Power supply on sailing yachts (quiet power for long voyages)
Sailors appreciate peace and independence. After all, part of the appeal of sailing is hearing only the wind and waves—not a generator running nonstop. A well-designed Victron energy system makes this possible: long periods of self-sufficient sailing without sacrificing comfort and rarely having to start the engine or generator.
24V vs. 12V electrical system
For new builds or larger yachts, Victron clearly recommends a 24-volt system, as higher voltage is better suited to the increased energy requirements of modern yachts. Many cruising yachts are equipped with kettles, autopilots, refrigerators, etc. – with 24V, only half as much current flows as with 12V for the same power, which reduces losses. Existing 12V systems can of course be retained, but if you are planning to sail around the world and have a lot of equipment, 24V is the future-proof solution. (However, smaller boats up to ~40 feet with moderate consumption also work well with 12V.)
Inverters for comfort
Even on a sailing yacht, you might want to switch on a 220V inverter – whether it's for your laptop, a Nespresso machine in the morning, or to charge e-bike batteries in the harbor. Victron Phoenix inverters, or better still a MultiPlus, do this reliably with pure sine wave voltage. Many cruising sailors install a MultiPlus-II 3000VA, for example, to have enough power reserves for short high loads (e.g., vacuum cleaner, mixer). Thanks to the PowerAssist function, it can even help when the shore power connection is weak: the battery kicks in to prevent the fuse from blowing, for example when the fan heater and kettle are running at the same time. This gives you maximum comfort despite limited shore power.
Monitoring and Remote
On long voyages, it is invaluable to have all systems at a glance. The VictronConnect app allows you to conveniently read out solar charge controllers, inverters, and BMV monitors via Bluetooth—battery status, current charging/consumption currents, etc. Many Victron devices already have Bluetooth integrated (indicated by “Smart” in the name), while for others, the small VE.Direct Bluetooth dongle helps to make them smart retroactively. For high-tech sailors who also monitor their yacht remotely (e.g., checking the anchor watch current at home), there is Victron VRM: With a Cerbo GX and internet on board, you can access all data worldwide and even change settings. But that's more for professionals – for beginners, it's enough to regularly check the battery monitor and use the VictronConnect app to always know how the on-board battery is doing.
Charging under sails
During long sailing trips, the battery needs to stay charged. This is where solar systems come in. On sailing yachts, solar panels are often mounted on the deck, on the bimini or on a stern platform. The challenge: limited space and shading from the mast and shrouds. Victron SmartSolar MPPT controllers maximize yield even in changing light conditions and partial shade by constantly searching for the optimal operating point. This transforms suboptimal sunshine into optimal solar yield. Realistically, well-placed modules can provide enough power on a sunny day to run the refrigerator, lights, and instruments. For larger consumers (watermaker, autopilot on long voyages), you need to calculate for a correspondingly larger panel area or additionally rely on wind generators.
No generator?
Many sailing yachts deliberately do without a diesel generator in order to save weight, noise, and maintenance. Instead, they rely on a combination of a large battery bank (increasingly LiFePO₄), solar panels, and, if appropriate, a hydro generator (towed generator in the water) while underway. Victron excels in such setups with its flexible components: for example, an Orion DC-DC charger can manage the alternator, and a MultiPlus ensures that shore power charging is fast and gentle. If there is a lull and the batteries run low, the main engine must be run for support – here, the Orion booster limits the current so that the alternator does not overheat while charging the lithium battery.
Frequently asked questions about sailing yacht power systems (FAQ)
For larger or newly built yachts, Victron recommends 24 volts, as less current flows at higher voltages and the increased power requirements of modern on-board equipment are better covered. A 24V system is more efficient and allows powerful consumers (e.g., electric winches, kettles) to be operated with a smaller cable cross-section. Existing smaller boats often remain at 12V – here, the accessories (pumps, lamps, etc.) are also available at a lower price. Rule of thumb: 24V is worthwhile for continuous power requirements of around 1000–1500 W. Victron advises: Use 24V in new boats if possible, but if a 12V system is already in place, you can stick with it and choose 12V components.
Both are inverters/chargers in one, but the Quattro can manage two input sources. This means that, in addition to shore power, the Quattro has a second AC input for a generator. So if your sailing yacht uses a generator, you can switch seamlessly between shore power and generator with a Quattro – it automatically prioritizes the available source. A MultiPlus (single input) is sufficient as long as you only use shore power or a manually switchable generator. In terms of performance, the devices are comparable, but the Quattro is also available in very high kVA classes, which are interesting for larger yachts
Hier kommt Victron PowerAssist ins Spiel (verfügbar in MultiPlus/Quattro-Geräten). Sie können am MultiPlus einen maximalen Landstrom von z.B. 6 A einstellen. Schalten Sie nun an Bord Wasserkocher, Heizlüfter etc. ein, überwacht der MultiPlus den Landanschluss: Sobald die Last höher wird als 6 A, zieht das Gerät automatisch fehlende Leistung aus der Batterie hinzu (Unterstützungsmodus). Dadurch wird die Landstromsicherung nicht überlastet – die Batterie puffert Spitzen ab, ohne dass Sie etwas merken. Die Komfortwirkung: Sie können auch an schwach abgesicherten Stegen Kaffeemaschine, Mikrowelle und Co. betreiben, solange die Batterie genügend Reserven hat. Sobald die Last abfällt, lädt der MultiPlus die entnommene Energie wieder nach. Diese Funktion ist einzigartig und ein großer Vorteil der Victron-Kombiwechselrichter.
Yes, and how! Despite some shading, solar power is worthwhile on almost every sailing yacht. Modern MPP trackers from Victron get the most out of even changing light conditions. Although the output fluctuates, even partially shaded panels still make a contribution. It is important to make optimal use of every available space—e.g., flexible solar mats on the deckhouse, a solar bimini or panel on the stern. In practice, blue water sailors report that solar panels often completely cover their basic needs (lighting, refrigerator, navigation equipment) if enough surface area is installed. Of course, the yield decreases when the sky is cloudy, but Victron controllers still try to harvest every drop of sunshine. In short: solar is worthwhile because it is silent and low-maintenance – every ampere-hour counts, especially on long voyages.
Yes, lithium (LiFePO₄) batteries are becoming increasingly popular on yachts. They offer more usable capacity at a lower weight and can handle high charging and discharging currents – ideal for briefly running an air conditioner or induction stove from the battery, for example. Victron LiFePO₄ batteries are also very safe (thermally stable behavior) and have a long service life. Important: Lithium batteries require a BMS (battery management system) for monitoring. Victron offers solutions such as Smart BMS 12/200 or Lynx BMS. In addition, the charging voltage must be adjusted (14.2V-14.4V typical bulk for LiFePO₄). Many Victron chargers can be set to lithium mode. Another issue is the alternator: a Li battery initially draws a large charging current, which can overload a standard alternator. In this case, we recommend using an Orion DC-DC charger, which limits the current and charges the LiFePO₄ gently. Overall, lithium batteries are a great thing to have on board – despite the higher purchase costs, they are worthwhile for long-distance sailors due to the weight savings and significantly higher cycle count.
The starter battery (for the motor/generator) should always be disconnected from the consumer network so that it is not accidentally drained. A disconnect relay or disconnect diode is commonly used: Victron's Cyrix, for example, automatically switches in parallel when charging is available and disconnects as soon as the voltage drops. Alternatively, an ArgoFET isolator distributes the alternator current to the starter and service batteries with low loss, without connecting them. It is important that consumers are never connected directly to the starter battery, except for the most critical ones (starters). With a Victron charger setting, you can often use a second charging output to buffer the starter battery when charging from shore power (many Victron chargers have a 3-output mode for starter, service, and, if applicable, bow thruster battery). This ensures that the starter battery is always full, but is not misused for on-board consumers. When in doubt: separate circuits and an automatic battery coupler for charging – this way you'll always be ready to go.
