"Allure" Bahamas 2016

[Tim]

she was all smiles and he showed concern I was a pirate or something

He was probably worried about you stealing his rum  ;)  She of course just thought you were cute

Thanks for the continuing voyage, looks like I will have to be living vicariously until August.

[CharlieJ]

You DO understand I hate you???

Not really- been there, wish I was again-  Have a blast

[Frank]

just had an incredible evening!!!!

Met (finally) Ricki and Dayna (Ricki is 'she'....Dayna is 'he')
They've lived aboard their entire lives (almost) , home schooled their kids...
now BOTH daughters are HERE with them as adults!!!  One with their partner on a tri....the other on a trawler. All ole 'hippy' mentality!!!!....love it !!!
Good music as Jeff joined in and Dayna can ablib songs and play guitar too...
Too much fun!!

sail down .....big rollers don' show....but cleared shelves...

entrance to Little Harbour

Anchored inside (yes...anchored!! $20-25 for a ball!!)

It truly IS a small harbour

PS.....sorry CJ    :D

[SeaHusky]

For those of us who are not intimate with the Bahamas here is a chart to follow Franks (ad)venture.

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/11013.shtml

[Frank]

Several fronts coming in back to back, so with a nice S wind I hauled anchor in Little Harbour yesterday morning and sailed back up to Green Turtle. Had a blast as it was between a close and broad reach the entire trip. The ole girl hit 6.4 a few times!! Averaged 5.2 which is fast for Allure
Super Bowl at Sundowners is always a blast.
Will hang out here until the next window S

Pics are breaking dawn and just after sunrise here in Black Sound

[Frank]

Just back from the Superbowl party at Sundowners.....always fun!!

Geez I know a lot of people here now....  Too much fun catching up.

I "kinda" behaved...... safely back on da boat after a windy, choppy dingy ride!

Great evening!!!

[Frank]

walk in town today

loving it here

[Frank]

Solar uppdate

Last year I had my 230 watt panel, 2-6volt golf cart batteries, 1 "deep cycle/start" battery and an older style charge controller.
I was running all LED's and an Engel cold plate in the ice box.

This worked fine for about 2mths, but I found as time went on the set up was having trouble keeping up even tho the sun was up longer and I'd switch batteries to "all"

I know a bunch of you already will know this stuff, but thought I'd share for others...

So, have come to learn that:
1-there are no "true" deep cycle/start batteries.
The only deep cycle are just that "deep cycle"
2-it's a no no to draw from dissimilar batteries....not good for either

So, to improve things, this year I have:
*added 1-1/2 inch high density foam inside my ice box (used as fridge)
This not only improved the insulation but reduced the interior volume a bit
both add to efficiency
*removed the group 27 "deep/start" and replaced with 2 more 6 Volt golf  cart batteries....4 total now...al the same
*switched out the conventional charge controller for a blue Sky MPPT unit

This set up is working so well thay even tho the last 2 days have been sun/cloud mix, it has kept up with the fridge (engel plate in ice box) and a small engel cooler now used and my "freezer" with meats inside. This morning waking up it was still at 12.39.

Very happy with the addition of the lil "freezer" and the system performance
And gotta thank:
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/solar_controller_testing
and
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/deep_cycle_battery
Great articles
Don't want to turn this into a solar/battery thread but thought I'd share how Allure's new set up is working "out here"

[Frank]

Day break this morning.....

Solar panel tipped down awaiting the Rays...

[lance on cloud nine]

Nice! Thank you Frank. I really enjoy the pics. I wish others would really wake up this site with more pics!

[Frank]

The temp was up only 1 degree, but the wind dropped enough to make it feel warmer so I got motivated and had a "domestics day"

Boat looked like a Chinese "junk"   ;D

2-5 gallon pails and a plunger....away I went... :o

[CharlieJ]

 ;D ;D
Boy is THAT a familiar sight!!

Been there, done that ;D

I always add a third clothes pin in the middle- have had sudden gusts cause trouble

[Frank]

yesterday was finally a light wind day so several of ua took a slow sail up to Manjack.

Thought I'd treat all the "winter bound" folks to some Bahama beach pictures

Allure anchored near "Brendal's dock"

Marie and Feebee playing with a Stingray

Back ocean beach

[Frank]

We all walked around the point into the NW cove

later we all gathered for a pork chop grill, tunes and drinks for sundown.
awesome day!!

Days like this make the crappy ones worth while  :D

[Bob J (ex-misfits)]

Thanks for posting the pictures Frank. 
Looks like a real nice place to be.
Weather wise, beats the 7 degree day here in NH anyway LOL

[Frank]

Yep......I got an amail from home. Will go into the -30's tonight!!
Glad to be here.   :D

Edit: last Saturday was -43 with the wind chill !!!

[Frank]

Went to go into a little locals bar....

I didn't qualify to enter :D ::)

[Jim_ME]

I didn't qualify to enter :D ::)

What's that quote by Groucho Marx...
"I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member."  ;)

[Frank]

Winds finally laid down enough that 4 of us headed up to Powell Cay. Nice close reach up. Winds are to lay down more later.....a bit of a washing machine feeling at anchor right now.
Great Beachs here and the sunset tonight was awesome.
Will spend tomorrow walking and helping another boat with OB issues.
Allens Pen next....

[jotruk]

Thank You for the pics, keeps me going and reawakens the want to get out there