Leopard 45 proactive boat jobs, solar, lithium (2024)

SunPower MAX3-400 48V Solar Panel Upgrade for large Catamaran

High-performance SunPower monocrystalline solar panels delivering 400W each with up to 22% higher efficiency than many competing panels.

Nine panels were custom selected to create a powerful 3600W 48V solar array for reliable off-grid energy and long-range cruising.
Read more...
__________
Choice Stainless built our frame from scratch and installed the solar panels at the same time.

Safiery supplied, and together with Sig-Tech Electrical, connected our solar panels.

Meteor Lithium Premium Batteries from Safiery

Meteor 48V Lithium Batteries Upgrade for Offshore Cruising

We teamed up with Safiery to take advantage of their expertise with these batteries.

The lithium batteries are...
Read more...
__________
Safiery supplied, and together with Sig-Tech Electrical, installed and connected our Meteor Batteries.

Victron Quattro II 48V 5000W 240V Inverter

Victron Quattro II 48V 5000W 220V Inverter - massive Upgrade

The Victron Quattro-II is a combined inverter and charger. Additionally, it can accept two AC inputs and automatically connect to the active source.
Read more...
__________
Safiery supplied, and together with Sig-Tech Electrical, installed and connected our Victron Quattro II.

Sig-Tech Marine Coomera Australia | Marine Electrical & Victron Specialists

SigTech Electrical - Professional Overseers of the Electrical Upgrade

Sig-Tech Marine had already been engaged to complete electrical work during the 2020 haulout of our earlier catamaran. This was the second time we were engaging Trevor and his team for a complex electrical installation. We needed a professional to oversee all the trades in bringing the electrical project to a timely finish, with a single line of communication from our side. Insurers too, needed lithium compliance certified. Sig-Tech can no login anywhere around the world to troubleshoot, assess, reset and recommend fixes to any malfunction.

Sig-Tech Marine worked with Safiery and Choice stainless. A brief overview is available by tapping on their names.

The yacht arrived with a 110vAC system. As the air conditioners would be too expensive to replace, it was suggested that they remain 110vAC on a separate electrical circuit.

The remaining AC equipment can easily be transferred to 220vAC, given that the current manufacturer's cabling is suited to both 110vAC and 220vAC. A case of changing plugs and some older 110vAC electrical appliances was replaced with new 220v appliances.
__________
Safiery designed our electrical installation, and together with Sig-Tech Electrical, installed the current electrical system. SigTech were also engaged to change the plug outlets and install a second autopilot system.

Victron 48V 5000VA MultiPlus-II 48/5000/70-50 GX Inverter/Charger

Victron MultiPlus II 48V 5000W 120V Inverter

The Victron MultiPlus II combines the functions of the MultiPlus and the MultiGrid.

It has an external current transformer...
Read more...
__________
Safiery supplied, and together with Sig-Tech Electrical, installed and connected our Victron MultiPlus II.

Leopard 45 Electrical Panel - 240vAC 110vAC & 12vDC

Electrical System Upgraded

Scope given to Safiery: To design a modern, certified, simple yet effective energy source and storage system that can be fitted into existing electrical without needing a full overhaul of cabling.

Presented with a small solar array and...
Read more...
__________
Safiery and Sig-Tech Electrical, supplied components, with SigTech installing and ensuring legal compliance.

Victron gx 70 Touchscreen Power Monitoring

Victron Energy GX Touch 70

The Victron Energy GX Touch 70 is an accessory for displaying a simple pictorial display of the overall energy systems of the yacht.

We connect this through Victron's Remote Management (VRM) portal...
Read more...
__________
Safiery supplied, and together with Sig-Tech Electrical, installed and connected our Victron Energy GX Touch 70.

Induction Cooktop & 4-in-1 Microwave Oven Upgrade for Catamaran Galley

Induction Cooktop

While we have used Omega Induction cooktops on our yachts, we chose Safiery this time. Their two-hob induction cooktop works seamlessly with their supplied equipment.

Safiery’s Induction Dual Hob Cooktop brags ‘no pulsing’, something we found happened with the Omega and other induction cooking units. It can boil 0.5 litre of water at 1800W in 2 minutes, bragging a 94% efficiency when compared to LPG - 40%, or electric at 70%.

When cooking is finished the ceramic cooktop is cool to touch.

Microwave / Convection Oven

We have installed a Panasonic 4-in-1 Steam Combination Microwave Oven, a modern 4-in-1 appliance in black. This all-in-one solution combines a flat-surface microwave (ie no turntable), grill (top and bottom), roasting features, and airfryer of sorts, and a steamer function. The unit is compact, fitting into the already existing galley oven space perfectly, saving further on countertop space.

Why did we choose to sandblast?

The damage that was found after the haulout at Vuda (Fiji), forced us to take a closer look when we got back to Australia.

The purchase survey had missed...
Read more...
__________
Complete Antifoul Solutions - we had used before and were very engaging and competitive, thank you Mahn.

Lower Rudder Bearing Fibreglass Reinforcing

Hull Fibreglass repair

The yacht had spent 9 months in charter and we had already found minor damage below the waterline covered with anti-foul.

A patch-up in Fiji...
Read more...
__________
Multi Marine Australia completed all our fibreglassing, one of the few reliable services during this stay. Thank you to Danny and Warren.

Seahawk Biocop Antifoul - Premium below waterline paint

Seahawk Anti-foul Review | First Hand Experience

Wow..what great stuff. First hand experience.
Read more...
__________
Complete Antifoul Solutions - are not aligned with any specific paint company, providing a balanced unbiased opinion.

Gori Folding Propeller Upgrade for Blue Water Cruising Catamaran

We previously had fixed 3-bladed propellers and have chosen to upgrade to Gori Propellers. The Gori propellers fold as opposed to feather.

The GORI combines minimum drag under sail with maximum thrust while motoring. It is the only folding propeller operating the same pitch in forward and in reverse; the blades pivot 180 degrees.

The 3-blade Gori Folding Propeller's Overdrive function adds a new dimension to sailing under power. You can choose the propeller pitch and profile in the water while sailing forward by regulating the yacht's shift and throttle control. Without the use of vulnerable hydraulics or complicated mechanical devices. Used when motor-sailing in fair weather or when using the engine under sail.

Overdrive provides the same speed at lower rpm, resulting in less engine noise, less vibration, and better fuel economy.

Tests by major yachting magazines have shown that the 3-blade Gori Folding Propeller has a much better efficiency both forward (+11%) and reverse (+6,5%) than a feathering propeller.
__________
Marine Mechanical Solutions installed our props, a company we have used before, with the installation of our sail drives.

Gratitude

A huge THANK YOU to our SUBSCRIBERS of our YouTube Channel and for allowing us to get to a wider audience.

Legal

Terms & Conditions

Liberty2 gets a birthday - Part 1 Proactive Maintenance

This is Part 1 of 2.
Want Part 2 - Tap here.

SunPower MAX3-400 48V Solar Panel Upgrade for large Catamaran

Meteor 48V Lithium Batteries Upgrade for Offshore Cruising

Victron Quattro II 48V 5000W 220V Inverter - massive Upgrade