Another new guy

[Woodnik]

Hello,
Building my own sail boat has long been a dream and I've done alot of reading and surfing around the web. Certainly CLC seem to have the best product out there. Glen-L is way out of my price range, Whisstock is far to complicated for a first time build, Selway...well they're just plain ugly. The Weekender from Stevenson captured my eye with it's old-school looks but that is not a boat safe on Lake Michigan.
The last question I have before buying the plans is about an electrical system. I was thinking something simple, Nav lights on the bow, mast head light, and maybe a water proof plug on the stern for a trolling motor to power out of the marina. From the pictures and video, it looks to be more then ample room to mount a small control panel on the inside bulkhead. But I am wondering where would be the best place to put the battery? Has anyone "wired" their boats ?
Mitch

[decurtis]

The Pocketship plans show a location for a battery in the roomy storage between bulkheads 1 and 2. Bulkhead 2 is the one you mention putting the control panel on.

[Keith]

...an electrical system. I was thinking something simple, Nav lights on the bow, mast head light, and maybe a water proof plug on the stern for a trolling motor...

I'm a long way from that stage. Like you, I haven't ordered the plans yet, but I'll definitely be "wiring" the boat. Perhaps the battery can be part of the 160-200 lbs of ballast called for below the floorboards, although the weight of the battery would be further forward, and slightly higher than under-the-floor ballast. With the battery mounted forward, don't skimp on the size of the wire running to the motor.

[Woodnik]

Thanks for the info guys.
Here are some links that proved helpful for me, they may be of use for others thinking about wiring their boat.

http://www.e-marine-inc.com/products/al ... ables.html (cable sizes)

http://www.duckworksbbs.com/hardware/el ... /index.htm (switch boxes)

http://www.messing-about.com/photopost/ ... thecat=500 (sample schematic)


Mitch

[Keith]

http://www.messing-about.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=633&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500 (sample schematic)

Careful with that wiring diagram. If the breaker to the battery is off, you could have nearly 22 volts (open circuit voltage) from a 12V solar panel. As soon as you put any significant load on it, the voltage will drop. However, you wouldn't want that load to be an electronic device (radio etc.) that could be sensitive to over-voltage. I would at least have a separate fuse or breaker going frm the solar panel to the battery... before the main battery disconnect. The battery would keep the bus voltage from going to the solar panel's open circuit voltage.

Another consideration is adding a charge controller. You could get away without having one if you have a large battery and a small solar panel, especially if there is always a load on the battery. However, if it's going to sometimes sit there for days or weeks unattended, you could end up cooking the battery.

I would go with an AGM battery. It would be maintenance free, could be mounted in any position (sealed, so no leaks) and wouldn't release hydrogen if being charged heavily at the dock.