I’ve really been busting ass the as few days (as usual). When I bought Splendid I didn’t really see how much work needed to be done but I’m still happy I bought her. It will be soooooo worth it in the end! A year is a small price to pay for such a fine ship as Splendid. Painting will take longer than I thought, so here is my new plan. Darrin and I are going to finish all the fiberglass work. This entails encapsulating the entire cabin house and toe rail. We still need to mount the starboard jib track and fair everything. I’m going to cover the new glass with primer and call it a day, well…, for the moment. I’ll continue painting and finishing as I go.
We are moving down to the beach in the next few days. I hear that the cops really hassle people down there and don’t let a boat stay very long. This is a really unfortunate aspect of cruising in Florida. Everyone (city’s) seem to think they own the bottom of federal waters and think they can strip American sailors of their federal rights. It makes me so mad!
I’m thinking of heading to Key West in a few weeks. I’ve been having a real hard time sitting in Fort Myers. Sam and Guin will join me in the keys for a few weeks for vacation. They will have to return as Guin’s father wants her to finish the school year, and will keep them here till late May.
Anyone have any recommendations for a battery for my windlass? Should I use a starting (cranking amps), or a deep cycle battery? I’ve heard a few different views.
Peace everyone.
– Alex
Published in Alex Dorsey
Hey Dude!
Windlass battery is a good idea but can be a charging headache. Did you consider this?
Deep cycle like the T105s are going to give you all the power you need for this application and are prolly the best bang for the buck. Lots of weight but a couple hundred AH with 2 of em in series.
I did mention I was an electrician in another life:)
All the best
Tony
Tony,Why would charging be a headache? I’ll charge the battery off of my alternator. T-105’s are 6v which would mean I need 2 of them as the windlass is 12v. I’ll also have the engine running while I use the windlass. Also if I just run cables from the house bank my run is about 30′ What size cable would I need? I’m thinking a 2, or 4 AWG???
Cheers
– Alex
Alex:
I agree with Tony about using two 6volt deep cycle batts in the forepeak–if you are using lead acid wet, or sealed for your house bank all you have to do is run 10 ga. duplex wire (30 amp) from your 12 volt charging system through a charge divider to the windlass batts.
If you are using gell or AGM type batts for your house bank, you will have to install the same type in the forepeak–you have to keep all battery types the same for systems on the boat, as each type of battery has different charging parameters.
Running heavy cabeling from the start or house bank thirty feet forward will cause a large line loss and will cosr you a bundle of money.
What size is the alternator on the engine (amps)–also are you planning on installing a high out alternator like Balmar?–the reason I ask is that you will not find anyone to repair it while you are cruising (unless you have a complete set of spare parts on board.
Let me know
Uncle Tom
when that battery is down, it will draw up to the capacity of your alternator to charge. So there is no way 10 guage wire is enough. you could start a fire!
If you can, you can limit the charge, but then why bother.
Just run 00 up there and be done with it.
rich
Have you considered an echo charger? A friend of mine in Vancouver has a Maple Leaf 49 and has a dedicated battery for the bow thruster and the windless. It is charged through an echo charger that only kicks in once the main batteries are up to a certain percentage. It then controls the charge to the batteries that are located up forward. I believe that with this unit you could a different type of battery if desired, since you can configure it.
Eric in Rothesay, Canada
Alex,
I understand your concern, and you are a true cruiser which means you’ll eventually pull up the hook and move on. There are, however, abandoned boats and bums living on derelicts forever in our waters. Just about every major anchorage has them. I believe in the right for a skipper to anchor anywhere it’s safe for however long he needs/wants to. I don’t, however, support people that hide behind that principle in order to live on a barnacle encrusted, bird poop covered fiberglass tub. I hope to cops don’t hastle you while you finish prep on your boat!