Association Forum - Free Downloadable Book on single handing...

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Free Downloadable Book on single handing...

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/17/2011 : 07:06:58

So far it's a pretty good read.

http://sfbaysss.org/tipsbook

sten

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2011 : 10:12:14

Thank you, some real good stuff, especially the bit about batteries. He recommends two 6 volt golf cart batteries.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> 6V golf cart batteries: What? Golf
cart batteries on a boat? Yes, this is what I use.
I have a pair of Trojan, 240 Amp Hour, 6 Volt
golf cart batteries installed in series to produce
12V. These are standard flooded lead acid
batteries that must be checked and refilled
periodically. I use these for a few reasons, first
they have a very deep cycle, meaning that they
provide a steady stream of power for a long time,
exactly what I need to run an autopilot for hours
or days on end. And they have a high cycle life,
i.e. they can be deeply discharged many times
before replacement. Think about what they were
built for, to run a golf cart through 18 holes,
several times in succession before they are
recharged overnight. The golf course does not
want to replace these batteries every three
months. Second, they are the least expensive of
any type of battery for the amount of power they
supply and they are readily available, from any
battery shop. (I notice that West Marine is
selling the exact same battery under the name
“SeaVolt”). Golf cart batteries are not optimized
to provide “cranking” power required to start an
engine, however they will not be damaged when
used for this. These batteries can spill very
dangerous acid, so must be properly secured in
the boat to survive even a complete knockdown.
My own experience has shown that they are a
good choice; on the return trip to Hawaii, they
twice ran my autohelm and electronics through
several days of completely overcast conditions
without a blip. I have recently replaced my
batteries after constant use over five years. The
cost of replacing the pair was just over $300.
This is why I would recommend golf cart batteries over any other type of standard lead batteries.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2011 : 10:37:10

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1520 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2011 : 11:55:23

I love the tiller line self-steering section. I've done each part of that method for self-steering upwind, but I can now put it all together to refine my surgical tubing tiller line precision. Fantastic!

He even describes the foredeck version for jibing a spinnaker, which I discussed on the Forum a few months ago for the purpose of raising and dousing my gennaker.

Thanks, Sten!

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2011 : 19:50:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 Thank you, some real good stuff, especially the bit about batteries. He recommends two 6 volt golf cart batteries.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Obviously, you need at least two (2x6V), and they're significantly bigger. With just two, you won't be able to switch from one to another as you can with two 12V batteries. I like to use just one battery for house needs while at anchor, so the other is good if I need it. Of course, I absolutely have to be able to crank the engine... YMWV.

I consider golf cart batteries to be good for serious cruising boats like Sten's with substantial systems requiring considerable current draws. The folks I know who use them on their C-34 for long-term cruising have (I believe) six in two banks--an engine bank with two in series, and a house bank with four in series/parallel.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 02/17/2011 19:51:22

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2011 : 18:13:55

I did the download and printed it at FEDEX Kinkos for $16.06 - well worth it!

Edited by - on

mmac
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2011 : 08:49:48

Sten,
Thanks for the post. Since 90% of my sailing is single handed, I'm always looking for ways to KISS(Keep it Simple Sailor).

I've owned my boat since '79. About six years ago I rigged my main halyard back to the cockpit and put roller furling on the bow. I'm always kicking myself in the backside for not spending the boat units and doing it way sooner. When I was younger I could handle scrambling around the boat hoisting sails. But now I like this more leisurely, safer approach.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2011 : 11:24:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 Thank you, some real good stuff, especially the bit about batteries. He recommends two 6 volt golf cart batteries.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Obviously, you need at least two (2x6V), and they're significantly bigger. With just two, you won't be able to switch from one to another as you can with two 12V batteries. I like to use just one battery for house needs while at anchor, so the other is good if I need it. Of course, I absolutely have to be able to crank the engine... YMWV.

I consider golf cart batteries to be good for serious cruising boats like Sten's with substantial systems requiring considerable current draws. The folks I know who use them on their C-34 for long-term cruising have (I believe) six in two banks--an engine bank with two in series, and a house bank with four in series/parallel.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Our C25 had five 12V batteries wired to a one/two/all switch. Three were stored under the aft berth just under the steps. Knowing what I know now, I would have installed 4 6 volt marine batteies and called it a day. Napa style marine batteries are just not as good. Nowadays 6 volt batteries are not Golf Cart batteries anymore. The newest version of the house batteries aboard Lysistrata deliver 250 amp hours each and the previous batteries delivered 225. The technology is getting better.

In the long run, a good battery will outperform 2-3 times over and accept charges faster, etc... There is a tricked out C25 here that has three solar panels and a windgen and he has 4 Rolls batteries down below. It can be done. www.rollsbattery.com

sten

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2011 : 11:49:14

As a singlehanded sailor myself, I can relate to a lot of what the author says, although I like to restrict my catnaps to under 10 minutes (actually closer to 5). I also share his assessment of smaller cockpits and tiller steering being better suited for singlehanded sailing as I'm a master at steering with my legs/feet while trimming the genoa. A larger cockpit might stretch me out so much I'd have to use my toes (which I kind of do a little) but they aren't that dextrous.

Although I do enjoy the times when my family or friends come aboard for an afternoon of rather benign sailing in mostly milder conditions, for me, singlehanding my boat, especially when the wind is kickin' and the sea is whitecappin'

, is what feeds my fervent addiction to sailing. Like the author said, "I do know that if singlehanded sailing was not possible, I wouldn’t sail at all; I’d take up some other hobby – perhaps jigsaw puzzles."...Me too.

Edited by - on

NCBrew
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
338 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2011 : 17:28:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
Although I do enjoy the times when my family or friends come aboard for an afternoon of rather benign sailing in mostly milder conditions, for me, singlehanding my boat, especially when the wind is kickin' and the sea is whitecappin'

I can sail almost any day (retired). It only takes 1 beer to motor down the canal to reach Albemarle Sound.

If the wind is below 12 knots I sometimes go to work rather than sail. I love sailing alone and especially when the wind is above 15 knots. Large waves and whitecaps. Too much fun

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.