I have an '85 H23 that the interior has been completely taken out of (previous owner let it set open for 9 years on the trailer). I want to replace the wiring while it is empty and will be adding some other electronics (Ritchie compass, stereo...)I have bought. I got a bigger and better switch panel w/ a cigerette lighter for that reason also. I will be using/sleeping on the boat for 2-3 days at a time on Lake Erie without a dock and do not want to run out of "juice". The plan is to install two batteries under the starboard rear bunk to run my electronics on, keep a battery for the engine on the port side as the factory had it (got a Johnson Sailmaster 9.9 with pull and electronic start). I want to be able to charge the two batteries with the engine if need be and also set things up so the electronics only drain from the same batteries and not the one for the engine. What is the best way to do this? Will this give me what I need for power while staying out weekends and three day stints using public anchorages (anchor light all night)? Would you add any interior lights to the boat while it is stripped? What other modifications would you do if your boat was at this stage and you were planning on living on it for this length of time? My GPS, VHF, and fish finder are portable and won't be a drain if that matters. Thanks, Randy
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Solar Panels.
If you are going to be on a anchorage, you should consider solar panels for your power requirements. The alternators in the outboard is basic and it is not going to produce a lot of juice. Depending on how many lights you have aboard you can eat up batteries quickly. Look for lighting with LED lights. Not the cheapest but will consume less power. You will probably also want some type of entertainment aboard (TV or Stereo) so you need to figure out all of your power requirements and size you battery banks in accordance with your solar power and engine charging abilities. You do not need to depend on the electric start capabilities of the engine to start it. Hence I would not worry too much about this ability in your total equation.
If you are going to be on a anchorage, you should consider solar panels for your power requirements. The alternators in the outboard is basic and it is not going to produce a lot of juice. Depending on how many lights you have aboard you can eat up batteries quickly. Look for lighting with LED lights. Not the cheapest but will consume less power. You will probably also want some type of entertainment aboard (TV or Stereo) so you need to figure out all of your power requirements and size you battery banks in accordance with your solar power and engine charging abilities. You do not need to depend on the electric start capabilities of the engine to start it. Hence I would not worry too much about this ability in your total equation.
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Frank
I just have one battery
My boat has a small group 24 marine battery. In the morning the battery will not start the motor, if I run the anchor light and the fans all night. So your plan for three batteries sounds like it will work fine. I use a flexible Unisolar 10W solar panel and that tops up the battery before the next weekend. My motor will charge the battery but it takes a several hours of running at speed.
My boat has a small group 24 marine battery. In the morning the battery will not start the motor, if I run the anchor light and the fans all night. So your plan for three batteries sounds like it will work fine. I use a flexible Unisolar 10W solar panel and that tops up the battery before the next weekend. My motor will charge the battery but it takes a several hours of running at speed.
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Ray Bowles
On our H26 we have only one Group 27 deep
cycle and charge it off our Honda 9.9 ob. We use our boat an average of 3.5 days a week all summer. The ob runs about 1 hr a day during these outings. We run our cabin lights (3x) about 1/2 hour a day. About every 4 weeks I need to recharge on shore power overnight. My motor is a pull start and I'm sure that helps alot. If I ever motor for 2 hours or more at high rpm it buys alot of extra time between charging. Solar is the way to go! one battery, one good solar panel. Ray
cycle and charge it off our Honda 9.9 ob. We use our boat an average of 3.5 days a week all summer. The ob runs about 1 hr a day during these outings. We run our cabin lights (3x) about 1/2 hour a day. About every 4 weeks I need to recharge on shore power overnight. My motor is a pull start and I'm sure that helps alot. If I ever motor for 2 hours or more at high rpm it buys alot of extra time between charging. Solar is the way to go! one battery, one good solar panel. Ray
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Ken Shubert
Fans
The old fans in my H23.5 were drawing 5A and killed the battery fast. Replacing them with new low current Caframo's saved a bunch. Flourescent lights are much more efficient than incandescents for interior lights and you can read by them too. We use a Coleman flourescent latern that runs on D cells. That means we have one good lamp that is independent of our house battery and can be moved anywhere.... even to the dock. Replacing the anchor light with one of the Davis high efficiency units would help too. Ken S/V WouffHong
The old fans in my H23.5 were drawing 5A and killed the battery fast. Replacing them with new low current Caframo's saved a bunch. Flourescent lights are much more efficient than incandescents for interior lights and you can read by them too. We use a Coleman flourescent latern that runs on D cells. That means we have one good lamp that is independent of our house battery and can be moved anywhere.... even to the dock. Replacing the anchor light with one of the Davis high efficiency units would help too. Ken S/V WouffHong
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Gary Bridi
Solar for Sure
Se my prior posts on this. A 15 amp panel mounted on the backstay should do the trick with only one battery. Reply if you need more info. Gary
Se my prior posts on this. A 15 amp panel mounted on the backstay should do the trick with only one battery. Reply if you need more info. Gary
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Randy
THANKS
Thanks for the suggestions! It sounds as if one extra battery and a solar panel may be the way to go. More later...
Thanks for the suggestions! It sounds as if one extra battery and a solar panel may be the way to go. More later...
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