Going Solar

In 2017 I installed three new batteries.  One type 31 for starting and two type 30 of 88 amp/hrs. each.  During the winter of 2018/20 I decided to add some solar charging power for the house batteries as we had decided to do a 700km trip up north and I wanted to be sure that my refrigeration, etc. would not be lacking for power.  We do have a 100 amp alternator but I don't like running the engine to charge batteries.  Moreover it's hard on the engine running at 'no load'.  

We had just put a new dodger and bimini on the boat and I was not keen to mount solar panels there.  In any case the boom would shadow part of them.  I came up with the idea of adding a pole at the very aft of the boat.  Initially my plan was to put 50 watts of panel and see if that was enough to bring the batteries back to full charge after running the fridge, lights, etc. all night.  Based on my calculation 50 watts and an output of 2.1 amps by the panel would not be adequate so I designed the whole structure around having a total of 3 - 50 watt panels  (20" x 19") possible.  As I thought 50 was not enough in the first part of the summer so I added 2 more panels and my batteries now recover by 10-llam in the summer light.

I designed the structure of the pole and mount to enable all three panels to turn and change angle depending on the position of the sun.  After initially installing it with all 3 panels I locked it in a south westerly direction at an angle of 45 deg. in the marina and never changed it and never had to plug my boat into shore power again.  

Upon arrival in the North Channel for four weeks and always anchoring we adjusted the panels to straight up and occasionally at an angle to catch the lower sun in the late afternoon.  The batteries were always up by 10 or so in the morning.

The panels cost me $90.00 each plus tax and shipping and I added a PWM charge controller at $45.00 and MC4 cables .   The structure is almost all aluminum.  The pole is a pipe and tube combination that allows for turning.  The lower part ( 2 1/2" ) goes through the deck and is fiberglassed to the bottom of the boat hull. The tube ( 2" ) inserts in to the lower pipe.  The angle adjuster plates sit on either side of the tube with a 1/2" bolts securing them to the tube.  The mount is  1/8" aluminum angle that connects to a steel plate that is mounted on top of the angle adjuster plates.  The whole structure is very strong.  The first solar panel is mounted to the top of the steel plate and the other two are hinged off of that panel and held up by rods.  When not required the latter two fold down and lock.

Anchored the North Channel north of Manitoulin Island

Manitoulin

 

My initial plan was for solar only but as I built it up in my shop I realized that I could add an outboard motor lift very easily.  In the shop I used a light 4 to 1 advantage pulley system to lift my outboard which weighs 55 lbs.  That worked well but for actual boat use I ordered a much heavier tackle from Garhauer with 1/2" rope to make it easy on my hands.  Most of the time the lift arm simply drops against the support tube and is out of the way.  In the pictures above it is extended with the tackle on it.  Like the solar array it turns to lift anywhere off the aft rail of the boat.

Aesthetics

The only negative of the pole structure is that it does take away from the Alberg's beautiful lines.  From a practical standpoint is works well and if I ever decide to put a new radar dome on it I can simply replace the upper panel which can then go on a third side.

The aluminum pipe and tube are rather neutral in appearance and I suppose it would be good to either paint them white or polish them.  Another option is to replace those two pieces with stainless steel pipe and tube.  I shudder to think what that might cost.

New Westerbeke engine for Ceilidh

This is the Westerbeke 44B replacing the old Volvo 23hp in my restored Alberg 37.  I bought it from Anthony-Keates, the Westerbeke dealer in Wheatley, ON.  I ordered it equipped with a 100 amp Balmar alternator and quad pulley with dual belts and Balmar AR5 external regulator.  Notice how clean the engine compartment is.  With all of the new piping and electrical properly distributed there is no need for a spider web of wires and pipes in the engine area.  Note the Racor 500 diesel fuel filter behind the engine.  The 2 gallon water lift muffer is just below.  The engine came complete with a 2.1-1 PRM transmission.  A new coupler and drivesaver  were added to the brand new shaft and dripless seal system.  New mounts were fabricated and tapped into the existing aluminum mounts buried in the base fiberglass.

Westerbeke 44B 44 horsepower diesel engine installed 2016 with 100 ampere Balmar alternator
and AR5 Balmar external regulator (just out of sight).  Currently has just over 200 hours on it.  The boat design allows for more than adequate engine space.  This makes for excellent access for maintenance.

Update December 2012

Ceilidh is coming along but it is obvious that more summers will be required to finish her and I am not entirely sure how long it will take.  At 71 I have slowed some and don't accomplish much each day.  None-the-less she is virtually ready for primer and paint next year and once that is done the inside assembly can proceed.  The engine will have to wait until later in the summer for final hookup. 

In the meantime I am proceeding slowly this winter with the final refinishing of removable parts and creation of new parts.  There isn't much left to do, but as I said I'm slow. 

Oct 30, 2012.  The blue canvas keeps rain from getting on the deck as I have
several access holes laying open on the deck. 

I am currently working on two specific projects.  The first is the electrical panel board.  The panel mounting has been changed from a fixed place to a horizontal opening door and is complete, but I am preparing a second opening door to mount the windlass breaker, etc. so that all electrical pieces are accessible. 

The second is the back of the starboard seat under the cupboards.  Like so much of the boat it was very plain with only openings behind the cushions.  I am veneering it and building door fronts that match everything else in the boat.  Over the last few years I have rebuilt all of the interior and upgraded it at the same time.  There is a completely new galley and a revamped navigation station geared toward electronic navigation, but leaving room for charts.

Shed

In 2010 my buddy Zoran, my son Rob and I erected a temporary building over the boat.  I could not justify a complete enclosure for several reasons, but this one keeps off rain and sun.  I designed the shed so that almost no lumber would be cut and wasted.  Only the trusses required some 10' to be cut to 9'.  A 24 x 44' truck canvas tops if off and plastic plumbing pipe and truck stretchers hold it down.  If the wind blows too hard the canvas just jumps up and comes down immediately.  Two summers now and all is well.

The canvas comes down 4' on either
side giving lots of shade and rain
protection

Home

At this point in the acquisition process I began to keep an accurate record of my costs.  With the purchase price, cradle, transport and tax I was already down over $11,600.  I figured that a new engine would cost me around the same amount.  All in all I figured a total restoration cost between $30,000 and $35,000 not including my labour.  At the time of purchase these boats were selling in the $70,000 range  but with the recession of the last four years (it is now 2012) boat values have dropped.  A37's still demand about $50,000 in reasonable condition.  This one will be like new and have an upgraded interior from the normal production boat.

I also started a restoration plan.  I knew that I would only have about 5 months each year to work effectively.  I estimated that it would take about four years to complete the project.  2012 will be my fifth year, but the boat is coming together nicely if slowly.  

The boat will have a new 44hp Westerbeke engine, all new electrical and electronics, new plumbing, brand new linear polyurethane paint on topsides and deck, new bronze ports instead of the standard plastic, all new woodwork, new galley and a renovated and upgraded interior.  In addition the boat has a heavy duty transport cradle and completely refurbished bottom.  Other additions are a Lewmar windlass, brand new Harken ST46 winches and a host of other improvements.

Moving Home

By November 1, the new cradle had been delivered from Marine Cradle Shop and my carrier was ready to bring her home.  The loading of the mast and boat took almost four hours.  The trip home was quick (120 miles), but backing her into the place I wanted was a bit tricky.  The driver was very knowledgeable and set her up very nicely near my shop.  She hasn't moved a bit since.  So far I had $7,000 plus tax for the boat; $250.00 to load her on to the transport; $1100.00 for hauling and $1900.00 for the cradle totaling $11,600.00 before I even had it home.

About 300' feet from the house, but close to my shop which was not large enough to take her.

Alberg 37 Survey

ALBERG 37

MY PURCHASE SURVEY

 I was aware that I was considering a junker, so I was looking at finding 'dealbreaker' problems. 

Hull

The hull has been repainted.  Do not know what paint was used.  Application is white and of average application quality.  There is a small amount of marring below the boot stripe on the port side.  There is also a 1.5” chip in the bow just below the roller.  Both are repairable.

The topsides are reasonably fair.  The hull below the waterline appears to be in excellent shape.  Rudder appears to have been rebuilt as fitting are clean and rudder perfect but about 4” short.

Speedo transducer spins ok.  There is a zinc located nearby.

All in all the outer boat appears in very good shape below the sheerline.

There is water weeping from the bottom of the keel with some white flux in it.  I am making an assumption that there is a crack in the glass.  This could be serious but given that it is fiberglass it should be fixable.

I inspected as much of the inside of the hull as possible checking for hull tabbing and past injury.  Everything was normal.

Deck

I attempted to flex all of the stantions and the bow and transom pulpits.  They are extremely strong with no flexing as they all have metal plates backing them.  However, there is some gelcoat cracking around most of them with a 1” tear in the first layer of glass next to a front stantion leg.

The lifelines are in average shape.  The teak handrails on top of cabin are very rough.  Complete replacement.

Jib tracks have surface rust on them, clean.

Toerail.  Some very severe damage on the port side about 7’ from bow.  There is substantial breakage for about 2’ just aft of the bow.  Will need replacing in that section.

There is one #20 halyard winch.  No traveller and no evidence of a main sheet blocks.

Very new Harken genoa winches are 2 speed  ST 46 self-tailing harkens.  Probable value used $1,500 each.

There are 6 Gray Corp. plastic portlights.  They are junk.  Complete replacement.

Coaming--varnished and ok.

Seats--need new wood inserts.  Major work.

Lazarette hatch--Replace teak plywood.  Major work.

Richie 5” compass and housing.  

Wheel--36” wheel with integral ST4000 autohelm and bi-data instrument ST 60 Wind mounted on guard.
Steering is Cinkel.  Wheel solid but needs cleanup

Teak floor grate--rough, will need work.

A new Concept One Lewmar electric anchor windlass installed with bow roller.  Appears new.

The deck appears to have been redone.  There is no physical non-skid having been replaced with paint non-skid.  Deck is even and does not flex.  The whole deck will need removal, sanding, priming, painting, etc.

Interior

Brand new Blue Seas 16 breaker AC/DC panel with Ammeter and Voltmeter.  13 DC breakers present
Contains an AC main and 5 breakers.
Icom 502 radio with remote mike


The whole interior is dull but the woodwork is solid and structurally sound.  It is in need of a good cleanup and oil or varnish.  The cushions are in excellent shape and a mattress for the forecastle bunk is in good shape.  There are no broken hinges, cupboard doors, etc. but to get the standard I want the entire galley will have to be replaced including the stove/oven.  Floorboards are in good condition with the exception of two which will require some new veneer or complete replacement.

Ice-box has refrigeration driven by a engine mounted compressor and DC compressor which is still intact.  Still showing pressure.  No idea if it is viable but it is old and replacement of everything is probably in order.

Stove is propane with 3 burners and oven.  Shipmate.  Rough
Dual propane tank in cockpit in appropriate container.  The propane tanks are junk but the tanks bin is probably fixable.

Interior bulkhead tabbing looks original.  No defects could be found.

I removed the waste tank which is fiberglass and appears to be ok.  The bilge is currently full of water where it normally resides.  The head is complete and in good condition but extremely dirty.

Main port and starboard windows cracked or worn and need replacement.  Aluminum frames OK.

There is a hot water heater using the engine for heat supply.  All that needs replacing.

There are Marelon thru-hull valves in the boat.  Some person who knows nothing about boats put them in.  Very dangerous.  Complete replacement with 2 1/2" bronze valves $500 at least.

I completed a moisture test of the boat and found three areas to be wet.  Two are around the jib tracks and the third area is on the starboard side of the cabin next to the mast.  I also found the reason for the water ingress.  The sink drain was attached to the cockpit and scupper drain.  The sink hose was removed and the scupper valve closed below it.  This forced all water on the port side to drain into the boat.  I just closed the valve and pumped the boat.  When I got the boat home I found a 1/2” drain in the hull and this completely drained the bilge.  I suspect there is a break somewhere in the bottom of the bilge where a tiny bit of water is leaking out through the bottom.  To be determined.

The mast and boom were in excellent shape although the rigging suffers from a very light pall of rust.