransPac
- Thread starter jamottep
- Start date
20/30 minutes? What did you use to charge the batteries ? And which generator was that?
An old Honda generator. Don't know the model #. But it was old and well-used. We fed the 120V output into the shore power connector to the boat's battery charger. We don't have an inboard.
The PacCup requires an engine. We switched the normal Nissan 6hp for a 3.5 Merc. Saved a few #. It got us the 6 or so miles from the offshore finish line to Kaneohe Bay. Also into Honolulu for the ship ride back.
Darn ... about one year ago a buddy of mine advised me to put a charger inboard with shore power connection but I decided against because of cost. When the batteries went dead I chose to buy a 7.2A charger. This is one place where penny pinching is hurting me ... Double Espresso does have a shore power plug (I'm not sure where it leads though).
I'm going to ask Amazon if they can exchange
Darn ... about one year ago a buddy of mine advised me to put a charger inboard with shore power connection but I decided against because of cost. When the batteries went dead I chose to buy a 7.2A charger. This is one place where penny pinching is hurting me ... Double Espresso does have a shore power plug (I'm not sure where it leads though).
I'm going to ask Amazon if they can exchange
The Honda generator did have a 12v output, but if I remember correctly, lit was better to put 120V thru the charger. I have the previous 120V charger and I could be persuaded to take it out of perpetual storage. The one we installed charges 2 batteries independently. The old one is a 1-battery model. I'd have to go to the storage unit (wild fires and my son's family living with us meant clearing out the garage) to give you more info on exactly what the charger is. I know it worked when I removed it and it's been in dry storage since. broderic (at) sonic (dot) net -- is the way to contact me.
I'm going to ask Amazon if they can exchange
Despite being out of the 30 day window Amazon accepted the return. Cool, that's money for something a little more powerful.
As an FYI I'll share that the record holder for Olson 30d on the SHTP left with one battery and a tiny Tanaka generator. We're not going to break that if we leave with two batteries, solar panel + mount, a charger, a larger generator (comparatively) and fuel. Not that I would anyway ...
solosailor
New member
The Honda generator only outputs like 5-8A on the DC side. An much larger shore charger can be used on the AC side.
WBChristie
New member
A truly great performance.
88 BILL STANGE INTENSE OLSEN 30 96 11:15:21:23 09:06:49:23 NEW RECORD
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Yes that's what I read elsewhere: I'm better off putting a regular charger in the AC outlet.
After all the horror stories I've been told about energy management ... I've been a little more aggressive with the budget and it now shows that I'll need something between 30 and 70 Amps. Assuming I'm sea sick for the first 48 hours, with VHF/AIS and auto-pilot on 24 hrs, I'll need those 70 Amps ...
Ok ... so that spells a large charger and a generator because if it's cloudy I may get a few amps from the solar panel but not much. I think the generators that don't suffer from the boat's heeling are the 2 stroke engines. A four stroke may require an oil pan to be flat (I think). 2 strokes are also lighter (used to be at least) but they've become rare.
brianb
Olson 34 Driver
I believe two strokes are illegal in Calif. You might look in Texas, or anything below the Mason Dixon line for higher polluting engines/generators.
I stopped by the boat today to drop the #3 and a few other things.
I reconnected the tiny solar panel on the stern lazarette then drove to Pittsburgh and had a good time chatting with Rob T who was working on his boat. He was generous too and donated a mid size solar panel and controller, which I put to work right away. I'll need to figure out how I'll mount it so for now it's keeping the batteries topped up. Thanks Rob!
No sailing today though ... But I did pick up the little plaque from the SSS Corinthian race that Joe B put in the halyard pocket (thank you Joe!).
Oh, and I had ordered a bunch of legal size waterproof paper so that log book project may see the light soon.
The last time I flew the spinnaker I broke a little device that Paul Kamen had installed on Double Espresso. I'm going to rebuild it and replace it. Although I'm sure it'll get in the way of the spinnaker sheet again ... This device sits on the coaming (one each side) and holds the tiller extension in place (locking the rudder really). There are better solutions to this and I may change that. It's a bunch of PVC parts.
With the rain coming down today I could see some of the leaks ... including one right on top of my starboard berths. I'm not sure I'll fix that as it'd require working on the traveller. My sleeping bag is waterproof :-0
On the 2 stroke generator they seem to still be ok in CA ...
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pulsar-...erator-California-Compliant-PG1202S/207111957
Not as light as in the good old days ... Still looking ...
Oh,and there is indeed shore power on Double Espresso, although I didn't test it as I didn't have an adapter ... I'm not sure it'll make sense to use it.
Small projects ...
I reconnected the tiny solar panel on the stern lazarette then drove to Pittsburgh and had a good time chatting with Rob T who was working on his boat. He was generous too and donated a mid size solar panel and controller, which I put to work right away. I'll need to figure out how I'll mount it so for now it's keeping the batteries topped up. Thanks Rob!
No sailing today though ... But I did pick up the little plaque from the SSS Corinthian race that Joe B put in the halyard pocket (thank you Joe!).
Oh, and I had ordered a bunch of legal size waterproof paper so that log book project may see the light soon.
The last time I flew the spinnaker I broke a little device that Paul Kamen had installed on Double Espresso. I'm going to rebuild it and replace it. Although I'm sure it'll get in the way of the spinnaker sheet again ... This device sits on the coaming (one each side) and holds the tiller extension in place (locking the rudder really). There are better solutions to this and I may change that. It's a bunch of PVC parts.
With the rain coming down today I could see some of the leaks ... including one right on top of my starboard berths. I'm not sure I'll fix that as it'd require working on the traveller. My sleeping bag is waterproof :-0
On the 2 stroke generator they seem to still be ok in CA ...
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pulsar-...erator-California-Compliant-PG1202S/207111957
Not as light as in the good old days ... Still looking ...
Oh,and there is indeed shore power on Double Espresso, although I didn't test it as I didn't have an adapter ... I'm not sure it'll make sense to use it.
Small projects ...
Another 8 hour day at the boat, another slow day.
I had plans to fix the "tiller-locker", install the 43 W panel and then go sailing.
The "tiller-locker" was done quickly. The panel was another story. As suggested I bought an aluminum bar stock and a rail clamp. After that things went downhill. I think I must have screwed that bar stock on and off 10 times while I was trying different things. First I tried to put the panel on the port rail, where it would be mostly hanging outside the boat (the satellite antenna is in the way). That didn't work as there was too much weight for the clamp to hold (the panel would flip backward). I moved the clamp to be just off center, evening out weight a bit better as well. Then I tried in between the backstay. It worked well there but somehow in the process the clamp got incorrectly threaded and I had to get the saw to cut if off the rail. Last I tried on the starboard rail and it worked ok there. So the plan is:
1. Keep the 43 W panel permanently on the starboard stern rail when day sailing. This should keep the batteries topped off.
2. When leaving for multiple days move the 43 W panel to in between the backstay and place the 100 W panel on the starboard stern quarter (I have not verified that they don't obstruct each either too much; going from East to West in the northern latitudes would be ok.
The 43 W panel, just like the 4 W panel, is connected directly to the positive bus, unlike the 100 W panel, which goes to a fuse then a battery combiner switch. And I have both batteries connected to the fuse panel so they're both being charged.
I had bought 18 feet of wire to connect the panel to the batteries and controller; unfortunately that proved too short so I had to extend it. In that process I managed to flip + and - so that the controller was not seeing a charge from the panel. I had to fix that too.
I don't get it; everything I did was wrong today, multiple times. What should have taken one hour ended up taking 6 hours. And it's not perfect ... I guess it could be called learning.
There was no sailing today then. I don't know about the cruise in as the forecast calls for rain ...
I had plans to fix the "tiller-locker", install the 43 W panel and then go sailing.
The "tiller-locker" was done quickly. The panel was another story. As suggested I bought an aluminum bar stock and a rail clamp. After that things went downhill. I think I must have screwed that bar stock on and off 10 times while I was trying different things. First I tried to put the panel on the port rail, where it would be mostly hanging outside the boat (the satellite antenna is in the way). That didn't work as there was too much weight for the clamp to hold (the panel would flip backward). I moved the clamp to be just off center, evening out weight a bit better as well. Then I tried in between the backstay. It worked well there but somehow in the process the clamp got incorrectly threaded and I had to get the saw to cut if off the rail. Last I tried on the starboard rail and it worked ok there. So the plan is:
1. Keep the 43 W panel permanently on the starboard stern rail when day sailing. This should keep the batteries topped off.
2. When leaving for multiple days move the 43 W panel to in between the backstay and place the 100 W panel on the starboard stern quarter (I have not verified that they don't obstruct each either too much; going from East to West in the northern latitudes would be ok
.The 43 W panel, just like the 4 W panel, is connected directly to the positive bus, unlike the 100 W panel, which goes to a fuse then a battery combiner switch. And I have both batteries connected to the fuse panel so they're both being charged.
I had bought 18 feet of wire to connect the panel to the batteries and controller; unfortunately that proved too short so I had to extend it. In that process I managed to flip + and - so that the controller was not seeing a charge from the panel. I had to fix that too.
I don't get it; everything I did was wrong today, multiple times. What should have taken one hour ended up taking 6 hours. And it's not perfect ... I guess it could be called learning.
There was no sailing today then. I don't know about the cruise in as the forecast calls for rain ...
If you've followed me a bit you've probably noticed that I am a fervent practitioner of self-deprecation. I'm finding that it's not working well for me. I've been feeling quite low these past days/weeks. Maybe I ought to be a little more realistic and encouraging instead of harshly critical. I do feel like I have made some progress in one area; I used to be angry often on the boat and that seems to have subsided. I remember during the Corinthian race on the leg to Southampton shoals sailing along another singlehander who was not particularly happy, yelling the F words a good dozen times. I saw myself in him. I wish him (and me) to outgrow that; it's not fun being angry and it doesn't help. Anger is sticky; it takes a long time to get rid of it.
Now I just need to find a way to be happy about my journey to Hanalei Bay, instead of calling myself an ignoramus monkey ...
I haven't found a small 2 stroke generator yet. If you see one trolling along let him or her know there's a home waiting ...
Being 3 months away from the start date almost exactly I think it's time to start talking fitness (fitness of the body and the mind, see above). I've started to exercise a little:
1. Doing pull ups (have a bar in the garage) and push ups just to make sure I am a little strong in the arms;
2. I stepped back on my bicycle, which is on an indoor trainer, for 30 minutes.
I haven't put up a fitness plan but think I will. I did learn with Clipper that when tired it's easy to be weak, and when weak everything becomes daunting. Of course the alternative where force doesn't work is knowledge and experience. For me, being that I'm growing my knowledge and experience, I will likely need force, like I've had to man the spinnaker pole back in place because I forgot to ease the sheet enough.
I spent time today to create a pre-departure checklist and here's the link if you need inspiration or would like to make suggestions:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15JnFC1EiBIDgBc6QZXKZq2AAYu1C3cMqIzJPsKh9C90/edit?usp=sharing
And there's that beautiful Open 40 boat in Grenada that I am attracted to ... but where's the money when you need it ...
Hi Phillippe -
I don't have a lot of time to go through with microscope, but your list looks like a good start.
The biggest thing I see missing is a First Aid and Med kit.
First Aid and Meds for what can go wrong and self treating is a non-trivial matter.
Bearing in mind that Bela Bartok's skipper needed to be taken off his boat in 2012 with an untreated staph infection, antiboitic's are highly recommended.
We will go over medical considerations and provisioning in the next seminar, but in the interim I have attached what has become a somewhat standardized "suggested" list, courtesy of Michael Jefferson.
It also has a note for your doctor which explains to them the medical justification for the antibiotic & pain prescriptions.
note that the doctor who wrote the note may or may not be still practicing or in the same position at Kaiser...
View attachment Mikes-med-list-and-note-2012.pdf
I don't have a lot of time to go through with microscope, but your list looks like a good start.
The biggest thing I see missing is a First Aid and Med kit.
First Aid and Meds for what can go wrong and self treating is a non-trivial matter.
Bearing in mind that Bela Bartok's skipper needed to be taken off his boat in 2012 with an untreated staph infection, antiboitic's are highly recommended.
We will go over medical considerations and provisioning in the next seminar, but in the interim I have attached what has become a somewhat standardized "suggested" list, courtesy of Michael Jefferson.
It also has a note for your doctor which explains to them the medical justification for the antibiotic & pain prescriptions.
note that the doctor who wrote the note may or may not be still practicing or in the same position at Kaiser...
View attachment Mikes-med-list-and-note-2012.pdf
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Daydreamer
SAILOR
Harbor Freight usually has small generators fairly cheap, around $100, and sell different levels of warranty.
https://www.harborfreight.com/catal...f,EAFeatured+Weight,f,Sale+Rank,f&q=generator
Of course what good is a warranty mid pacific!
I was considering one myself.
https://www.harborfreight.com/catal...f,EAFeatured+Weight,f,Sale+Rank,f&q=generator
Of course what good is a warranty mid pacific!
I was considering one myself.
Love the "minimalist" part ... thanks for pointing that out. I do have a med kit I keep in the boat at all time. But yeah, if Mike's list in minimalist, mine is ... cubism?
The tailgator ... it has taken several forms/brand names over the years. You can look it up there's quite a bunch of videos about them ... It's still on the heavy end (40 lbs). The lightest I found (4 stroke, 21 lbs) so far is the Sportsman 1000 Watt Inverter Generator. But the reviews are ... confounding at the least.
BTW ... if someone needs a Professional Services manager/director or is looking for help with integration services then I'm for hire