United Kingdom
24 Posts
Posted - 07/01/2011 : 22:24:48
Hi everyone,
Happy New Year to you all and I hope everyone is looking forward to another season of sailing.
I am just trying to get a few bits and pieces gathered up in the hope of launching around the 12th March.
Could anyone shed a little light on what type of tiller extension they have and what suitable length it is, I borrowed a 1000mm one from a chandler but it seemed a bit too long!!!! Also I wasn`t sure what way it would fit above the spud for the autohelm when folded away!!!
I am also rewiring the shore power to include a galvanic isolator, consumer unit and the guy who is doing the work told me to put a Sterling battery charger in while I was at it. We are berthed in a marina all the time so he said then use the 12v lights aswell and the batteries will charge away all the time. Has anyone else done this and if so which type and size of charger did you fit???
Many thanks
Kyle
Iain C
United Kingdom
181 Posts
Posted - 07/01/2011 : 23:13:45
I have a Spinlock Assymetric, 600-900mm which I was lucky enough to find second hand for £50. To be honest, although they are expensive, I'd even pay the £109 for a new one, as lets face it you are using it all the time you sail the boat, and it really does make a difference to the "feel" of the boat. The adjustment works really well...longer for when the sprayhood is down and I'm perched up on the coaming, short for when I'm sat down dodging spray!
I was wondering what to do about it fouling the autopilot peg...I have not yet fitted my pilot but it was a concern. The solution came to light when I sailed the Open 60 "Toe in the Water" to Cherbourg in November. The UJ's had been replaced with engine moutings off a Ford Escort (if I remember rightly), which when you let go of the tiller extension just makes it stand up. Sounds a bit odd, but works perfectly. I have sometimes dropped the extension...sometimes with the handle going straight over the throttle, and always in a tight marina! It makes it out the way, but always there, and of course takes the play out of the old metal joint. That reminds me, I will find out exactly what Ford part number it is and order one for my boat. Sadly, along with a Whale sink pump, that is the only part my boat has in common with an Open 60!
Here's a pic showing the detail. The fact that we were off the Cherbourg peninsula, kite up, up to 17 knots of boat speed, with dolphins playing around us before the sun went down is of course totally irrelevant...
Edited by - Iain C on 07/01/2011 23:16:02
rocklyn4
United Kingdom
24 Posts
Posted - 09/01/2011 : 22:02:36
Hi Iain,
Thank you for your response it would be good if you could find out the part number and as you say £109 would be well worth it as it is quite awkward leaning over to the tiller all the time especially on a long reach. I look forward to hearing from you again.
Kyle
jerryo
Ireland
70 Posts
Posted - 09/01/2011 : 22:28:21
quote:
Originally posted by Iain C
I have a Spinlock Assymetric, 600-900mm which I was lucky enough to find second hand for £50. To be honest, although they are expensive, I'd even pay the £109 for a new one, as lets face it you are using it all the time you sail the boat, and it really does make a difference to the "feel" of the boat. The adjustment works really well...longer for when the sprayhood is down and I'm perched up on the coaming, short for when I'm sat down dodging spray!
I was wondering what to do about it fouling the autopilot peg...I have not yet fitted my pilot but it was a concern. The solution came to light when I sailed the Open 60 "Toe in the Water" to Cherbourg in November. The UJ's had been replaced with engine moutings off a Ford Escort (if I remember rightly), which when you let go of the tiller extension just makes it stand up. Sounds a bit odd, but works perfectly. I have sometimes dropped the extension...sometimes with the handle going straight over the throttle, and always in a tight marina! It makes it out the way, but always there, and of course takes the play out of the old metal joint. That reminds me, I will find out exactly what Ford part number it is and order one for my boat. Sadly, along with a Whale sink pump, that is the only part my boat has in common with an Open 60!
Here's a pic showing the detail. The fact that we were off the Cherbourg peninsula, kite up, up to 17 knots of boat speed, with dolphins playing around us before the sun went down is of course totally irrelevant...
- 5159131748_c7f5e666d6_b.jpg (349.76 KiB) Viewed 4010 times
Is your sabre a home completed one as the stern looks way bigger than mine with loads of space and equipment. The Sat dome is a nice touch. Does that cover the BBQ?
Sunfly
United Kingdom
51 Posts
Posted - 10/01/2011 : 08:06:14 Sunfly's Homepage Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Delete Reply
Never liked tiller extensions myself, would rather stand, or sit with the hood down. Or let mrs sunfly do it. I do have one that came with the boat though, think it might be a holt...
The Sterling Chargers, or another multistage charge are infinitely better than a common or garden 'automotive' charger, which won't actually charge your batts to 100%. However, you should consider how you use your boat before splashing out:
If you spend a lot of time on board in the marina, using 12V power, then it's probably sensible, but if you turn up, motor out of the harbour, motor into the next marina/anchorage/harbour, etc, then you might be better of spending your pennies on an alternator controler (also sterling, alternatively adverc or various others), plus a small solar panel to keep the batts topped up betweeen trips. Think there's an article in the hand book about the the alternator controler. The sterling gadgets (230V charger or alternator controler) all work on the same principle, lots of detail on their website, www.sterling-power.com Also remember you need to buy the appropriate size charger for your battery bank. Think it's usually about 10A of charger for every 100Ah of battery, but check.
oh and a final word of warning, Charles Sterling is an electrical genius but a PR disaster, (im)famous for his 'robust' customer support...
Nothing - absolute nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats
http://sunflythesabre.wordpress.com
rory7520
United Kingdom
58 Posts
Posted - 10/01/2011 : 11:31:27
Battery Charging. I have had success with a solar panel on a simple 12 volt system on a day boat. While it keeps the battery topped up but will not re-charge from flat. I wonder if anyone has had success with a wind generator? As there tends to be more wind (day and night) than sun, logic tells me it should be more efficient. Any views very welcome.
Sunfly
United Kingdom
51 Posts
Posted - 10/01/2011 : 11:46:02 Sunfly's Homepage Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Delete Reply
Lived aboard for the last 5 years and all the power for lights, stereo etc came from the wind turbine, plus the occasional boost from the engine, which is fitted with the aforementioned sterling regulator. It was, however a bit of a beast, as anyone whos attended the rallies we've been to will testify. The D400 by Eclectic Energy is 1.1 m diameter and one of the more expensive on the market but it has the advantage that it has a very low cut in wind speed, so will generate a reasonable amount even in sheltered moorings. During our 2 month adventure this year it powered the tiller pilot and a laptop on top of the basics.
If it's of any use to anyone, I wrote spreadsheet a while ago that estimates daily demands and does wiring sizing:
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0Bwuccd ... 5O0F&hl=en
It might be useful for working out sizes of battery banks and wind turbines/solar panels etc, or the realative consumptions which is interesting if you're considering stuff like changing to LED bulbs.
Nothing - absolute nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats
http://sunflythesabre.wordpress.com