Cat Question(s)

[Andrew Grace]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Wow. We have been on the hook for months now with a fridge / freezer running 24/7 along with all the lights an electronics on 500 watts of solar.
Batteries are alway topped up. No generator or engines required.

That's exactly my point , start actually sailing on a 7 day voyage using the autopilot, radar etc , with cloud cover or rain squalls and you will quickly find that 500 watts is way under spec to keep the batteries charged,

[rabbi]

Originally Posted by Andrew Grace

That's exactly my point , start actually sailing on a 7 day voyage using the autopilot, radar etc , with cloud cover or rain squalls and you will quickly find that 500 watts is way under spec to keep the batteries charged,

Agreed. but how often does that happen (leaving for a longer passage with not much sun for extended periods)?
How many engine hours per year are required to supply the missing Ah on these few occasions?

Certainly not enough to justify the weight & cost of a genset.


Our recently sold Mahe had 560w solar and was always self sufficient for liveaboard use including watermaker, breadmaker, fridge, etc.
I just heard from the new owner she still is self sufficient, although its October and days are shorter now in the Med and often overcast.