Love your videos! What do you think of your hay rack/wing boom vs standard boom? Does it add much weight (does not seem like it)? What are advantages other than handholds? For example, does it allow wider lazy jacks? Thanks for any pros/cons for this. I see it is being done on more and more boats.
Wider base for bigger folds and lower stack. Plus separates the lazy jacks making raising sail easier by keeping batten ends a little farther away. Plus nicer to be able to climb up in it if needed.
So, after the first season aboard, would you say the amount of solar you have on Little Bird is too much (lol said no one ever), too little, or just about right?
I wouldn't want any less, that's for sure. With good management (moving the boom while at anchor, etc.) we can cover heavy use at night/day. We had the boat loaded and it was HOT at the end of the season going to Florida. 3 ACs running most of the time. Only had to charge with engines if we forgot to move boom or poor sun. These glass panels are very efficient. I would have loved the Solbian flexible panels, but just don't think we'd see the same result.
@@SailingLittleBird thanks for the response! So would you do an even larger battery bank than you have? It would be interesting to hear your take on the new boats HH is building with parallel hybrid propulsion. 5000W of solar (but the flexible type so not as efficient) and a 48kWh battery bank on a 44’ 11 ton light ship cat. Seems like they’ll be firing up the diesels more than they think if they have the same level of systems that Little Bird does? I love to see the technology advancing like it is now!
Assume you're talking about @gonewiththewynns. I think they're being very realistic. We have about 2/3 of hh solar and lithium but regular 57hp diesels. We make it through a day, but are "sloppy" with consuming (Aircon, cooking, etc). If we saved, we'd have 30-60 minutes for electric engines I'd guess. But that's the idea around hybrid (like all the big ships). You need diesel generators. I view the HH as a step in the right direction. But to run the engines, you'd need generators for anything but in and out of harbor, etc. (Which I'd guess they know). In many ways our Integrel setup is a variation. The yanmars are dual purpose giant generators with props attached.
@@SailingLittleBird Yep I’m on the same page, I was just thinking that the although they have 1/3 more solar the flexible panels mounted directly to the cabin top with no air gap to help keep them cool would result in roughly the same output as Little Birds raised glass panels since they are less efficient. I suppose I’m being greedy and talking about not having to be super conscientious on power consumption. I love the concept just seems that Little Bird probably uses so little fuel annually since it sails so efficiently that paying an extra $100k for the feature doesn’t quite make sense yet, but will someday soon. HH will add it to any of their current boats (44,50,55,60), very cool technology, I’m betting more options will proliferate at other builders as well in years to come.
@@kirkb3473 Agree. The glass panels regularly produce over rated range and the flexible have difficulty getting to their range. The Solbian's are the best, but still not going to give the same as rigid panels. I do wonder about all the effort into electric engines on a sailboat -- the HH (and Balance) already sail so much better in lighter winds you're addressing the "80%" right there. Sail more; motor less.
Love your videos! What do you think of your hay rack/wing boom vs standard boom? Does it add much weight (does not seem like it)? What are advantages other than handholds? For example, does it allow wider lazy jacks? Thanks for any pros/cons for this. I see it is being done on more and more boats.
Wider base for bigger folds and lower stack. Plus separates the lazy jacks making raising sail easier by keeping batten ends a little farther away. Plus nicer to be able to climb up in it if needed.
So, after the first season aboard, would you say the amount of solar you have on Little Bird is too much (lol said no one ever), too little, or just about right?
I wouldn't want any less, that's for sure. With good management (moving the boom while at anchor, etc.) we can cover heavy use at night/day. We had the boat loaded and it was HOT at the end of the season going to Florida. 3 ACs running most of the time. Only had to charge with engines if we forgot to move boom or poor sun. These glass panels are very efficient. I would have loved the Solbian flexible panels, but just don't think we'd see the same result.
@@SailingLittleBird thanks for the response! So would you do an even larger battery bank than you have? It would be interesting to hear your take on the new boats HH is building with parallel hybrid propulsion. 5000W of solar (but the flexible type so not as efficient) and a 48kWh battery bank on a 44’ 11 ton light ship cat. Seems like they’ll be firing up the diesels more than they think if they have the same level of systems that Little Bird does? I love to see the technology advancing like it is now!
Assume you're talking about @gonewiththewynns. I think they're being very realistic. We have about 2/3 of hh solar and lithium but regular 57hp diesels. We make it through a day, but are "sloppy" with consuming (Aircon, cooking, etc). If we saved, we'd have 30-60 minutes for electric engines I'd guess. But that's the idea around hybrid (like all the big ships). You need diesel generators. I view the HH as a step in the right direction. But to run the engines, you'd need generators for anything but in and out of harbor, etc. (Which I'd guess they know). In many ways our Integrel setup is a variation. The yanmars are dual purpose giant generators with props attached.
@@SailingLittleBird Yep I’m on the same page, I was just thinking that the although they have 1/3 more solar the flexible panels mounted directly to the cabin top with no air gap to help keep them cool would result in roughly the same output as Little Birds raised glass panels since they are less efficient. I suppose I’m being greedy and talking about not having to be super conscientious on power consumption. I love the concept just seems that Little Bird probably uses so little fuel annually since it sails so efficiently that paying an extra $100k for the feature doesn’t quite make sense yet, but will someday soon. HH will add it to any of their current boats (44,50,55,60), very cool technology, I’m betting more options will proliferate at other builders as well in years to come.
@@kirkb3473 Agree. The glass panels regularly produce over rated range and the flexible have difficulty getting to their range. The Solbian's are the best, but still not going to give the same as rigid panels. I do wonder about all the effort into electric engines on a sailboat -- the HH (and Balance) already sail so much better in lighter winds you're addressing the "80%" right there. Sail more; motor less.