Quick catch up

As I’ve just said over on t’other blog, a change of probable diagnosis to something much more hopeful means we’ve started to think about the design of OMDB again. In particular, the review of Shine in the September Canal Boat raises the issue of the drive system again. We would prefer a serial hybrid where a battery bank, charged from a variety of sources including a generator, drives an electric motor to turn the prop shaft directly. That’s instead of the currently more popular parallel system where either the electric motor or a diesel engine can drive the shaft.

Serial systems are simpler to set up and maintain, but until now there’s not been a drop-in system available and James (for good reasons) doesn't want to have a one off design. Mothership Marine now appear to be offering just such a system. The review also describes the lead carbon battery bank, creating an alternative to the lithiums we were planning. PbCs have some advantages over LiPo4s, but are much bulkier, it looks like.

It’s all stuff to chat to Jam about when we see him in September. Elanor is driving us up to Poynton and staying with us for the Owners’ Weekend in a house we’re renting via Airbnb.