Solar Panel Install

Here is the Shine semi-flexible 100 watt solar panel with all external wiring done.  I wish it could be simpler but I made it as neat as possible given the wire transition.

Note the cable clam by Blue Sea that provides a sealed cable entrance to the cabin.  Just to be safe I clear caulked it and let it sit overnight before bending the cable for installation.  All in all not too bad, I think.

Repowering with new batteries and solar panels

New Shine 100 watt semi-flexible  solar panel from emarine.  Mounted on the curve of the doghouse to port of the companionway.

MC4 connectors for solar.  New experience for me.

Connectors were mounted staggered so as to reduce the cross section.  Heat shrink with sealing glue covers the entire connection.

Once again the hoist is a life savor.  The three new group 31 Duracell batteries will provide a total of 315 amp hours.  giving me  net 105 amp hours per day at no more than 70 percent drop.

The batteries are a whopping 67.2 lbs a piece.  Quite a lift for one arm!

I'll be ordering a new charge controller and another 100 watt semi-flex 100 watt panel when I get the Bimini which will support the second panel.  All told we will have 300 watts giving us an easy 18 amps per hour charge.  On sunny days we will remain 100 percent charged. 

A Swing Stove

I had one of these on my Rob Roy 23 way back in 1996.  I always wanted another.  It works so well both at anchorage and especially under way.

They are scarce as "hens teeth" on the open market.  I happened to run into one on Ebay and bought it immediately for the asking price of $150.  Tell you the truth if they made them today, they would be more that that. 

I was particularly interested to see if my pressure cooker would fit.  Well it does, sort of.  I may get a smaller cooker that fits in full swing mode.  Pressure cookers, by-the-way are the cats meow for cooking aboard.  They save a lot of gas.  If you "pre" cook, that is heat it up and let it sit, they save even more. 
If you ever see one of these, buy it! 

Shallow Minded gets a bow door.

I never really liked the wide open nose. Even Bolger admitted that the bow well could stir up a pretty big swirl in situations like going to windward. 
My idea was to make a demountable hinged door that allowed for anchoring and mast raising. 

I added handles to take it off with and two sliding bolts to keep it closed

I used four demountable hinges.  This door opens for mast raising and removes for anchoring.  The anchor line is secured to the kevel which is at deck level.  I have a opening snatch block coming to hold the line in a low position to help keep the boat from skittering (searching) around thee anchorage. 










Right now the weather is really nasty in Georgia.  I'm mostly doing in shop tasks trying not to succumb to the winter blues.