Modifications for ocean passage sailing (2)

This is a continuation of the previous post where I described changes for handrails, storage and rig.

ENERGY
A major project was to equip the boat with photovoltaics. After considerable research I focused on Solbian panels. They have the highest efficiency (> 20% using SunPower cells). I got them from Asseaboat, a very helpful company, which allowed many custom changes to the design. They also provided us with some specialized tools to attach waterproof MC3 connectors to the cables. The planned layout looks like this:



It took quite some courage to drill so many holes through the deck on each side:



We installed nice steel sockets for MC3 connectors and led the cables to the 2x4 controllers on the cabin ceiling, from where they go down to the battery bank.





Asseaboat provided us the panels sewed onto a textile base, so we could use Perfix buttons to mount them to the deck. This way, they are removable and we can store them under the two large aft cabin beds.





The total area is nearly 4m2 (a total of 216 SunPower cells) and the sum of the peak powers is: 2x 125W plus 4x 50W plus 3x 75W = 675W.  This should give us 200 to 300 Ah per day. We will have to do measurements to know how much the heeling and the shadows caused by ropes and sails will affect the yield.

Another energy source will be the hydrogenerators: Fittings were mounted on the transom, on either side of the swimming platform, they are backed with a steel construction laminated to the hull on the inside and thus any eventual leverage force will be passed on to the bottom hull. This will allow fixing the new Watt&Sea cruising hydrogenerators to the transom. One of these should provide ca. 300 Watt at 7 knots and thus be similarly effective as the photovoltaics we have installed.





ANCHOR
A general improvement with a more potent windlass from Muir I described a few years ago:
http://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2649&PN=4&title=lack-or-power-windlass-folding-anchor-system
This time a larger and more effective anchor was installed: a Rocna 33kg; we also refurbished the anchor arm (derusting all parts and installing a new gas spring) and made it compatible with this anchor.








DECK-GEAR
The twin-sail arrangements with two booms requires many more sheets, down-hauls, and other ropes to be controlled from the cockpit. Apart from the two ultra-strong padeyes for the running backstays, we installed on each side two more Spinlock cleats, Harken foot blocks and several padeyes on the coaming. Also, for safety, double Wichard padeyes were mounted near the mast to allow tighter (shorter) jack stays that cross to the contralateral cleat near the bow.









Headsail-poles: a rail was fitted on the mast for two Forespar poles (a J-length pole and a telescopic whisker pole), that are normally mounted on deck, but one of them can also be stored on the rail along the mast (when the self-tacking jib is not in use), where we made a fitting on the mast foot. Two poles can be used simultaneously for downwind twin head-sail configurations: either two genoas in the adjacent twin grooves of the furling forestay (easy reefing but possibly suboptimal aerodynamics), or one genoa on the furling forestay and a cutter on the inner forestay described in the previous post.






WATER
New water pipes and valves were installed for the two fresh water tanks, based on the Whale Quick Connect system.



The cupboard underneath the galley sink was sacrificed to install a Katadyn PS-80E desalinator. Since the pump is so heavy, yet needs to be accessible, we installed it on a bord that slides into the cupboard where it becomes fixed.





The long membrane-housing was installed horizontally just below the floor plates. A thru-hull was made for a dedicated seawater intake with a coarse strainer.






Numerous other repairs and improvements didn't make it into these two post. If I have time and get photographic material I will prepare a third post next month.

Kytho

Makes the list I have look insignificant !

Grüezi Kytho, thanks for this wonderful report! My name is Josep Costa Fäh (spanish/swiss) and I will participate in OSTAR 2017 with my Hanse 470e. Thanks again for your excelent job

Kytho - It is contributions like you've made that make this forum so powerful. Thanks so much for taking the time to teach us all. 

Hi Skipper

yes I did! You are right about your point. Have a look at my accompanying post, where the other modifications are described:
Modifications for ocean passage sailing (1)

All the best,
Kytho


Edited by Kytho - 02 September 2016 at 14:21