OFF GRID LIVING? - SwT 98 - ALL YOU WANNA KNOW ABOUT A NOMADIC LIFE WITH OFF GRID CAPACITY

[@nickgoodall578]

What I like about this channel is that it seems really transparent. Thomas shows an attractive lifestyle: Huge yacht, sunshine, cold beer, live music etc. But he also gives a good idea what it costs: hauling out, re-rigging, sweating his balls off re-installing his generator etc. I get the sense that he’s self employed not on permanent holiday. He’s “free” but he also has constraints and he’s frank and honest about them.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for your kind words and inspiring feedback! I’m really happy that my intentions and the reason for even making videos shines through now and then. I try to have a balance in fun but also showing what it’s all about. No script only sharing things as is and how I see things without claiming it’s the blueprint. Thank you for being here! All the best and cheers 🍻

[@JC-bqq]

Great episode Thomas, really helpful information. Your channel is now in my top 3 must-watch KZbin sailing channels.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Wow thank you so much for your kind words and inspiring feedback. All the best and cheers 🍻

[@markuskoarmani1364]

Thats was great insight and educational video. I learned a lot today. Thank you Thomas!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed this one and found it valuable. All the best 🍻

[@MiQBohlin]

I'm impressed! What an excellent summary! Even more valuable with your own personal perspectives. 🙏

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much my friend! Now and then I try to share things I wish I knew before sailing full time. All the best and cheers 🍻

[@62-62]

Thanks Thomas for one of the very best discussions on the subject of, “Off Grid” living. The information and data shared is excellent information to help someone consider this lifestyle or not or at least give them more knowledge to help them. Always enjoy seeing and talking with you! Like the No BS mindset that you bring to the discussion table: it’s yours, from experience and talking to others that have good Off Grid knowledge that you pick and choose what, how much and who’s talking! Thanks my friend and stay safe!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and your kind words! I’m really happy to know you enjoyed this episode. I try to make videos now and then to highlight things I wish I knew before starting full time sailing myself. It’s a huge difference in sailing and living aboard over time. So hopefully I succeed now and then to share the unmasked truth and „as is“ reality. A bikini video would give more viewers and faster to make though🤣 But it’s already well covered elsewhere so try to sail my own direction. Happy to see this is appreciated! Cheers 🍻

[@gefginn3699]

Great post Thomas. Stay free, happy and healthy my friend. Cheers 🍻 🌞🌴⛵

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much! Wish you all the best and cheers 🍻

[@dennisfromoz6436]

Thomas....my ole internet sailing friend. Your good judgement, old values and sailing skills which you so easily share are commendable. I thank you once again. Cheers and good winds.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for your kind words and for being here watching my videos! Much appreciated. Wish you all the best and cheers from BE FREE 🍻

[@Cptnbond]

It's always interesting to listen to your first-hand experience and a topic that is key to every cruiser that plans for this kind of lifestyle. Thanks, Thomas, and fair winds.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m happy to know you appreciate this episode. All the best and cheers 🍻

[@KiwiSkipper]

Awesome Thomas. Always like your informative videos. Cheers from NZ

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for being here and for watching! Cheers from BE FREE 🍻

[@donr416]

Love your take on reality. You seem to have an engineer's take on the world. Realizing that solar panels and batteries are sources of pollution is reality. You must look at the total picture from mining and production to disposal/recycling is mandatory to estimate the total environmental impact.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and your kind words! When being young I worked with diamonds and designs before changing my path in life and into maritime and humanitarian work. However as young I was introduced to the terms of conflict diamonds and blood diamonds. I believe it’s something of the same challenge we have today with minerals for not only solar but also batteries. This is just as way back in time, just as important still dangerous topics and not many willing to talk loud about. Green might not always be as green we believe. And to not be a hypocrite as I’m in fact having a 2 stroke outboard on my dinghy I‘m not trying to save this planet, but being a bit awake never hurts. Guess a balance is good. My goal was to share the fact if I could reduce my luxury I could reduce my consumption. If I increase my “green” sources I would increase my luxury and consumption and even add more. This is also my experience looking at friends upgrades. So end of the day the math here could be interesting. It’s so much I could add to this video but it would been way to long. Maybe one day I will go deeper down into this subject. However living on a boat will never be anything near sustainable. After all I’m basically floating around in a gigantic petroleum product... All the best 🍻

[@vicblaze3479]

As I watch this, the one question that comes to mind is that as much as you get "set up" for being off-grid, what is your need for maintenance items? Doesn't that significantly effect your "self-sustainability"? You can only carry so many... water maker filters, oil filters, hoses, bolts, etc. Not to mention things like re-rigging, through-holes, etc. This question is not to try to be critical, only to try to really figure out the answer. Thanks for the great videos. I thoroughly enjoy watching your channel.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you for watching and for really interesting questions. It’s very difficult to answer and it will divert from boat to boat. The older engine as an example the more spares needed. The more complex the setup the more can fail. So from my perspective it’s 3-6 months at the max you in most cases can stay off grid without asking for extended stay. So meaning your not that far from civilisation and parts can be shipped in. However my rule of thumb is trying to keep my boat Sea worthy at all time as weather and seasons is just as big challenge. For me this means annually hauling out for full check of everything under the water line. Make sure riggings and through hulls are in good shape. For my engine I carry oil, filters and fan belts. Relatively low engine hours so this is sufficient. Deck fittings I have spares in terms of enough to make some solutions if needed, and also spare ropes and hayljards, and off course extra set of sails. For watermaker I carry enough filters for my replacement intervals for 1 year. Hopefully this could point you in some directions. All the best and cheers 🍻

[@Soundwaave1976]

Very good and eye opening analysis Thomas For making water, maybe you can use a system like astronauts use in ISS 😁😁

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you for watching my friend! Wish you a beautiful summer in Holland and all the best! Prost 🍻

[@ingarsorensen17]

Hi Thomas, always good movies from you! Very good and clear summary!!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much🙏🏻 All the best and cheers 🍻

[@ThoughtfulWander]

Great episode! Lots of information! Stay safe Thomas!! 👍👍👊👊

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much 🙏🏻 Thank you for being here and always being so positive! Cheers 🍻

[@ThoughtfulWander]

@@SailingwithThomas 👍👍

[@donr416]

Nomadic off-grid lifestyle. A very succinct description.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much! Cheers 🍻

[@andersnilsson6625]

Thanks for another great video! When you have found some good alternatives to the propane kitchen with both stove and oven, I hope for a really good video about this.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank for watching and your kind words. So much interesting going on in the energy side with non petrol generators/power banks so it’s lots of options and fast development here. So much changed only last 4-5 years. I will for sure share any upgrades and experience. All the best 🍻

[@tomcraddock244]

I think your going to have a fine new power set up ! Great video Thomas Fair winds ⛵️

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and your kind words! Cheers 🍻

[@sailingsereiawithgary8385]

Very informative video Thomas. I just spent the weekend living off grid out of a canoe, and I also have a small sailboat similar to your friend Holly....I watch her chanel too. My 28' Newport feels like luxury compared to the 14' canoe. I love the nomadic lifestyle and being on water makes travel so much easier.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and for sharing your story as well. Nomadic life on water have been pretty okay the last years even though it have been some challenges. Still would not traded with anyone. Thank you for being here. Cheers 🍻

[@manuelgarrido3087]

Hi Thomas! Your videos use to be good, very good but, this one is just amazing! Lots of information, calculations and interesting thoughts about a very important subject. Thanks a lot, man!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for your kind words my friend🙏🏻 Much appreciated and happy to know you enjoyed this one even more. Thank you for being here and your support! Cheers 🍻

[@islandman9619]

Thanks Thomas. I personally prefer less luxury and simple systems that what you have, but of course having them doesn't mean you have to use them all the time. I'm starting out with an HR352 in Rio Dulce early next year and will focus on the "survivability" scale. I'm planning to buy a water maker and LiPo batteries after spending enough time on the ocean to know that I want and need it. I think it's easy to overdo it for noobs like me and focus on luxury before actually knowing how to sail safely and handle any problem that can come up with just a few systems. Anyway, thanks for all your videos!

[@shabbydoris]

You RULE! Thanks for the education! fair winds dude!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for kind words and for watching! Happy you enjoyed this episode. All the best 🍻

[@paulf897]

Hi Thomas, interesting video. Have you researched getting a solar cooker as an option to save on propane? There are different systems, they have parabolic mirrors or other methods of focusing light and heat.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Hi Paul, I have seen it but never tried it. Would been interesting to see how it could work in daily life. Thank you so much for watching! All the best and cheers 🍻

[@sebastianurban8151]

Thank you man for such a usefull and very clear information! I hope to meet you in the sea and share a beer!!!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and your kind words! If you ever see BE FREE make sure to stop by. Cheers 🍻

[@calvingarrett3245]

Hello Thomas thank you for all the info that does sound complicated but when you study it for a while and troubleshoot it I guess you get it figured out to a point I guess you would have to have a lot more solar than you expect if I ever get a boat one day I'm going to make sure I have plenty of solar and Good batteries helmet my electronics is what I need and keep it simple as much as possible. Anyway thanks again you have a good day wherever you're at God bless you stay safe and healthy too watching from Roseville California USA

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and your kind words! Energy is the big issue on any boat and you will never get enough. I have been following some friends upgrades and it seems like the more energy you can harvest and store, the more things you carry onboard sending them out in an infinite race against consumption. Weight and location for solar and all you carry onboard is a bigger issue than most sailors seem to focus in. I believe it’s important. All the best and cheers 🍻

[@williambunting803]

That is a really good model to work with, Thomas. I am trying to set myself up to be as sustainable as possible (it would be easier if boats were built with the technologies to begin with). For me It starts with solar, 4 by 250 Panasonic Slim Panels which are set up in the solar arch so the outer two panels Chan be tilted up and down for sun following, but more importantly for water catching with the water from 4 panels flowing into 2 troughs between them for 4 square meters of of water catchment. Wind power as well which I have not installed yet. But there is more solar as I am making solar thermal panels that fit behind the solar PV panels to deliver heat to the Eberspacher Hydronic system. So there is the first fail with the Diesel required for the Eberspacher (Webasto in your case). But there are alternatives in the form of a wood fired stove (I have a design for that) but also an on deck wood chip heater. A friend of mine lived his whole young life with a wood chip heater in Australia (family of 5) and the family never had an electric water heater other than a small one in the kitchen on the wall. So Diesel for water heating not an essential, more a contingency. I use my Eberspacher for heating water for the galley, the shower, and for drying the head (fan heater in the head). Drift wood, island wood, is all fuel. Third one is selecting the most efficient water maker. A water maker with the energy recovery pump consumes under 5 watt hours per litre of water. Run the numbers on that and you will conclude that water making is a solar reality. Dish washer: you would have to make your own but a dish washer is nothing more than a pumped hot water and and time, so you can run a specially made dishwasher of your Webasto for the heat and some electricity for the pump. New Zealand’s Fisher and Paykel made the best dish washer ever in their Dish Draw product. In this the pump was an awesome magnetically coupled free floating impeller. Awesome performance. Lithium batteries, yes are a must but I am worried about lightning strikes so are building may batteries into a faraday cage housing. There is a company in Dordrecht Netherlands that supplies all manner of faraday cage materials including stick on sheets to line existing cupboards. You can buy on line. So I have 8KwHrs of Lithium and I am adding another 6KwHrs of gell cells which are les vulnerable to lightning (I believe). Washing machine does not have to be an energy guzzler. I found a Costway 3.5 kg machine which fits under a seat over the keel in the middle of my boat (off to one side) that is 43cm by 43 cm by 74 cm high, and for 2 it washes well enough on 240 watts for 40 minutes BUT 40 litres of water (180 watt hours of power and 200 watt hours of desalinated water). The weekly wash is not damaging my energy budget. In a boat I was designing before I realized I didn’t have enough life left to build another one I had a high galley cupboard in the middle of the boat where the upper 30cm was a compartment for growing herbs with a deck light above and ventilation. It could also have had growing lights for faster performance. I’m going to give that a go one day, possibly with an on deck version for the experiment. I’m a huge fan of Wind Hippie but I like integrated technology, and comforts, too, but really admire her no tech challenge. On the back up power generator front keep an eye on Liquid Piston Engines. This company will eventually produce a 3 Kw tiny power generator that is low noise, low vibration, and 30% efficient. I say that by way of there being ultimate technologies for an optimal sustainable solution. As to cooking, yes the induction stove is a huge improvement. I prefer flexibility though and am aiming for 2 gas or methane burners and 2 induction plates. SV Cadoha has a Ninja brand air fryer that they say works very well for there energy budget. The other essential I think necessary is an on deck charcoal BBQ grill. Again having a beech driftwood cooking option makes good sense to me. Many people cook mostly above deck to reduce the fumes and heat in the boat. A multi fuel option makes the most sense for cooking. Sailing into Freedom’s survival drama proved that point after running out of gas during the pandemic and being locked out of most countries. Diesel engine, of course is the big sustainability killer, but there again it comes down to choices. The boat I was designing had the engine with the gearbox forward, and a vee drive. The reason was to mount the engine further aft under the rear cockpit, but also so I could mount a 15Kw electric motor on the vee drive fwd shaft. The advantage is obvious, if you can minimize engine use with electric power to get off docks and tight anchorages, then the engine use becomes an optional comfort and safety feature. One luxury is a 48” oled tv which I think pulls 80 watts. It’s use is optional, I tell myself. I won’t know till next year how the features from this list I install add up to sustainability, but I will let you know as the installs are completed. I’d love the hybride engine, but hat isn’t going to happen, and the Liquid Piston Generator is probably years away, so those are off the list. My boat is a Southerly 135 with the elevated galley.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you for watching and for your detailed feedback! Much apreciated. Its so many exchiting solutions today and some are definatly better than others. To me one of the things I realized is what I already have that works stays even if its not optimal. The cost of rebuild or redesign things is expencive and as a cliche the best boat for circumnavigation is the one you have. I have learned a lot and still learn new things. My biggest learning is the fact how big difference it is from being a racing sailor to a full time liveaboard sailor. Its offgrid thinking and planning on a different level. But just as much as sailing is about understanding your own and your boats limitations the same goes for offgrid living. Being honest about my capasity and my limitations have made me better to plan and adjust for my offgrid capasity and abelity. With lots of compromises thats mostly dictated by budgets and also limitations of sailing. To me performance and a Clean look of my boat is important so this also makes som rules for what I can and want to do. Safety trumps it all end of the day. Thank you for being here! All the best and cheers🍻

[@Sam-qr9wu]

Thanks for the analytical video. I guess Lithium, solar and inverter is the way to go, plus the fact that you can discharge lithium well below 50% without any damage to the batteries. The only down side is the initial cost. Sail safe amigo!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and your feedback. It’s so much interesting going on at the energy side so who knows wats next solution. All the best 🍻

[@gregeconomeier1476]

Living the Nomadic Nordic life!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Sounds cold 😀 Thank you so much for watching! Cheers 🍻

[@mememe5231]

Great food for thought! Thank you

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching! All the best and cheers 🍻

[@christip20]

It’s great how you used the graphs to show how much each utility or each luxury that you add on, I’ve never known the difference in use even though I had living quarters in my horse trailer and I was totally off-grid because I never knew what I would find where I was stopping. I thought I recognized Holly at the beginning of the video, I’ve learned very much from her videos and from hers I was able to understand yours! LOL!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and for being here! I’m happy you enjoyed this one and your absolutely right, it was Holly with er Gecko tied up next to BE FREE. She is a remarkable person and I’m privileged to call her my friend. All the best 🍻

[@peterb4620]

Very informative. Thank you😊

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much 🙏🏻 All the best and cheers 🍻

[@sailingsubmariner]

Interesting video Thomas. I think as with most things in life its balance but everyones view of balance is very different. Fair winds J

[@SailingwithThomas]

True words my friend! It is always compromises and different shades of grey as well. Thank you so much for your feedback and for watching 🍻

[@helgejnakken4116]

Hello Thomas, and thanks for a very informative and inspiring channel. This episode was no exception. I’ve been following you for a while, and have a fairly good impression of level of luxury, repairs, onboard maintenance and service etc. In this video you also are talking about level of investment and cost. But on which level are we talking for you to maintain this lifestyle in monthly income sources and need ? Not to expose all personal economic issues, but in the neighborhood of …

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and your kind words! Buying the boat is the smaller investment. Running costs is pretty good estimated for decades and stands pretty accurate even today, meaning you should expect 10-15% of the initial value a year. Insurance depends on size, sailing areas, and solo or with crew. So anything between 5-11k EUR a year only in insurance is to be expected. Depending on where you stay food and beverages will always be there but in different levels, and some places dining out is a fortune. You could easily spend 5-15K a year in harbour fee if you spend much time in marina. Due to the last years situation my budget is blasted with way to much money in harbour and mooring fees. Apx 6K EUR a year last 28 months. Transit fees, National park fees, immigration and custom fees.... It all ads up outside your running costs and maintenance. It’s so many variables in this budgeting making my budget totally useless for someone else. But the big number will be the same. You can also add the cost of safety in terms of revising your life raft and other things. Subscriptions to satellite systems and weather services. Then you don’t wanna do the math on loss of income, increased personal insurance etc. Some sort of passive income is key to unlimited cruising. Otherwise you will as most sailors have a budget with limited cruising time. Bigger is better, smaller is clever should be my new slogan. End of the day it’s all about being out sailing, and this doesn’t come with a price tag. You can do it expensive or on a shoe string budget, or somewhere between. All the best 🍻

[@lucianodelvillar8213]

Thanks very well explainned

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much! All the best and cheers 🍻

[@strykerjones8842]

Thomas something to consider regarding diesel vs petrol fuel consumption during power generation. Diesel fuel contains about 15% more energy by volume than petrol, I think only seeing 8% fuel better efficiency with the diesel is a testament to the quality of small Honda engines.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and your feedback. Yes the Honda is efficient and not fair comparison towards a bigger diesel generator. All the best and cheers 🍻

[@dutchglobetrotter4513]

Friends of mine upgraded to lithium and they reduced their generator use by almost 60%. I know it's a big investment however in the long run it will pay out. Great episode, cheers my friend.🍻

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching. That’s quite a significant reduction. Looks like petrol and diesel is not going to be cheap anytime soon, so alternative energy sources is definitely interesting. All the best and cheers 🍻

[@petercooke2115]

Always love your graphics Thomas,thank you Carbon Dioxide or Nitrogen in a plastic bag for cans,fruit/veg, grains preservation? I think those Lithium batteries are going to be on board sooner than later by the sounds of it,

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and for your kind words! All the best 🍻

[@davidyendoll5903]

​@@SailingwithThomas Peter Cooke's comment reminded me of an archaeological find discovered by the TV program called Time Team . Around a historical , undisturbed , village site they found pits which had been used to store grain . Some of the pits had not been emptied . The remnants of grain were found to have been covered with a layer of soil , but the pits were left partially unfilled , leaving a space at the top of the pit . Some grain would have been sown in the depression . Carbon Dioxide is produced by plants at night , is heavier than air and bacteria does not like it . Thus the grain at the bottom of these pits is protected over winter ! How the ancient peoples knew or discovered this I really do not know .... but there again who discovered what plants and other foods are safe to eat ? So Peter has a point for preserving grain at least . Using gases to help cans .... maybe not , gasses could create an acidic environment possibly where metals are present . Maybe a wax coating , or silica gel bags to keep moisture levels low , or a vacuum... As for fruit and veg , as in fresh products , I would say , chilling , or freezing. Dried out vegetables and fruit are probably one of the best off grid solutions , if not the most pleasant . Another solution for off grid is to use sugar , as in jams , or alcohol (very posh you know ) LOL . This whole off grid subject needs another line on your graph labeled knowledge ! 😂 Thanks for your great videos and advise . I hope your electrical gremlins have now been kicked well off deck Thomas and I hope you can tell us all how to avoid lightening damage , apart from getting the hell out of the way ! All the best .

[@christip20]

Survival on Lobster and Wine sounds good......

[@SailingwithThomas]

Ha ha😀 Yeah it’s definitely not wrong! Cheers 🍻

[@TheExumRidge]

Laundry? Dish washer? Hmm. I run my refridgerator. And charge my electronics. I am way down on your luxury pyramid - but don't suffer much. The induction stove is an interesting idea. Possibly a watermaker some day.

[@overtheclouds9]

Great video. How much would it cost to upgrade your system to lithium?

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you for watching and for your question. I have calculated entire upgrade to be apx 20k EUR. It’s not just adding solar, it needs stainless work to make frame etc. Upgrades in cables, chargers, alternator, inverters, Victron system and lithium batteries. Lots of options in Lithium but what lots of self made solutions don’t tell you is you would struggle getting your boat insured. Some insurance companies don’t insure boats with lithium at all, and some demands documented it’s only approved batteries and systems used. So it’s lots of aspects to consider. 1,5Kwh of lithium and 5 more solar panels equal to what I have is needed to compete with existing solution running generator. All the best 🍻

[@EdmundRobinson]

Have you considered diesel oven and induction cooktop. Webasto makes diesel ovens and diesel cooktops if you don't want induction.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Hi there! Honestly I was not even aware of diesel for cooktops was an alternative. So never looked into this. Could be a good solution without knowing. Guess it’s not something you would talk loud about these weird days with so many strong opinions. Thank you for enlightening me and for being here. All the best and cheers 🍻

[@EdmundRobinson]

@@SailingwithThomas I meant Wallas makes diesel ovens and cooktops. Webasto does heating while Wallas does heating and cooking. Got them mixed up.

[@davidyendoll5903]

@@SailingwithThomas One of those nuclear ovens would cause me to blush a bit . Lol

[@Frank-E]

Hei Thomas, har du laget en episode med montering av targabøyle og solceller som du har montert? Lykke til videre :)

[@SailingwithThomas]

Hei Frank, takk for at du ser på og er her. I episode 11 har jeg litt fra oppgraderingene som ble gjort mens jeg var i Hellas. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmTMYmappptjiKM

[@Frank-E]

@@SailingwithThomas Takk for det. Så både episode 11 og 12 nå. :)

[@cerbule_grom]

heeeeey, ma man, you have a Dacia Duster, the perfect card I might say :)

[@firstnamelastname9013]

👏👏🍻

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much! Cheers 🍻

[@viking8889]

What about a wind turbine?

[@davidyendoll5903]

I think it was Captain Rick , of SSL fame , who removed his wind powered generator as it was not very efficient compared to his solar panel solution ? I could imagine that after a while the bearings for a wind turbine would get noisey too . Maybe one of those wave driven generators would be worth looking at ; but I dont know if they can be bought and they would probably be best used at anchor . They were a success in one of the Scottish islands .

[@tgtg4512]

Did you cross Putin's yacht at one point?😅

[@SailingwithThomas]

Ha ha🤣 Could be but then again who knows... Seems to be difficult to find out who owns mega yachts sometimes... But seen some really big ones now and then. Cheers 🍻

[@tgtg4512]

if you can take pictures. It's interesting!👍❤

[@shanebedford9779]

Fkn dishwasher

[@SailingwithThomas]

Yes it came with the boat! Nothing I would put onboard.

[@shanebedford9779]

What a load of bollox!!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Strong statement! Wish you all the best anyway 🍻

[@EliasHansenu7f]

I believe, you are craving too much tech. Water collection is safer than a water maker. And for a 50ft yacht a system like this hybrid system. It's basically a e motor with a gen-set connected. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pajQYa1jfcmnZtk gives more energy than you are able to use. It delivers 5kW per hour from sailing, which makes the generator expendable. Together with a 40kWh battery it allows to get in any harbor you want and ran an electric stove.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and your interesting feedback. If I’m craving to much tech depends on point of view, and could be plausible in some eyes. I believe myself I’m pretty far from reality in terms of this compared to most sailors I met. To start with I don’t have air conditioning like most long distance sailors. This consumes more energy than everything onboard BE FREE, and most even have 2 AC systems running. I’m not saying it’s wrong but it’s all about preferences and off course budgets. To some living like if you are camping is totally okay. To others it’s on the opposite side as it’s a home and you don’t wanna feel your camping. Lots of great solutions on the paper. However as I pointed out it’s not always sunshine and also still have not seen any fully electric setup with electric engines etc actually working as intended. Like Cornell and other people I know personally needed a diesel generator on a full electric “green” yacht. Its for sure an evolution here but I can’t afford to run a pilot project on this field. You need sponsors for this. Imagine sailing into doldrums with no wind for days, or being in places with rain season.... I still believe safest solution is a Diesel engine, and off course as much renewable energy as possible. But also would like to know more about the conditions and environment around manufacturing batteries as well as solar. In the jeweller business there something called conflict diamonds. Problem with solar and lithium is the industry is not very transparent, but score board for environmental friendly protection and health/safety for employees is coming. Yet most minerals used in this comes from child labour. Burning diesel at least I know it’s from a pretty regulated industry. So from my perspective trying to reduce my consumption is a way to go, hence the fact I pointed out how I could reduce my need of energy. Collecting water is a nice skill to have in case of emergency. However just as it’s rain season some places have dry season. So the setup for a long distance sailor is more complex than it seems at first glance. At least if nomadic off grid lifestyle is your goal. I believe it’s not black/white here All the best 🍻

[@EliasHansenu7f]

@@SailingwithThomas I'm not an advocate for this tech because it's 5% greener. I believe it is raising the comfort and most important safety and is reducing maintenance. No problems with filters. The generation of electric power is putting strain on the gen set or the diesel and is expensive. The proposed hybrid system generates power by recuperation and solar. Battery tech with LiFePo chemistry is save and is lasting for 20 years. This wasn't even a prototype. New was the usage of the 30kWh Yanmar diesel as generator to run the vessel when the batteries are empty, which should on long distances never be the case. A water maker needs between 2kWh to 5kWh a week. An induction stove needs 3kWh per day.The unknown is the air condition to me. A 40kWh battery is covering this. With a speed of 8kn a boat gets 5kW every hour.

[@davidyendoll5903]

​@@SailingwithThomas I liked your response to Ralph and then read Ralph's reply and liked his view too ! This green technology is a complex subject and some ' solutions ' are not as green as we are led to think . We all have differing budgets and safety concerns . World politics makes some solutions impossible at times too . All we can do is try to reduce our pollution and help people with our present understanding in a caring manner . Forcing change on people causes more negatives than the change was trying to achieve in a lot of cases I believe . I am not implying either of you are forcing anyone by the way , far from it . If you can believe the news I read ( another discussion , another time ) Germany has decided to invest in coal again due to someone cutting off power .....politics . Humans , who would have them , eh . Sad