Almost-A-SCAMP Progress Report #2-4 . . . . .

[Charles Brennan]

Technology marches on, and things get faster, better, and cheaper.
50 years ago, solar panels were about $300 bucks per watt.
In 1985, I felt fortunate to get an 11 watt solar array panel for my sailboat, Urchin for the princely sum of $150 dollars. 
Below, is a 100 watt solar panel I just got for $66 bucks. 
Thought I would check it out, since I can still barely believe you can get functional solar arrays for such a low price.
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Idle voltage (no load) is 17.67 volts. This is good, because my preferred solar array charger needs a 5 volt differential to work properly.
These measurements were taken at 10 AM, BTW.
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Switched to Amps and got 4.141 Amps, at 10 AM.
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13.3 volts (LiFePO4 voltage) times 4.141 Amps = 55 watts.
Solar array manufacturers rate their panels as the equivalent sunlight falling on the panel at the equator at high noon, measured and averaged, for one minute.
Those numbers are right in the ball park and what I fully expected, at 10 AM.
At  29º North latitude, I would estimate around 70 - 75 watts at high noon, on a bright day.
That would work out to around 5.6 Amps, to replenish what the 1hp trolling motor is taking away, (at 10 times the rate) which is 56 Amps per hour, at full power.
So I will need roughly 10 hours of sunlight, for every hour I run the trolling motor at full power.
This is predicated on worst case performance of full power.  It's been my experience that I can run that motor at half to 2/3rds power, which will drop the battery power requirements a lot.
And that was on a much heavier boat.
BUT!! 
I have a 200 A/Hr battery bank, so I expect to have (just barely!)    enough capacity for the type of cruising I typically do.
We'll see.

We've seen these pieces before, but now this is on the other side, after 3 coats of epoxy.
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While those were curing between coats, I turned my attention to making a slightly scaled-down wooden motor mount.
Still debating whether to take an additional 1¼-inch off the top. 
Cardboard template at right, shows the desired total size and also shows where the mounting clamps will be inset, to prevent slipping on the mount.
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Over-drilled mounting holes which will be filled with thickened epoxy, then re-drilled for 3/8"-16 bolts.
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Finally!! 
Gluing together all those pieces, starting with a future compass box.
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Something I learned I really needed, was re-boarding straps.  Makes it much easier to re-board after a capsize.
I fervently hope never to need it, but I have it, in the same way I have a seat belt in my truck that I hope also never to need. 
These are backing blocks for the re-boarding strap eye-straps.
Port side aft.
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Port side forward.
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Starboard, forward.
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What happened to starboard, aft? 
Already had a backing block back there for something else, that I can now use for both applications.

Doubler for the battery power switch
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I have backing doublers for both a future MPPT solar array charger and for a ground buss (underneath).
Clamps at right, are for the battery switch doubler.
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Glued in the centerboard uphaul copper pipe.  Filled it with plumbers putty, so the thickened epoxy wouldn't gum it up.
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After the glue dried and all the excess sloppy glue was sanded off the compass box, I checked it for fit.
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Not too shabby! 
Wonder how it will look on the bulkhead? 
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Hmmmmm . . . . . Something looks a little off.  . . . . .  is it me, or are the hatch mounting holes a little close to the compass box? 

So I went and dug out the cabin hatches and plopped them in, held up the box and . . . . .  DOHHH!!!! 
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(Best Maxwell Smart impression) "Missed it, by THAT much!!"    About a ¼-inch.

Don't even have the same luxuries, that Colonial-era furniture builders enjoyed:
All their mistakes go into the fireplace. 
Do that with plywood and epoxy, and you end up with pretty toxic fumes, like Hydrogen Cyanide, Benzene, Naphthalene, and assorted random Phenols. 
Going to have to re-think that whole compass idea. 

While I was mulling over that, I worked on gluing up all the cleats for the lazarette.
View from aft, looking forward:
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View from forward, looking aft:
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While I was checking for fit and alignment of the lazarette cleats, something was tickling my subconscious about the decks. 
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But I couldn't quite put my finger on it . . . . . . 
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DOHHHH!!! The backing plates for the fishing rod holders! 
Maybe I should start drawing these mods in on the plans, instead of trying to keep everything in what appears to be a rapidly leaking memory! 
I hastily cut and shaped some more backers (the one at top of pic).
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Which will now need 3 coats of epoxy and then get glued in. 
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Then I returned my attention to the over-sized compass housing.
Bit the bullet and cut off one edge and then cut, fit and shaped a new insert.
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Had to round the corners to fit where it had been glued, previously.
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Looks like enough of a gap to accommodate the epoxy glue.
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Just a few coats of epoxy and some glue away from: Compass Box MK II!

Also trimmed the face plate to match the new dimensions.
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Good News: Making progress! 
Bad News: The pieces/parts count is climbing again. 
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Trying not to get bogged down in persnickety details, but it's tough, sometimes.
I have to get all these things sorted out, before I can begin to paint the interior compartments.
Otherwise, how am I doing on this series?
Too much detail, not enough?  Too often?
All opinions, welcomed.

Charles Brennan

[Doug SC]

The devil and details seem to be joined at the hip, and Murphy has an unlimited number of helpers.

If I was building my Scamp from scratch, I would also be detail oriented (obsessed). However, I have an already built Scamp with numerous problems that have required an inordinate amount of unwanted attention. I would rather sail it than work on it. So, I am more than willing to get by with it's OK to just do only what is necessary. I do admire your thoughtful approach. In your boat shoes, I would want everything as perfect and robust as I was capable because it is easier to do so as you build it than after it is all done. You have my deepest sympathy!!
 
I don't expect my boat to last nearly as long as yours will, but I do expect it to last past me which is good enough at this point in time.