"Hope this helps... John" thanks, it does help. I was trying to get an idea of real usage on a boat like yours. I come from a energy miserly, sailing background and my current project is my first liveaboard powerboat. I don't think my habits will change significantly but eventually these things get sold so I gear things toward current trends. This one has a house bank of traction batteries (app 1800#), 998 Ah C10 rating, 24V, driving a pair of Victron 3000 watt inverters. The diesel charger will be one of those VLF series alternators Arild has described, powered by a Z482 Kubota diesel. The alternator will be down rated to 200 amps @ 24V to hopefully provide an easy, long life. Being that miserly type, my expectation is to charge 1 to 2 hours a day at anchor, maybe 3 hours every 2 days. I've got a bank of 4 - 130 watt Kyocera pv panels that I had hoped would finish the float and absorbtion stages, until I read yesterday that may never be accomplished. regards, Bill