Hi all,
I currently have an unpowered yacht and was considering putting a battery system on board to power a few instruments/radio/lights/gps/phone charger.
For a 20ft yacht what sort of equipment will I need and if professionally done how much do you reckon this will cost.
Thanks guys
It depends on what type of yachting you do?
If you stay out overnight on weekends, or longer, then you will need a more comprehensive system than if you just day sail.
A two battery system is where I would start. Instead of having an engine battery and a deep cycle house battery, think along the lines of Two all purpose batteries, each battery can then be charges at the same time if you isolating switch was set to "Both"
Basic Instruments, a simple head unit that gives Speed and Depth in the one screen. Wind instruments are handy, but expensive. You can get hand held wind speed calculators.
There are a number of cheap Chartplotters with GPS included on the market. Once again it depends on your type of sailing.
We use a Garmin 72CX hand held GPS with Garmin Blue Chart Pacific charts linked thru a small laptop as a back up unit. This set up would be ideal for someone who already had a laptop.
The biggest problem with "electronics" is where does the budget stop?
Our particular yacht has all the electronics hooked into each other, Auto pilot directed by the GPS Chartplotter, Radar overlay, Auto pilot van be set to sail at a certain wind angle from the wind instruments, etc.
All this gear eats up batteries, so you then need solar panels, wind generator, etc.
Start small and think carefully before parting with your well earned cash. If you haven't needed it before, chances are you still don't need it.
Dusty
My set up is exactly where you should be heading. System is very simple.
One calcium battery from super cheap auto.
10 W solar panel plus $20 cut off switch from ebay.
Internal lights, LED bar strip /24leds-25cm long/ they so bright you can read the book,
for cabin put 2 of, just bought 20 strips cost $2.45 no postage /ebay.
Than fun starts hand full of switches from electronic or car shop.
Rated 10A min. more better. One bat switch 25-50A / you have pull start I guess/
Solid metal switches /must be /, boat is in rough place/
Each switch should have fuse rated 5-10A
Now, how many switches, seen the boats witch 10 even 20.
Use common sense, - Nav. Light, Steaming Light, Cabin 2 sections, Radio, Nav. Instr.
Power point, etc
I have a few extra 240 inverter with power point, deck light, compass light, fresh water pump, salt water pump, Stereo, etc.
It is better to have extra section protected with fuse, if something, happens in rough weather than flick the switch or fuse blows, the rest is functional.
I have Garmin chart plotter, tiller pilot, depth sounder, never run out bat. power.
/ even a week on the water /.
But it true I save power, at night on anchor switch off depth sounder, use only
GPS drag anchor settings.
Warning-never use cupper wires always must be "tinted".,
That's how easy it is!!!!!!!!
Gday ozza,
If you are day sailing, staying out for the odd weekend, & maybe a week straight during holidays, in sheltered waters....??
I would also go basic, a 55 to 80 watt true deep cycle AGM battery $190, a 20 watt solar panel $50, solar regulator $20, wire in 3 or 4 cigarette 10amp sockets(with fuses) $30 to a convienient spot near the companion way.
Get a handheld VHF, with a 12v charging lead. $100
Install some 12v interior LED cabin lights. $40(hardwire direct to battery. through switch panel & ON/OFF switch)
Install some 12v LED Nav lights, incl stern light $60(hardwire direct to battery, through switch panel & ON/OFF switch).
handheld GPS, with 12v charging lead, $100 to $$$
ON-OFF battery switch $30
4 gang switch panel $30
4mm tinned wire solar panel to regulator to battery $10
3mm tinned wire to LED lights $15
That totals $675, but icludes gear you may already have.
your phone charger into cigarette lighter socket.
You will not need to get this professionally installed, you will be able to do it, even if you have no electrical knowledge, just reasearch on internet for a couple of hours.
Hardwire in a cheap fishfinder with depth transducer later, if you feel its needed.
Tie some wool to the shrouds for wind indicators.
cheers
Thanks for the great feedback guys!
all your advice is fantastic, I think i'll go with blue-moon and chariot's advice
the sort of sailing I want to be doing is weekend/bay hopping up/down the WA coast for a week or so at a time
I don't think i need a depth transducer because when i can reach the bottom with the boat hook it's time to turn around
the set up seems simple enough,
solar panel/shore power/cut off switch>>battery/onoff switch>>switchboard/fuses>>lights/chargers/plotter/radio
I've got a mate who's doing his sparky apprenticeship so i'm sure i can get a hand if i need
lastly what sort of things will i need to connect up the battery(ies) to shore power?
G'day,
If your only going to be visiting marina's one night a month or so, I would just get an extension cord $20, & a cheap car battery charger & just hook up to your battery, which is fine if you are on the boat for the night to monitor it, imho you will only get problems with car battery chargers if you forget to disconnect them for a day or so, they could cook your battery??, thats what I understand....
If the boat lives connected to shore power, you will need a better thought out system which I know nothing about.
cheers
I don't think you need it, but sometimes top up BAT.is OK. For long term shore power connection, you need smarter car charger. After full charge switch itself to trickle change.
