There goes the neighborhood!
- Thread starter Kings Gambit
- Start date
I think we are not too far away from some really interesting cruising boats. I can imagine a tug like design, clad in solar with a wind generator on a short mast... and an electric power train. You would have a lot of the benefits of sailing and power boating combined. I think we are already at a point where the technology exists that modern sailboats could go all renewable electric and ditch the petrol power train.
I've done some calculations on exactly that idea, for a trawler yacht of around 25 feet.
All of the below is from memory but I can look up my calculations if anyone wants more accurate numbers. It's based on a trawler yacht of around 25 feet LOA. I think I used one of Glen-L designs as my assumed hull design.
- You need quite a large battery that you charge for the trip. I think I based my calculations on 100 kW.h, assuming that by the time I get around to building such a boat it will be possible to get a used car battery with 100 kW.h still in it. (That's not feasible yet, but it probably will be in a few years.)
- You need a lot of solar panel area. Plaster the roof and a canopy over the aft deck with solar panels. I think I based my calculations on panels covering an area 2.5 m wide (8 feet ish) by 4 m long (14 feet ish). I did not look into the cost of that, I just assumed that it would be cost-feasible by the time I got around to doing it.
- Cruise speed must be well below hull speed. I think I assumed a normal cruise of 3 or maybe 4 knots. You have to get motor power output down to around 5-7 kW (under 10 hp). I didn't consider anything other than calm water. Obviously, in rougher conditions your charge consumption is going to be higher.
So, best case scenario, your trip plan is either maximum four or maybe five days on the water (assuming you actually travel each day) or four or five days travelling followed by 2-3 days recharging in a marina. Assuming you can find marinas that will even let you do that.
You could stay on the water indefinitely if you're willing to stay at anchor every other day, or something like that.
Interesting boats but the smaller ones look like the power boat version of a Mac 26X, not really a "tug" displacement hull.
And that looks like a bow thruster on a 25 foot boat. Either speaks to the maneuverability or expected level of competence of the buyers.
That might be a little overly cynical. I'm in the process of buying a 26-foot sailboat that has a bow thruster option. (I didn't get it.) I think it's more a matter of it being a relatively cheap option to add to a boat in that price range.
I've looked at the Ranger Tugs and they're nice in some ways, but they seem over priced for what you get--at least, when you're looking in the used market. I suppose it could be that they hold their value for a reason, but it's not immediately obvious to me what that reason would be.
[Other than just "branding," I mean.]
Yes, it was overly cynical and I thought about rewriting to lesson it but then decided I'm a cynic
. I had a 27 foot boat for a long time and never thought once about wanting a bow thruster. I now have a 36 foot boat with lots of windage and never thought about wanting a bow thruster until just now. I realize cross wind docking would be less dramatic with a bow thruster but I seem to manage without.I will admit the Ranger Tugs are nice looking boats and I see the appeal.
Where I dock now is tight... and a few hours of each day, the tidal current is running close to 5kts. There have been times when the current and wind combine to make it impossible for me to turn the bow to windward... and on those days, I wait until the tide slows. A bow thruster would be nice in those circumstances.
@Tedd
Don't go to any trouble but if you stumble on those calculations, I'd love to look them over. Did you include a wind generator in your mix? The ranger tug at my marina has a short mast that would be perfect for a wind generator.
The new MarineBeam wind generator claims to be 400W at 12V so that would be in the ballpark of 30 Amps.
bow thrusters: just when you need them the most, they help you the least!
they work OK on a calm day with no current.
you have a true 5 knt current and a strong cross wind too, you're still going to want to wait, even more so if short handed.
just saying. in those conditions we would order a tug or two.
better safe than sorry
they work OK on a calm day with no current.
you have a true 5 knt current and a strong cross wind too, you're still going to want to wait, even more so if short handed.
just saying. in those conditions we would order a tug or two.
better safe than sorry
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Hi @rgranger ,
I couldn't find everything, but I did find my calculations for range and specific range at different speeds. They're based on the Glen-L Hercules, which is a 24-foot trailerable trawler yacht. It looks like my memory was faulty regarding the battery. I assumed an 80 kW.h battery, I think because I was assuming a 100 kW.h battery that was removed from a car at "end of life," which by convention is usually taken to mean 80 percent of new capacity.
These were done for my own use and so they're not the cleanest or easiest to read, but I think you will probably be able to mostly follow them.
I couldn't find everything, but I did find my calculations for range and specific range at different speeds. They're based on the Glen-L Hercules, which is a 24-foot trailerable trawler yacht. It looks like my memory was faulty regarding the battery. I assumed an 80 kW.h battery, I think because I was assuming a 100 kW.h battery that was removed from a car at "end of life," which by convention is usually taken to mean 80 percent of new capacity.
These were done for my own use and so they're not the cleanest or easiest to read, but I think you will probably be able to mostly follow them.
i love playing in both camps. always have.
this is cherybomb
87' formula 242 ss, 454 rat block, cruise 38, top end 61, will plane at 19, bought it new back in the day, nice great lakes launch, still have it, runs great, when the lakes calm down it's a hoot. 3 gpm at cruise, ugly when you open the quads, have bimini and enclosure curtains, sleeps 2, eat up the street.
111 gallon tank,
and it's a great chase boat for the Ascow cause it can right it as needed.
and i have caoght a lot of fish with it. very safe on the big lake and the bay. windy and waves? it will get you home, but it's like thirty miles of bad road in an old one ton truck. the ramp is one mile from my house, aeoluse is docked down town, three miles from home.
winds = sailing
no wind = motorboating
oh i've got boating bad
then there is my 48' shell lake cedar strip 14'r with the merc rocket engine
green head with the silver shaft. remember those? got it running for the shows. got a 56' johnson seahorse, green, 10 hp, even have the manual
i love it all
this is cherybomb
87' formula 242 ss, 454 rat block, cruise 38, top end 61, will plane at 19, bought it new back in the day, nice great lakes launch, still have it, runs great, when the lakes calm down it's a hoot. 3 gpm at cruise, ugly when you open the quads, have bimini and enclosure curtains, sleeps 2, eat up the street.
111 gallon tank,
and it's a great chase boat for the Ascow cause it can right it as needed.
and i have caoght a lot of fish with it. very safe on the big lake and the bay. windy and waves? it will get you home, but it's like thirty miles of bad road in an old one ton truck. the ramp is one mile from my house, aeoluse is docked down town, three miles from home.
winds = sailing
no wind = motorboating
oh i've got boating bad
then there is my 48' shell lake cedar strip 14'r with the merc rocket engine
green head with the silver shaft. remember those? got it running for the shows. got a 56' johnson seahorse, green, 10 hp, even have the manual
i love it all
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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
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