The Captain's Guide to Alternative Energy Afloat - Part 2 of 2: Marine Electrical Systems, Water Generators, Solar Power, Wind Turbines, Marine Batteries

by Bill Morris

Overview

This is Part 2 of 2 of The Captain's Guide to Alternative Energy Afloat.  

Part 2 covers the following topics:  

• Lighting, Navigation, and Communication
• Refrigeration
• Windvane Self-Steering
• Autopilots
• Manual Windlasses
• Electric Windlasses
• Tools, Spare Parts, and Maintenance Supplies
• The Essence of Green Voyaging.
•    Energy Efficiency: Three Cruising Yachts

A successful ocean passage on a small to midsize sailing vessel means keeping things as simple as possible. Sun, Wind, & Water: The Essential Guide to the Energy-Efficient Cruising Boat gives you the most detailed, up-to-date advice on how to prepare your boat for an ocean crossing while at the same time-saving money and ensuring a smaller footprint on Mother Nature. 

Circumnavigator-author Bill Morris describes in detail the best options for reducing dependence on fossil fuels, minimizing battery usage, and enjoying a comfortable lifestyle on the water. He presents an array of electrical charging systems, power-saving electrical fixtures, and manual devices aimed at saving money on fuel, along with pointers on installation and maintenance. This practical guide covers:
• The development of an energy-saving plan for your boat
• Battery technology and hydrogen fuel cells
• Charging batteries from sun, wind, and water power
• Battery charge control systems
• Effective refrigeration options for the tropics
• Autopilots and windvane self-steering
• Energy-saving systems on three successful blue water vessels
•    And much, much more

Bill Morris, author of The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook and a frequent contributor to Ocean Navigator Magazine, currently cruises the Channel Islands of Southern California on the 1966 Cal 30 Saltaire as he prepares for his next offshore adventure.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781892399830
Publisher:	Seaworthy Publications, Inc
Publication date:	01/01/2017
Series:	Sun, Wind, & Water , #2
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	132
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Circumnavigator-author Bill Morris, a native of Los Angeles, received his first inspiration to sail the world's oceans at the age of twelve when his father offhandedly suggested selling the house and circling the globe aboard a large yacht. Though the proposal was soon abandoned, the idea was permanently engraved in Bill's imagination. Serving as a radio repairman and later as an outboard motor mechanic in the U.S. Army while stationed in the Panama Canal Zone during the mid-1970s, he picked up valuable skills that would help him later in life as a cruising sailor. He went on to receive a Ph.D. in Administrative and Policy Studies in Education from UCLA, amassing nearly 30 years' experience in teaching writing at the secondary and college levels in Southern California, South Florida, and American Samoa. Bill and his wife Marilu eventually crossed the Pacific from Panama to Mooloolaba Harbour, Queensland, Australia, and then to Darwin, Northern Territory, aboard their 1966 Cal 30 Saltaire. After Marilu left Saltaire to give birth to their daughter, Yasmin, Bill continued west back to Los Angeles by way of the two canals, surviving a Somali pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden. Bill is the author of The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook (International Marine, 2004), and he has written many articles on both cruising adventure and alternative energy for offshore vessels in Afloat, Blue Water Sailing, Latitude 38, Ocean Navigator, and Ocean Voyager magazines.

Table of Contents

Contents Foreword Acknowledgements Introduction 11. Lighting, Navigation, and Communication Navigation Lights Cabin Lights Navigation Charting Communications AC Appliances 12. Refrigeration Assessing Refrigeration Needs How Refrigeration Works Refrigeration and Climate Air-Cooled Systems Water-Cooled Systems Keel-Cooled Refrigeration Cruiser Options 13. Windvane Self-Steering Windvane Versus Autopilots Servopendulums Trim Tabs Wind-Powered Auxiliary Rudder Matching Windvane to Boat Installation Tips Emergency Rudder Capability 14. Autopilots Operating Theory Above-Deck Systems Below-Deck Systems Sailing With an Autopilot 15. Manual Windlasses Overview of Manual Windlasses The Simpson-Lawrence Legacy New Manual Windlasses 16. Electric Windlasses Overview of Features Horizontal Vertical Drawbacks of Electric Windlasses Electric Windlass Advantages 17. Tools, Spare Parts, and Maintenance Supplies Engine and Drive Train Electrical Plumbing Hand Tools Power Tools Hull and Deck Rigging Materials 18. The Essence of Green Voyaging. Bilge Marine Sanitation Device Gray Water Garbage Overboard Anchoring and Mooring Sailing Versus Motoring Going Ashore Responsible Fishing Establishing Personal Standards 19. Energy Efficiency: Three Cruising Yachts Going the Distance Contessa 32 Tayana 37 Hallberg-Rassy 46 References Appendices Appendix 1: AWG Battery Cable Sizes Appendix 2: AWG Wire Gauge Sizes Appendix 3: Beaufort Scale Appendix 4: Cruiser's Ham Bands Appendix 5: Marine Fire Extinguishers Appendix 6: Sailboat Specifications Decoded Special Thanks About the Author