Our 26X boat tour on the last day of our Powell trip

[tuxonpup]

This is a bit of a talkie, but there is a boat christening at the end if you make it!

[Russ]

Nice video.

My one concern is propane on a boat. It's a heavier than air gas and will settle to the lowest part of your boat. This can be an explosion hazard.
Keep the cabin well ventilated including low in the bilge area. Make sure connections are secure and gas is turned off when not in use. Glad to see the tank in the cockpit.

These boats were sold bare and that forward hatch latch is pretty cheezy. And NO arm to hold it open. Simple to fix, however, it should have been stock.

Your electrical setup is interesting. Surely the Starlink powered from 12v to inverter back down to low voltage is horribly inefficient. I'm sure a replacement cable is easy to come by.

So what's the story on "Millennium Guppy"?

[tuxonpup]

It’s like the Millenium Falcon but the Kessel Run takes more like 500 parsecs in the Guppy.

We’re pretty propane paranoid, not only is the tank kept in the cockpit, but when we run the heater we keep it up there as well and use a hood between it and the companion way to direct the heat into the cabin. Not terribly efficient, but keeps the burn byproducts on the outside.

The inverter was pressed into use when the USB-C to proprietay Starlink cable crapped out, and it was literally battery clamped to the LiFePO4. I try to carry a spare of everything, but the only spare Starlink cable I had was the AC connector, already have the replacement USB-C cable delivered.

My gf just texted me a pic of our second LiFePO4 battery that was just delivered, should be interesting testing it out after we move the solar panel to the bimini out of the boom’s shade and add a second using the xtra space..

[OverEasy]

Nice!

[Russ]

We have a Butane stove in the cabin and a Magma propane grill in the cockpit.
Heavier than air gases worry me on boats. Yachting Magazine took a donated boat and setup explosion tests. It was interesting how much trapped gas was present and did NOT explode. When it finally exploded, it was catastrophic. I wouldn't test this in real life.




It is interesting how some solar panels will drop 90% of their output if just a small section is blocked from the sun (like your boom). It's wise to clean them as I'm sure dust and bird poo reduces their output.

My solar panel is mounted off the back of the boat over the motor. The mast crutch makes for a perfect poor man's arch for mounting.

LiPo's are interesting and honestly, I know little about them. My understanding is that they need to be charged differently from lead acid and therefore can't be connected to the motor charging circuit. This forum has several Captains who have done Lipo and love it.


Looks like Amazon sells the Starlink power cables. Looks like a 100 USBC PD to barrel jack with some weather proofing. How did yours get broken? Does the Starlink actually use 100 watts?

Okay, doing a little research, the Starlink will run native on 12v. THAT's what I would do rather than convert 12v to 5v USBc PD then back to 12v inside the Starlink dish. https://www.amazon.com/Starlink-Waterp ... B0F6YFNC4M

REFRIGERATION:
You CAN run a proper 12v compressor based cooler off solar. I do it all the time as long as you limit how often you open it.
Do NOT under and circumstances buy one of those Piezo/Electric coolers. The only thing they are good for is draining your battery.

Mine is pretty old now, however, there are many 12v compressor based fridge/freezers out there. If used properly and your other 12v devices (Starlink, computers) you could operate off 2 solar panels.

https://www.amazon.com/EUHOMY-Refrigera ... NH4NX?th=1

[Be Free]

+1 on the piezo coolers. In my book, a small, efficient compressor model will win out every time.

Another +1 on the conversions. You don't get something for nothing. Even a good transformer is only 97%-99% efficient but that is still 1% to 3% loss. If you are doing AC-DC or DC-AC the losses are even greater.

I think one of the worst I saw was someone who wanted a TV in the boat. They went from the 12V DC house bank to an inverter to produce 120V AC. Then they plugged the TV power supply into the inverter. The TV power supply rectified the 120V AC back the 12V DC that the TV actually needed all along.

[OverEasy]

Hi Tuxonpup!

Thank you for your boat tour video!
Nice!

Liked your forward hatch “springy thingy propopenery”!
It’s a unique solution for a common need.

Best Regards
Over Easy

[tuxonpup]

It is interesting how some solar panels will drop 90% of their output if just a small section is blocked from the sun (like your boom). It's wise to clean them as I'm sure dust and bird poo reduces their output.

My solar panel is mounted off the back of the boat over the motor. The mast crutch makes for a perfect poor man's arch for mounting.

LiPo's are interesting and honestly, I know little about them. My understanding is that they need to be charged differently from lead acid and therefore can't be connected to the motor charging circuit. This forum has several Captains who have done Lipo and love it.


Looks like Amazon sells the Starlink power cables. Looks like a 100 USBC PD to barrel jack with some weather proofing. How did yours get broken? Does the Starlink actually use 100 watts?

Okay, doing a little research, the Starlink will run native on 12v. THAT's what I would do rather than convert 12v to 5v USBc PD then back to 12v inside the Starlink dish. https://www.amazon.com/Starlink-Waterp ... B0F6YFNC4M

REFRIGERATION:
You CAN run a proper 12v compressor based cooler off solar. I do it all the time as long as you limit how often you open it.
Do NOT under and circumstances buy one of those Piezo/Electric coolers. The only thing they are good for is draining your battery.

Mine is pretty old now, however, there are many 12v compressor based fridge/freezers out there. If used properly and your other 12v devices (Starlink, computers) you could operate off 2 solar panels.

https://www.amazon.com/EUHOMY-Refrigera ... NH4NX?th=1

I was surprised by how much hanging the boom compromised the solar generation. I did make a point of wiping down the panel as well. We spent a bit of time working with the bimini over the course of the trip, far enough back that you can eye the wind vane top-o-mast, far enough forward that the helm seat can swing up securely for motor to rudder switches. We think we can make it rigid enough to mount two 130 watt flex panels on it while still swiveling between those two positions. That should keep them far enough out of the sail's shadow so that at least one panel will always be generating. Our '96 just has the single pivoting mast crutch on the transom, which is nice for motoring with the mast down and at an angle so as not to be in the center of the cockpit, but no poor man's radar arch to attach solar to.
We've got the second identical solar panel and 100Ah LiFePO4 battery already delivered. I've been running a pair of small 20Ah LiFePO4s on our kayak rig for a few years, at first in parallel, then in series when we got a 24V electric motor. The DC to DC converter/MPPT solar controller shown in the video is a boost/buck design that can do 12V to 24V conversions and manage both lead acid and LiFePO4 batteries, but we're just using it for straight 12V house power and will parallel the LiFePO4s for 200Ah. Consensus seems to be I was just shy solar capacity as I never recharged past 12.6V - 12.8V after the second day when the initial wall charge had been run through. Recharging with the boom in place never allowed the battery to fully recover, hence a new unshaded location and doubling our panel collection.
Which brings me to your 12V cooler experience. I'm going to try it, in a small $200 fashion as I want to stick it right where the current 48 quart Coleman is, the 14x23x14.5D cooler bathtub under the aft dinette seat. Looks like that limits me to a 24-26 quart compressor cooler, but I won't be sticking a 7 pound block of ice in there either. Searching off your link I found a couple under this size that would fit, requiring 45 - 60 watts when running: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F1S ... X0DER&th=1

[Russ]

When I was testing my solar panel at home, I was shocked to see even a small amount of blocking of the sun decreased the output. Researching I learned this is typical as well as dust/dirt on them. The cells are in some kind of series that blocking one or two disrupts the panel.

Not a problem for you, but I no longer remove the batteries for winter. I keep the solar panel connected and trickle charging them.

There are also 2 technologies. I don't remember which is superior. I changed my panel to the newer type and gained 20 watts in the same footprint.
Controllers are important also. What you seem to have is a good one. With your LipOs and more panels, you should be good.

Refrigerators:

I learned the hard way that you can't cheap out on these things. I had a cheap cooler that would melt ice fast. Then I went with a quality 5 day cooler and ice lasted much better. But it still melted and water at the bottom is a mess.

Years ago, I bit the bullet and bought one of these
https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Whynter-P ... /202555696

Not cheap, but it works well. It can FREEZE stuff. I also have it on a remote device so I can turn it on before we head up to the lake and have it cold when we get there.

Since, there are many competitors who offer cheaper, REAL compressor coolers. That's the key. Those piezo electric toys will not work. Should be illegal to advertise them as coolers.

The one you linked to has good reviews. Amazon has an amazing return policy also. "This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt."

And of course, the best part is no soggy food from melted ice at the bottom.

[LordElsinore]

I bought an older version of this fridge/freezer unit two years ago and have loved it! It is wonderful to be able to make ice rather than consume it. Having solar onboard definitely opens up some nice possibilities

[Be Free]

Solar panels have three main enemies: shade, dirt, and heat.

Older panels were more likely to totally cut out if a portion of the panel is shaded. Newer panels are better at working around it but you will still see a decrease.

"Dirt" includes bird droppings, dust, salt spray... anything on the surface of the panel that does not belong. A clean panel is a happy panel.

Heat cuts down on the efficiency of the panel as well. Counterintuitively, a panel can do better at a high latitude than in the tropics even though the tropical panel is exposed to stronger sunlight for a longer period of time.

There are three types of panels that you are likely to work with. Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, and thin-film.

Monocrystalline panels are usually more expensive and more efficient. They are great if they will fit your budget.

Polycrystalline panels are what many people use. They are less expensive to manufacture and are often a good compromise between price and output.

Thin-film panels are used where flexibility is required. They are usually less efficient and cost more than an equivalent polycrystalline panel but they are the only way to go if the panel has to be flexible.

[tuxonpup]

Since our panels are going on the bimini, they are mono flex panels that weigh 4.6# each. We're sewing eight velcro straps into the bimini aligned with the corner mounting holes.

Looks like I only have one weekend off over the next eight weeks of shows, so we decided instead of going back to our boat on Powell, we're heading to San Diego for two full days of sailing classes on a J24 in the bay. Should be a great time and a good opportunity to research a West coast trip with the Guppy!

[Russ]

Sailing classes will be good for you. Just remember a J24 is a PURE sailboat and your Mac is a compromise boat that will never sail that well.

This time of year seems like the worst time to be boating in Arizona. We are seriously exploring relocating to AZ, but I have no expectations of boating this time of year.

[OverEasy]

Sailing classes will be good for you. Just remember a J24 is a PURE sailboat and your Mac is a compromise boat that will never sail that well.

This time of year seems like the worst time to be boating in Arizona. We are seriously exploring relocating to AZ, but I have no expectations of boating this time of year.

Hi Tuxonpup!

The sailing classes on the open Pacific should be a blast!
Enjoy!

Hi Russ!

Wow! Moving from Montana to Arizona will be dramatic!
I’ve traveled through Arizona several times at various times of the year and I’ve always been amazed at the variety of terrain and temperatures it has to offer. It’s a unique place.

The one image I have of sailing in Arizona….



…NOT entirely true, but it’s what comes to mind …
(BTW: The sailboat above was successfully sailed 300 km across a portion of Mongolia by a couple who slept aboard it and built it for about $300 from locally sourced scrap materials … )

The other image that comes to mind is ….

(From Burning Man….go figure )

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[tuxonpup]

Sailing classes will be good for you. Just remember a J24 is a PURE sailboat and your Mac is a compromise boat that will never sail that well.

This time of year seems like the worst time to be boating in Arizona. We are seriously exploring relocating to AZ, but I have no expectations of boating this time of year.

We generally boat April - June and September - November, but Lake Pleasant on the North side of Phoenix has two marinas active year round.

This is a shot of our previous sailing vessel, the dingyak, out on Pleasant.