EP21 - Catalina 30 Solar & Lithium Battery Installation

In this episode I show you how I installed my 100 watt Renogy solar panels, my Victron Energy Smart Solar Charge Controller and my Lithium batteries. I also show you how I built my solar panel brackets that hold and tilt my solar panels on my stern rail. What is different about my rail brackets is I made them in a way that you can still use the railing as a grab rail instead of covering the rail with the solar panel.
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“Stoked” is a 1978 Catalina 30 sailboat that I got for $3500. See that story here: • EP 1 - How we got a $3...
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[@glenngray1201]

Welcome Back Andy , I was beginning to wonder . nice job ! looks like you’ll be able live more off grid now . Summers here hurry up !!

[@sailingsole]

Thanks Glenn. I was just taking a break because I had a lot of welding jobs come in and it was time to focus on real work for a while. I may take a break but I’m not going anywhere! 👊🏼

[@keeldragger]

Thanks for posting the project video. I was impressed with the panel install and it was cool to see how this project came together. Well done!

[@sailingsole]

Thanks Mark. I was going to show some solar yield but when I was filming the batteries were at 100% so the charge controller turns off.

[@bobbrown9158]

Good job Andy, giving yourself electric mobility, essential for multi day passages. I have found nothing is easy on a boat, what may look simple is a headache. However, there is that sense of accomplishment. I work on boats for a living and have come to respect anyone who is a Do it Yourselfer, especially electrical, plumbing and motor.

[@sailingsole]

Thanks Bob. My saying is “it’s NEVER a slam dunk!”. Because it never is. This upgrade added a lot of value and functionality for me. Cheers!

[@waltobringer2928]

I absolutely want solar!

[@sailingsole]

Solar is a game changer if you do not have any renewable energy. Get it.😂🤙🏼

[@daveg4963]

That chingadera came out really good. 👍🏼

[@sailingsole]

😂 Thanks Dave! You get it!

[@danielsimpson4747]

Hey great work! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@sailingsole]

Thanks Dan. That video was long overdue 😂

[@benkanobe7500]

I love it! I have this exact plan for my Catalina 22 and here you are doing it for me so I get to watch and learn from you (again). Thanks Man!

[@sailingsole]

Right on Ben. I’m glad someone is getting something valuable from the video.

[@rvierra7235]

Not only is that stainless steel hard to cut, it is EXPENSIVE!!! You crazy!!!!😂🤣😅😆

[@sailingsole]

You know it! That stuff ain’t cheap! I was lucky enough to have leftover from a welding job I did for a client. It was 316 SS too, the good stuff.

[@1tojo]

Andy I used VHB tape to put solar panels on my RV to keep from drilling holes in the roof. They have not moved in 4 years at up to 70 mph. Every hole you drill is a possible leak

[@sailingsole]

The hole i drilled was below deck in the lazarette.

[@1tojo]

@@sailingsole "O" shoot. Put your finger in it

[@maritimetees2315]

Andy, I know you investigated a lot on the Lithium. So you probably already know it's not a good idea to use as a starter battery. In fact, I am sure your battery manufacturer does not recommend it either. What i would do, which is really important, is to read your insurance documentation if you have full coverage. Recently, a boat had a collision, resulting in a total loss. The insurance denied the claim because the owner installed lithium and did not notify the carrier of the modification. The funny thing is that lithium had nothing to do with the collision. It's currently in litigation, and i am following it. I have AGMs in my boat, and my carrier would not insure if i added lithium. So what i did is get a bluetti solar generator that was portable. 2000w. Since its portable, they have no recourse. Things are changing with lithium, so in the future, i am sure it will be fine. Boat insurance has gotten weird lately. So I am cautious. For example , my geico/boatus doubled in price. I called them and said WTF. They said the number of claims have gone crazy on the east coast, and they needed to increase pricing to survive. I said I was on the west coast and shouldn't affect me. They disagreed. I got State Farm right before they stopped taking insurance for boats and homes. My full coverage for a 60k boat from geico went to 1300 for full coverage. They flipped! State farm ended being 500.00 for same coverage.

[@sailingsole]

Right on man. I’ll contact Progressive and see what they say about lithium IRON batteries. I’ve been slowly prepping for a starting battery (probably just a simple lead acid for now) but not really for any of the reasons that you mentioned but simply because I do want two banks and more more more batteries! 😂

[@allynonderdonk7577]

I saw a potential problem with your install. If you have a traditional engine then you are combining your house and starter system batteries. The issue comes into play after you start the engine. If you have an alternator, then it may work itself to death charging the lithium. Unless it has external regulation on the altetnator. Balmar makes compatible systems for instance. Lithium can take much more energy faster than lead acid. The alternator might pop trying to keep up.

[@sailingsole]

Thanks for the advice. I filmed this a long time ago and never edited the video until now. I’ve been running the system like this for nearly two years now with no problems. I do understand the issue and I do want a DC to DC charger soon. My buddy Mark from @keeldragger knows a lot about this subject and has recommended some components for me…it’s just a matter of time, money and will to do it 😂

[@NONAMESLEFTNONE]

SV TRITEIA sailor James? I suppose he is out of Long Beach, I think. Haven't finished your video yet (need to start over, yay) but I need to say great work with the 316SS. (I hear your opening one time and it's stuck in my head all day. I'm going around the shop right now 'dig-daaang dig-daaang dig-daaaang diddle diddle dig-daaang . . . .')

[@sailingsole]

Yeah James from Sailing Triteia. He’s one of the local dudes who really inspired me to buy a boat and learn to sail. Great guy.

[@NONAMESLEFTNONE]

​@@sailingsole That's awesome. His is my other 'main' sailing channel. I'm disappointed to have missed his presentation at the Patagonia Santa Monica on the 17th. I thought it was in July. :( And FYI, if you need a boat part fabricated I maybe able to help and would trade for a day sail with you and some learning. (I have ASA101,103, and 104 but no access to a boat.) Cheers.

[@Uncle--Fatty]

Good Call..!! 🎸 EXCELLENT... @6:06 ...! 🎸Mahogany supports for the solar panel bracket system would get hammered..! ⛈ (every sailor worth his salt has a 🛹 LongBoard 🛹 aboard...) 🪛 Where's the old guy with the Drill Bit index..? 🪛

[@Uncle--Fatty]

👾✨beware the cable of death... ✨👾

[@sailingsole]

Yea I swapped the wood for SS supports. 🤙🏼

[@benkanobe7500]

I'm not familiar with the giant flap drum/polishing wheels you had on your grinder. Where the heck did you get that?

[@sailingsole]

That tool is called a “burnisher polishing machine” and you can get all sorts of different wheels for polishing.

[@benkanobe7500]

@@sailingsole Thank you. I will look for just the business end as my grinder could attach just the handle is off by 90 degrees.

[@wonderboy6511]

Now I’m jones’in for Toms …

[@sailingsole]

🤣🤣🤣👍🏼

[@gregdavisem972]

I have a 30’ over at Leeward Bay Marina

[@sailingsole]

🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@MrLawman82]

When are you planning your first big passage? What's the timeline?

[@sailingsole]

What is your idea of “big passage” and who told you I was doing one? 😂

[@theonerealelvis7823]

Could you post the name and part number to the fittings you used?

[@sailingsole]

Hi Elvis! 😂 Yes I’ll post the links to the parts soon. I’m getting the links together. Cheers!

[@allynonderdonk7577]

I saw a potential problem with your install. If you have a traditional engine then you are combining your house and starter system batteries. The issue comes into play after you start the engine. If you have an alternator, then it may work itself to death charging the lithium. Unless it has external regulation on the altetnator. Balmar makes compatible systems for instance. Lithium can take much more energy faster than lead acid. The alternator might pop trying to keep up.

[@sailingsole]

👍🏼