BUY THE WEIGH

If you have been looking for an update.... I am still here.

The title for this blog article is a bit deceiving as are the general conditions under which I have been working. Not new to you are the interesting advancements one expects to see, such as a relaunch into the Great Loop, new solar and power drive. Over the last year or so all these and more have either become quite limited, delayed and/or priced beyond planned expectations. So, in order to weigh anchor there is still stuff to buy.

The 170 Watt photovoltaic modules (PVs) were abruptly stopped out of China and the new replacements, maybe not from China, only started to flow again in August at an increased price. Adding to that is the more important funding investments that took a nose dive, stretching out the buying of at least 30 new lightweight 160 Watt modules. The PV sales company has had their business disrupted too, yet remain most gracious.

This quelling of physical progress was a bit disheartening, although has  brought about some very unique improvements in design. The previous new flexible modules to be mounted to the roof were to be fastened to frames for easier deployment and disassembly for storms, than the current eleven 45 pound PVs. Flexible PV modules weigh a bit less that 7 pounds each, thus a 280 pound drop in roof loading.

The mounting was changed of late (once again) because of a fairly new adhesive tape used by the wife and Cape Fear Garden Club, used to secure Christmas decorations and greenery indoors and outside. (go figure that one out).

Although my new tape will be expensive, its use negates aluminum extrusions, fasteners, welding and attachments that could compromise roof integrity to the point of rain leakage. I have learned that some increased expenditures can radically decrease overall costs while providing optimal solutions. Result, un envisioned gains. That is serendipity worth the perceived lost time. A gain in functionality, lowered weight, increased power, simpler design, easier installation/removal and better use of rooftop real estate.

Outlined in purple are the three panels of ten PV modules atop the boat roof.

Each panel is 1,600 watts and a combined 4,800 watts equaling 6.4 horse power.

The special tape will be tested this winter for application/removal of a flexible PV module to evaluate ease of application, holding power and subsequent removal under various weather conditions. I will add more pictures to this as time & weather permit. 

Update 12-28-2022. The weather was a balmy 58 degrees at 1500 hrs, so to the top of the roof with a 100 watt module measuring 22 x 45 inches, about 17 inches shorter than the new 160 watt but the backing is the same.

Temporary PV module 22 X 45 inches

This Alien tape is similar to the tape I will be using.

The Alien tape was used today to see how the mounting can be accomplished without drilling holes in the roof.

Video shows the PV flexibility as well as a 3 inch length of tape on the PV corner. So far it adheres aggressively to the back of the PV but has modest adhesion to the roof coating which is a silicone paint. There are mylar tapes that have aggressive adhesion which will stick very well to the roof paint and allow the double sided Alien tape to mate to the roof.

The idea then is to keep the PV modules quite secure under high winds and also allow their easy removal in case of hurricane winds, then stowed below decks. There is a balance between the tear strengths of the roof paint, the double sided tape and the interlock mylar tape applied to the roof paint. The only separation desired is the double sided PV tape from the mylar roof tape. All tapes must last at least two years in all weather.

This is why we test, getting the right solution to this problem is paramount. There are no hardware store at sea.

Hope you all had a great Christmas and have a New Year 2023 with great rewards.

 

 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.