by ddemasie on Wed Jun 01, 2016 4:50 pm
I am about half way between no electronics and a full powered cabin.
My priority has been just the main boat construction (the maiden voyage of 'El Sea Bien" is this Sunday - I'll post pictures in the forum next week).
For my first year of use, I am going with a 12v battery stored in far-forward storage compartment - in a Newport Vessels battery holder. The battery holder has a car 'cigarette lighter' outlet, and a USB charging port for small on board electronics (on a 10amp fuse) and a more robust 60 amp fuse and battery posts to run a fairly powerful trolling motor - as well as power a decent marine GPS. With the battery case and fuses, I will not initially need to have a power distribution panel, and only plan to use LED battery powered lighting for the first year or so onboard - I will not be doing any night navigation.
I did pre-wire both 16 and 10 gauge wire through the bilge using the precut wiring holes in the kit floor supports - exiting at the back of the and brought up through the both side seat back storage compartments - with one wire ending at the bilge for a future bilge pump (for year 1 I will have a manual pump on board for emergency use).
So I have easy access to connect a 65lb thrust Newport Vessels transom mount trolling motor - just to get me in and out of marinas (I left off the transom skirt so I can directly mount the trolling motor to the transom and have it reach straight down into the water off the stern with its 40 inch shaft). I really don't want to add a gas engine unless I find I have to. The the other options I looked at (the Torqueedo, and the Lehr propane motors) are too expensive, and the short shafts require a low transom mmotor mount I just dont' want to deal with year 1.
With Cellphone and IPOD technology I felt I did not need a sound system, and I will be using a hand held UHF radio.
After season 1, I will consider adding some solar panels on top of the companionway cover, maybe some wired internal lights, assess the auxiliary power requirements and any issues I may have with the trolling motor setup, and decide if I need to add a bilge pump.
Dennis DeMasie,
Aurora, IL