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AND SO IT IS CHRISTMAS

12/24/2014

5 Comments

 
Posted by Monty
This our 11th day here at Boot Key Harbor.  We have managed to find our way around pretty well, and are getting settled in.

Of course, something broke.  In addition to the bilge pump project and the starter bendix project, the charge controller on the solar panel went out, taking our house bank of batteries with it.  I guess the diode that keeps the batteries from discharging through the solar panel at night failed.  It took a couple of days for me to figure out what was going on, and by the time I realized what the culprit was it had discharged the batteries down past the point of no return.

Astute followers will remember these were the batteries we just replaced in Beaufort, SC, less than 60 days ago.  I never could get a very good charge on them from the beginning, and really feel they should not have failed even with the slight abuse I gave them.  I bought a hydrometer (a device that measures specific gravity in the battery acid) to test them, thinking maybe a single cell had gone out in one of the batteries and we could take it out of the circuit and run on the other one.  To my astonishment, all 12 cells showed absolute zero charge.  I suspected my tool at first, but a check of my starting battery proved the tool was working correctly.  An email to Deka, the manufacturer, goes unanswered to this day.  So much for cheap batteries.

As we were out doing our morning walk, I noticed a local business that specialized in electrical and refrigeration on boats and homes.  A quick discussion with the extremely knowledgeable owner of SALT (Sea Air Land Technologies) reinforced my diagnosis of the problem.  In addition, it turns out he had some very gently used AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries at a price that was very good.  After a trip back to the boat for measurements, we became the proud owners of said batteries.  After installing them, and on our second night, they are performing flawlessly.  I have ordered a new charge controller, and am unhooking the solar panel at night until it arrives and can be installed.

Carol is learning to single hand the dinghy.  I am now a passenger in our trips to shore.  She has not soloed yet, but that first flight is imminent.

And so, it is Christmas Eve.

Longtime friends and family know that I have struggled with this holiday for many years.  I have railed about the commercialization of it all, and how no one (at least very few) seem to remember what the holiday is really about.  The retail industry (of which I was recently a part) drives the season starting earlier every year (even before Halloween).  I participated reluctantly in it.

This year, all that went away. 
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You can't get much simpler than this when it comes to Christmas decorations.  The stress from flailing about to get ready for the event and all of the planning and organizing that accompanied it is totally absent this year.  To my surprise, I have mixed feelings about that.

I do miss the family.  Parents, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters and friends.  In the end, that is all we really have, and if we are still out here next year, maybe we will make different plans.  So to all of my friends and family we wish you a Merry Christmas from the sunny Keys.

It's been a heck of a year.  Freezing January weather on the boat that sunk, not allowing that to sink our plans as well, the refit of Sea Bird, our first journey, more cold, and finally warmth and sunshine.  My core temperature has finally risen past critical mass so that I am no longer afraid of a little cooling trend.

And maybe, just maybe, my Scrooge heart is thawing.  Just a little.
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5 Comments
Al Hassig
12/29/2014 05:07:09 am

Monty,
Glad to here your core temp is back to normal. Going to AGM batteries is a very good idea, no problems with spillage and no out gassing when charging. You should get 4-5 years of life with those batteries.If the voltage would ever get down to 3-4 volts, use a 1 amp charger to bring them up to 7-8 volts then charge with a charger designed for AGM batteries that has an output voltage of at least 10amps or more (AGMs like a hot charge) but you probably know that. Take care and Happy New Year.

Al

Reply
Monty
12/29/2014 07:46:53 am

Thanks, Al, I knew AGMs were tougher, but I had no idea you could take them that low and bring them back. Good to know. Not that I would ever do that, of course...
Happy New Year to you as well. We are tentatively planning to spend it in Key West, so I'm sure we will have a post about that...

Reply
Pat Brumbles
1/5/2015 02:01:36 am

We have been enjoying all of your posts and pictures.....which really should be put into a book for those who have big dreams and not an overabundance experience. What you have written could apply to almost anything....carrying out your dream always calls for more than you imagined you could muster.....whatever.....I know . Before I married your uncle Joe, I dreamed of living in Israel (another story), but God had other plans. I had been in the Israeli army for 5 months and thought I could not be happier.....wrong. Just like lightening striking your other boat, it also hit my other plans.....I felt myself shift into another gear. 16 yrs later, I can say I have learned so much and am so into my still new direction. Sail ON!

Reply
Monty
1/6/2015 01:44:17 am

Thanks, Pat. I don't know about the book thing, but hopefully someone will learn from my mistakes. I try to, not always successfully.

Reply
Rob
1/7/2015 09:31:15 pm

Starter repair on the kitchen table, over new cushions???? Carol must REALLY be mellowing out! Give me your address I need to mail you a carb or 2 to clean.

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