Solar Panel Sailboat
Can I sail an Ericson 29 Sailboat across the atlantic?
I need some advice from some experianced sailors. I own a 1976 Ericson 29 in excellent condition. It is the tall rig, 38ft mast, full modified keel, displacement is 8500lbs,Draft is 4’3″ I plan on going with a partner but I’m not going to deny that I could be solo, plan to use a MR. VEE windvane for steering. IS THIS BOAT DESIGN STRONG ENOUGH TO HANDLE ROUGH SEAS? I don’t want to destroy it or damage it. What additional equipment will I need to add? I was planning to have minimal electronics and sail like a purist as much as possible, except I will have GPS, backup GPS, sexton, compass, charts and the usuals. I will also have a good battery bank with one 90 watt solar panel and probably and air x marine wind genny. I don’t have radar, can’t afford it, don’t have mechanical auto pilot
Older Ericson’s are virtually bulletproof. If yours’ is in good shape, you will not have a problem. If your windvane is functional, then you won’t have to be tied to your helm for the entire trip. I can only think of two absolutely MUST-HAVE peices of equipment. The first is carrying a real life-raft with you. If you doubt my advise here, just read Steve Callahan’s book ‘Adrift’. This story involves a boat not too dissimilar to yours breaking in the middle of the night for unknown reasons, and then sinking in less than 3 minutes, right in the middle of the Atlantic. Callahan spent 76 days adrift in his life raft. The second piece of equipment you NEED, so you don’t spend those 76 days in a life-raft waiting to be found, is a type 406 EPIRB. These are expensive little units that SAVE LIVES. If you cannot afford one, several marine suppliers will rent you one. Just imagine yourself floating around for weeks and maybe months, starving and dying of thirst out in the middle of the Atlantic, and you’ll do the right thing and at least rent one.
Solar Power for Boats
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Sunforce 50022 5-Watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger $49.95 Solar Power Chargers for your 12V batteries and accessories. Power-up anywhere, affordably! These Solar Power devices grab free “juice” from the sun! They extend the life of your 12V batteries, maintain the charge and allow you to run various electronics (deer feeders, landscaping pumps, etc.) from your batteries. Clean, silent operation… with both cigarette lighter adapter and battery clamps. T… |