Good Morning from Key West Florida

Nice Site just got don watching the progress on big foot. Awesome [project and boat. I live aboard a 45 Harbour Master house boat 89 model. Currently building a Solar powered dink / generator. The beginning of converting the vessel to complete sustainability.

We are allowed in our marina to have a small shore boat as a extra but limited to 12 ft. Nothing commercially available answered all my needs. So working on my own design engineering on the fly similar to the small tug designs with a better hull shape, wide beam and high free-board for better load carrying ability. But It will have 6 6volt batteries 36 volt propulsion and 500 or 600 watts of solar. with a 3 kw inverter . This will allow free connection to shore when at anchor (the Goal).

Will be looking to install electric drives on the big boat as well with as much solar as I can fit. This is going to be a long project as I am financially challenged. But the goal is to have this done to be able to live more comfortably in retirement and hopefully before.

Got dragged into your build looking at the pelttier cooling VERY interested in that for both boats , For the shore boat as a cooler for day trips the large boat for sleeping comfort.

Anyway great sites and you tubes . On the shore boat using 100 watt flexible panels 6 lbs each anyone have a source for higher wattage's on those ?

Cheers Ken

Hey Ken, welcome to the forum. I have been watching the flexible panels and so far everyone that has picked up some of them have not been happy with the input. they have tried both parallel and series. one of my buddies has 800 watts of them and hardly gets 560watts to the controller and he is using #10 wire stranded and the run is maybe 14 feet total. Alan may have some information for you about any of them he might know have better production. again, welcome to the forum. SD.

I only have minor experience with solar on a sail boat in the past. technics are different now days . Hoping with a Mptt controller I can get a bit better. But other than building a panel . the weight is the issue on the shore boat . But will also be a good test bed for the big boat as well. But on It I can use solid panels but they will be high up replacing canvas Bimini area with solar panels . But it is a heavy boat and narrower at the top so should be OK. Never was a ocean going vessel.

Thanks for the input though , But without another option we will see. Ken

Yes the Hydroponics was a initial successful test but right now the Dinghy build has been pushed ahead of that. The different types of hydroponic vessels . The pipes verses the vinyl boxes the use of gutter down spout pieces best cost on those. But we will for sure be back to the hydroponic once the dinghy is off the upper deck. Which is where I am having to build it.

But working full time and the weather is making it a slow go, plus cost of components, But hope to be done early 2015. here is a link to where I am blogging that build .

Guess I will add that link in a few days ..  LOL

Later http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?182248-Mini-Open-Tug

Was down  the fifties last night for first time this year.

                                                                                    Cheers   Ken

 Looks awesome well thought out. might be in the market in the future when we move back offshore a intruder pressure pad would be good then plus the other alarms as well. Right now I use standard wireless Basement alarms and household vapor. I don't have any combustibles right now. Electric galley and all gas removed . Hoping to go to some type of electric drives . If the Dinghy testing works out.  

Maybe a option to call boat and switch on lighting to deter vandals if detected or coming home a bit tipsy.

Cheers Ken