NSC Adaptive Sail - DIY electrics for Martin-16

Return to NSC Adaptive Sail

NSC's Marcel Laroche designs/builds electric assistive controls for NSC's Martin-16 sailboats.

"Electric Boat: that's what the Adaptive Sailors call it," says Marcel Laroche, a member of Nepean Sailing Club in Ottawa.

Design Concept

Although the wiring looks complicated, it is really very simple. A flashlight has a battery, a switch and a light. This system has a 12-volt deep cycle battery, a control box with two switches for the sail winch and two switches for the rudder winch.

Components

12 VOLT BATTERY -- A large deep cycle battery was chosen, because it can easily provide more than six hours of racing and still have lots of power left. With an overnight charge, it is ready for another full day.  There is no danger of electrical shock even if the boat is completely swamped.

  15 AMPERE SWITCH / CIRCUIT BREAKER -- In the event of an electrical malfunction or short circuit, the circuit breaker will trip and cut off the battery power.  The switch function is simply to turn off the power when not in use.

Sail / Rudder Winch Motors

   Both are the same size 12-volt automobile windshield wiper motors.  Attached to the winches they can easily lift a 65 pound large battery off the ground.  The sail winch can bring in main and jib on a beat in a 20 knot wind.

Controls

   The control box with the two rocker switches was used in 2000.  It worked well, but it proved somewhat difficult to operate for those individuals with minimal finger control.  They had to use the palm of their hand and consequently at times, inadvertently operated the wrong switch.

           
   The control stick is new for 2001. It is easier to operate, especially for those used to electric wheel chair controls.  Please note that it is not "proportional" like the stick on a wheel chair.  This is of no consequence on a sailboat.

Operation

          
   The 12-volt battery supplies power first through a 15 ampere SWITCH/CIRCUIT BREAKER, then to a six connector terminal strip.
   From there, 12-volt battery power enters the control box via the red and black wires.  Pulling the stick back sends 12-volt power to the sail winch and pulls the main and jib sheets in.

          
   Pushing the stick forward, reverses the polarity of the current to the sail winch, then the main and jib sheet are released, easing out the main and jib.

         
   Pushing the stick to the right, causes the rudder winch motor to operate, turning the rudder to the right.

         
   Pushing the stick to the left reverses the polarity of the current to the rudder winch motor and the rudder turns left.
   Releasing the stick to the spring loaded "centre off" position cuts power to the rudder winch and the rudder is locked in the last selected position. The same applies to the sail winch.

Summary

          
   The system was designed to be simple to install, operate and maintain.  It makes full use of readily available components even in remote areas.  The machining to build the winch drum and motor mounts is simple.  The system is very reliable.  The only breakage was the shaft on the rudder winch. This fault was remedied by installation of a larger motor and fair leads, to prevent overlap of the rudder control line.
   The whole system costs about $1,000.

Further Information
   Additional information is available from the designer / builder Marcel Laroche, Ottawa, Ontario.

Email: obsession1999@hotmail.com

Return to NSC Adaptive Sail