"Jere Lull" wrote in message
...
But a single bank is feasible, at least on the Chesapeake during the
season, with the addition of a small solar cell. Ours is 12w. On last
year's cruise, the battery was dead flat one morning. Switched
everything off but the solar cell and we could start by mid-morning.
Since it tops things off between weekends, we only need to use the
engine for motive power. Have never had healthier batteries; the one I
expected to replace was rejuvenated.

It is this premise on which I'm making the move to solar and wind as my
(nearly - the engine has a small-by-large-frame-standards alternator, and
I'll have a briefcase Honda genset in the Laz for shore duty) only charging
sources.

Barring some unforeseen catastrophe, our batteries should last a *very* long
time, as they'll be topped up continuously, gently, and the everyday power
usages will mostly be covered by current (pardon the expression) input.
FWIW, 6 L16HC are on the list...

We, too, will have an extremely short run from the starter to batteries.
Browse around
http://www.dv-fansler.com/FTP%20File...r%20System.pdf
this and the site from which it came for some pretty good electrical
discussion.

L8R

Skip, about to go back and start that part of the refit

--
Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig
http://tinyurl.com/384p2

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.
Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain