If you like the MOG

Create the Future

Once again we have entered 'Create The Future' contest

Those who follow may want to extend the virtues of the MOG to the rest of the world through this yearly contest. Registration & voting is for anyone interested and no qualifiers are needed for login and voting. This is a secure site with absolutely no spamming allowed and provides your control over information you do or do not want. The page pictured is what you will see if you click the 'How to Vote' drop down on the top bar menu. Just click 'Registration' and fill out the form's required fields.... then receive their email response, reply and then vote. Multiple votes may be cast in a field but not for the same item more than once.

Click this..

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Or place this in browser...     https://contest.techbriefs.com

If you register, login and vote, I hope that you will be favorably impressed and vote for Totally Electric Powered Solar boat under the heading of Automotive/Transportation. You may then also vote for any others in that field and/or also vote in any other fields.

As well as a contest, it is a place where you can see some great new ideas plus get to know the inventors from all over the world. Here is the site address....

https://contest.techbriefs.com/2022/entries/automotive-transportation/11601

Our entry

Also, the video has not been updated to their site, so here it is, just a brief overview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVJ2IrpOh-Q

Thanks and enjoy,

George McNeir

DECK & True Grit

Sand it, paint it in one hour?

Getting the ALGEMAC II ready again for the Great Loop (attempt No. 5) should require about an hour or so. NOT! Although the weather was superb at 70 degrees with humidity in the thirties (in NC yet) there were a few uncontemplated speed bumps. First was to simply sand off the old textured grey paint. The light grey turned a seventy degree day into a hotfoot deck as if walking on a tar road in mid August.

Second, besides the hotfoot, with massive 36 grit 5" sanding discs, the rubberized deck paint clogged the grit about every four square feet. It took a great deal more time, discs and electricity than planned, being finished in about 4 hours. An additional leveling with a 40 grit flat belt sander ate up another hour.

The reward was a clean base for the Pettit white texture paint, which by the way, goes on easy and sets up a great finish. The deck of 10' X 7' then divided by 2 = 35 SF was easy with a 6" wide short nap roller and a small brush for minor strokes. Green Frog tape was used for clean edges where needed. Dry time is is a few hours and after full cure of about 2 days is rock hard.

A half quart was used.

With a different paint, the roof had also been done a few months ago with a second coat the past weekend. The roof paint is extremely fast drying and can be brushed, rolled or even squeegeed. It is Henry roof paint, rubberized, super tough and requires good cleaning prior to application. The paint is usually poured and spread making sure there is always a nice wet edge to connect the next square of application. It will seal anything and claims except UV resistance.

 A hotfoot of 140 F can be had with the grey gritted modified latex paint previously used and lasted over 4 years. The grey was chosen for anti glare but the heat was not tolerable for bare feet. It also heated the boat interior badly from early spring until late fall..

All sanding was from our solar array utilizing electric tools that required a 110 volt AC modified sine wave inverter rather than a full sine wave inverter of same wattage. The reason was that the full sine was not quick enough to get the sander and grinder up to speed before its over limit sensor switched off the power. The modified sine inverters are a bit more crude and furnished the brute force required for quick starts and long run times. We use the full/pure sine inverters for TV, computers, microwave and induction cook tops. The modified sine inverters are used for work tools, resistance heaters and non computerized devices.  A cell phone charger is a computerized device as is a heat blanket control, therefor used only with full sign wave inverters.  Two modified sine inverters are shown here.

The old aft deck paint is good in the cockpit, also held up well enough to just be recoated. There is enough shade from overhead cover that foot burns are not a problem and bacterial growth is thwarted with the right amount of sunshine.

Pettit deck paint is great but expensive at $58 per quart and a bit less by volume per gallon. It can solidify in a shorter time than most paints once opened, so plan well and keep the can closed at all times unused. 

The new white deck is neat, easy to clean, nicely gritted and and super cool.

Although intended for home, RV and trailer use, the Henry roof paint is great. If a walkable surface is desired, I would recommend a very thin second or third coat with grit (from a boat store) added or sifted onto the application.

Once again we are looking at hauling and launching late May 2022 with a new set of batteries, bottom paint and fresh water. The next blog post will be about the batteries and definitely nothing exotic either. Keeping the faith.

 FINALLY 👏

APPLAUSE IS WELCOME

The condo that had been our 2 decade, 8th floor home on the water (Water Street Center, Wilmington, NC) has been sold to folks who appreciate the design of the 2 bed, 2 bath Cape Fear River view Suite 810.

We wish John and Laura the very best in their new to them home and pray that they have as much fun and enjoyment as did we. We still have a small house in the town as a dirt refuge from which to base our Great Loop Adventure.

Covid did not get to us thank heaven but we did get shots with no ill side effects. A whole year went dead for many Loopers with us included, even though no illness. It prolonged the condo sale, shut down some places from which we were to order foreign made parts, thinned the labor force and brought doubt to getting to other marinas on the Loop.

All told, from the April 2021 blog to this one mid July 2021,  has been a bit sloshy trek. I feel that we should be able to get a bit of salt water time in the September time frame (no hurricanes please) with generally cooler days than the last months.

My first day at the Wrightsville Beach was July 13th for a nice swim, partly cloudy and 80 degree water. I sat on the beach for a few minutes making mental notes of the roof, deck and cockpit painting after a good scrub. That day or two will end with another dip in the salt water.

The paint this time will be a Pettit special grit white polyurethane from West Marine, requiring pressure wash and sanding away the old grey acrylic skid resistant paint. The grey was dark enough to actually scorch feet, prompting the switch to white. The rest of the boat is fairly good but will need a haulout, pressure wash the bottom and new bottom paint (not my job).

I will be sure to show some pictures next month as the ALGEMAC Mog solar boat gets a face lift and life once again returns to some normalcy.

SAFER alternative

COLD COOKING 

And Deleting Propane

Propane possibilities aboard a boat are most unwelcome.

This is an outdoor backyard grill, not intended for marine use.

The video however, does demonstrate what can occur with 

improper installation, use, handling and maintenance.

Although somewhat alarmist, the above video does point up a possibility of fire or even explosion with propane onboard a boat. Just as gasoline/petrol have been replaced on larger boats by diesel fuel, there is a growing need to replace propane in the galley with electricity. Induction cooking plates directly heat the pan/pot if it is ferris (iron) based. No fire or red hot materials are present to ignite combustibles nearby.

Air surrounding the cook plate has much less heat to absorb (the chef stays way cooler). And best of all, no burnt fingers or eyebrows.

Electricity at 240 volts AC or even 120 volts AC can be deadly in a galley, not to mention the grounding system's possibility for corrosion and failure to protect the occupant or nearby swimmer.

What we are doing on the MOG Totally Electric Powered Solar (TEPS) prototype boat, is to utilize available consumer electronics that isolate the end user from harm. Replacing the propane stove/oven with an induction stove and microwave or convection oven can effect a reduction in the possibility of electric shock or even death.

To date we have tested the dual heating induction unit (pictured) using a local 24 volt DC outlet into which a point of use inverter is plugged in the galley. The inverter has its own safety circuit that will interrupt a potential shock to a human. This localization of 120 VAC to each specific electric device for cooking, isolates to the greatest degree 120 VAC shocks. As time goes on, many of the induction and resistance 120 VAC devices will be replaced by consumer 24-28 VDC devices.

A dual heating plate induction unit

 red/black with small 600 watt inverter 

unit to be replaced by a 2000 watt 24 VDC

 inverter. At center is a single portable 

induction plate that can be easily 

used inside or in the aft cockpit.

The need for a very large 10,000 watt inverter(s), ground faulting, long wiring runs, breaker panels and labeling can be reduced with a 24 VDC run just to the galley. 24 VDC hairdryers are also on the market for trucks and large RVs. 

One of many convection ovens that run well on 

24 VDC pure sign inverters, each of which are compact and light weight.

For the oven cooking, a convection oven is fast and thorough. With a 24 VDC run to the aft cockpit, the lightweight oven can be picked up from the galley to cook outside, then slid back under the galley stove.

All of these would have a new lightweight inverter for 120 VAC next to the cooking device to include its ground fault protection. Therefore no unseen long grounding wires running through the bilge where electrical gremlins range at will. Nearly all of the very latest pure sign inverters have added a special ground circuit to their chassis and due diligence is needed to specify the correct unit needed.

More info as tests continue.

Our Name

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

The MOG acronym defined

Marine Off Grid

The three words are chosen carefully. Marine of course, applies to that portion of the world covered by water, about 2/3 of the Earth’s surface. The following word, ‘Off’, describes a civilized lifestyle disconnected from the ‘Grid’, being be any commercial network providing, in this case fuel or energy.

Boats, especially sailboats, have long been utilized as transport and shelter. People could travel while living inside with food, clothing, tools, seeds and even small domesticated animals. While ancient sailboats had no auxiliary engine, they were able spread the world’s population to foreign land masses thousands of years ago. However, as soon as ancient mariners crossed the horizon, visual contact, verbal contact and food contact was lost. With no refrigeration, food sources needed to be live animals, stored water, potted or dried food, supplemented by fishing or hunting if fortunate enough to find land.

Enter renewable energy. 

Solar electricity that is stored, powers refrigeration, A/C, water purifiers, communications, radar, sonar, toilet and above all, small but powerful electric motors driving efficient propellers yielding limitless range. MOG is unlike the typical power boat that requires a support network for oil, fuel, grease, injectors, filters and fire protection. A totally electric powered solar boat regimen therefore consists mainly of haul out, paint, system updates, motor diagnostics and simpler, cleaner maintenance.

Today, a non lethal power level of just 24 volts DC of direct current electricity can provide for purifying water, storing food, cooking food, aids for fishing, cleaning clothes, power tools, air conditioning, computers, medical devices, waste disposal and security.

An amazing fact is, 24 volts DC can also be the drive power to push the 40 foot MOG boat to 7 knots and 4 knots all day depending on storage and solar array size. 

MOG truly liberates the individual to boat any place without continually repurchasing power. A human being that can fully actualize their existence without continuous payment for energy becomes more than liberated, the individual becomes independent and more nearly a nation than a consumer.

BREAKING GROUND

BREAKING GROUND 

SHOCKING REVELATION
Heads & point source inverters

In this instance breaking ground is not establishing new digs to build MOG boats (would be nice to be that popular). Instead, the ground we are breaking is electrocution from a boat into the water. If all the electrics of 100 to 250 Volts Alternating Current (VAC) of a boat are properly grounded, no harm should come to swimmers next to the boat. "Should" is the operative word that has led to a number of very quiet  deaths. Alternating Current kills. Low voltage Direct Current (12 to 24 VDC) does not. The main reason for no swimming in marinas is the plausibility of electrocution from improper electrical grounds at dock and boats.

Swiss type outlet to be used in
MOG boat for 24 VDC into full
Sine wave inverters.

Swiss matching plug for 24 VDC input lines
of full sine wave inverters to lower the risk
of 120 VAC injury.

The key to this safety stance is there are no through hull fixtures below the boat's water line. Furthermore, there are no metallic bonded elements in the water that could carry the grounding of 120 to 250 VAC devices. The boat is electrically isolated from the surrounding water. Electric motors for the boat are 24 VDC outboards, having no possible connection to the 120 VAC inverters to be used.

Our premiss is that such amounts of AC electrical lethality must be nowhere near the water, as when bonding grounds to bronze through hulls, rudders, struts and propellers. If some unforeseen metallic object or result of corrosion creates a pathway of AC current to the bonded ground elements, people near the boat and in the water can be in danger. There are now so many TVs, hair dryers, kitchen appliances and communications that are 12/24 Volts Direct Current (VDC), little reason is left to run standard 120 VAC throughout the whole boat.

As an interim precaution, we are removing the entire 120/240 VAC system. Replacement is with a 24 VDC bus, off of which about four special plug/outlets will be placed at such common work stations as head/shower, galley, forward console and aft salon. At those special outlets, can be positioned full sign inverters for 120 VAC to plug into the 24 VDC outlet. If a 120 VAC device is needed, its ground is at the inverter and no where near sea water. The inverters will be load matched for the area of use. Hair dryers will be 24 VDC and not the standard 120 VAC, just in case you wondered.

The microwave range is wired directly to its own full sine inverter, galley top induction plate and kitchen appliances not yet 24 volts will be plugged into a smaller full sign inverter at the counter. Another inverter plugged into a 24 VDC outlet will be at the forward console. Full sine inverters mimic the full sine wave electricity as used in American households powering sensitive electronics.

Four different power levels from 300 to 3,500 watts. These full sine wave inverters would have cost in the thousands of dollars just 5 to 10 years ago.

All our inverters are full sine wave because they are now very inexpensive, small, light and stow easily. They vary from 80 watts for computer/phone charging, 300 watts for TV and to 1500 for cooking/ air conditioning and non battery power tools, etc. This all works well for our Totally Electric Powered Solar (TEPS)tm boat of about 40 feet.

Most importantly, we are attuned to the new lifestyle until all devices are purchasable at 24 VDC. Part of that lifestyle is being aware that one does not run several high wattage appliances at the same time, such as air conditioning while operating a dual induction stove cook top.

One large item that consumed 140 watts of 120 VAC is the Sunmar Electric Mobile composting commode. After years of use it has had both its 12 VDC and 120 VAC electric heaters replaced with custom 24 VDC units that are circuit breaker wired to the new 24 volt system. Other modifications were made that permit two people to use it on a daily basis without overloading the composting ability or producing problems storing liquid overage in the compost digester.

Although the composting head is aboard the boat, it will be under test for at least a year. There are a number of electronic elements that will need to be programmed, making a visit to the head a double entandre. Thinking a head.

Settled back in place for reconnection and tests the
upgraded Sunmar single user composting commode
should now accommodate 2 persons full time. A
24 VDC coupling is seen at lower left.

Various control elements allow on the fly test & evaluation in place.
In this top view can be seen a 2 x 3 inch vertical PVC pipe
that removes air from within the top portion of the commode to
be filtered through a mixture of activated charcoal and zeolite,
removing any remaining odors within the composting drum.

We have more to tell but this is where we are in the quest to disconnect from the ground and shove off into the water.

Living in the Projects

The simplest solutions to problems give no clue to the complexity for their determination.

Head of the list, the head.

Counting the number of needed improvements to the venerable Sunmar Mobile composting commode is a worthy endeavor. Even though the unit has been around for decades, is appreciated and of thoughtful design, it has its shortcomings.

Finding solutions is easy but making those solutions small, energy efficient, simple, user friendly, and automatic while occupying the same foot print, is a most contemplative task. The task and machinations, I will spare you. Suffice it to say there is now a solution that should allow the '1' user unit to work for at least two full time users on the boat. 

A few pieces have been added most of which go unseen in this picture.
All the individual parts work singly and as a complete system.

The effort now is to connect all the parts and wires in a workman like manner and field test the head. One of the unique modifications was to elevate the voltage to the liquid evaporator section from 12 volts DC to 24 volts DC while completely removing the 110 volt AC heater. This cuts out the loss from inverters and larger 12 VDC cables. The base voltage for the whole boat is now 24 VDC with only the microwave, AC units & TV as 110 VAC (inverted) from a 24 VDC full sine inverter.

Top Power

From the roof top, to power all of the systems aboard, are the new photovoltaic (PV) modules. The PVs are made by an American company noted for their quality, performance and longevity of product. The new modules are lightweight, thin and slightly flexible. Some folks say they can be walked on but I would no more walk on a PV than I would intentionally walk on somebody's clear plastic deck hatch.

Testing and mock up of the roof frame system is underway with the main idea of the entire roof array being divided into three or four panels of modules, allowing them to be removed in about one half hour. That means the 40 modules of 100 watts can be stowed for long term while in the slip or stowed in case a major storm is approaching. The whole bundle will fit in the two shallow roof containment areas that are now atop the boat roof. For longer storage the whole folded array can be placed inside the boat. Stacked, all four array panels would total about 8 inches deep, occupy a twin bed and weigh about 160 pounds. 

The key is the framing, articulation, folding, wiring, assembly, layout and access of the 40 modules to be linked. An origami project indeed that involves strong, lightweight hinges, quick connects and rapid, strong frame attachment points.

Not easily seen (for good reason) are the tape mock up hinge elements that allow the folding of the
100 watt Go Power PVs. The Buell Motorcycle banner is a key part of the design method, for
when I am stymied by a problem, I take a nice long ride to clear the cobwebs,
returning fresh, animated and renewed to design.
Slow boat, fast bike.

There is much to do this winter that was not helped by being physically sidelined this summer. No major ailment or problem, just enough 'stuff happens' to put a crunch on the schedule. I can now see some light at the end of the tunnel, it is not a freight train and probably stays lit from storing solar energy. 

Keep the faith.