tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post7678382201247302052..comments2024-03-28T08:26:58.108-04:00Comments on Our Odyssey: A restless nightLouisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06306854459459257368noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-43557930316489697652013-04-17T15:38:04.193-04:002013-04-17T15:38:04.193-04:00I could have sworn it was Ben who first showed me ...I could have sworn it was Ben who first showed me a Victron data-sheet, long before August 2011 even. But you might have been the one who started him on that track... <br /><br />FYI - when I bought ours, I found that by calling and emailing around to dealers I was able to track down an inverter/charger for substantially less than list and way below the lowest advertised prices - it ended up not costing much more than a new Xantrex. I never did find much discounting of MasterVolt though.<br /><br />Though without being able to take advantage of the load support features, I totally understand why you'd go with something different.<br /><br />And as for lithium pricing... Balqon is currently selling 1000Ah cells for $740/ea. $6000 for a 24V 1000Ah battery is pretty close to what you would pay for Lifeline AGM's, before you factor in any other Lithium advantages. Let me know if you want any links - I've been sending Ben stuff to help him finish speccing his bus.<br /><br />And besides, the bleeding edge is fun.... ;-)<br /><br /> - ChrisChris Dunphyhttp://www.technomadia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-75662574922087865172013-04-16T17:26:20.625-04:002013-04-16T17:26:20.625-04:00I'm pretty sure it was I who first alerted you...I'm pretty sure it was I who first alerted you to Victron (in August, 2011 -- not that I am keeping track, but Gmail never forgets...). You are correct in that Victron units do have many of the same capabilities, but, as I wrote way back then, I have concerns about their US service and support. That's a bigger concern here on the boat than on the bus. They're also very spendy, as you know. The big reason why they are not tops on my list right now is that I can't actually use the "load support" capability here on the boat -- we have a 16k generator, and our shore power comes in through an isolation transformer, so it's 50 amps or nothing at all. They are still in the running, but I am looking more towards a pair of inexpensive far-east units that do not have integral chargers, with a separate high-current charger (or two). Nothing firm yet, and all will be disclosed here on the blog when I know more.<br /><br />As to lithiums, they are still not yet at a competitive lifetime cost, per kWh "banked," as compared to AGMs. The significant weight and space savings, a real advantage in the bus, do little for us here on the boat. But I did review the state of the technology while noodling through the battery/inverter problems, just to be sure. I'll be looking at it one more time when it comes time to actually buy all this stuff; the key challenge right now is finding a replacement alternator to fit the existing mounts and belts that can be externally regulated and is 24-volt.<br />Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930398671280529448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-61744534587106654492013-04-16T13:05:33.550-04:002013-04-16T13:05:33.550-04:00A Victron inverter should do all that your old one...A Victron inverter should do all that your old one on the bus did, and more.<br /><br />And... Lithium's might at last be worth considering too. I've seen some great prices on 1000Ah cells. :-)<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br /> - ChrisChris Dunphyhttp://www.technomadia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-39870579300974972682013-04-15T10:39:51.455-04:002013-04-15T10:39:51.455-04:00Hi, Mike. Thanks for checking in on the kitties. O...Hi, Mike. Thanks for checking in on the kitties. Other than Angel's one big barf fest when we were out in the open ocean, they've been perfectly fine. George usually sits on the pilot house settee while we're under way, and Angel goes back and forth between the helm chair and the saloon.<br /><br />We'll see if Angel has trouble next time we see anything rough.Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06306854459459257368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-24420120143149716402013-04-15T10:14:31.384-04:002013-04-15T10:14:31.384-04:00Your cats were sea sick at first, how are the cats...Your cats were sea sick at first, how are the cats taking all this boat movement now?<br /><br />MikeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-19853585682535127772013-04-15T00:14:27.020-04:002013-04-15T00:14:27.020-04:00Hi, I can only imagine your concern when anchored ...Hi, I can only imagine your concern when anchored with current / tide in one direction and wind in the opposite direction. Such a condition even affects me and I am on a 16 foot pontoon boat fishing off Marco Island in the backwaters. I have a 40 ft Monaco RV in Naples. You are living my dream on your boat. I would like to do the circle from here to the Mississippi and up to Detroit, and then return to Naples via the St, Lawrence seaway. But at 75 years, not much chance.<br />Enjoy your boat. I really enjoy your blog. ernieernie from Michiganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03551534832645784452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-47968346736651401982013-04-14T11:04:35.712-04:002013-04-14T11:04:35.712-04:00I've enjoyed your postings on the T&T foru...I've enjoyed your postings on the T&T forum and now this blog. As you get to be an old hand at cruising those waters, you'll learn a few things. One, unless there is a river upstream, you will have significantly less current issues anchoring above or west of the ICW, rather than between the ICW and the ocean. We always used Dewee's Creek / Long Creek in that area, both because they fit that spec, and are much wider than Price's and others. There are a few clumps of trees here and there to get in the lee of under certain conditions, though I don't think they did much good. Holding is excellent too. I am not sure what your anchor is, but it sounds like you have very heavy ground tackle, which is good (until the windlass breaks, that is). 3/8" BBB chain and a 88lb Delta have held our 60 LOA 80,000lb boat through all kinds of nasty, shifting stuff. More scope is always good, but over time you will find you can use 3-1 most of the time with that kind of gear especially as the water gets deeper; but that will come with time and experience as it relates to you and your boat. <br /><br />As you get closer to Morehead City / Beaufort, let's see if we can meet. We are usually either at Morehead City Yacht Basin or anchored at Cape Lookout at given time.<br /><br />George<br />56 Hatteras MYGeorgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09114534696667664833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-65744133452439149272013-04-13T15:30:39.587-04:002013-04-13T15:30:39.587-04:00Thanks, John. I had forgotten about that, too. P...Thanks, John. I had forgotten about that, too. Please do shoot me the dimensions and photos. If I can find a way to stow it, I would love to have it, and while we are at Deltaville next month would be a great time to have a mount fabricated. If I can make it work, then I will come get it from you when I come back down to retrieve the bus. I'm also happy to have whatever other lines, fenders, or other miscellany you have lying about from your flight-level-zero days.<br />Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930398671280529448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-91599596309738339542013-04-13T15:26:21.889-04:002013-04-13T15:26:21.889-04:00We did consider it, and I am certain the time will...We did consider it, and I am certain the time will come when we need to "man the anchor watch" over night. We are certainly prepared for standing watches overnight anyway, as it is necessary on longer passages. Even making the Bahamas in this boat, except on a very specific itinerary, requires an overnight. We are willing to do one night on our own (or two, in an emergency), but beyond that we will have at least a third crew member aboard to help stand watch.<br />Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930398671280529448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-12006305993686683472013-04-13T13:47:53.905-04:002013-04-13T13:47:53.905-04:00Sean --
Sorry about the rough night. I have expe...Sean -- <br /><br />Sorry about the rough night. I have experienced anchoring in the conflicting winds and currents in the area and there is no easy solution. Once, when we were threatened with a hurricane (which thankfully stayed far offshore), I got seriously worried about how the anchored boat would deal with a blow if the current was holding me so that the boat would not face into the wind. I ended up using a large stern anchor and facing the boat into the anticipated wind. The result was that the boat was sideways to the current, no matter which way it was moving. I got some interesting movements, but I preferred to have my nose into a possible hurricane wind. I've done the same thing in a previous boat in an actual hurricane near Mobile, Alabama, but we were tied off at the stern to trees rather than using a stern anchor, and it worked out well. <br /><br />I realized reading this that I offered you my large hurricane anchor and never got it to you. It is too large to easily stow on the boat unless you had some kind of mounting made for it on deck. It is too large to go into the aft deck opening to the bilge. You are still welcome to it, as it will not help me much in the airplane. Perhaps I'll send you a picture and some measurements when I get back to Savannah. I'll be over there tonight and get to this next week if you are interested. I also have some serious hurricane rope that you are welcome to as well.John Samfordhttp://www.johnsamford.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-61501792644704094982013-04-13T00:29:49.640-04:002013-04-13T00:29:49.640-04:00Maybe in some more serious situations you and the ...Maybe in some more serious situations you and the "crew" might have to sleep in shifts to keep tabs on weather conditions? BMW HACKERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13918586672379085225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-29010484746304949812013-04-12T19:08:08.008-04:002013-04-12T19:08:08.008-04:00It was set to depth of water (below surface) when ...It was set to depth of water (below surface) when we bought the boat, and it turns out I prefer it that way. Lots of folks prefer depth-under-keel, but with a draft of almost exactly one fathom, I know instantly how much is under the keel by seeing depth below surface, math I have to do anyway with the soundings on the charts.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930398671280529448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-22191320339226672342013-04-12T18:02:25.933-04:002013-04-12T18:02:25.933-04:00Just out of curiosity, what is your depth sounder ...Just out of curiosity, what is your depth sounder calibrated to ?<br /><br />I have mine set so zero is the bottom of my props which equals 4'8" on my boat.<br /><br />Bill Kelleher Bill Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00912599099774634267noreply@blogger.com