Orion Jr at the LaBelle Town docks It wasn't a big move, but we finally headed out of Port LaBelle Marina for our next destination – the LaBelle town docks. It was only 3 miles and one opening bridge away, but at least we had cast off the dock lines. We made a couple of more significant improvements to the boat before heading out and even managed to make a trip to Cape Coral for a great Thanksgiving with “family”.
Solar Upgrade
They are thin and light. Four of them produce the same wattage as all five of the panels Orion Jr sported last season. These are our new semi-flexible solar panels that we installed on the bimini shortly after arriving at LaBelle. After considering various options, we opted for 2- 30W and 2 – 90W panels, which are mounted on the bimini on each side of the boom. Given the different dimensions of the new panels, we had to modify the bimini attachment points and create a new channel to allow the wires and thicker MC4 connections to pass over the bimini and down to the solar controller mounted in the port cockpit locker. They also have a blocking diode that ensures the current flows toward the batteries from the panels, but not the other way around. The only downside of the new panels is that they are not as shade-tolerant as the 3 flexible panels that used to sit atop the bimini. So, we needed to ensure they were mounted as far from the boom as possible to minimize shade, and also we needed to expect that we would routinely lose half of the panels, assuming the boom cast a shadow in one direction or the other.
They are thin and light. Four of them produce the same wattage as all five of the panels Orion Jr sported last season. These are our new semi-flexible solar panels that we installed on the bimini shortly after arriving at LaBelle. After considering various options, we opted for 2- 30W and 2 – 90W panels, which are mounted on the bimini on each side of the boom. Given the different dimensions of the new panels, we had to modify the bimini attachment points and create a new channel to allow the wires and thicker MC4 connections to pass over the bimini and down to the solar controller mounted in the port cockpit locker. They also have a blocking diode that ensures the current flows toward the batteries from the panels, but not the other way around. The only downside of the new panels is that they are not as shade-tolerant as the 3 flexible panels that used to sit atop the bimini. So, we needed to ensure they were mounted as far from the boom as possible to minimize shade, and also we needed to expect that we would routinely lose half of the panels, assuming the boom cast a shadow in one direction or the other.
Once Cathy modified the bimini to accept the panels, Dave mounted them, simply using wire ties to attach them to the new webbing strips – a much simpler process than the complicated tie-down used before. He then used some Y-connectors and T-connectors to join the panels to each other and route them to the solar controller in the port cockpit locker. Once in place, the panels were working great. Since we hadn't yet removed the 2 rigid panels that sat on the PVC arch, the 6 panels together were keeping up with our usage enough that we didn't need to run the Honda generator for days at a time. Eventually, we'll remove the arch and sell the two panels mounted there. In the meantime, we're flush with power – as long as the days are sunny.
New tiller cover More Boat Stuff
Keeping up with the Joneses. As Cathy did some repairs and sewing for other cruisers, Dave kept coming up with ideas for Jr to keep up. Why don't we have a tiller cover? Maybe we'd get more air flow with another set of larger mesh screens? OK. OK. So, in short order, a tiller cover appeared and this one even had a webbing strap to hold the tiller up and out of the way in the cockpit. And that 2nd set of screens appeared. With the warm weather and the persistent bugs, the increased air flow while still keeping the pests at bay was appreciated.
Keeping up with the Joneses. As Cathy did some repairs and sewing for other cruisers, Dave kept coming up with ideas for Jr to keep up. Why don't we have a tiller cover? Maybe we'd get more air flow with another set of larger mesh screens? OK. OK. So, in short order, a tiller cover appeared and this one even had a webbing strap to hold the tiller up and out of the way in the cockpit. And that 2nd set of screens appeared. With the warm weather and the persistent bugs, the increased air flow while still keeping the pests at bay was appreciated.
Quick-disconnect installed on forward fuel tank In the meantime, Dave kept busy with his own projects. He installed quick-disconnects on the fuel tanks, so that they can be removed without using a tool. This makes them more compliant with Coast Guard regulations. Despite our best efforts in the spring, several dock lines spent a lot of their time over the summer in the water. So, one by one, he soaked and scrubbed them to remove the growth and associated smell. We decided to move the sewing machine off the boat, storing it now in the truck. That meant we no longer had anything to serve as a backstop on the shelf it previously occupied, allowing our clothes to fall down behind the shelf on the floor. So Dave found a way to extend the existing shelf, epoxying a support against the hull, and then simply cutting a foam board to fit into the gap. It works well. No more clothes on the floor.
PVC protection for toe rail against anchor chain We continued to work to clean up the boat's exterior. Dave cleaned the stain off the waterline, and then we worked together to wax the hull. Cathy waxed the upper deck to restore and protect it as well. After mulling over the problem for a while, Dave came up with a new solution to the problem of protecting the toe rail from the anchor chain paying out over it as it is deployed or retrieved. Using a length of PVC and flexible hose and a few cable ties, he sandwiched the toe rail between the 2 tubes, creating a bridge that might be able to protect it. We'll see how it works when we anchor for the first time.
Finally, we had to make a repair to the hinge on the forward hatch, once Cathy opened it one morning only to discover that it was swinging wildly, since one hinge had broken in half. We had purchased a replacement hinge two years ago, since the one hinge had a crack in it, but this was the first time we had reason to actually fit it in place. The footprint looked really close, but was it exactly the same? Apparently so. We managed to fit the new hinges in place, but unfortunately, we didn't have exactly the right length bolts. (The predecessors had been cut off to get the right length.) So, the hinges work well for now, but we'll have to keep looking for the unusual size bolts to do the installation right.
The hinge wasn't the only emergency repair that we had to do. Our short trip to LaBelle was more eventful than it should have been because the engine kept shutting down. We switched fuel tanks and it then ran smoothly. The problem was two pinch points in the fuel hose on the one tank. Dave replaced the hose and the engine ran smoothly on both tanks again. The summer heat once again caused 2 wooden blocks that we had epoxied to the hull to support the water tank and to support the dinghy seats to fall off. We replaced them taking more care to clean and sand both the block and the hull surface to get a better bond. Maybe we got it right this time. Cathy loves crawling into that locker to fix these things, so she's especially hopeful they stay put.
The hinge wasn't the only emergency repair that we had to do. Our short trip to LaBelle was more eventful than it should have been because the engine kept shutting down. We switched fuel tanks and it then ran smoothly. The problem was two pinch points in the fuel hose on the one tank. Dave replaced the hose and the engine ran smoothly on both tanks again. The summer heat once again caused 2 wooden blocks that we had epoxied to the hull to support the water tank and to support the dinghy seats to fall off. We replaced them taking more care to clean and sand both the block and the hull surface to get a better bond. Maybe we got it right this time. Cathy loves crawling into that locker to fix these things, so she's especially hopeful they stay put.
Dave and Tom on Thanksgiving Day Turkey Day and more
Our departure from Port LaBelle was delayed longer than we had hoped due to the windy weather brought by a cold front Thanksgiving week. The same front that brought cold and lousy weather to much of the rest of the country. We didn't let it de-rail our plans too much. Instead we drove to Tom and Dau's house for Thanksgiving dinner, spending the day with them, their son Grady, Dau's mom and step-dad and Dau's sister and brother-in-law. It was a big family gathering and we felt privileged to be able to join all of Cathy's “cousins” for the day.
Our departure from Port LaBelle was delayed longer than we had hoped due to the windy weather brought by a cold front Thanksgiving week. The same front that brought cold and lousy weather to much of the rest of the country. We didn't let it de-rail our plans too much. Instead we drove to Tom and Dau's house for Thanksgiving dinner, spending the day with them, their son Grady, Dau's mom and step-dad and Dau's sister and brother-in-law. It was a big family gathering and we felt privileged to be able to join all of Cathy's “cousins” for the day.
Learning about honey from the expert Before heading to Cape Coral for the holiday dinner, we stopped by the Harold Curtis Honey store to check out a local honey producer. We got to spend some time talking to the proprietor, learning how their honey is made and the intricacies of managing the hives. It was an interesting discussion, and we left with some delicious honey to take to Tom and Dau's.
Produce from the Farmer's Market As we provisioned the boat, we discovered a wonderful Farmer's Market in town on Saturdays. In addition to some fresh produce (including some huge Florida avocados), there was fresh bread, and the best tacos we've ever had. We tried enchiladas made the way native Mexicans eat them, with lettuce, diced carrots and potatoes and sour cream on top. Then there was the “fruit cup” stand, which always had a line. We bought one, declining their offer to top it with chili pepper, but accepted the salt and lime. The combination of melon, chunks of fresh coconut, pineapple, cucumber, some crunchy white stuff --- it was all good. Needless to say, we made sure we made it back for a 2nd trip.
Early morning fog at Port LaBelle Where to?
So, we keep figuring out where we're headed on our cruise. Since we plan to leave the boat back at Port LaBelle when we travel north for Christmas, we'll only be out and about for a couple of weeks. Maybe we'll head to Cayo Costa or Fort Myers Beach. We've already promised Tom and Dau that we'll come back by boat. And then there's Franklin Lock. We're not in a hurry, so it will give us time to explore. And at least we're moving again.
So, we keep figuring out where we're headed on our cruise. Since we plan to leave the boat back at Port LaBelle when we travel north for Christmas, we'll only be out and about for a couple of weeks. Maybe we'll head to Cayo Costa or Fort Myers Beach. We've already promised Tom and Dau that we'll come back by boat. And then there's Franklin Lock. We're not in a hurry, so it will give us time to explore. And at least we're moving again.
