MASE 4.0 Failed - Time for Solar?

[Scottfree]

My 2010 R29 has had little or minor issues and has been a pleasure to own. That being said all good things must end. The MASE 4.0 generator has had a calamity of things go wrong. The boat has 1840 hours on it and the generator only 304 hours. I find the noise the single cylinder makes to be excessive and we rarely use it. We have two AC units but rarely need them in the PNW where we call home. I only ran the AC units on the generator once while in Alabama doing the Great Loop. So my thought is to remove the Genset and spend the money on a solar system.

Is anyone boating without a genset? I've been researching solar and feel it would handle the loads we use at anchor. When moving around the engine charges the batteries adequately for a couple days on the hook. I was thinking a Honda 2000 as an emergency back up to charge batteries.

I'm curious to know if anyone is having success with solar on our boats and if not having a Generator really is an issue.

Thanks, Leon

 

[Hydraulicjump]

Leon,

Whether you have a gen set or not, it is always time for solar. It serves so many purposes, not the least of which is keeping your batteries topped up and healthy. But it is my non-scientific observation that the vast majority of RTs in the PNW live without a genset. We certainly do. If your batteries are reasonably fresh, there is no reason you can't live with the hefty battery bank you have. That is, unless you want AC. The amp draw is too big for normal AC use.

Which brings me to an oft-discussed issue that you can research on this site. RT is now equipping some of their boats with a hefty Lithium battery bank. Enough heft that you could run your AC overnight without ever turning on the "noisemaker". Like electric cars, the number of folks living off of Lithium batteries solely--and using AC--is small, but steadily growing. And were we buying our R29CB today, I would spend the money on Lithium batteries.

Your 2010 classic is a true classic (we spent a lot of time on one that we chartered in San Francisco Bay and decided we had to make the jump to Ranger Tugs...our sailing days were done). I am not certain you could retrofit it at this point with Lithium batteries that would meet your AC needs, but something to consider. You would need a specialized mechanic/electrician to do such a thing.

And those of you who love to geek out on new Lithium power installations, look at what Kevin Morris (of Slowboat) did on Airship. It is a very expensive, complicated, and gorgeous installation. A work of art.

https://slowboat.com/2020/12/airships-new-power-system/

 

[Red Raven]

PNW boater here. Never had a generator on the boat, never needed one. Honda 2000 at home, but don’t bring it on the boat. We have two factory equivalent solar panels powering the stock fridge and an added 12V chest freezer. It has us covered for several days on the hook on all but the cloudiest/rainiest days (pretty much indefinitely on the full sun days). On the rare occasion it is not enough we just go for a spin out fishing/shrimping or cruising. Never felt the need for an air conditioner in the NW. I don’t think you need a generator if you have the appropriate solar on a Ranger Tug (short of the R43).

Curt

 

[Martin610]

As people have alluded to, depends on where you will be with the boat. Here in New Jersey I need heat early and late in the season, in late summer I need the Air Con to dry out and cool the boat. Need the genny for that. I also have some solar which cuts down on the time I need to run the genny. I don't like the noise mine makes either.

I worked in the PNW occasionally, I was surprised at how mild the weather is. I was offered a transfer and turned it down. Not sure I made the right decision.

-martin

 

[FlyMeAway]

The other poster suggesting lithium is on to something. I think if we planned to spend a lot more time on the hook, we would consider it.

The key benefit not mentioned is that in addition to capacity to handle high loads, the lithium batteries have a charge advantage: lithium batteries can accept more charge, more quickly than lead-acid batteries can. If you upgrade your alternator with appropriate equipment and regulation (much written about this online), you can actually fill your batteries in only an hour or so of engine time (what might take more like 2-12 hours or more with AGM). The boaters I know who have switched to lithium (many of them sailors, who are loathe to run their engine) consider this the biggest benefit, even more so than capacity.

I worked in the PNW occasionally, I was surprised at how mild the weather is. I was offered a transfer and turned it down. Not sure I made the right decision.

My wife and I are native New Yorkers who moved here about 10 years ago, and haven't looked back. Never too late! 🙂

 

[Cutwater28GG]

you sound like a great candidate for solar.

this is my setup http://www.tugnuts.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16203&p=109584#p109584

if you put two of these panels and upgrade to lithium batteries you would have an incredible amount of power available

with AGM's the issue becomes that the batteries just cannot accept enough charge quickly, so adding more panels doesnt really help above a certain point.

 

[Submariner]

with AGM's the issue becomes that the batteries just cannot accept enough charge quickly, so adding more panels doesnt really help above a certain point.

Firefly Oasis batteries are AGM.
Max Charge Current: "The max recommended continuous charge rate is 0.5C but 1C can be tolerated for sporadic charge sessions. Frequently charging at 1C will negatively impact the battery's lifetime."
(.5C = 58amps per battery)

The Universal batteries (OEM) offer a .3C max charge rate (33 amps).

I have three in the boat (the Firefly G31's are 116Ah each which yield 225Ah usable). The largest load I've ran off them thus far is the hot water heater for a hot shower at anchor which pulls about 75amps. (With everything running on the boat, I see about 1100 watts, at 90 amps being pulled).

I don't have a way to put in .5C back in. Best I can do is about 90 amps if I'm connected to shore power with both my battery chargers on and idling the engine, and solar. I'm in process of upgrading from the 150 watt factory solar panel to a pair of 200 watt panels (400 watts total).

 

[knotflying]

I never had a genset. I carried a Honda 2000 for three years and never used it and finally took it off the boat. Good batteries and power management with solar power worked fine for me for ten years.

 

[Scottfree]

I never had a genset. I carried a Honda 2000 for three years and never used it and finally took it off the boat. Good batteries and power management with solar power worked fine for me for ten years.

This is entirely my motivation to add solar and dump the Genset. My boat performed well for a year doing the Great Loop and we anchored out a lot. Hardly used the genset and could have easily got by with solar. I've sent a request to a local Electrical Design company called Pacific Yacht Systems for a Solar design. I do almost all my own work and maintenance on everything I own but I think solar is something I want professional help with. I have researched batteries until my head hurt and the hence the request for design. I'll post what they recommend.

Check out Pacific Yacht Designs and the numerous videos and articles done by Jeff Cote.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

with AGM's the issue becomes that the batteries just cannot accept enough charge quickly, so adding more panels doesnt really help above a certain point.

Firefly Oasis batteries are AGM.
Max Charge Current: "The max recommended continuous charge rate is 0.5C but 1C can be tolerated for sporadic charge sessions. Frequently charging at 1C will negatively impact the battery's lifetime."
(.5C = 58amps per battery)

The Universal batteries (OEM) offer a .3C max charge rate (33 amps).

I have three in the boat (the Firefly G31's are 116Ah each which yield 225Ah usable). The largest load I've ran off them thus far is the hot water heater for a hot shower at anchor which pulls about 75amps. (With everything running on the boat, I see about 1100 watts, at 90 amps being pulled).
.

its great to see the performance of the firefly's - they are definitely more performant than the Universals and other AGM's. where I get stuck with them these days is with the decreasing cost of lithium batteries, i've personally found it hard to justify their cost over agm and the step up to lithium. ($550 for the Firefly and $900 for the lithium) especially when you look at the lifetime usage data.

Clearly where they do win is in the simplification of installation over lithium. with their higher charge acceptance profile, it does make me wonder whether the standard alternator can keep up with even the Firefly agms!