Battery Recharge...
And a ridiculous and amazing sailing stunt...
[Warning: Potentially tedious and hardcore geeky boat-maintenance material imminent. Some readers might want to skip ahead].
I ran out to boat this week to replace some batteries. My thought was to replace the 5-year-old pair of suspect Group 27 lead acid batteries that comprise the House side. I didn’t have any suspicions about the Group 27 starter battery, and being generally in favor of making the most of any item before recycling or disposing of it, I figured I could get away with a bit more use from that (though I would have to be careful to keep it isolated from the newer house batteries, lest the cranky (sorry, couldn’t resist) old starter battery corrupt them with its decrepitude). So I removed the House batteries and lugged them to a dock cart. Then, in an unusual-for-me moment of conservatism, I went back and removed the starter battery as well. Might as well get it load-tested, I decided.
Off to Stevens Battery Warehouse in Annapolis I went. I will go to almost any length these days to avoid West Marine. Stupid, insultingly, overpriced, and increasingly an outlet for powerboaters looking for yet another cooler or beanbag. I threw the house batteries up on the test bench and we load-tested them. Weak, but not failed. We threw the starter battery up on the test bench and load-tested it. Completely failed. Glad I brought it with me. I returned to Moondust with two new deep-cycle Exide Group 27 lead-acid batteries, one new Exide Group 27 starter battery, and a sizable hole in my wallet (though not anywhere near as sizable as the hole West Marine would have gouged me with).
They are now installed, and ready to go. I’m looking forward to the next mini-cruise to test all that new battery power out, and see whether the fridge goes back to operating normally (that would be really nice). I am also glad to have a reliable battery bank, because I just signed up for my second round with the annual Annapolis Yacht Club Doublehanded Distance Race, Oct. 2-3. Lots of autopilot and power draw in that one overnight. And now maybe the beer will stay cold too.
Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky: Sailors are highly creative when it comes to inventing ridiculous stunts, and this is irresistible. How high would you hang on (click image to see what I mean)?
Humpback megapod? Yes, it happens…
Culture Clash: This recent Faroes dolphin slaughter is horrific and shocking. But as the Faroese and Japanese who engage in drive hunts correctly point out, it is no less cruel than factory farming, which confines, abuses, and slaughters billions of animals every year. Billions. Think on it, before you get too righteously outraged…
Going Local: How can I resist a short film about the Chesapeake Bay?
Have a great weekend…
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