{"id":4661,"date":"2015-06-29T13:11:11","date_gmt":"2015-06-29T13:11:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=4661"},"modified":"2015-06-29T13:12:22","modified_gmt":"2015-06-29T13:12:22","slug":"wheres-pandora-going-and-a-stop-at-mystic-for-the-wooden-boat-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=4661","title":{"rendered":"Where’s Pandora going? And, a stop at Mystic for the wooden boat show."},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s Monday morning and there remains a LOT to be done to get Pandora ready for next winter’s cruising. \u00a0In the next few days I hope to be done with the solar panel installation. \u00a0It’s a whopper of a panel measuring nearly 80″ x 40″ with a footprint of\u00a0over 20 sq feet. \u00a0That’s a lot of solar and will total, along with the four panels that are already installed, to\u00a0600 watts and plenty to manage Pandora’s electrical load including making all of our domestic water production with the RO unit. \u00a0 \"6-29-15c<\/a>\u00a0I have already run most of the wiring but came up short of the total length that I needed to connect everything. \u00a0 \u00a0So, today I’ll add an additional length of cable and everything should be about ready to put the panel on the top of the davits. Hopefully, that\u00a0will be done today so tomorrow I can begin securing the panel to the davit frame.<\/p>\n

I am hopeful that my projects will be done\u00a0by the end of the week as I am planning a week long trip with some friends up to Martha’s Vineyard and perhaps Boston. Brenda’s got plenty of weaving to do and some friends visiting so I expect that she will be able to keep herself occupied without me in the way.<\/p>\n

It will be fun to spend time on the water aboard Pandora and that will help me become more familiar with the systems on what is a complicated boat. \u00a0Speaking of complicated, on a boat like Pandora, there is nearly always something that is not working properly and now is no exception. \u00a0 The other day the bow thruster decided that it would only work powering to starboard and not port. \u00a0There are only two options, I think, that would cause this problem. \u00a0The simple fix would be a loose wire in the control “joy stick”. \u00a0I hope that’s the problem as the other option would be a solenoid, a somewhat more complicated fix. \u00a0Fingers crossed that it’s simple.<\/p>\n

On another topic, we had a bit of a mishap last week, when a particularly nasty thunderstorm came through the area and knocked down trees and power lines. Pandora was on a mooring and when the wind and current were at their worst and the mooring ball banged against the boat, leaving some really nasty scratches right through the paint. When I saw the scratches I was crushed and while I knew that scratches were inevitable, it hurt never the less. \u00a0I was able to get someone from a local paint shop to come out and cover them with matching paint and a small artist brush. \u00a0No, it’s not a proper repair but will hold me until she is hauled in early fall prior to heading south.<\/p>\n

The scratches were on both sides but worse on starboard. \u00a0Sickening.\u00a0\"FullSizeRender<\/a>Here’s the repair guy hard at work.\"6-29-15<\/a>The temporary repair looks pretty good, well at least using the “ten foot rule”. \u00a0Such is the life of a fussy boat owner.<\/p>\n

And, speaking of fussy owners. \u00a0Brenda and I took a day at Mystic Seaport to visit the Wooden Boat Show and enjoyed a remarkable display of wooden boats kept to the very highest standards. \u00a0 I doubt that there is much that comes from the hand of man that can top a beautiful wooden boat.<\/p>\n

This boat, Blue Peter, from the UK was designed by a Scott, and built in 1930. \u00a0She spends a lot of time in the Med and can be yours for a day sail if you have the dough. \u00a0Check out her site. <\/a>\u00a0 A great looking boat.\u00a0\"6-29-15<\/a>\"\"<\/a>And, if Blue Peter doesn’t have enough room for you and your friends for a day on the water, perhaps a classic Trumpy would be more your style. \u00a0 \u00a0Freedom \u00a0would e a fine choice.\"6-29-15<\/a>\"6-29-15<\/a>Imagine taking an evening stroll down her side decks, G&T in hand.\"\"<\/a>If you wear yourself out. \u00a0There’s always a comfy sofa. \u00a0\"6-29-15<\/a>And, if all else fails. \u00a0Nap time. \"6-29-15<\/a>Last winter she powered by as we made our way down the Hawk Channel in the Florida Keys. \u00a0\"\"She is the definition of elegance. \u00a0This is a lovely video of her. \u00a0