Being useful, accessible, and sustainable: these are the key principles of low-tech. Created as the antithesis of high-tech, "low technology" shows real potential for addressing the environmental challenges of the 21st century. Daily life at sea, rich in improvisation and resourcefulness, is already naturally interwoven with low-tech solutions. This provides TEMO with the opportunity to select a few DIY tools that will improve life on board, in a simple and sustainable way.
Make a solar lamp.
Reusing faulty laptop batteries to build a self-contained solar lamp.
The Low-Tech Lab in Concarneau was inspired by the system developed by the Philippine association Liter of Light to build a portable solar lamp requiring 2 hours of work and costing €10. Recharge it during the day to light up your evenings at sea.
Build your own wind turbine.
Transforming wind energy into electrical energy.
What a satisfaction to build your own wind turbine! The Low-Tech Lab offers a tutorial for making a wind turbine from printer motors . Enough to charge a mobile phone on board, power a pump, or light an LED.
Design a custom-made speed regulator.
Allowing the boat to steer itself at a predetermined angle relative to the wind. This is a self-steering system that operates without electricity, powered by the wind and the boat's speed. The windvane self-steering system consists of two parts:
- An aerial part, which is oriented at the desired angle relative to the wind
- A submerged part that receives the variations induced by the aerial blade
- The blade in the water transmits the movements to the tiller via lines, repositioning the boat in balance with respect to the wind and so on.
Plans and techniques: Cape Horn by sail by Bernard Moitessier, Great Runners and pleasure boaters by Marin Marie or the article by Yves Gélinas in the magazine Loisirs Nautiques (n°185, 1987).
Install a multi-function pedal set.
Use the crankset and chain from an old bicycle to make a multi-purpose generator.
Also known as a stationary bicycle , this method is flourishing in public places to activate mobile phone charging stations. You can apply it to your most frequent needs on board: running a blender, activating a pump, etc.
Collect rainwater.
Take advantage of a downpour to fill up on fresh water.
A few meters of hose, a funnel, and a good rain shower provide the perfect opportunity to fill up your tanks. Here are two easy tips for filling up:
- Reef the mainsail . This improvised gutter will guide the water either towards the end of the boom or towards the mast. Fine-tune the angle with the topping lift. Tip: let the sail rinse before submerging the hose in the tank.
- Stretch a tarpaulin with a point of inclination towards which you will place a through-hull fitting.
The best part: equip your freshwater system with foot or hand pumps. It's ideal for using less water and electricity, and for always having access to fresh water even if your battery dies!
Low-tech cooking on board your boat.
Low-tech preservation of fruits and vegetables.
- Pasteurization To extend their shelf life, heat fruits and vegetables to over 80°C and can them while hot. During a stopover, any surplus fruits and vegetables can be made into compotes and ratatouilles. Once pasteurized, they can be preserved for years!
| Note: the pasteurization process must follow precise hygiene and temperature rules; consult the detailed pasteurization techniques before starting. |
- Lacto -fermentation allows raw vegetables to be preserved in a salt solution. It's a safe process, thanks to the naturally acidic pH of the Lacto-fermentation . Lacto-fermented vegetables retain their vitamins and even increase their probiotic content. It's an ideal dietary supplement for long voyages and is completely low in energy.
| Note: Lacto-fermented vegetables are acidic. They are intended to be served as side dishes as part of a varied and balanced diet . |
Low-tech food cooking.
- The Norwegian cooker : after bringing the water to a boil, the covered pot is placed in an insulated compartment. Cooking generally takes about a third longer, but under optimal conditions, energy savings of up to 50% are possible. Slow cooking at low temperatures: methods recommended by top chefs! Discover all the secrets of the Norwegian cooker .
- The solar oven : an insulated box equipped with a window and two reflective tabs concentrates the heat from the sun's rays.
- The solar multi-cooker : an interesting alternative on board: simultaneously a Norwegian cooker, solar oven, dryer and cooler, it multiplies the possibilities of menus on board.
Propelling your boat, providing light, water, or cooking: low-tech solutions have countless applications on board. It's up to you to discover which tools will allow you to embrace sustainable technology!
And you, what low-tech solutions have you installed on board your boat?
The SPA (Society for the Protection of Annexes) warns against and denounces the illegal abandonment of small boats.
The 5 must-try recipes to make on a boat