tophatyachts.com

G'day Hatters,
I have been doing some research on how to keep my batteries on charge when long term crusing. Solar pannels and wind generators are good, and the outboard alternater is tiny, but when staying on board for a couple of weeks the batteries get a flogging, these are not enough to bring them upto +12volts. A mate of mine introduced me to these he is proberly going to buy one so ill let you know what he thinks of it. Its a car alternator with a honda motor on it. When the time comes I will proberly put one in the cockpit locker.

http://www.energymatters.com.au/honda-1 ... 5hvfikgg65

I thought that I would also tell you guys some of the progress going on, on the Dawn Breaker,
-New/ modified bow roller (with two rollers)
-New stainless mast step in progress (a little different to the original)
-Sanded back topsides ready for paint.
-desiel motor out.
-floor cut out and ready to go in.
-stairs currently being designed.
-New bollard.
-Patches of deck paint.
-All flow coat removed with flap disc ready to be painted again.
-removed ice box and planning to put a navtable with ice box inside.
-forward front tank removed.
-New galley bench and stainless sink.
-teak pads under everything stainless on the deck.
And the list goes on.
I have also glassed up the two front windows and starting to remove and glass up the rest. Iam making them smallar and changing the look, i am going for a currawong 30/ brolga 33 window shape.
Ill upload photos when she is in a better state.

Cheers,
Dawn Breaker

Wow. And I thought I was doing a lot.

that's exactly what I'm looking for. I was going to use an old whipped snipper motor to an alternator from the wreckers, but the amount of work it would take for an unknown result seemed pointless. Now I am looking at a one kva genset with a 50amp battery charger which costs about $800 but this rig looks to be the ducks guts. How much does it cost?

Sundowners mods are coming along I've filled all the through hulls and made a plug for the outboard well. Ive ditched the toilet and removed all the plumbing. Got my stainless work back today, new bow rolled, solar panels mounted to the pushpit so the fold down and. and be removed. A chart plotter mount that swings inside so I can hear the ais alarm from my bunk, and a stern rowlock for sculling. Epoxied hull filled and primed, Filled again today and more sanding tomorrow, God I love sanding.
I hope it to be everything I need coz its costing as much as the boat did just about.

Rob

G'day Rob,
They are about $1100.
I also have a big day planned, sanding and grinding, Have fun.

Cheers,
Dawn Breaker

http://www.trucksales.com.au/buy/detail ... &R=9434997

BOAT
break out another thousand

Oops, see below,

Mark
Storm Petrel

It is conversations like this that make me very happy to have parted with a little more money initially to get a Top Hat with a diesel inboard (with an emergency crank start if you do lose electrical power). Another petrel engine on board to add to the outboard seems a big price to pay to recharge your batteries.

How about using a water generator to hang over the stern when sailing? I believe the new generation (no pin intended) of these devices have made a quantum jump in efficiency. Or something like the Duogen that allows you to use wind or water movement to produce electricity. Seems a much more environmentally friendly solution.

Cheers,
Mark
Storm Petrel

Ive got to agree Mark, Having a diesel is a good thing to charge batteries and keep your hearing (outboards are deafining!!!!!!), But when I took mine out it makes the cabin so much bigger and less smellier.
Ive never thought of that, thats a really cool idea, how big would they be?? they would proberly slow you down a tad but proberly nothing like draggging a propellor.
I like the enviromently factor as well.
Cheers,
Dawn Breaker

A google search of Duogen will bring up some details. This device is the ducks guts as it can be simply converted to use water or wind power. A towed water generator can be quite small - a search of 'water generators for yachts' will bring up some examples. The turbines are much smaller than a driving prop and I doubt you would notice any difference to speed expect perhaps in drifting conditions. The real advantage of water generators over wind is that you do not have to have that spinning blade above your head. I quite like the idea of the Duogen as you can use water when sailing and wind when the boat is on the mooring, but the downside is that they Are built in the UK and cost about $4000. The Chinese are making these types of things now but I do not know how much they cost. I presume a lot less than $4k!

Cheers,
Mark

yeah I've been looking at this Ampair unit that can be towed while sailing and hoisted on a halyard when at anchor but it's a bit pricey and I'll try and make do with solar and top up with the macfarlane 55amp Honda alternator for now. I was getting 3 days from my old battery's and I am upping the size of them and the panels, so I wait a season for the Aquaair 100.

http://www.ampair.com/downloads/Aquair_ ... b_2007.pdf