NET ZERO!

What's it mean?

What it means is the oily fuel hose and despicable dispenser at right, shares
no relationship with the Totally Electric Powered Solar (TEPS)tm boat
named Algemac II. For most boaters, that hose is
more akin to a vacuum cleaner in one's wallet.

The name 'Net Zero' has been bandied about as the name for an internet business, education outlet and probably for a fishing apparatus that frees fish. Most notably, in the world of power usage efficiency, it has been linked to homes designed to have their own power generation, maybe even sell excess power back to the grid.

Truth be told, in my estimation, use of the term net zero in such a limited context is anathema to its true potential, everything. A house on a city street with water, sewer, gas, electricity, cable, satellite, trash and lawn care hardly represents a true net zero moniker just because excess solar energy is creatively morphed into an electric bill reduction.

The NCSU Solar House, built in 1981 by Professor Herbert Eckerlin of the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department, was created to promote and demonstrate renewable energy technologies to the community.  The house features 5 kW of solar PV panels, solar water heating, a ground loop geothermal heat pump, efficient construction and insulation, LED lighting, and is designed with several passive solar features that further reduce energy costs.  The site was used to conduct numerous renewable energy research projects, educating undergraduate students, and enabling graduate students to write research papers, theses, and dissertations.

The Solar House at NCSU, Raleigh, NC comes fairly close to net zero and can be visited throughout the year. Even with such an inflow of time, money and technology the display is still static. Situated in a state that has arguably one of the best estuary and climate variations in the USA, the house does not move through that glorious environment. If it were to actually move through such vast environs, silently,  fuelessly, while catching fish and clearing drinking water, ah, would that ever be a definitive net zero!

Words have Meaning.

Net is the product, what remains when the casing is removed. For those folks so substantially planted in a house, the casing would be the land upon which it is set. 

Zero is a bit less abstract, most easily appreciated when one's wallet is left at home. There, that should clear things up.

A boat has no casing, in that it is free to bump into anything people and nature can muster. No trees, hedges, fences or rolling solid ground as a bulwark,  just mercurial waters at natures whim. Yet, like a house, a large electric gathering roof area may supply enough generating space for sailboat speed propulsion. 

A wonderful picture of a large roofed American made canal boat without a solar array, a diesel engine is instead used for drive propulsion and electric generation on board the vessel.

Net in this case has leapt the paradigm shift when used in this new marine off grid application. With the rise of new thin, lightweight and form fitting photovoltaic (solar electricity) modules, a well planned boat roof can mount enough modules to not only drive the boat but also provide optional creature comforts (air conditioning  a  yes). The roof generated power is stored in batteries which provide for speeds up to 7 knots and a cruise (sailboat type) speed of 3 to 4 knots.

24 of these brand new flexible 6 pound 22"X65.4" modules will comprise 5 panels of the roof's total array. The final array will produce over 4,000 watts of clean electric power, equal to 5 horse power.

Zero becomes the additional cost of power after the boat's initial purchase. With no additional cost of fuel, just 5 horse power from the roof's 4,000 watts, will drive the boat at 3 to 4 knots. With only 12 horse power the MOG boat can attain the 7 knot hull speed, which is just 66% of the 18 hp that is mounted on the boat. The first day after the boat is completed and out of the boat shed, power streams into the banks of batteries, silently awaiting the captain's quest, no refueling needed. What's in your wallet, a fuel card or sunshine?

So What Is Next?

The future purchase of the 24 - 170 watt flexible modules (when available) will transform the roof array so that there should be enough electricity inflow to create an even greater net zero machine. Not just a home but a home that can travel to nearly 2/3 of the USA by coastal and inland river waters. A vast lock and dam system has been in place for nearly a century, a few are nearly 200 years old. These waterways have been used for commercial barge traffic but are now being used by pleasure craft in increasing numbers.

This USACE (US Army Corps of Engineers) map shows in green lines the commercially navigable waters of the USA to include several west coast rivers that reach inland. Readers should be able to double click on the picture to enlarge.

The map above is provided to illustrate the large number of states that are accessible by the inland and coastal waterways. A whole lifetime can be spent on these waters that touch huge cities as well as towns of just a few people. Waterways that adjoin the Erie Canal along with the Great Lakes allow travel to Canada as well as shown on the map below.The MOG, Totally Electric Powered Solar (TEPS)tm boat can be the magic carpet for a dream come true.

The New York State Canal System comprises four canals. The Erie Canal connects the Hudson River and the Great Lakes, while the Champlain (right) links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence Seaway. Source: New York State Department of Transportation.

Your comments on this theme are greatly appreciated.

HURRICANE POWER

Be power fully prepared 

With just 24 volts, this small solar panel controller made our lives normal when all else, except Wilmington city water pressure and natural gas availability failed. The electricity was conditioned and regulated in this black box from a panel of photovoltaic modules atop the boat that had weathered the storm. Our batteries were charged daily for AC, microwave, water, fridge and cook top, under a cloudy sky. Wonderful.

Our hearts go out to fellow neighbors who have died, been hurt and or displaced by hurricane Florence. We have witnessed first hand the devastation of such storms since a few years prior to Hazel in 1954. Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington, NC have been hit many times but folks never fail to pull together.

Looks can be deceiving. These three boats are really not smiling. All took a real beating and managed to stay afloat.
Our boat the ALGEMAC II had the least damage of the three but it will still need to be hauled and surveyed for
the amount of damage sustained.

How can one be prepared when the terror is that the season and seasons to come are not over? That answer for us has begun to take shape but is not fully developed. However, there are some very important events through which we have endured with Florence that point toward a unique solution, the MOG which we named ALGEMAC II. A true Net Zero machine (subject of our next blog).

All three boats sustained damage from a 40 foot sailboat that broke from her dock at another marina and entered our fairway. Our bow was raked, the next neighbor's bow was completely hacked through and the sailboat next to him had its stanchions, toe rails and hull raked. The erant sailboat then exited to ramble over the waterfront.

To be so fortunate as to have three places locally to stay during the hurricane and following days, was God sent. Unique to that is the ability to compare each of the places as to robustness, safety, security, power, conveniences and food availability.

The options are as follows 1. A 1935 2 bedroom 1 bath Craftsman style house just 2 miles outside center city Wilmington, 2. An eighth story 2 bed 2 bath modern condo, centered downtown on the waterfront of the Cape Fear River, 3. A 40 foot Totally Electric Powered Solar boat at Cape Fear Marina on the Cape Fear River in her wind & wave swept berth. The distance spanned is just three miles. Boat to condo 1 mile and condo to house 2 miles.

The Craftsman house before the hurricane Florence, where we stayed
during the storm while the boat was in the water at Cape Fear Marina.

Our condo on the eighth floor of the waterfront at Water Street Center
fared very well with no leaks at all.

The 40 foot solar electric MOG became the most amenable  

of all the places to stay, with lights, TV, AC, fridge, etc. 

Shown here with extra white shrink wrap tape over any possible 

leakage points. Handles and hinges can often fail to stop wind driven 

rain at over 80 miles per hour.

An initial summation is that over the ten day period of approach to departure of Florence, we lived in all three places. Each will be discussed for its reasons that attracted us. The bottom line is that although we were inconvenienced, we suffered no harm. Some of the structures did but no drastic rework will be needed.

1. The 1935 house has been through Hazel and storms prior and after. It is well built with yellow pine 'real' 2x4 dimension lumber and a bird mouthed roof clad with t&g pine boards. It rests on a two foot high brick base with brick piers beneath the hard pine doubled floors. The water and natural gas worked throughout the storm for the watertight house. The only drawback was the lack of air conditioning and the critical need to empty the fridge of all food. The fridge was emptied and cleaned immediately after the hurricane winds stopped.
Sandwiches were made and milk transferred across town to the boat whose fridge functioned tirelessly from the solar electricity. We left the house having one night with the storm and one additional night before it got too warm and humid without AC.

2. The condo was visited but had no AC or appliances functioning. As it is up for sale, we did not want to risk habitation without the AC and appliances powered. So we skipped #2 for a later revisit.

3. After checking on the condo and seeing all was well, we proceeded to the boat. All the sandwich makings, milk, cereal, bread and sodas were put aboard when the sun had popped out. Temperature inside was about 100 degrees F. After packing the fridge and stowing food, we mounted one of the two AC units and went for a two hour drive while the AC cooled down the aft salon. That night and several more nights were cool enough to put a cover on the bed. 

In minutes the AC unit of only 5 thousand BTU is installed in any of the 'slide down' windows just like the window opened next to the AC unit. Plug it in to the inverted 24 volts DC to 120 volt house voltage and it starts to cool. Just one of these units in the salon and saloon will keep the boat cool. The more sun beating down, the more electricity  available to cool the boat. Absolutely counter intuitive. Pretty cool, huh?

In the case of this hurricane the boat's unlimited range was redirected, having all the solar electric power to afford us a most comfortable stay without issuing noise and deadly carbon monoxide from a generator running in a slip (illegal in quite a few marinas I might add).

Only the six main modules were kept for the hurricane. Five of the eleven were removed to our van for safe keeping during the event.

Rains returned day after day as we sat aboard and watched local TV using an antenna that picks up 21 broadcast stations in the local counties. There was plenty of news, weather and commentary with good entertainment both old and contemporary. The AC stayed on while we made coffee in the microwave, cooked food, washed up and were able to perform all the tasks of living at home with only our Sun replenishing the large 21kwh battery storage. Please note the morning cup of java next to the TV.

Florence's gusts, rain and clouds cannot stop the morning cup of coffee and the latest TV broadcast (no cable availability).
So we put our feet up, mug next to the TV, AC cranking out the cool air while drinking in the view. An exceptional boat.

There was no electric, phone, cable or internet service at the docks because of storm damage. Our sinks and shower and commode worked as they would at home. In fact with all the misery being caught by many, we two old folks counted our blessings. We were able to comfort loved ones with a few texts gotten during a short drive through a few cell hotspots. The marine radio gave us contact with the USCG and others if needed and was of additional comfort.

After several great nights on the boat, we moved to the condo when its power returned. Having spent two nights at the condo we returned to the little 1935 house getting things ready for the return of its power. No power, it was a let down followed by another night at the condo with dinners out at KFC, Waffle House, Hardees and The CookOut (the only places open and with very limited fare).

Although the fiberglass and top coat were ground away by the loose
sailboat, the structure was not compromised as could happen to a
fiberglass hull. The stem and knee of our quarter century old boat
is well over 5 inches thick of epoxy laminated and coated marine
plywood. The white tube across the bow floats in the water to
fend off tide driven debris strikes.

Looking at the whole ordeal, it was more like a hate/love vacation. The cost of the MOG boat was no greater than a 32 foot Island Gypsy back in 1994. In return we have had nearly 30 years of uninterrupted free solar power. She is not fast and not heavy ocean going but has made it through 7 named hurricanes on her own hull in the water, this being the first in an actual slip. All the other 'canes have been on the hook in Pages Creek estuary Wilmington, NC.

'Home no sweat home' with air conditioning when all the power in
the county is completely out. With the aft salon queen bed folded
in the up position, there is room to move around besides the saloon.

Please do not think we are ignorant of being blessed. Of all the places we stayed we can definitely say that the Totally Electric Powered Solar (TEPS) boat was the most unique and unexpectedly satisfying of all.

Three folks who stayed aboard their bots at Cape Fear Marina had first hand
views of the offending sailboat grinding into the boats in our fairway. There
was little they could do to fend such a large object and best that they not
place themselves in even greater peril.

The concept of the MOG was a sailboat speed trawler type boat for two people with no range limitation. Efficiency prohibited using any conventional craft because the roof's solar electric collection area was the key design element. The design was a clean sheet monohull that included an extreme shallow draft of 18 inches for a forty foot boat with electric drive motors. Everything is custom.

People often ask how much do we save on fuel? Our answer is actually "the fuel came with the boat" and a 25 year warranty on the solar electric modules atop the boat. In effect, we do not save anything, it is just that other boaters pay more to travel with powering payments for maintenance, repairs, oil, filters and fuel requirements never ending for them. Our downside might be speed but we are retired and time is not as precious as the ability to loiter in deep or knee deep waters.

Yep, purposely aground with the ocean over the dune.

After the ALGEMAC II (MOG) gets her nose (bow) fixed, placed back in the pond and electric motors remounted, we will continue in the Carolinas to put more miles beneath her hull to fulfill our continuation of the Great Loop adventure. What a beginning year for us that this has been!

NOWHERE SLOW

Holding Pattern

Priced now at $650k
A collage of dining area, bedroom's city view, river traffic, one of the two waterfront covered balconies and
a look at the eighth floor balcony from the pedestrian perspective. Yes that is the USS NC across the river.

The continuing saga of remaining in the slip

This was to be the summer of making short to medium trips around North Carolina while adding miles to the Great Loop. The one hangup left has nothing to do with the boat, instead it is with the land base known as our condo on the Wilmington, NC waterfront. It is still for sale and we intend to sit tight here in Wilmington during the sales process.

Eight story 7 mile water view

Built to be incomparable, it has remained true to the word. There will be no actual comps (comparable condos) for another nearly two years. Next door to our condo are the diggings for River Place condos that should be finished in 2020. They had a number of fits and starts but are now sinking support piles deep into the ground.

The main difference is that our two bedroom, two bath 1,200 SF condo has both river and city views making it more expensive than the condos that are on their way. With no comps it is more difficult to sell but the reward for the buyer is again, incomparable.

Down sizing for the two years+ of the Great Loop experience is now almost completed, no small task. Neither the wife or I want to be miles away only to get a phone call that some item at the Water Street Center (our condo building) needs attention and personal involvement. Water, sunshine, swimming and food are all I want on my mind, not houses, farms and condos, all except one that are now off our sell list.

In the meanwhile

Half a dozen well vetted potential buyers have come through the unique condo. Not a one has been anything but impressed and generally using the words jaw dropping. The problem is that they too are downsizing. The condo is the right size, two car free parking, in the middle of the city life, etcetera but people have to make decisions to discard stuff, stuff that kids, relatives and friends do not want.

However, people are grinding through for their Great Loop experience or a final 'just the right size' retirement place.

Our listing info
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/106-N-Water-St-Ste-810_Wilmington_NC_28401_M56006-17461#photo1

Thirty feet of waterfront, eighth floor, 7 mile view balcony with a 180 degree view of the Cape Fear River.
The entrance balcony on the City side of the condo is just as sweeping.

Other mentions

We have entered the Create the Future Contest using a different point of view. At the insistence of a few boat and land folks, we placed the Totally Electric Powered Solar (TEPStm) boat in the competition classification as Sustainable Technologies. Our take is that it is a superb Bug-Out destination, which happens to be a boat. Please take the opportunity to see the entry through the link attached and also the link to become a CR4 Engineering 360 forum member if you want to vote.

Competition entry Bug-Out Boat

http://contest.techbriefs.com/2018/entries/sustainable-technologies/9216

CR$ Engineering 360 forum registration

https://cr4.globalspec.com/user/register?frmtrk=cr4digest&cid=nl&et_rid=420181381&et_mid=83689431

WINTER SUN TEST

A RUN OF 2 HOURS

During the winter, the January-February months at about 34 degrees latitude, provide a low sun for the solar modules atop the boat. Even on a very clear sunny day at this latitude in Wilmington, NC, the electrical capture rate is low. In the summer the sun light is more directly over head, yielding a much better rate of electrical collection.

The winter sun test was to help us understand how to find and use the balance point between incoming sun energy to simultaneously replenish the drive motor(s) usage under water travel conditions.  Except for the three motors being used for exit and entry to the slip, just one motor was used, with the other two dragging in the water. Later, the two draggers will get lifted, just not this time out.

It is quite ordinary to use math to indicate usage in watt hours but those numbers do not give the captain a realistic feel of how tide, wind, clouds, humidity and seasonal sky position directly effect boat control. Just as with a wind sail boat, a solar sail boat takes practice getting use to the interplay of the many facets of power usage.

On the road (um) on the river again to probe a bit deeper into how the boat handles and refuels with a winter sky.

TIMES IS FUEL

Our battery bank system is comprised of standard flooded lead acid batteries of deep cycle design, similar to a car battery but having the ability to provide a longer duration of power than a car battery's brief high load for engine starts. We have finally gotten a good sunny winter day with low wind with reduced tidal flow in order to set a base line of drive power needed to make the boat move with control and maneuvering capability.

Once out of the slip/fairway and into the river, there are no protections from wind and the mix of river & tide flow. Eddy currents near and around the marina and especially at the center of confined bridge water flow tend to shove boats around, requiring the capain to increase the drive power to offset swirling water conditions.

We found that a speeds of 3 to 5 miles per hour were needed to keep the boat on desired headings in average river & tide conditions, require 300 to 500 watts of continuos power.
In order to keep the batteries from being depleted, the solar modules atop the roof had to replace such an amount. That amount was provided, allowing operation that although comparetively slow for other boats, was suitable for rudimentary navigation.

Around the bridge, very squirrely currents require a bit of steering. Awaiting the closure and reopening is rewarded with an addition of energy to the batteries. We were definitely not rocketing along at 3 to 5 mph but there is no range limitation. If you are retired, as we are, time is more than money, it is fuel.

Taking a close view of the underside of the Cape Fear Hilton railroad bridge on the return leg of our brief sojourn.

Awaiting the bridge opening, having a snack, reading, taking pictures or conversing makes use of the  sun. Quite amazing that a few minutes with a large enough solar array, will top off the battery banks. After a quarter century of collecting the sun's energy this way, the fact that we are actually doing such is still impressive to me.

The bridge and the batteries are up, continuing the equilibrium of power in, power out.

There will be only a few more nice days such as Tuesday February 6, 2018. These videos will serve to remind us of how we got out and back, at what level of energy, distance, time and ease of control.

Heading back to the slip with grins and more knowledge about solar sailing.

Once back in the slip we just became another 40 foot boat. However, until you have piloted such a boat, just using the sun, no fuels, no wind, no sails, no noise and no smells, you will have missed the power of nothing.

More to come.

MOG is Uplifting

Making light work lighter   

Although the Torqeedo Cuise 2.0 is very light weight at only 36 pounds, we have attached it to a motor mount jack plate of nearly 20 additional pounds. The plate easily slides into and out of the jack plate receiver bolted to the transom, making it possible to remove the motors when leaving the boat for a long period or to change a propeller while in deep water. 

A small permanent strap will be added instead of a lasso around the motor's top.
The lift strap must be made in such a way as not to cover the GPS antenna
 inside the the black plastic motor head cover

The idea of performing the task (with or without the heavy jack plate) can easily become precarious if the wind and water gets rough. I have placed and removed the motor with and without the jack plate, alone, with just my bare hands. It is easy enough but should there be a departure from calm conditions, I want a much more controllable rig. 

A single sheave pulley is used for the lift or a double sheave pulley can be used.

With some 2 by 2" wood, cardboard and tape, a prototype was cobbled together to fit onto the existing jack plate assemblies (typically used for 300 hp outboards of about 600 pounds). With some diligent effort, the design emerged into 2 by 2" square aluminum tubing, pulley set, attach/detach plate all to be TIG welded together. 

Torqeedo was very smart in providing the outboard with a reinforced rubber skeg.
The skeg allows one to rest the motor on the transom before lowering it to the cockpit floor.

The result is a lightweight, storable, easily deployed, simply used and quick operating lift for electric outboards of about 100 pounds. The current Torqeedo motors are about 36 pounds and with the jack plate attached, is about 56 pounds. The new lift is a most desirable addition to the onboard tackle and can serve a few other services to boot.

At this point the lift line would be unsnapped from the lift motor lift strap, to
stow the outboard inside the cabin.

Lift removed from center mount and attached to the port motor jack plate receiver.

Then the lift is removed again, simply snapping onto the starboard jack plate receiver.

Inside cockpit view.