No project is ever as
easily executed as when I conceptualize it.
As you know I lost my battery bank to some lightning. My batteries were about 3 years old and I was planning to squeak another year out of them but I’m changing them out a bit early.
I got a quote on 4 Trojan T-105’s at Casa de batteria here in Panama and the price was over $900.00. I had to find an alternative.
I was at Price Smart (like Cosco) and checked the automotive section. Eveready makes a 220 AH (@6V) 6 volt battery for $99.00. If you put two together in parallel you get a 12v 220 amp hour battery. Add 4 more and you have a 660 amp hour battery bank. I bought 4, and a friend is bringing me two more tomorrow. You should use about half of your amp hours so this gives me a working 330 amp hours.
Well after thinking about my battery bank I don’t like it in my engine room. The batteries get hot when I run the engine and they are difficult to access for maintenance. I decided to move the battery bank to under my settee in the main saloon. I’ll have to build, and fiberglass in a box, but the batteries will be much cooler and accessible. It also shifts the weight a bit more amidships, I like it!
I loose a little storage room but weighing the pros & cons, the pros win. Of course I had to clean, sand, and paint the locker but it looks quite nice. I’m also going to stow my electric supplies & tools there, it will be the “everything” 12v locker.
I want to talk a little about sailing spirit and my French friends Mel & Fab.
Mel & Fab bought my other French friends boat about 6 months ago who upgraded to another boat after living and cruising on this one for 15 years.
Their boat is steel and about 26’ long. A solid world cruising boat. This is the kind of boat one can easily find in the states for under 5k if they look. For some reason Americans just don’t buy, or like steel boats?
Mel & Fab are new to cruising and were intrigued by the lifestyle. They have a great attitude and are really having fun.
They have very little money and are blossoming. Fab spear fishes every day. I seem to be attracted to people who live on little as buying your way around the world just doesn’t appeal to me.
Anyway, the first thing Mel & Fab realized was that they didn’t like inflatable dinks. Their boat came with a very poor quality PVC deflectable that they could never keep air in. Fab did a little research on the internet and decided to build an 
optimist from polyester.
He started building it on deck and then moved into the abandoned building on Linton Island. He worked hard every day for two months and had to deal with the wrath of the crazy monkeys all the time. He did figure out how to lock them out of his work area.
After he was completed we had a small launching party on the beach and went sailing.
I’ll say it again. Money really has little to do with sailing, and nothing to do with freedom or spirit.
If you dig around at boat yards I’m sure you can even find something like Mel & Fab’s boat for free.
I had friends years ago that found their boat half sunk on the banks of a river in Italy. It took them a few months to dig out and a year to repair but they are sailing around the world on it.
If you dream of sailing make it happen, no excuses!
The more I script out my next film the more it seems it will be a 
key to the cruising door. It’s not intended for the man of means, but the dreamer who has little and the will to make it happen. I hope to provide a little motivation practical knowledge.
It’s not about the boat guys, what kind of school you can put your children in, or how much savings you have. it’s about freedom, spirit, adventure, and life.
Man I love the Canon T3i!
Sail far and live slowly!
– alex