My many projects and Electrifying Transformer
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 6:24 pm
I have done many fun projects to my 2005 Telstar 28 “Transformer”in the 12 years I have owned her. Projects I enjoyed doing and have made life aboard so much better.
Some of my long list...
Replacing the toilet and holding tank with a composting toilet,
Adding lazy jacks,
Converting table and bed setup to a semi-permanent “twin” bed so head is easily accessible always.
Modifying and installing an Amazon purchased Bimini.
Putting pumps into Adamas to pump out accumulated rain water.
Removing gas stove and converting to Induction stovetop. No propane in galley anymore.
Solar panel install and upgrades. 25 watt to 80 watt to 250 watt.
Installing a drinking water tank ( where holding tank was )with a pump and filter system.
Replacing the line ( that wears to fast! ) that controls raising the rudder with cable.
Installing a 3 way fridge but only using 12 or 120v.
Installing a water pump in galley.
And many more “little” projects... Yes I love my Telstar. I am far from a craftsman so these projects are not about to be featured in Boating World, I am not a perfectionist by any stretch but everything works the way I want it to.
BUT
The most fun and biggest challenge I have had is removing the stinky, noisy, polluting Honda 20 and replacing it with an electric Elco 20 paired with a 7.5kw Lithium Ion battery charged 100% by the sun! No electricity at moorage.
A system that so far is working great on the relatively small ( 1 km wide by 29 km long ) lake in the interior of B.C. Canada.
Now when we head out to go sailing the last thing I do is turn the motor on, no warm up, no smell, very little noise, no pollution and instant FREE power. With the saving in fuel I figure I’ll get my money back I spent on my system in about 200 years give or take...
I’d be happy to get into any of my projects if anyone is interested, my non sailing friends eyes glaze over when I say things like... “ my 250 watt panel can only generate 30volts and that is not enough to charge the 52volt motor battery so I charge my 12 volt 200 amp hour lithium ion house battery first and then using a converter and a 48 volt charger I charge the engine battery” I can clear a room pretty quick with that line...
Not to mention discussing a Composting toilet and how it works is a big hit a dinner parties...
Thanks for reading...
Don Hewitson
Kamloops BC Canada
Some of my long list...
Replacing the toilet and holding tank with a composting toilet,
Adding lazy jacks,
Converting table and bed setup to a semi-permanent “twin” bed so head is easily accessible always.
Modifying and installing an Amazon purchased Bimini.
Putting pumps into Adamas to pump out accumulated rain water.
Removing gas stove and converting to Induction stovetop. No propane in galley anymore.
Solar panel install and upgrades. 25 watt to 80 watt to 250 watt.
Installing a drinking water tank ( where holding tank was )with a pump and filter system.
Replacing the line ( that wears to fast! ) that controls raising the rudder with cable.
Installing a 3 way fridge but only using 12 or 120v.
Installing a water pump in galley.
And many more “little” projects... Yes I love my Telstar. I am far from a craftsman so these projects are not about to be featured in Boating World, I am not a perfectionist by any stretch but everything works the way I want it to.
BUT
The most fun and biggest challenge I have had is removing the stinky, noisy, polluting Honda 20 and replacing it with an electric Elco 20 paired with a 7.5kw Lithium Ion battery charged 100% by the sun! No electricity at moorage.
A system that so far is working great on the relatively small ( 1 km wide by 29 km long ) lake in the interior of B.C. Canada.
Now when we head out to go sailing the last thing I do is turn the motor on, no warm up, no smell, very little noise, no pollution and instant FREE power. With the saving in fuel I figure I’ll get my money back I spent on my system in about 200 years give or take...
I’d be happy to get into any of my projects if anyone is interested, my non sailing friends eyes glaze over when I say things like... “ my 250 watt panel can only generate 30volts and that is not enough to charge the 52volt motor battery so I charge my 12 volt 200 amp hour lithium ion house battery first and then using a converter and a 48 volt charger I charge the engine battery” I can clear a room pretty quick with that line...
Not to mention discussing a Composting toilet and how it works is a big hit a dinner parties...
Thanks for reading...
Don Hewitson
Kamloops BC Canada