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#1
Boat Bits / Re: LiFePO4 batteries going ma...
Last post by Godot - April 21, 2025, 05:26:51 PMOK. With the new tariffs I figure I better poop or get off the pot. I bought two wattcycle 100ah group 24 LiFePO4 batteries. I kinda wanted more amp-hours; but I really don't need it and this will greatly increase my usable capacity and only costs $380 all in.
Well...all-in is a bit of a stretch, I guess. I need to reconfigure my energy system which I'm certain will mean more money spent.
Well...all-in is a bit of a stretch, I guess. I need to reconfigure my energy system which I'm certain will mean more money spent.
#2
Boat Discussion / Re: An old girlfriend just cal...
Last post by Frank - April 20, 2025, 01:39:57 PMThanks Bob
Another season is over for me here.
I stripped most of the canvas off while at Anchor. It is so much cooler prepping the boat while on the water than up in the yard.
Had very little to do once I was on the hard. Take down the genny to fold, flush the outboard and clean up.....
I'm still using the dinghy as a car here, so I will haul it up the day before I fly.
It sure looks bare in the yard!
Another season is over for me here.
I stripped most of the canvas off while at Anchor. It is so much cooler prepping the boat while on the water than up in the yard.
Had very little to do once I was on the hard. Take down the genny to fold, flush the outboard and clean up.....
I'm still using the dinghy as a car here, so I will haul it up the day before I fly.
It sure looks bare in the yard!
#3
Boat Discussion / Re: An old girlfriend just cal...
Last post by Bob J - April 15, 2025, 01:56:17 PMNo matter what I did couldn't log back in to my account (misfits) so I created another account. Had to see the photos you put up of another winter in the sun. As always nice pictures Frank!
Have a safe trip back home.
Bob
Have a safe trip back home.
Bob
#4
Boat Discussion / Re: An old girlfriend just cal...
Last post by Frank - April 14, 2025, 04:25:44 PMWinding down here...
Haul out Thursday.
Many others have sailed west to haul in Florida or already hauled out here.
Lots of social gatherings as the herd thins... typically music is involved.
Sad time but will enjoy being "home" late month
Surprised to see the kids sailing around Deja Vu when I returned this afternoon....
Cute!
Haul out Thursday.
Many others have sailed west to haul in Florida or already hauled out here.
Lots of social gatherings as the herd thins... typically music is involved.
Sad time but will enjoy being "home" late month
Surprised to see the kids sailing around Deja Vu when I returned this afternoon....
Cute!
#5
Boat Bits / Re: Importance of hull speed.....
Last post by Godot - April 09, 2025, 07:25:21 PMSeeker is not a great light wind boat. My father-in-law once just literally sailed circles around me in his Catalina 24. Someday, perhaps, I'll be able to justify some badly needed new sails, and we'll see if that helps at all,
#6
Boat Bits / Re: LiFePO4 batteries going ma...
Last post by Godot - April 09, 2025, 07:18:28 PMCapnK, I have pretty much that exact system sitting at home with OpenPlotter installed, ready to be put on the boat. OpenCPN for some planning and looking at a bigger screen than my ancient little GPS. Internet via cell phone hotspot (no need to go looking for WiFi anymore) allows for a quite decent internet box. I'll use it as a media server if I want to watch a movie or get some tunes (I have a large, if dated, digital library). Portable refrigerators are becoming quite practical and affordable. With better batteries the power worries are significantly reduced. Lots of little problems we used to spend time searching for solutions to are now a piece of cake to handle.
I miss, in a way, the old days. I miss navigating with paper charts. I don't even think you can get them anymore. Heck, NOAA doesn't even do RNC electronic charts anymore. I feel like a lot of the art of sailing is being technologied away, for better and worse. I don't like getting old. Get off my lawn.
I miss, in a way, the old days. I miss navigating with paper charts. I don't even think you can get them anymore. Heck, NOAA doesn't even do RNC electronic charts anymore. I feel like a lot of the art of sailing is being technologied away, for better and worse. I don't like getting old. Get off my lawn.
#7
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: Attempted around alone una...
Last post by wolverine - April 09, 2025, 09:22:09 AMThat is quite the undertaking, and his wife is very understanding. This is a book in my library I enjoyed reading.
#8
Boat Discussion / Re: An old girlfriend just cal...
Last post by CapnK - April 08, 2025, 12:33:32 PMFrank - The layout on your boat is indeed incredible. I think that it is one of the best ever trailerable boats I have seen.
#9
Boat Bits / Re: Anchors and Rodes
Last post by CapnK - April 08, 2025, 12:28:20 PMYup, CJ & L swung off of that roller a whole bunch! :)
Re: Danforth - I had a Hi Tensile for a while (the river ate it during a named storm many years ago...) and much like an Original Bruce compared to a knockoff Claw-type, in use the Danforth far and away outperformed the anchors which looked just like it.
Re: Fortress - The very first time I used one, even a diminutive FX-7, I got a good set even tho' unplanned. On hauling, I thought for sure that sucker was gonna come up with rice roots and maybe an old pamphlet from Mao tangled in the flukes. They aren't much for swinging here (our shellfish and root bottoms will foul them in a heartbeat...), but if you can find a good patch of clean mud/sand and the wind stays steady, you've got no worries.
Re:Pulpit Roller, seems like a good idea. Done like in my simple drawing, you could just throw the rode on there when wanted/needed...
You cannot view this attachment.
Re: Danforth - I had a Hi Tensile for a while (the river ate it during a named storm many years ago...) and much like an Original Bruce compared to a knockoff Claw-type, in use the Danforth far and away outperformed the anchors which looked just like it.
Re: Fortress - The very first time I used one, even a diminutive FX-7, I got a good set even tho' unplanned. On hauling, I thought for sure that sucker was gonna come up with rice roots and maybe an old pamphlet from Mao tangled in the flukes. They aren't much for swinging here (our shellfish and root bottoms will foul them in a heartbeat...), but if you can find a good patch of clean mud/sand and the wind stays steady, you've got no worries.
Re:Pulpit Roller, seems like a good idea. Done like in my simple drawing, you could just throw the rode on there when wanted/needed...
You cannot view this attachment.
#10
Boat Bits / Re: LiFePO4 batteries going ma...
Last post by CapnK - April 08, 2025, 12:02:54 PMIn addition to the LiFePo4 batteries, USB powered electronics have become a bit of a game changer. I picked up a Raspberry Pi 5 and a flatscreen monitor which run off of USB-C, as well as Bluetooth speakers.
Just a few years ago that would have been a laptop and a car-type stereo, both of which required far more energy to perform the same tasks, and more expensively to boot.
The Pi is incredible for an onboard computer - it performs pretty much as well as a typical laptop or desktop system, in a smaller and more efficient form factor.
Just a few years ago that would have been a laptop and a car-type stereo, both of which required far more energy to perform the same tasks, and more expensively to boot.
The Pi is incredible for an onboard computer - it performs pretty much as well as a typical laptop or desktop system, in a smaller and more efficient form factor.