A great day for a boat ride

TyBoo

TyBoo

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The sun was shining and the wind quit for a day so we made a short run to Astoria to tie up for lunch and try out the new induction cooker. It worked great.

Lois fixed up toasted cheese sandwiches on the stovetop and tomato soup in the microwave.

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You know the water is smooth when you can do 39mph in a C-Dory! It wasn't real warm, but the Espar heater worked great, too.

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I just tried my single induction burner from the Limpet with the fancy 3Kw Xantrex inverter that came with my new boat (Chiton). No love. The burner turns on and even recognizes when a pan is set on it, but it doesn't fire up. It looks like it needs pure sine wave.

$300 for an additional 3Kw inverter when I already have a 3Kw modified sine wave inverter on board? It is tempting. That's how much I want to get propane off. And how much I like using the induction burner. When doing projects on board I tend to ignore my coffee cup. The induction burner reheats it faster than the microwave. In fact, I just removed the microwave (which does run on the MSW inverter). I'd rather have the counter space since reheating coffee is the only use that I have found for a microwave.

Mark
 
That's exactly what my induction stove did with the modified sine wave inverter. Replaced it with a 2000w pure sine wave at about $250 bucks and all is good.

We use the microwave quite a bit for popcorn and soup mugs. I think it actually works better with the PSW inverter. Popcorn is quicker and fewer old maids it seems. Maybe just my imagination, but I have been content with imagining things before.
 
I think it actually works better with the PSW inverter.
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Not your imagination. There are some facts to back that up. Well tested in the RV world. It is also better for the magnetron--will last longer.
 
Sound like it really was a great day Mike. Hummmm, have you considered adding a foil set. Might get better fuel milage :wink: You must really like popcorn -- MW and big inverter. Enjoy.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon
 
Mine is a pair of marine cranking batteries from Costco. Group 24 I believe, but they might be 27. When I replace them they will be Group 27.

They are cabled in parallel and left that way all the time without separate house/cranking batteries. I have a third, smaller battery that is connected only to the kicker so if my big ones won't start the motor I can jump from the kicker battery. Haven't had to yet. I always run the motor or the shore power charger when using the inverter for any real load.
 
I should add - We are so stinking tickled with the induction stove for cooking and the little Espar for heating that we would never consider going back to a Wallas.

Even if ordering a new boat one could get the threesome of heater/induction cooker/inverter for a good deal less than a the cost of a new Wallas. Then you can cook without heating, heat without cooking, or do both at once at whatever power levels needed.

Just the same, the Wallas is pretty slick and other than being a complicated beast at times it is quite simple when it works.
 
Mike, I spent more than a few minutes daydreaming about a cruise yesterday. Sunny until about 3 p.m. in Seattle, birds chirping, and a hint of spring. I'm really glad you two could get out on the water for a day trip. Looking at your photos and text is a nice consolation for being land bound.

Delighted you're so happy with your induction stove and little Espar. All that'll do is encourage you to make more fall and winter runs to Astoria, and more. Heat is a beautiful thing, says the guy without it until not long ago. And hey, thanks for the teaspoon of affection for Wallas.
 
I am also thrilled with my induction burner and the Espar heater. Overkill on a CD 16, but I can tolerate a little decadence. I have two group 24 batteries. I tend to switch back and forth as to which I call the house battery and which I call the starter battery. Most important is that I only have one on when anchored for the night. Battery usage was a concern at first, but when I saw how fast the induction burner works that kind of took the concern away.

My favorite decadent usage is to make up the espresso pot in the evening. I place the induction burner on the floor between the seats. On the CD 16, that's easily reachable from the berth when still under the covers. As is the thermostat for my Espar heater.

When I wake up, I turn on the Espar. I can see the battery monitor from the V berth and watch it drop below 12V temporarily when the glow plug heats up. Once the Espar is fired up and drawing little juice, I turn on the induction burner to #4. That takes about 3 minutes to make a pot of coffee. It heats up as fast as the microwave and probably takes less power. If I want to snooze, I have to set it at #1 and wake up 15 minutes later to the smell of fresh coffee with the cabin heated.

I forgot about making popcorn in the microwave. That makes two practical uses for a microwave on board. I'll need to come up with an induction popper or suffer a cruise without popcorn.

Mark
 
C-Sharp":mevj9c9p said:
What sort of battery banks are you guys running with your induction cooktops and inverters?
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I have gone a bit "overboard" with the batteries, but I am also running two chest type refrigerator freezers, plus a microwave and induction burner. I have two 100 amp hours of LiFePO4 batteries, (total usable of about 190 amp hours.). I also have a separate 80 amp battery charger/2500 watt PSW inverter. The start battery is rigged to allow 30 amps off the outboard for charging. We have a group 24 LA starter battery, and two group 27 LA house batteries.

There was no built in stove in the 25 when we bought it. We heat a number of pre cooked meals in the microwave, as well as cook fresh food on the induction burner. We never had a problem with 4 Wallas stoves, we had on 4 of our C Dorys. I agree that the Espar type of heater is far better.
 
Hey Mike, glad you had a great cruise, and I enjoy reading about the systems that folks have put into their CD. My former travel trailer had 480 watts of solar on the roof, and 380 amp hours of storage. I always enjoyed watching the batteries recharge after making my morning coffee from the sun.

There are some nice days in the winter to cruise, and we have enjoyed them.

Prior to the April CBGT, I am planning a solo trip, and will to do the route planned for the event. It will be all new river miles for me, so this will be a practice run. I will also get to play with my new radar and windlass!
 
Thank you guys for the info. The reason for my questions is that my 22 Cruiser is a bit of a "stripper" in that it doesn't have a fridge, heater, or stove. I do have a pair of series 24 batteries and a 50watt solar panel. I've used a butane stove a few time for overnighters, but this upcoming season Joanie and I plan to do some cruising for a week or two at a time.

Recently I've been learning on how to use and preparing meals at home with an 6qt Intant Pot. I'm really starting to like it, and it is much more versatile that what you might think at first glance. There is a bit of a learning curve. They make a 3 qt model that draws 700 watts, so I am starting to think that and a Cobb grill might be the solution at least in regards to cooking. Also thinking of a drawer-type fridge (limited space, but with the under dinette cold storage locker - thanks for the tip Harvey) should give adequate room with a Yeti cooler. Going to see if we really need any heat from May - Sept in just going up into the Gulf Islands not Alaska. At least not for awhile...

Anyone have any experience using an Instant Pot as a primary cooking source onboard?
 
Suzuki DF200a, an inline 4 cyl with a 3x15x21 prop and no foil at about 5750 rpm.

That was 39 statute miles per hour, or about 34 knots.
 
C-Sharp":32ruwqxp said:
Recently I've been learning on how to use and preparing meals at home with an 6qt Intant Pot. I'm really starting to like it, and it is much more versatile that what you might think at first glance. There is a bit of a learning curve. They make a 3 qt model that draws 700 watts, so I am starting to think that and a Cobb grill might be the solution at least in regards to cooking. Also thinking of a drawer-type fridge (limited space, but with the under dinette cold storage locker - thanks for the tip Harvey) should give adequate room with a Yeti cooler. Going to see if we really need any heat from May - Sept in just going up into the Gulf Islands not Alaska. At least not for awhile...

Anyone have any experience using an Instant Pot as a primary cooking source onboard?
Click to expand...

Sorry to hijack this thread. I found my answers in a year old thread. If anyone is interested:
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=26992
 
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