All connections made to the panels… Batteries connected to the MPPT charger… And, we have juice flowing!!! Now it’s time do some sailing. Enough boat work already!

What in the world!? Did a hurricane hit the boat? Stuff is everywhere? No…this is what happens when you try to do something as simple as wire and install this tiny wireless router. Mainly, it was snaking the wires for power back to the 12V control panel at the chart table. One curve ball was when I went to connect the wires to the switch that didn’t seem to turn anything on labeled “Accessory” I found wires connected. Well, decision time…disconnect them, tape them up and shove them to the back or follow them, figure out what they once powered, …

This morning I did a couple of boat projects all by my onesies. First, I installed and ran power to my VHF/AIS antenna splitter so I can use the VHF radio antenna at the top of the mast for AIS. I also installed my AIS receiver and hooked the splitter to it. I only felt like banging my head through the side of the boat a couple of times while contorting myself to screw a few small screws into wood. So, what is AIS? Automatic Identification System. With it, any boat in line of sight range from the VHF antenna …

Boat work…no matter how easy or straight forward the task may seem, it is rarely easy and never straight forward. The simplest of tasks will invariably end with a frozen bolt, or a stripped screw head, or needing a tool just a little different from everything you have. That 5 minute task turns into hours, a whole afternoon, or even “let’s try again tomorrow”. And, installing solar panels does not even begin to fall into the “simplest of tasks” category. Luckily, we’ve had the guys from The Yacht Rigger helping us out with projects over the last year such as …