Author: Werner Toonk, Karma of Steel
Werner is a world sailor and author of Karma of Steel. He is currently en route from New Zealand to Chile and wrote this blog:
On-board batteries
I have a love-hate relationship with them. You need them, but they never deliver what you would expect. During a long trip, they actually run out far too often and far too quickly. On my steel two-master Karma of Steel I sail around the world in long stages. Think 40 days of non-stop sailing, for example from Brazil to Cape Town or now from New Zealand to Chile.
To Karma ready for this new stage, I had to buy new batteries again. The old lead-acid batteries from South Africa had already failed again. Probably that is down to me. I am a sailor. I love the emptiness and calm of the ocean, the lapping of the waves on a calm day or the growl when things get rough in the 'roaring forties'.
I don't like having to start the engine to generate power, but I can't escape it either. The solar panels and the small propeller shaft generator do not always provide enough to keep the batteries charged. However, I do try to combine motoring with windless periods. Often the batteries are too low by then, and they can't stand that.
With new LiFePO4 batteries, I hope to tackle that problem. You can discharge those to 10% without any problem and then just recharge them fully again. I have installed two with a total capacity of 560 amp-hours. When those are completely empty, it does take a while for them to fill up again. Charging I initially wanted to do with the existing Hitachi alternator fitted as standard on the Yanmar engine, but a sailor friend advised me to get in touch with Smartmarine.
So I did, on a Saturday evening by e-mail. That first email was answered immediately the same evening with exactly the information I needed. The following day we emailed again and made a phone appointment for Monday morning. I got exactly the advice I needed.
Smartmarine sells (among many other handy things) high-power alternators from Electromaax. I didn't want to get into that initially, because with a new alternator you also have to install a new regulator, different pulleys and a heavier V-belt. I simply didn't have the time for that. I wanted to Karma of Steel prepare and finally, after years of delays due to COVID and others, sail on again.
The professionals at Smartmarine convinced me that it could be done. Electromaax's alternators fit exactly where the standard Hitachi did. The advanced Electromaax controller can be installed either by the batteries or next to the engine. For the pulleys, a standard kit is available that fits on the engine just like that, and to deal with peak voltage, Electromaax supplies a wonderful System Surge Protector. I didn't even know what it was or if I needed it, but am now fully informed.
A few weeks later, I ordered the gear and took it with me to New Zealand in my suitcase. Granted, it costs a bit, but then you have a durable solution. Installation was an afternoon's work, thanks to Electromaax's handy YouTube videos and clear manuals. If I had any questions, I could contact Smartmarine, who responded promptly, kindly and to the point, even on the other side of the world. Really very nice!
I have been sailing with it for a few weeks now and everything works very well for now. If the batteries are flat, I run 100 amps of current (at 12 volts) at about 1,500 rpm and they fill up again. If it needs to be faster, I increase the engine speed and the alternator delivers (in my case, maximum) 160 amps. More is also possible, but I don't need that.
What I also appreciate enormously is that Smartmarine not only sells the Electromaax equipment, but also thinks along with me about the entire schematic of the installation, the thicknesses of the cables and how to charge my starter battery, among other things. What professionals, and how nice to be a customer there. I don't get paid for it, but I am sincerely happy to advertise them!
If you want to read more about my stages with Karma of Steel, please visit karmavanstaal.co.uk.
