Electrics
Usefulness of various fixed electrical accessories in a Scamp is analyzed below:
| Accessory | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Running lights | Fixed navigation lights are perhaps the single most attractive reason to install an electrical system. At Finnish latitudes, sailing dinghy needs lights typically in August, when the destination isn’t reached before sunset, unless you especially want to experience moonlight sailing. The fixed lights can be replaced with portable traffic lights or even a flashlight, which is admittedly a bit awkward to use when sailing single-handed. |
| AIS | The AIS transmitter and receiver are useful when crossing traffic separation schemes on the high seas, making it easier to stay out of the way of cargo ships. Such a situation will arise if you cross, for example, the Gulf of Finland, the Åland Islands or the South Kvarken. Of course, none of them are a safe environment for dinghy sailing. The antenna requires cabling inside the mast. Another question is that do you really want to broadcast your position to the whole world. Nowadays, you can already get a receiving AIS on your handheld radio. |
| 12 V output | Useful for charging mobile phones and VHF radios, but can be substituted with external batteries. |
| Fixed marine VHF | Improves range at sea, but in case of an emergency, the antenna on the mast likely doesn’t point upwards, so the radio cannot be relied upon for emergency purposes. The antenna requires cabling inside the mast. |
| Chart plotter | More reliable than a tablet or mobile phone, but of course more expensive and means installing a display somewhere in the cockpit. |
| Log | The importance of the log (speed and distance) in the satellite positioning era has diminished, but naturally in terms of battery life it is a better option than a stand-alone locator device and is not vulnerable to disruptions of satellite positioning. |
| Depth sounder | In a centreboard boat, a depth sounder is a pretty useless piece of equipment that would require a hole to be made through the bottom of the boat. |
| Electric water pump | With an electric water pump the cockpit can be emptied automatically, but Scamp should take only little water in. On the other hand, the electric water pump consumes considerable amount of power when operating. |
| Electric outboard | An electric outboard should have a separate battery that does not consume the energy reserved for navigation lights. This would add weight and further complicates the electrical installation. In addition, outboards are not an eyesore, but attract thieves too. |
| Navtex | This starts to be deprecating technology, especially when sailing close to shores where you can rely on mobile networks. |
| Wind indicator | Measurements would be interesting to follow for sure but this wouldn’t be that useful accessory. An anemometer at the top of the mast would mean additional cabling in the mast. |
After a long analysis, it was decided not to install a fixed electrical system on Merisirri, as such system would cause various complications, such as watertightness, bulkhead bushings, recharging, ventilation and corrosion. If a fixed electrical system had been chosen, it would have been built around a stable and lightweight LiFePO4 battery technology.
| Next: | Sole |
| See also: |
Building Merisirri Running lights |