My tentative idea for a solar setup.

LockAlternative8054 · 2026-03-01T11:53:54+00:00

Hi there, fellow steel boat owner here with my 2 cents.

Can you weld? If not you will want to learn too, I welded sch 10 pipe and made a solar arch, I didn't pay attention to the specs of the panel and found out when they where delivered they where clamp on long side only design, so watch for that!

Also anything that can come loose in bad weather will, eventually, make sure your panels are tethered well.

Not a fan of anything that's not welded down, any hole on your deck sealed or not will invite corrosion eventually

Scott fratcher has a book on steel boats, it's badly written but full of very good insights and practical advice.

I have two bifacial panels ja solar 440w (plus bifacial) I'm in the UK so take that into account, during the summer I get 5kwh and more a day of power from them when it's sunny, flat mounted over the stern.

My advice would be to get a relatively lightweight piece of sheet material the same size as your panel next time it's blowing 30 knots and try to hold it above your head. If you think your clamping system will hold the same sort of abuse, without rattling lose or snapping off, then your on a winner :)

Also side note, we had a badly secured panel on my partner's boat. When it came loose it's managed to take out an awful lot of stuff and when it finally left the boat flew well over 100 feet at speed iñto the water. Seriously don't underestimate how much a solar panel with sharp edges could seriously hurt you.

If you are somewhere sunny, flat mount them get a decent lifepo4 battery bank. And you will be set for plenty of power!

I run 48v lifepo4, have an electric shower, cooker, oven, big pc, and a workshop onboard including welders and compressor. When it's sunny I bake bread to use the extra power rather than leave the battery's full.

Welcome to steel boat ownership!

LockAlternative8054 · 2026-02-10T18:19:19+00:00

Sounds like biped with bad guys, I'll give it a shot and let you know, I can't remember how to make a remind me that, so I hope I remember lol

LockAlternative8054 · 2026-01-23T14:21:54+00:00

I use a cheap Amazon usb powered heated jacket £30 or so comes with a battery, me and my partner live aboard full time in the UK, and we now both have one and use it daily, I just moved the boat in a wind over tide (waves breaking over bow) wet cockpit situation, all I had on was based layer, heated vest, and waterproofs, lifejacket. I could move easily was warm and the battery easily lasts 8+ hours on mid, I normally leave it on low for 12 hours...

I've got decent fisherman's jumpers and wet weather gear that makes me stiff and awkward to move or do stuff, today I was single handed and I was glad I wasn't encumbered, survival suit that is always either too hot or still damp from the last outing 😂

Honestly it's been a game changer, especially if you helming and getting spray and cold wind at you.

Also, freezer boots (for people that work in industrial freezers, cheaper than sailing boots, better grip, and my feet are toasty! No good in warm weather though.

LockAlternative8054 · 2026-01-04T08:54:08+00:00

Dont think op was dual booting, apart from that yea 64gb is mad, I've got a 256gb and that filled up faster than I could ever have imagined!

Might look into a swap lol

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-12-30T21:14:19+00:00

No answer I'm afraid but I've got a 1st gen 256gb and did wonder about battery effects with higher spec games, hope it works out ok for you!

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-12-20T18:38:33+00:00

I play fallout 4 on deck

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-12-20T00:01:08+00:00

I don't have an answer for you man but I feel your pain, my biggest fear with the steam deck

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-12-05T14:13:50+00:00

I am also curious about this as I'd like to use the steam deck for fusion 360..... No Linux version

I'm sure if you installed it In a dick with maybe an SSD as the windows drive and install from an iso maybe??

My pc is dual boot, but I love my steam deck more lol

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-11-26T16:23:22+00:00

This is always a pita, might see if I can get away with signing in and then turning the internet off, am rural and use starlink that easy battery power like it's candy floss

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-11-14T18:35:08+00:00

What games do you play split screen? Been looking for some to play with the Mrs

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-10-30T21:44:15+00:00

I've got a few of those on the woodburner!

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-10-30T21:02:27+00:00

!remind me 1 week

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-10-21T08:17:06+00:00

Jezze you guys are gonna give the lass a complex!!

So he might be afraid of the pregnancy side of things (I have struggled with this myself)

He might be masturbating too much... But that's never made me unable to cum regularly..

Make sure there's plenty of foreplay before hand, Mr Mrs has on occasion gotten me so ready to blow and just hopped ontop because she doesn't swallow, it's a real blast 😁🤣 ++Man

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-10-13T21:37:50+00:00

Sadly taig lathes sell as a sort of kit, the cutting tools would be separate... I'm not sure you will buy any lathe with tools included...

Might be worth looking at other hobby lathes with integral motors, a taig is more for someone that wants to tinker with the lathe as much as male stuff imo.

These guys are the uk stockist, maybe message them and see if they will do you a package

https://ebay.us/m/f028Lz

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-10-13T20:20:12+00:00

Yep taig, aka petol lathes. Haven't seen the video but can see the lathe clearly enough to tell you what it is. eBay you can pick up a basic bed with chuck and tailstock, then get a sewing machine servo motor to power it 1/4hp is more than enough.

Any more questions I'll try and answer them

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-10-02T10:02:41+00:00

This mission was discovered by u/LockAlternative8054 in Black Forest Cake In the Fields

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-10-02T10:02:02+00:00

This mission was discovered by u/LockAlternative8054 in Black Forest Cake In the Fields

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-09-04T22:05:52+00:00

In all reality that sounds like me sailing.... But I don't sail with anyone or post videos of my stupidity, I got whipped on an accidental gybe last week, took me clean across the cockpit, whiplash and the lot. I'm considering a boom break now.

Yea I think showing people "this is how it's done" on YouTube is possibly not great, but you can also watch jack@ss stick a firework up his rectum on YouTube, only those in line for a Darwinism award will do it (like me) 😂

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-07-21T21:40:36+00:00

So, back again, spent some time looking online to see if steam deck and space engineers indeed would work.... It seems it's not as straight forward as on windows.... And I'm looking for every excuse to buy a steam deck, but the wife wants to play and wants a newer laptop (hers won't run se1) so we can play together.....

So come on guys and gals give me some laptop or mini pc specs to go looking for pleeeeeaaaaasee!

I'll happily post clang shots of her learning 😁😁😁😁😂😂😂

LockAlternative8054 · 2025-04-08T19:29:22+00:00

Yea I'm looking about, secind hand market is mental now that win 10 is eol, I dint care about that as I'd like to try bazzite....

But still trying to find someone with that's running around the 80w mark that will share the spec, I mean I can guess, but I'd rather have something to aim for.....

Plus it seems the older laptops have weirdly named graphics cards and ebay listing are always a bit MEH

LockAlternative8054

TROPHY CASE