Power Management

Many cruisers like to have an autopilot, run a watermaker, use galley gadgets like breadmakers and freezers, download movies on Starlink and more, alongside the usual boating needs of chartplotters, radio and navigation lights. All of this requires power, so a thorough power audit is vital.

Calculate the gap between your power consumption and battery storage capacity. Running the engine for long periods just to charge the batteries is noisy and hot and not particularly efficient. Generators are better, but can be problematic. Hydro generators are ideal on a long crossing, but don’t generate when you’re anchored, whereas wind generators work best in the breezy anchorages of the Caribbean rather than under way. Solar bridges the gap but isn’t the whole solution.

The power generation option that suits your needs will depend on your boat type, the space available for a generator or expanse of solar panels, your power needs, and your long-term plans. Someone planning a year away is probably more willing to accept compromises than someone planning a circumnavigation or long term liveaboard.