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#1
Boat Discussion / Re: An old girlfriend just cal...
Last post by Frank - April 02, 2025, 06:39:58 AMI have spent some time on the West Coast of Florida, more time on the East Coast of Florida, including the keys and considerable time over here in the Bahamas
I really must say that in my mind, one of the most important things on a cruising boat for these waters, a shallow draft.
It simply opens up so many more places to Anchor. Not having to wait for tides to enter some harbours are being able to make some passes easily. It's just such an advantage.
Yes, some folks do it with 6 foot draft, but it is so much less stress with under 4 feet.
The picture below is nowhere near low tide yet as the bank right behind the boat is not yet showing. I love going where others can't.
I really must say that in my mind, one of the most important things on a cruising boat for these waters, a shallow draft.
It simply opens up so many more places to Anchor. Not having to wait for tides to enter some harbours are being able to make some passes easily. It's just such an advantage.
Yes, some folks do it with 6 foot draft, but it is so much less stress with under 4 feet.
The picture below is nowhere near low tide yet as the bank right behind the boat is not yet showing. I love going where others can't.
#2
Boat Bits / Re: Anchors and Rodes
Last post by Godot - April 02, 2025, 12:28:03 AMOh, me, pick me!
I am not currently going far afield, and I do not anchor out in any named storms (my marina is in a hurricane hole and seems as good a place a any to keep the boat in a storm).
Primary: Rocna 10 (22#) with 90' of 1/4 chain and I THINK 200' of 1/2" platt rode. I've ridden out a full gale on this over a sleepless night without budging. It seems pretty solid for my needs at the moment.
Kedge: A small Fortress (maybe the FX7 or perhaps the FX11). I have maybe 15' of 1/4" chain and a 100' of three strand rode. I used it to kedge off once. I sometimes take it in the dinghy.
Secondary: Some Danforth knockoff I have jammed in a locker. It came with the boat. Probably 10-15' of 5/8" chain and maybe a hundred feet of rough and tough seen better days 3-strand something. If I am breaking this out I can tie any of a number of other lengths of line to extend it further. I hate this anchor. I dragged all over until I got the Rocna on this stupid thing.
Some day (I love you tomorrow...always a day away) when I take a more significant trip, my plan is to up to the next size Rocna or Manson Supreme or whatever modern generation anchor is most affordable at that time, on 100' or so of 5/16" chain and maybe 200' again of 5/8" rode and take the current Rocna and rode and keep it as the secondary. That's the plan, anyhow.
I am not currently going far afield, and I do not anchor out in any named storms (my marina is in a hurricane hole and seems as good a place a any to keep the boat in a storm).
Primary: Rocna 10 (22#) with 90' of 1/4 chain and I THINK 200' of 1/2" platt rode. I've ridden out a full gale on this over a sleepless night without budging. It seems pretty solid for my needs at the moment.
Kedge: A small Fortress (maybe the FX7 or perhaps the FX11). I have maybe 15' of 1/4" chain and a 100' of three strand rode. I used it to kedge off once. I sometimes take it in the dinghy.
Secondary: Some Danforth knockoff I have jammed in a locker. It came with the boat. Probably 10-15' of 5/8" chain and maybe a hundred feet of rough and tough seen better days 3-strand something. If I am breaking this out I can tie any of a number of other lengths of line to extend it further. I hate this anchor. I dragged all over until I got the Rocna on this stupid thing.
Some day (I love you tomorrow...always a day away) when I take a more significant trip, my plan is to up to the next size Rocna or Manson Supreme or whatever modern generation anchor is most affordable at that time, on 100' or so of 5/16" chain and maybe 200' again of 5/8" rode and take the current Rocna and rode and keep it as the secondary. That's the plan, anyhow.
#3
Boat Bits / Re: LiFePO4 batteries going ma...
Last post by Godot - April 02, 2025, 12:09:20 AMI haven't bit the bullet yet on new LiFePO4. I bought a new house since starting this thread and it has monopolized most of my free time for the past few years. I just can't seem to catch a break. I have been limping along with the old FLA, and since my longest trips seem to be overnighters I've been doing OK, even though they are a little sad and I need to keep an eye on their state of charge.
The good news is that these batteries have dropped so far in price it makes little sense to NOT buy them. I believe they are now cheaper per usable AH than FLAs. I was at one time planning on buying raw cells and a BMS; but that doesn't even make any financial sense anymore for a 200AH bank or so. Bluetooth monitoring is pretty common and should provide a very decent way of keeping track of charge state, so monitoring isn't really an issue anymore either.
The mixed technologies IS still an issue. I have two thoughts on it.
Thought ONE: The engine really doesn't take too much juice to start, so I'm thinking a group 24 FLA charging off of a small solar panel would probably be adequate. I could plug in a portable charger to it on occasion if necessary (even if I had to run it off the inverter from the house bank...a messy kludge but it uses what I already have). Then I will let the 75amp Balmer alternator (I got this on a killer closeout deal some years ago and finally got it installed last summer) charge the lithium directly.
Thought TWO: a DC-DC charger. It looks like small ones can be had for $150 or so. Conventional wisdom seems to be to send the alternator to the start battery and use the DC-DC to charge the Lithium. This makes absolutely no sense to me as the LiFePO4 can suck up massive (relatively speaking) amounts of current for a long time. I would charge the starter FLA from the LiFePO4 house bank. This is cleaner and kinda where I'm leaning.
I have been riding a weird razor edge between having just barely enough money at the end of the month to meet my expenses and having enough funds where I don't have to worry anymore. I'm closing in on retirement and I've been kind of aggressive in my money handling in preparation, dumping every spare nickel into retirement funds. With a little luck I will get past the hump and be able to free the funds to finally finish the necessary projects on poor neglected Seeker in the next year or two. It's so close I can taste it. Then maybe I can take the decades delayed cruise I've been craving.
The good news is that these batteries have dropped so far in price it makes little sense to NOT buy them. I believe they are now cheaper per usable AH than FLAs. I was at one time planning on buying raw cells and a BMS; but that doesn't even make any financial sense anymore for a 200AH bank or so. Bluetooth monitoring is pretty common and should provide a very decent way of keeping track of charge state, so monitoring isn't really an issue anymore either.
The mixed technologies IS still an issue. I have two thoughts on it.
Thought ONE: The engine really doesn't take too much juice to start, so I'm thinking a group 24 FLA charging off of a small solar panel would probably be adequate. I could plug in a portable charger to it on occasion if necessary (even if I had to run it off the inverter from the house bank...a messy kludge but it uses what I already have). Then I will let the 75amp Balmer alternator (I got this on a killer closeout deal some years ago and finally got it installed last summer) charge the lithium directly.
Thought TWO: a DC-DC charger. It looks like small ones can be had for $150 or so. Conventional wisdom seems to be to send the alternator to the start battery and use the DC-DC to charge the Lithium. This makes absolutely no sense to me as the LiFePO4 can suck up massive (relatively speaking) amounts of current for a long time. I would charge the starter FLA from the LiFePO4 house bank. This is cleaner and kinda where I'm leaning.
I have been riding a weird razor edge between having just barely enough money at the end of the month to meet my expenses and having enough funds where I don't have to worry anymore. I'm closing in on retirement and I've been kind of aggressive in my money handling in preparation, dumping every spare nickel into retirement funds. With a little luck I will get past the hump and be able to free the funds to finally finish the necessary projects on poor neglected Seeker in the next year or two. It's so close I can taste it. Then maybe I can take the decades delayed cruise I've been craving.
#4
Boat Discussion / Re: An old girlfriend just cal...
Last post by Frank - March 31, 2025, 09:24:36 PMCame back to Green Turtle Cay for fuel and supplies
Rather than anchor out and bounce or pay for a mooring in Black sound, I anchored in the shallow settlement harbour. Simply a short row to the dock from here.
I love shallow draft!
2nd "low tide" picture shows why you seldom see sailboat in here
Rather than anchor out and bounce or pay for a mooring in Black sound, I anchored in the shallow settlement harbour. Simply a short row to the dock from here.
I love shallow draft!
2nd "low tide" picture shows why you seldom see sailboat in here
#5
Boat Discussion / Re: An old girlfriend just cal...
Last post by Frank - March 31, 2025, 02:34:02 PMThat's Purdy!
Any day on the water is a good day!
Any day on the water is a good day!
#6
Boat Discussion / Re: An old girlfriend just cal...
Last post by CapnK - March 30, 2025, 05:20:38 PMGOB's! :D
Got out on the Lumber River yesterday with my minimicro stinkpot. It ain't the islands via a sailing home all my own, but - it was a good break of a day out on the water with my boydog and other friends. :)
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Got out on the Lumber River yesterday with my minimicro stinkpot. It ain't the islands via a sailing home all my own, but - it was a good break of a day out on the water with my boydog and other friends. :)
You cannot view this attachment.
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#7
Boat Discussion / Re: An old girlfriend just cal...
Last post by Frank - March 28, 2025, 12:21:46 PMBeen too busy since my last post...
Saint patty's day party
Birthday
Annual fundraiser I do for the special needs school
Headed up island 5 days ago for peace
Was peopled out....
Currently tucked in the lee of a nice bay with it blowing a hoolie out there!
Here's proof ya don't need a big boat.
My tribe:
Pacific Seacraft 27
NorSea 27
Watkins 27
My 24
Ironically mine is the newest at 40yrs old!
All having fun
Saint patty's day party
Birthday
Annual fundraiser I do for the special needs school
Headed up island 5 days ago for peace
Was peopled out....
Currently tucked in the lee of a nice bay with it blowing a hoolie out there!
Here's proof ya don't need a big boat.
My tribe:
Pacific Seacraft 27
NorSea 27
Watkins 27
My 24
Ironically mine is the newest at 40yrs old!
All having fun
#8
Boat Bits / Re: LiFePO4 batteries going ma...
Last post by Frank - March 28, 2025, 12:11:02 PMI have the one - 200 amp hour and am beyond happy.
Nothing wrong with 2 - 100 amp hour
I liked the simplicity
Nothing wrong with 2 - 100 amp hour
I liked the simplicity
#9
Boat Bits / Re: LiFePO4 batteries going ma...
Last post by s/v necessity - March 27, 2025, 05:58:58 PMI see it's common to use a 200ah battery. I'm not seeing much of a cost incentive (compared to running two 100ah.) Is there anything I might be missing here? (I'm leaning towards running multiple 100s) I'm headed up to the boat here soon to take some measurements!
#10
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: I Know Where I'll be Frida...
Last post by s/v necessity - March 26, 2025, 01:06:41 AMhttps://www.windtideandoar.com/
Ran across that earlier this week. Looks like it might be a while before we can see it here in the states.
Ran across that earlier this week. Looks like it might be a while before we can see it here in the states.