Recent posts

#81

sailFar.net Discussion / Re: I Know Where I'll be Frida...

Last post by CapnK - March 25, 2025, 11:11:00 PM

Cool.

No pun intended... ;D

That reminds me, I've been wanting to (re-, I think) watch the video about the young guys who took an Albin Vega to the Antartic... Berserk, or something like that? Will have to look it up...

#82

sailFar.net Discussion / I Know Where I'll be Friday

Last post by wolverine - March 25, 2025, 07:32:30 PM

Posted at the Piggly Wiggly...

#83

Boat Bits / Re: LiFePO4 batteries going ma...

Last post by wolverine - March 25, 2025, 07:26:10 PM

I have them in my Compac 19 and would like to have them in my Orion too. That will take some rewiring. 2 lead acids for the deisel and 2-200ah lithiums for the house.

#84

Boat Bits / Re: LiFePO4 batteries going ma...

Last post by Frank - March 25, 2025, 06:30:04 PM

They have been a total game changer cruising here for me.
Can't praise them enough...

#85

Gear Here / Re: Solar Panels

Last post by CapnK - March 24, 2025, 08:18:11 AM

From what I've read, like the rest of solar, they have gotten better with advancements in the tech over the past few years. I've got 2X 100 watt rigid panels for the bimini roof solar watercatching system planned, and am thinking to supplement that with flexibles.

#86

Gear Here / Re: Solar Panels

Last post by wolverine - March 23, 2025, 02:33:33 PM

I've had good luck with them. A small 25 watt flexible panel came with my Compac 19 and served me well for over 10 years. I sat in the cockpit and it received enough light to keep the batteries topped off. I had a cheap $100, 100 watt flexible panel on the Seidelmann for 3 years working great. It was bungeed to the top of the bimini. I recently bought a small 50 watt flexible panel for the Compac. I'm thinking of installing on the cabin top in front of the sliding hatch using stick on velcro. The hatch has enough clearance to slide over the panel, and the velcro will allow me to remove it when trailering. If the velcro doesn't work out, I'll try installing snaps on the companionway hatch and installing that way.   

#87

Gear Here / Solar Panels

Last post by s/v necessity - March 22, 2025, 06:59:08 PM

I'm looking to put some solar on my small boat. I'm trying to avoid having racks and supporting structures though.  I was thinking of getting some flexible panels that I could store or hang while under way and then deploy while at anchor.  Thoughts anyone?  I see that many folks haven't had the greatest luck with flexible panels...  But then again it looks like some folks seem happy... 

#88

Boat Bits / Re: LiFePO4 batteries going ma...

Last post by s/v necessity - March 22, 2025, 02:23:05 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gLIv7wa01Q

They have come down a bunch in the in just a few years! :)  I'm feeling bad for buying new lead acids last summer.  LiFePO4 is starting to look like a no brainer for my house batteries...

#89

Gear Here / Cheap(er), very easy non-manua...

Last post by CapnK - March 22, 2025, 09:50:37 AM

$1016, if I counted properly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wisuyHdsv-A

In the comments is mentioned a 12V high pressure motor/pump ( Pumptec Pumptec 107SS-105/M925 12V Pump & Motor ) as an alternative, but it's a $850 alone... and in the video, even using the 1500W inverter, he's making a gallon in under ~6 minutes of runtime. He estimates 100 watts per half gallon.

Not really saltwater-rated products, BUT - it's easy to make freshwater to clean them with, to make them last longer. Might need to replace the $79-99 pressure washer every few years, everything else looks like it would be OK WRT salt.

And looking at those, there are battery operated washers with enough PSI which may well work.

#90

Routes and Destinations / Re: Launch Sites

Last post by wolverine - March 20, 2025, 03:11:24 PM

😄😄😄 Yes the man is a wealth of information. He responded with some great ideas. He even provided links!