We couldn’t let all of 2016 pass without a single blog
entry. Unfortunately, there was little
cruising this year, just a few short local trips; Tarpon Springs, Clearwater,
Caladesi Island. Not to say we haven’t
been on the boat a lot, we have completed several serious upgrades to Adagio.
Doubled AGM battery bank from 440 amp hours to 880. This was achieved by changing from golf cart batteries
to extended height GC Batteries. Looking
back, we would have done it differently, not using a battery box, just using
battery hold downs. Since the new
batteries were also double the weight, over 100# each, we had to wrestle the
batteries into the boxes, then slide the boxes into place where there were
secured.
Replaced radar / antennae mast. Just didn’t like the arrangement on the old
mast. Moved both 8-foot VHF antennae
from mast location to pilothouse hand rails.
Moved wi-fi booster antenna from hand rails to mast. Sold the old mast.
Replaced radar with Furuno NXT, still trying to sell the old
radome.
Replaced KVH satellite antenna and DirecTV receiver, sold the
older KVH units through AGLCA.
Upgraded the Battery Isolator from a 2-bank battery system to
a 3-bank system. This was to prepare for
addition of Bow Thruster / Anchor Winch dedicated batteries which will be done
spring 2017. Sold the 2-bank isolator
through MTOA.
Repaired freezer, the plastic housing over the evaporator
broke several times last year. Added auxiliary
fan operated by manual switch. This is
attempt to improve air flow over the evaporator and reduce compressor locker
temperature. The fan will only be turned
on when underway (it’s too noisy otherwise) on high temperature days.
Moved AIS box from helm to port side locker and modified some
of the port side locker wiring circuits for the Auto Pilot.
Re-cabled most of the NMEA2000 system due to some intermittent
display issues. Installed a
ActiSense NMEA2000-NMEA0183 Gateway into the system.
Also, experimented with the new iCommunicate Signal K box.
Replaced both 30-amp shore power inlets. Both inlets were operating at too high a
temperature, cleaning the terminals only helped marginally. Would like to design temperature monitor
system other than “by touch.”
Moved PC GPS antenna from loose in the pilothouse to mounted
on the dummy stack topside.
Added Engine Raw Water Flow Alarm. This gives me a chance to shut down the engine before temperature rise in case of no coolant water flow to engine; i.e. failed raw water impeller.
Added Engine Raw Water Flow Alarm. This gives me a chance to shut down the engine before temperature rise in case of no coolant water flow to engine; i.e. failed raw water impeller.
We are still working on cruising plans for 2017. At least one of us wants to head up the east coast to Canada and the Great Lakes.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all.
