Alex,

Yes, I am still a fan of Firefly batteries, but a caveat or two is worth mentioning.  Like any relationship, there has been a bump or two in the road.

Twice we have had a battery develop an internal short.  The first time we discovered it quickly, and it was immediately replaced by Firefly.  The second time, our monitoring system wasn't good enough to catch the issue, and we developed a chronic imbalance where half the bank was overcharged, and the rest undercharged.  By the time the issue was apparent, permanent damage was done to all the batteries.  Firefly stepped up an replaced the whole bank within the terms of the warrantee--keeping us happy.

We learned. It is quite likely that if we had seen the issue early on a minor change in charging procedure might have alleviated the issue, but we'll never know for sure. We have since significantly upgraded our electrical system monitoring system, and a minor imbalance is not going to sneak up on us again.

As for running A/C from the batteries, sure it's possible.  One of our A/C units draws about 850 watts when running. That's about 4 times our normal house load.  That is easily supplied by our 8 battery bank and 3kW inverter. In the absence of any solar power, we'd need to run the generator twice a day for 3 hours instead of once a day for 90 minutes.    It is important to remember that it doesn't matter what kind of batteries you have or the size of the bank.  Batteries do not make power they just store it.  A bigger bank means you can reduce the number of times you start the generator, but your total run time will be about the same.

All that said, in 5 years of full time cruising we have run the A/C units while away from shore power exactly once, so it was not a priority in our design decisions.  If your plan is to run A/C units regularly off the grid, a larger system than we have might be needed.

Bill Kinney
SM160, Harmonie
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

Hi Vladimir,

Please send me a check for $34.00 for 1 switch.

The switches are on the way to me and I will send 1 to you

as soon as they arrive.

Fair Winds

Eric

Eric Freedman

345 New York Ave

Huntington, NY 11743

I have just learned of at least two cruising boats who were sttraying through BVI waters (with no intention of landing) who were stopped by BVI coast guard boats, escorted to a BVI port, and held in quarantine while charges were filed and $20,000 fines levied.  These boats were apparently detained until payment made. All in response to Covid laws prohibiting foreign vessels from entering.

I have written to the BVI to express my disgust at their draconian treatment of these people, the life's blood of the BVI.  I will not sail ir visit there again until and unless they apologize to those individuals and cruisers in general, the fines are rescinded, and their policy softened to allow for a simple warning for the first offense.

If you feel the same, I recommend that you let them know as well.

--
Kent & Iris

KRISTY

SM243

I have just learned of at least two cruising boats who were sttraying through BVI waters (with no intention of landing) who were stopped by BVI coast guard boats, escorted to a BVI port, and held in quarantine while charges were filed and $20,000 fines levied.  These boats were apparently detained until payment made. All in response to Covid laws prohibiting foreign vessels from entering.

I have written to the BVI to express my disgust at their draconian treatment of these people, the life's blood of the BVI.  I will not sail ir visit there again until and unless they apologize to those individuals and cruisers in general, the fines are rescinded, and their policy softened to allow for a simple warning for the first offense.

If you feel the same, I recommend that you let them know as well.

--
Kent & Iris

On 1 Dec 2020, at 16:49, ngtnewington Newington via groups.io <ngtnewington@...> wrote:



Another snippet on the learning curve.

Back in September I noticed a hole in the bottom of the intercooler which was blowing air. I was convinced that it was a pin hole in the aluminium casting, and became worried by it.

Just to remind everyone the intercooler cools the compressed air from the turbo with sea water prior to combustion (Boyles law).

So I filled the hole with epoxy and ran the engine as normal and achieved full boost pressure. I then flew home to the UK and have been looking into this.

It turns out that in the past in very cold countries where there may be condensation, some water would build up in the intercooler and this could freeze and damage the intercooler. So Volvo decided to drill a  very small drain hole, never mind that it was mostly filled with paint, the pressure would blow that out and any moisture and some oil residue that would collect in the intercooler.

So it turns out that I do not have a fault and that I need to drill out the epoxy. I estimate that the hole is about 1mm diameter.

Further research has led me to some diesel engine performance orientated web chat rooms. Some people put a small screw in the drain hole as they achieve better performance with extra boost pressure. Not something that I need worry about, but clearly no short term harm done by filling it with epoxy.

So if when running the engine you run your hand over the intercooler and notice air blowing out of a very small hole it is normal and nothing to worry about.

Nick

S/Y Amelia AML 54-019 Leros

On Nov 30, 2020, at 10:59 PM, Karen Smith via groups.io <karenharmonie@...> wrote:

This year we decided to bite the bullet and replace our Onan.  Not because of intrinsic reliability issues, but because of a lack of spare parts availability from Onan.  We had several major routine maintenance issues coming up, and it was clear that parts just were not going to be available.

We looked at deck mounted, "walk-on" solar panels, but at a cost of about $10 a watt (!) the cost was very unattractive for a solution that still wasn't sufficient to meet all our needs.

You can find a detailed description of our logic and design process here:

https://fetchinketch.net/boat-projects/power-to-the-people/

The short form answer:  We analyzed how we use our boat, and our electrical needs, and came up with what has seems to be a very good solution for us.  A DC generator from Whisper-Power.  It is smaller, lighter, and much more efficient than the Onan (Light enough that the permanent list to port is GONE!).  It is the last piece of a long, steady modernization of our boat's electrical system.

With the addition of this generator, and a Victron Cerbo GX monitoring system, we finally see our systems set for comfortable, simple, extended off dock cruising for the foreseeable future.

Maybe the next time we need batteries (in 8 to 10 years), we will jump to a Li system, but for now we are staying with our Firefly Batteries that seem to give us 90% of the benefit for 50% of the cost.

Bill Kinney
SM160, Harmonie
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.

Hi Miles,

Order one with both wires about 15 feet long, 24 volts. The stock setup comes with a short negative wire to be attached to normal engine wiring and a long positive wire.

I just ran mine along the wiring running across the forward end of the engine room with all the other wires and up into the port locker and along the back of the area where the rotary autopilot is usually mounted. I mounted the alarm enunciator in the wall of the companionway where the nameplate is mounted. There are plenty of places to pick up 24 volts near that position. If you hot wire it just put a small fuse in line with the unit. It’s a 1 hour project for 1 person.

Fair Winds

Eric

Amel Super Maramu #376

http://www.borelmfg.com/singraw.pdf

Hi Eric,

I am sold on this and I am getting one.  Where did you take the power from?  Is yours 12V or 24 V (I guess that these questions have one answer).  Did you need a longer wire? 

As always, thanks.

Regards,

Miles

s/y Ladybug, sm 216,  in Le Marin, Martinique

Hi Eric,

I am sold on this and I am getting one.  Where did you take the power from?  Is yours 12V or 24 V (I guess that these questions have one answer).  Did you need a longer wire? 

As always, thanks.

Regards,

Miles

s/y Ladybug, sm 216,  in Le Marin, Martinique

On 01 December 2020 at 17:35 eric freedman <kimberlite@...> wrote:

Danny,

I had a different problem with my winch. However I had to remove it to repair it.

If you reach to the top of the gearbox you will feel a number of socket head screws at the top of the gearbox assembly.. You cannot see them.

If you loosen these the whole assembly will drop down.

 

In my case the screws sheared off and caused the whole assembly to bang back and forth until the motor came apart. I made new screws to hold the motor together and replaced the socket head screws with grade 10 (black) screws and installed them with locktite.

 

The real problem is to put the motor back. You have to align the assembly and then put in a few screws to get the mounting process started.

You will be doing this blind with the heavy assembly over your head. I found that impossible.

 

 

I finally cut the heads off of a couple of slightly longer bolts and ground the cut off end to be slightly  rounded.

This allowed me to install the motor and while holding it up have someone else start a couple of socket head screws. Works like a charm.

There is also a thin plastic washer (isolation shim) at the top of the gearbox assembly that should be replaced.

 

I would suggest anyone reading this to have someone operate the winch for a second or two. If the gearbox-motor assembly moves. It’s time to change the bolts and make sure they are very tight.

I found my other winch to also be loose.

 

Fair Winds

Eric

Amel Super Maramu #376

 

 

From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io [mailto:main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io] On Behalf Of Danny and Yvonne SIMMS
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2020 2:59 PM
To: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io
Subject: Re: [AmelYachtOwners] Port sheet winch

 

Thanks Adam, I am expecting to be able to refurbish/repair my winch but I will keep your advice re replacement in reserve. 
Regards

Danny

SM 299

Ocean Pearl

On 01 December 2020 at 08:14 Adam Body <adamgcbody@...> wrote:

I have just replaced the same motor and gear box. I sourced the replacement from Mauripro, at a good price and with excellent service.  The unit is heavy so be careful pulling it off.
--
Adam Body "Flora"   SM128 Annee 1994

 

Thanks Adam, I am expecting to be able to refurbish/repair my winch but I will keep your advice re replacement in reserve. 
Regards

Danny

SM 299

Ocean Pearl

On 01 December 2020 at 08:14 Adam Body <adamgcbody@...> wrote:

I have just replaced the same motor and gear box. I sourced the replacement from Mauripro, at a good price and with excellent service.  The unit is heavy so be careful pulling it off.
--
Adam Body "Flora"   SM128 Annee 1994

Thanks Adam, I am expecting to be able to refurbish/repair my winch but I will keep your advice re replacement in reserve. 
Regards

Danny

SM 299

Ocean Pearl

On 01 December 2020 at 08:14 Adam Body <adamgcbody@...> wrote:

I have just replaced the same motor and gear box. I sourced the replacement from Mauripro, at a good price and with excellent service.  The unit is heavy so be careful pulling it off.
--
Adam Body "Flora"   SM128 Annee 1994