Battery Box

At our last OBC gathering, one of the fellows, let’s call him “Rob”, showed up with a 100 Ah LiFePo battery in a fabricated plywood box with USB and 12v outlets. Yes, 100 amp hours! That’s enough to charge your mobile phone and cameras for life. Not satisfied there, he is now considering adding a solar panel to keep his new found electrical wealth (and ballast) topped off. I must confess, I was envious. None of the small LiPo charge banks I’ve purchased have lasted nor delivered enough juice over a week’s cruise. I’ve a small foldable small solar panel too, but it has always been lacking. After years of bumming additional charges and cords, I got tired of being electron poor. Now I have my own bank using an old ammo box, a 50Ah batt, a couple outlets and wood scraps. The battery is centered in the box for ease of lifting and carrying. A remainder space offers storage for extra cords, phone, iPod, etc. AUW is 15 pounds. Light enough. Though not waterproof, the setup is quite water resistant, portable and can be readily positioned about the boat, or, used elsewhere. A printed chart equates battery capacity to voltage which is read off the USB outlet. We’re set now. Onwards and upwards!

I hear some of you, “What’s next? Widescreen TV?! Inverter? Blender?” Hmm, now you have me thinking. Margaritas anyone?

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Carolina Chilling

8 OBC members dwindled to 5 stout boaters. 5 hours south of home didn’t amount to warmer air temps, but the water wasn’t as cold thankfully. Beaufort, NC was our destination. We had a sailing rumpus. UNA, Zephyr, Jolie, Liberte and newbie, Trim, started the season early. It was an exhilaratingly good time. Ready to go again!

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It’s a Wrap

Tucked in for a few months.

I awoke excited to see Little Bird this morning. I hadn’t visited her for almost 2 weeks. A hoped for sail between Christmas and New Years didn’t happen. I do however catch a frequent glimpse of her green hull across the creek through the trees. Her proud bow points her sprit in my direction to face those days of NE winds that beat a path downriver. I imagine Bird saying, “I’m here. Let’s go.”

We’ve shared some lovely sails and overnight cruises this past year. Now winterized, bare of sails and under cover, Little Bird will once again wait patiently for a haul out and freshen up. That will be sooner than we expect, but not soon enough. New gunnel guard is planned for the dinghy Gigi. She will be a better freight and dog hauler for future cruises. The pram Tuna though significantly lighter is a wee under what’s needed here.

The days are getting longer. We can dream of Spring, some boatyard work and that first overnighter which has always been sublime-

On By eebe4In Frances 26- LITTLE BIRD, Frances projects4 Comments

The UNA Roll

In construction she got 2 coats of each: epoxy, primer and paint. After now over 9 years since launch and many miles under her keel, UNA is ready for a refresh. Despite all her bumps and scrapes, she is still beautiful! Iain Oughtred has an eye for the sweet line.

I doubled over two 4″ wide x 30′ nylon straps, shackled the massive “D” rings overhead and fastened the opposite end with jury rigged block and tackle to hoist the old girl, remove the trailer and substitute long saw horses. Then with safety lines to control the rotation, a come-along strung across the garage allowed for a manageable flip.

The worst of the wear is at the keel and bow stem where the naval brass half oval is just shy of covering the timber. We’ll need to rethink whether to replace the brass with wider bits. That will be a heavier look.

Now the fun begins-

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Back in The Box


While we’re noting changes, my galley box is updated. I was prompted by, I won’t say whom, a fellow sailer who nearly turned his double ender into a Viking funeral pyre! Yep. He scorched his floor boards while cooking another five course meal. Apparently a three foot diameter iron skillet can generate and reflect enough heat to warrant a fire extinguisher.

As they say, the best experience is someone else’s. So, I screwed copper to the back of my box and added stainless to the bottom making a safer windscreen. Plastic laminate was glued to the removable shelf. A small wooden box holds utensils. Raised rubber disc tile added to the exterior top and bottom protects surfaces from getting scratched and sliding about. Lastly, a new butane stove replaces the old leaking one. Hopefully we’ve avoided more uncontrolled pyrotechnics. Just doing our part.

Chocked full
Utensil drawer and plam
Copper and stainless
New stove in windscreen
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Shelved It

The list of UNA projects never seems to deplete. That’s not a complaint, but the simple recognition of the “laws” of boat ownership. Each sail offers feedback toward improvements. One item is a road cover. For now, drop cloths serve while garaged. A weighted centerboard is high on the to-dos. Though not adjustable, a knotted loop of shock cord now suffices. That too will wait. Instead, I chose to build a small shelf under the starboard cockpit seat. That seat has been a nightstand, but things can roll off into the bilge. (Ah, another on the list! Removable for boards. The shallow space there can neither be cleaned nor accessed without much finagling. See what I mean?) Focus! Shelf: How involved could it be? Cardboard, pencil, utility knife and hot glue defined the template. Both the side of the hull and the seat edge are curved. After numerous test fits scrap okoume was cut and fine-tuned. A teak fiddle removed from Chickadee was cut for reuse. Two coats of primer, paint and three of Epifanes Rapidclear (goes on thick) and we have a “simple” shelf. If I put my phone or knife there, now I will find them at night. Another added bonus is both oars now stack to port so there’s no need to remove the starboard to port each night. Those long 9’-8” sticks take some maneuvering to relocate. Now they’ll stay lashed for actual use. Oh, and now I’ve two more ties.

Much ado about nothing I suppose. UNA is a finer ship though. Later-

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Chasing Sunsets

The Old Bay Club, our TSCA or Traditional Small Craft Association chapter gathered for several days on the water. We had an arrival picnic Thursday evening on the beach followed by 2 nights in the boats. We started on The James River near Jamestown, sail/motored to the Upper Chippokes for the second night, ran back down the James and up the Chickahominy River to Yarmouth Creek the third night. The mornings were cold, but we were rewarded immensely with gorgeous sunsets and Fall color. What’s not to like? Good pals, pretty boats, good food and drink.

Tip: sometimes two sleeping bags are better than one! Scenery found below-

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Trucking

wild dog

After reconfiguring my truck’s bed, I took a hike to Spy Rock in Nelson County, VA. My daughter, son-in-law and trusty Huckleberry joined me. We camped out of the truck off a fire road. Wonderful 360 degree views at the top under blue skies and Fall colors.

The truck now has a isolated second battery with breaker panel for lights, fan and 12v outlets. A solar controller panel is awaiting a roof panel. The berth is 36″ wide allowing easier egress and lay down area for Pups.

Boat galley box, port berth and starboard cubbies
Spy Rock NW view
couple seen along the way
dinner over open fire
rest at the top
lone shade tree
3 amigos
under berth storage, cubbies and fold down table
breaker panel

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