Living aboard...

txsailcouple · Nov 26, 2007

Hi John
Once covered by the least amount of salt water there will be a salty film across the top of the battery. After that if not cleaned with fresh water and a brush there could be leakage of charge across the top of the battery with just a damp film. You will also experience corrosion on the terminals and any other not so well protected wirinng in the bildge. I prefer to have my batteries (2) high and dry so I made space for them on the port side under the counter next to the hatchway stairs. This location is also ideal since the cables to the engine for starting are as short as possible. I also have the batteries connected with a battery connect switch so that I can keep one battery isolated while sailing and always have a charged one ready when it's time to start the engine.
John
Southern Comfort Too.

wemccourt · Nov 26, 2007

Hi Jonathon,

I've lived aboard on a variety of boats, and in an RV as well, for
extended periods (multiple years).

It definitely requires organization to keep things put away. You
almost have to become almost anal about it. In the marina things will
start to accumulate on countertops and other flat surfaces that will
have to be stowed in order to go sailing.

The Catalina/Newport 30 options are good liveaboard options as they
sport pressure water systems and built-in showers. These can be
fitted to the Vega but there really isn't a good place for the shower
stall on Vega. But, as long as you're in a marina the shower usually
isn't an issue, except when you have to trek up the slippery,
frost-covered, icy ramp in your shower shoes. (Yes, I wintered over in
Oregon).

Another key thing is ventilation. This is more to keep down moisture
and the associated mildew than anything else. The boat needs a
constant airchange, possibly assisted with an exhaust fan. A dodger,
enclosing the cockpit, giving you additional living space is an
excellent investment. In the summer, a cockpit awning is sufficient.

I wouldn't trade my live-aboard experiences for anything. It was some
of the most wonderful time of my life.

I recommend it to anyone who is contemplating any cruising. Live
aboard for a year before you plan to leave so you're well acclimated
to the smaller space.

Fair Winds,

Bill McCourt
Reston, VA

SVFlyAway · Nov 26, 2007

Yesterday I sent email stating that an AGM battery will actually work
submerged in salt water. That is correct, but I don't want to mislead
anyone. While the battery will work in those conditions it is always best to
keep them dry and if given a good dousing of salt water it is a good idea to
flush them off. Someone mentioned that the weight down low is a good place
for it, and I personally would prefer to have the batteries under the
floorboards so they act more as ballast than cargo. If you think about it,
not too much salt water actually comes into the cabin via the companionway
(or it shouldn't) and, if the batteries were subjected to considerable
water getting on them I would think that there'd be far bigger problems to
worry about at the moment than whether the batteries were wet (like bailing
or getting out the life raft!!!!!).

As for flooded batteries lead plates shorting out when doused in salt water,
they really won't. The battery caps aren't all that tight and if the flooded
battery is submersed in water (not just splashed on a bit) what will happen
is that the water will start mixing with the electrolyte inside the case.
Electrolyte is basically 25% sulfuric acid in distilled water (there might
be a few other things thrown in but they are insignificant). If too much
water gets into the battery it will dilute the electrolyte and stop
producing electricity. And, of course, the last thing one wants is sulfuric
acid getting out of the case even if in rather diluted quantities.

From: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of John Kinsella
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 12:39 AM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: Battery location??

The (?) traditional battery location in the bilges is pretty good in
terms of weight distribution, I'd have thought?

I know some Vegas have fuel tank there too/instead. A previous owner of
my boat moved tank to port cockpit locker - I presume to make an
electric fuel pump unnecessary.

I must say that I like the idea of being able to start the engine by
decompressing and hand-cranking, even without a battery.

I'd be interested how long lead plate batteries terminals would have to
be covered by (salt) water before they shorted out.

I'm sure that someone on the list has the answer.

John

V 1447 Breakaway

vegatern wrote:

sailshiva · Nov 28, 2007

Thanks Bob! I look forward to seeing your photos. I
made a tent that hung over the boom and tied off on
the lifelines, but you sort of had to be 4 feet tall
and hunchbacked to sit in the cockpit and be
comfortable.

Sadly, that tent became history on Nov. 12th of this
year when my home port, Deer Harbor, Washington, was
hit with 70+mph winds...The tent is now in shreds. As
a side note to folks with roller furling--two roller
furled jibs on boats in our marina blew themselves out
during the storm that shredded my tent. The wind
unfurled the jibs and then shredded them. As the
storm was building, my husband and I walked down to
the marine to check our dock lines, and as sort of an
after thought, we decided to put a couple sail ties
around our roller furled jib. Whew.

wxt8981 · Nov 28, 2007

Hi- I just added a pic (Zelt_44.jpg) from my boom tent- It goes from the forward hatch to the 2 backstays. There are sort of battens on top- I love it when I stay for a longer period, it makes the living-space much bigger. (I'm going to have a new one made right now- it will cost me about $450, but it's worth it
Wilhelm, V-257

Sheial Gaquin sailshiva@... wrote: Thanks Bob! I look forward to seeing your photos. I
made a tent that hung over the boom and tied off on
the lifelines, but you sort of had to be 4 feet tall
and hunchbacked to sit in the cockpit and be
comfortable.

Sadly, that tent became history on Nov. 12th of this
year when my home port, Deer Harbor, Washington, was
hit with 70+mph winds...The tent is now in shreds. As
a side note to folks with roller furling--two roller
furled jibs on boats in our marina blew themselves out
during the storm that shredded my tent. The wind
unfurled the jibs and then shredded them. As the
storm was building, my husband and I walked down to
the marine to check our dock lines, and as sort of an
after thought, we decided to put a couple sail ties
around our roller furled jib. Whew.

schroath · Nov 29, 2007

Yes, I use old collapsable tent poles on my canopy, which I
constructed, by the way, generally from a pattern in the Sailrite book
using leftover Sunbrella material?which resulted in its being a little
too narrow, but otherwise pretty jolly. It goes from the mast to the
backstays with tent poles through pockets fore and aft. I tent it by
attaching the main halyard to a d-ring at the center, which gives
standing headroom, sort of. It is kept in place using bungies from
d-rings to shrouds fore and stern pulpit aft. These can also be pushed
up or down as needed.

SV Snipp

fotofundi · Nov 30, 2007

Hi Wilhelm

Where is your pic (Zelt_44.jpg)? Can't find it in the Group folders.

Thanks

David

td76 · Nov 30, 2007

Try Yahoo! Groups

David Runyard wrote:

wxt8981 · Nov 30, 2007

Hi Thomas; thanks, though just in case- I added it again in 'Photos'.... I like this tent, because one can use the entire cockpit and the sides are almost vertical. There are zippers on either side (about midpoint), to open either one side or both.
Wilhelm, V-257

"Thomas D. Hamill" tdhamill@... wrote: Try Yahoo! Groups

David Runyard wrote:

pelagicasd · Nov 30, 2007

Lyric carried 4 6 volt golf cart battery and a group 27 starting battery. We were battery rich but way to heavy. When we get around to re doing the electrical well probably go with a couple of AGMs for the house bank. Yanmars can't be started with a crank so we'll have to keep a dedicated starting battery. Walt________________________________

To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
From: John.Kinsella@...
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:38:48 +0000
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: Battery location??

The (?) traditional battery location in the bilges is pretty good in
terms of weight distribution, I'd have thought?

I know some Vegas have fuel tank there too/instead. A previous owner of
my boat moved tank to port cockpit locker - I presume to make an
electric fuel pump unnecessary.

I must say that I like the idea of being able to start the engine by
decompressing and hand-cranking, even without a battery.

I'd be interested how long lead plate batteries terminals would have to
be covered by (salt) water before they shorted out.

I'm sure that someone on the list has the answer.

John

V 1447 Breakaway

vegatern wrote:

pelagicasd · Nov 30, 2007

OOPs, forgot to add that we glassed in a couple of shelves in the port and starboard cockpit lockers and built boxes for the batteries which were then secured to the shelves. Wow, my English teacher would have a fit over that. Talk about a run on sentence.

Couple of things to always consider. Sailboats have been known to capsize, pitch pole and get knocked down.
Consider the standard location of the batteries. Now consider yourself sitting on the cabin overhead (ceiling)with the boat upside down. Do you really want those batteries over your head? WaltTo: albinvega@yahoogroups.comFrom: bestvega@...: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:59:06 +0000Subject: RE: [AlbinVega] Re: Battery location??

Lyric carried 4 6 volt golf cart battery and a group 27 starting battery. We were battery rich but way to heavy. When we get around to re doing the electrical well probably go with a couple of AGMs for the house bank. Yanmars can't be started with a crank so we'll have to keep a dedicated starting battery. Walt________________________________To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.comFrom: John.Kinsella@...: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:38:48 +0000Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: Battery location??The (?) traditional battery location in the bilges is pretty good interms of weight distribution, I'd have thought?I know some Vegas have fuel tank there too/instead. A previous owner ofmy boat moved tank to port cockpit locker - I presume to make anelectric fuel pump unnecessary.I must say that I like the idea of being able to start the engine bydecompressing and hand-cranking, even without a battery.I'd be interested how long lead plate batteries terminals would have tobe covered by (salt) water before they shorted out.I'm sure that someone on the list has the answer.JohnV 1447 Breakawayvegatern wrote: I know that the flooded lead plate batteries that I have create gassing problem, and I guess they are ruined, if they get covered by water. What happens to a AGM battery when it is covered by water? Can they be saved and recharged? Craig Richard, Having the batteries beneath the cabin sole (well in the series 2 anyway) is the best place for them. The weight is centered fore and aft and low. This improves the performance of the boat. Also having too much weight in the ends of any boat tends slow it down and also often makes boat hobby-horse more - like a teeter-totter. I am actually thinking of adding a battery in my starboard cockpit locker as (Steve mentioned) -- though as this is still pretty much amidships. Also the weight of this battery will balance out against the fuel tank in the port locker. I use a lot of electrical power as I am a techno-junkie and usually have several electronic devices running at once (I also develop nav classes for a boating organization I belong to and thus use my boat as a test platform of sorts). I might also add a couple batteries in the lockers beneath the settees however (see next paragraph before you gasp at this idea). Since I sail single handed the extra weight of these batteries, low in the boat, shouldn't affect the performance too much. Finally, if you use sealed batteries (rather than flooded) your life will be simplified. The don't spill, don't require venting, don't require electrolyte checking or adding, and are pretty much indestructible I have found. I use Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) only in my boat. I never have to check the water level or equalize the battery. And I can charge them at the same charging rate as the old flooded batteries (unlike the gel batteries that require a different charging voltage, thus a different regulator - gel batteries are much easier to damage). Granted AGM batteries cost a bunch more, but they tend to have a pretty long life especially if you don't deep discharge them (thus my putting extra batteries in the locker. From: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com ] On Behalf Of Richard Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2007 12:30 PM To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Battery location?? I presume you mean batteries, Steve not engines. How about under the cockpit sole? I installed a starting battery there. Richard

bobnlesafloat · Dec 1, 2007

On Spring Fever, we have 2 x 90 amp/hour domestic batteries under the saloon floor, they are lightly wedged in place by some bits of timer, in addition we have two swivel-battens fixed beneath each of the lids which in very rough weather (we've only done it twice) can be secured to theoretically keep them in place should we roll over.

Our starter battery is located on the starboard side of the engine bay, it sits directly onto the fibreglass moulding and has a 3 x 2" timber notched over the top of it, which bolts through the plywood locker side (butterfly nuts) to hold it down and in place.

Seems to work (5 years) OK

wxt8981 · Dec 1, 2007

Hi.:
My five cents worth- I keep my 2 batteries in the slot formed by the bilge- I think they are very secure there- besides their weight being at the best location. The aft battery is under a fiberglass cover, and the forward is half-way under that cover. I don't think they could fall out- the cables alone will hold them inside that slot. I have capsized my Vega once- it's scary! But I was mostly concerned to get her upright- which she did. And then I thanked that I didn't fall overboard (I was using a harness).
Wilhelm, V-257walt/judy brown/allore bestvega@... wrote:

Couple of things to always consider. Sailboats have been known to capsize, pitch pole and get knocked down.
Consider the standard location of the batteries. Now consider yourself sitting on the cabin overhead (ceiling)with the boat upside down. Do you really want those batteries over your head? Walt

.

fotofundi · Dec 2, 2007

Thanks Thomas, don't know how I missed it the first time. Thanks too
Wilhelm for the pic. Does the top of your 'tent' rest on top of the
boom or is it suspended from the boom?

David
V1696

wxt8981 · Dec 2, 2007

Hi David;
the 'tent' rests on top of the boom (there are battens) and the sides are almost vertical making it possible to sit upright.
When putting up the 'tent', first you put the boom topping lift through a top opening (mine made with leather), and then roll the battens forward. Every batten has a string inside to fasten it to the boom, and from where the boom topping lift comes through the 'tent', there the backside is held up by the 2 back stays. The forward end of the 'tent' also has means to fasten it to the boat (in my case, I have I have an eye strap). The sides are fastened to the lower life-lines. The whole thing is quite sturdy, I went through some strong winds but never had a problem. And by the way- I can put it up by myself.
My old 'tent' has zippers from the back panel to either side of the side panels, and a zipper on both side of the side panel. I never found any need for the aft zippers, hence my new 'tent' has only a zipper (both sides) about in the middle of the front panels.
I guess you could motor with the 'tent' up, but I wouldn't recommend it- it's for anchoring....
Wilhelm, V-257

David Runyard dr@... wrote: Thanks Thomas, don't know how I missed it the first time. Thanks too
Wilhelm for the pic. Does the top of your 'tent' rest on top of the
boom or is it suspended from the boom?

David
V1696