Removing old gel batteries
Removing old gel batteries
Picture of Arnd

Arnd

2024-02-22 Heavy lifting

Start of a busy day

I knew that today would be a busy one, but still had to do several hours of work online before I could head to the boatyard.

Repaired genoa being loaded
Repaired genoa being loaded

My first job was to get the repaired genoa from Andy at In Stitches, he completed the work. The sail was flaked and it fit into the back of my car much better than last time. I got it out of the back and rigged up a spare halyard to hoist it up on deck.

About to hoist the genoa
About to hoist the genoa

Thanks to electric winches, this wasn’t much work at all and I soon had it on the forward deck. Andy had told me that he’d come by tomorrow afternoon to help me hoist the sail.

The repaired genoa now has a steel ring instead of the nylon loops so there should no longer be a chafe problem.

Noon
Battery Compartment 2
Battery Compartment 2

The battery issue took quite a bit more work. First off, the access to the main bank underneath the galley isn’t great, so I left those 4 in place (but disconnected them) and went about removing the other 4 Group 31 AGMs, each weighing 70Lbs/32Kg. I had to remove part of the carpentry to get at the cables and connectors and it was a hot and sweaty job.  I am replacing them with the only batteries available to me at the chandlery, 2x starter batteries. This is not optimal, but is sufficient to get me to St. Martin, where I’ll get the permanent batteries.

Afternoon
Prop speed application
Prop speed application

The battery replacement took me into the late afternoon, and while I was doing this, one of they yard guys was cleaning my prop and applying Prop Speed. This base layer and clear coat should keep the propellor from fouling and I hope it will make it much more efficient. I’ve read that just a bit of fouling on the prop can reduce performance 10% or more so I hope that this product lives up to the hype.

Prop speed curing
Prop speed curing

After calling it a day, I dropped by Jeannette at the Fig N’ Bluggoe for a cold refreshment and the returned to the cottage. The winds remain very light so it is a bit warm in the cottage, but compared to the broiler inside Zanshin during the day it is positively cool.