22 Sep 11 Things We Have Learned about Living Off The Grid in 2 Years

OFF THE GRID ON A BOAT

We are not dock people. We like to be offshore, moving and sailing with the wind and the waves. 

Many times though we must sit at anchor to shelter from storms or wait for wind and tide windows for safe passages. 

At other times we just want to stay in one place for a while and soak in the local culture and customs.

As we prefer not to tie to a dock for a multitude of reasons, we must be fully prepared to support ourselves for long periods without plugging into local utilities.

By the way, none of the products discussed here were given to us or discounted. We have received no paid promotion for this article. We just chose what was best for us at the time based on many factors and are sharing this with you. 

WATER

Water is life. We are surrounded by it in the ocean, but we can not drink it. Can carry about 120 gallons onboard our sailboats water tanks. We also carry a 5-gallon jug of emergency drinking water.

That can last the two of us about 4 weeks if we conserve. Conservation is good, and important when making offshore passages, but in port, we like to shower ourselves and the boat with fresh water as much as possible.

We installed a reverse osmosis (RO) watermaker onboard our boat. It has perhaps been one of the best decisions we made before leaving for long-term cruising. 

Our watermaker runs off of our 12v battery system which can be recharged by the sun, wind, or engine alternator, making our freshwater production truly off the grid. 

It draws about 15 amps of 12-volt power, and when running it makes about 6-7 gallons of water per hour. This means it uses roughly 2 amps for every gallon of water produced. You will learn a lot about amps and volts living off-grid.

Some systems are more efficient on power, but they are also more expensive to purchase and require more technical skills to maintain.

POWER

How do we maintain a blog and YouTube channel while off the grid? It takes lots of power. We also require stable power for our critical sailing and life support systems aboard such as our instruments, autopilot, lights, water, and refrigeration.

We use a combination of three power sources to charge a bank of lithium iron phosphate (LifePO4) batteries.

SOLAR

Our primary power source is the sun. We chose 850 watts of flexible solar panels to provide our main off-the-grid solar power source. They are mounted to our existing dodger and bimini. We also have one movable panel which we can tie in place anywhere we choose. All of these are tied in parallel to a single 60 amp mppt charge controller.

Wait a minute, flexible panels? What, no individual controller per panel? Why? 

We found that the flexible panels weigh at least 10 times less than rigid panels and cost about the same. Let’s look at two examples. 

100 Watt Flexible vs Rigid Solar Panel Comparison

Rigid: https://www.renogy.com/100-watt-12-volt-monocrystalline-solar-panel-compact-design/

14.3 lbs

124.99

Flexible: https://www.renogy.com/100-watt-12-volt-flexible-monocrystalline-solar-panel/

4.2 lbs

189.99

This saves us about 90 lbs of weight on the boat vs rigid panels. Rigid panels would have also required adding additional reinforced structure or a solar arch which would have added more cost and weight as well. 

Overall, we figure we came in at about the same price as mounting rigid panels, with at least 150 lbs of weight savings. 

One thing to remember is that weight is important, even on a cruising sailboat, as it not only affects speed, but load carrying and stability (rolling at anchor and heel while sailing).

Here are the other pros and cons we considered regarding flexible vs rigid solar panels on our sailboat:

Pros:

• No additional solar arch is required (metalwork, welding, etc.)
• Easily and quickly removable in case of storm preparations or for racing
• Can be stored flat under bunks
• Estimated > 150 lb weight savings

Cons:

• Less durable (will likely last only 5 years before replacement vs 10 or more for rigid)
• Less efficient (per square foot of panel size they produce less energy, meaning the panels are larger in area for the same wattage)
• More expensive (but not necessarily if you factor in having to build an arch).

For the purpose of this article, we will not go into more depth, but there is much more to know. 

What we know is that after two full years off the grid while living on our boat, the system has suited us, fit our budget, and has performed well. It has also stayed on through 60 kt squalls at anchor and sailing in 45 knots through a tropical storm. Could it be more efficient and durable? Yes. Would it cost more and be more complex? Yes. 

You likely have many questions about series vs parallel, amps vs watts, 12 vs 24 volts, etc. All I can say is, breathe deep and relax, it is not as complex as many make it sound. You can do it!!! 

WIND

Our boat came equipped with a wind generator. The unit is capable of producing up to 400 watts of power. Made by a British company called Eclectic Energy, the D400 model we have is perhaps one of the quietest on the market.

It is hooked to our batteries with an adjustable regulator and dumps extra power off to heat sinks.

Is a wind generator worth it on a sailboat? That’s a tough question. Most of the time solar greatly outperforms our wind generator, however ol’ windy (yes, everything on a boat ends up with a name) shines above solar primarily in two situations.

The first and most important is offshore sailing in strong winds at night. In this situation, our autopilot uses lots of power. The stronger winds and our preferred apparent wind sailing angles spin the blades on the D400 very well. This is one of the situations where we love it, however, in the same conditions, a hydro generator would also perform very well.

The second situation windy rocks our socks off is when anchored in a windy place and it is cloudy for a few days. If you are going to spend winter in the Bahamas or open trade wind anchorages, wind energy will be very efficient. Summer in Maine or a marina? Forget about it!

Windy has a few major drawbacks:

Pros:

• Power source while sailing at night
• Power source with no sun

Cons:

• Shades solar panels at times
• Some units are very loud (luckily ours is normally not audible over normal wind noise in the rig)
• Expensive

We have concluded after 2 years that although our D400 has some great attributes, it is probably not where we would put our money if starting with a blank canvas. We would probably just opt for more solar in its place.

ENGINE ALTERNATOR

Our 46-foot bluewater sailboat came equipped with a large 75 horsepower Yanmar diesel engine. It also included a high output Balmar alternator which feeds the batteries through a voltage regulator.

We find this system very cost-effective and efficient vs a generator. No one wants an extra engine to maintain and carry spare parts and fuel for. It also adds very little additional weight to the boat vs a stock setup.

That being said, the primary engine is a terribly un-efficient generator. Per amp-hour of battery charge it uses a lot of fuel. We try to only use it to charge batteries when moving the boat, for example coming into an anchorage for the day.

A critical component that makes this system more efficient is our LifePO4 batteries. More on those later, but the main takeaway is they can accept all of the charge produced by our alternator very quickly. This means in 4 hours of running time we can produce all the power we need to charge our batteries from dead to 100%.

All in all, a high output regulated alternator such as the Balmar would be one of our first additions if we did this again. We would likely even add a second, engaged optionally with a clutch for redundancy and to double the efficiency of our engine as a generator.

BATTERIES

Batteries may be the most argued topic online other than anchors. Like anchors, there are two firm camps. Old schoolers vs new kids on the block.

The grizzly old greybeard sailor will likely sneer at you if you mention lithium. Don’t worry, they have a tried and true method that works for them and are set in their ways. That’s OK, just take it with a grain of salt, they probably have a CQR anchor and a flip phone also. 

The next group of naysayers is your standard techno-geek. These guys are smart as a whip and can probably get a job at NASA. These engineers are usually pro lithium but tend to take things to the extreme and discount the use of drop-in batteries. We are not building a space station going into orbit here, nor do we have an unlimited budget.

The fact is after a two-year trial run, our drop-in LifePO4 batteries are safe, efficient, and have performed well. I have no qualms about recommending a well-made drop in LifePO4 system. 

We chose 6x Renogy 100 amp-hour LifePO4 batteries, linked in parallel to create a 600 amp-hour 13.2-volt system. This leaves us about 480 usable amp-hours, roughly equivalent to a 1000 amp-hour AGM battery bank. LifePO4 also charges faster, is considerably lighter, and has a longer duty cycle life.

To determine our battery requirements we used a spreadsheet to understand our electrical usage. It details inputs from charging and outputs to things like lights and refrigeration. This is the best way to start planning your electrical needs if you are considering going off the grid. (LINK TO SPREADSHEET)

We wanted a drop-in system for a few reasons. First, we wanted an American company to deal with and a warranty. Second, we wanted a battery with good enough internals. Lastly, we wanted a system that had CE approval.

We did some re-configuring of our wiring to optimize our system with the help of a professional ABYC certified electrician. This made the system safe, reliable, and much more efficient. It also eliminated the pain points of going to lithium.

The biggest things that are required are ensuring that your cable lengths are the same to ensure your batteries stay balanced and your charging system components have the proper settings to connect safely to your batteries. If you do the above you should have no fears about converting to LifePO4.

Pros:

• Fast charging rates allow for you to maximize the efficiency of solar/wind/diesel inputs
• > 300 lb weight savings
• Long term cost
• Deep (80%) draw allows us to go multiple days without charging

Cons:

• Upfront cost
• Charging system and wiring re-configuration
• Some insurance companies frown upon it
• Temperature limits (below freezing charging problems)

The bottom line is after two years we are really glad we chose to go to LifePO4 straight away. We think if you plan on owning your boat for more than two years it’s a go!

Knowing what we know now, we feel capable of building our own system from Winston cells, which would have saved tons of money and even more weight and space and increased durability, but we are happy with our drop-in professionally designed systems as our insurance underwriters are also.

REFRIGERATION

Some people living off the grid may consider this a luxury, but we consider it essential. We do want some comforts of land-based living after all. The ability to store food long-term greatly extends the distances we can go from civilization. 

Not only does our fridge and freezer keep our beer cold and ice cream frozen, but it also allows us to stock up on foods when and where they are available and cheap. It also allows us to keep the fish that we catch, as many times just one large offshore fish is more than the two of us can consume in a day.

The downside is a refrigerator and freezer add a lot of cost and complexity. They are, other than an autopilot while sailing, and video editing computers, the most power-hungry items on board. They also can’t just be turned off, as our food would spoil, so you had better plan on power for these puppies.

We chose to go with separate compressors for our existing molded-in OEM fridge and freezer cabinets. Ours are 12-volt air-cooled evaporator plate models, which we like as they are less expensive and easier to install than water-cooled models, albeit we lose a little efficiency.

We would surely not go without this item off the grid, but if you are just outfitting your boat here are a few things to consider.

1. Insulation is king. It is a major project, but if you have the time, knowledge, and budget, add as much insulation as possible. If we were ordering a brand new boat from the factory, we would be sure to require the best in this area.
2. Think about the new 12 volt chests from Dometic, Engal, and others. If you have a blank slate, building these into a modular galley system would yield great dividends in cost, efficiency, and ease of replacement when the time comes.
3. Choose what is right for you. Like many things yachting, this seems to be an area where there are lots of boisterous “experts.” Most new systems on the market are very good and similar in components and function. Refer to number 1.

HEAT

Where we are going it can get cold. Let’s get this straight, we aren’t exactly high latitude ice expedition sailors, but we also don’t just sail on warm sunny days.

Our navigation plans will for the most part keep us out of the weather that is below freezing, but we do need to be prepared for such occasions.

Our LifePO4 batteries will not charge if they fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This means we have to keep them above this at all times. Pretty easy, unless we are on the hard in the north, or we are entering icy waters. 

Along with our batteries, we also like to keep our bodies above freezing. We have two types of heat aboard.

The first and primary is our forced air diesel heater. It draws off of our reserve 30-gallon diesel tank and gives us up to a month of heating. We also carry jerry cans for the heater if we will be in cold climates long term.

As a backup, we carry an electric heater, which can run from our inverter, fed by solar, wind, or engine alternator. It is pretty inefficient, but a good old reliable for a quick warmup when we have extra power, or in case of emergency.

We also have a propane heater, which can run off of our cooking gas, tucked away if emergency battery heating is required.

COOKING

 

You have got to eat, right? Along with the refrigerator, we find our cooking appliances to be essential. In this area, we keep it simple.

We have a Force 10 3 burner stove with an oven. It is fed by two 10 lb propane tanks located in their own vented external locker. This is about a 3-6 month supply of cooking gas depending on how often we use it. 

We also carry a single burner portable electric hot plate. We use this at anchor when we have excess solar power to conserve propane.

We feel someday going all-electric would be nice, but for now, we are very happy with the current combination. Obtaining propane is not nearly as hard or complicated as many make it to be.

SANITATION

What goes in must come out! Refuse and excrement on board are major concerns with off-grid living. What does one do with the poo? Where do you put your trash?

Let’s start with the trash. The first component of our program is minimizing what comes on board. Cardboard boxes, plastic wrappers, etc. are removed and food is placed into reusable containers. This allows most trash to be left at the dock and recycled if available. In this manner, we simply don’t yield a lot of waste products, but some are inevitable.

When living aboard at anchor or the few times we are in a marina, we simply bag it and take it to the dumpster, just as you would at home. If recycling is available, all the better.

When offshore, it is a little different. Certain types of trash can be disposed of in the ocean, although we try to keep this to a minimum. Anything that is not allowed over gets bagged and properly disposed of in the next port.

Human waste goes two ways. Number ones generally go right in, unless we are in a non-discharge zone. Number twos are held in a holding tank and discharged legally offshore, or are removed to land via a marina pump out.

We have two types of “heads” (marine toilets are called heads). Both use freshwater flush to keep out the bio smells of saltwater. One is a manual pump, and one is a VacuFlush which is similar in function to an airplane toilet.

INTERNET

Last but not least, how are we posting blogs and running a YouTube channel off the grid? Internet connectivity can be a challenge at times, and it is not only essential for business and entertainment but our safety.

When we first left the USA we used Google Fi. This worked pretty well. It was clunky at times, and local sim cards usually yielded higher speeds, but we always had internet near shore in most places.

Local provider prepaid sim cards have been the go-to method for the internet on our sailboat. We simply put a sim in our iPad (it has a better built-in antenna) and turn on its hotspot to share with the boat. 

We also sometimes use a local wifi connection. These are few and far between though. We have a router to use as a repeater, but no external amplified wifi antennas. Most that have them tell us they are not as useful as they sound and also use local LTE sim cards.

This works everywhere your phone would, up to several miles offshore. Past that we use an iridium satellite connection. It is slow and has limited uses, but allows us to get critical weather information when bluewater sailing and also allows emails, texts, tracking, and voice calls. 

A FleetOne broadband system from Cobham would also be a great choice. A little more expensive upfront for the equipment, but the pay-as-you-go plans can be about even with a yearly subscription for unlimited Go. The bonus is much higher speeds. YouTube revenue doesn’t justify the spend, but if we had a real job that required offshore connectivity, this is what we would choose, at least until Elon Musks Starlink becomes available on a boat.

SUMMARY

After two full years living off the grid on our sailboat, we are happy campers. We don’t claim to have any perfect solutions, but what we have done works well for us. The products and methods we chose have worked for our needs and budget. We have also learned as we sailed.

Could we do things better aboard the sailing vessel Sweet Ruca? Sure! Off the grid, technology is changing at a record pace. We look forward to learning evolving along with it, and testing what we use in the harshest environments we dare to travel.

The most important thing we have learned is not to be intimidated! You can do it!