Cruising Sailors Forum Archive

Short of a schedule, I can't think of anything that effects how I sail more than charging the boats batteries.

That goes for me too, without refrigeration. After 2-3 days at anchor, sailing, or a combination of the two, I'll need to run my engine for an hour. For me, that means moving on(and turning an alternator).

Then for a wind generation, you'll choose your anchorages to suit. Who would really prefer anchoring on the "outside"(because winds are ample for charging) over a snug windless sheltered anchorage, inside?

And the same goes for onboard fossil fuel generators, for most people,... 'Many' will anchor away from better protection because of boats nearby, and run their generators or engines. And most of us will combine powering with sailing, even in good sailing conditions, simply to supply alternator charging time to our batteries.

And then many boats simply sail from dock power to dock power, maybe with 'off' days in between, but the battery storage clock ticks.

Least sailing affecting seems to be solar`. But you'll need a boat with enough area for panels or you'll build something to suit that will be working all the time, at anchor or under sail. If you need to rig up your solar panel(s) for anchoring, that will be less effective as you choose 'converting, de-converting. You stop sailing to 'convert'.

There's no getting around the effect charging has on how you sail unless you do something drastic; cut consumption to the point where power generation under sail is more than ample to supply more than demand.

Impossible,...

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