![\"10-21-16a-023\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/10-21-16a-023.jpg\")
What a marathon day\u2026<\/p>\nWhen I was young and feeling totally overwhelmed my mother would often say \u201cit\u2019s always darkest before the dawn\u201d, her way of telling us that things were going to be better soon.\u00a0 And those words are as prophetic now as they were then and never ring more true than when I am trying to get Pandora ready for a new season aboard.<\/p>\n
The boat yard where Pandora was hauled a few weeks ago has been buzzing with activity with boats being hauled constantly and everyone frantically fitting winter covers, winterizing engines and water systems in anticipation of the freezing weather that is just around the corner.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yes, winter will soon be upon us as the green of summer gives way to the fiery colors of autumn along the CT River.<\/p>\n
Unlike most others, fall marks the beginning of a new season afloat. \u00a0While Pandora is \u201ccommissioned\u201d year round, we don’t spend much time aboard during the summer. \u00a0This summer our time afloat was limited to a few nights for me and Brenda and a quick two week trip to Maine for me with some friends and a club cruise with a few day-sails rounding out the season. \u00a0 For us, the commissioned season really begins as the leaves drop and I head south in preparation for the winter aboard.<\/p>\n
This season we again head south, this time to the eastern Caribbean, beginning in the BVI.\u00a0 For now, I\u2019ll be heading to Hampton VA, next Tuesday, to hang out with the participants in the Salty Dawg Rally to the Caribbean.\u00a0\u00a0 After that, off to Beaufort NC where Pandora will sit in a slip until mid-January when I will rejoin her for a run to the BVI and the Bitter End Yacht Club.<\/p>\n
The last few months have been a blur with a frantic rush to finish the bathroom that I began working on early this summer, clear in the knowledge that all that stood between me and \u201cthe gallows\u201d was a finished bathroom that Brenda could use , hopefully sooner than later.\u00a0 I think it looks terrific.\u00a0 More importantly, Brenda feels the same way.<\/p>\n
That project took a few months longer than anticipated was a our master bathroom but it\u2019s done now. \u00a0 There were delays along the way, but we won\u2019t talk about my two weeks in Maine that brought progress to a standstill.\u00a0 No, I prefer to say that it was a much more complex job than I had anticipated and I needed a few weeks in Maine to “reflect” on next steps. \u00a0Brenda, however, might not see things exactly the same way.\u00a0 I kept telling her that, as the highway department always says, \u201cthank you for your patience, the inconvenience is temporary but the repairs are permanent\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0 Not sure she was totally convinced.<\/p>\n
Never the less, I did end up paying quite a price for the delays as once the bath was done I only had a few weeks to get Pandora ready for the water.\u00a0\u00a0 And, along the way, we had to fit in two trips to Brenda\u2019s publisher in PA,\u00a0 trips to the subject of her book, Archie near Albany. \u00a0As I write this we are heading from Albany to Baltimore for our second trip to Baltimore to visit our son Rob and his pregnant wife Kandice in just a few weeks, for a baby shower too. Did I mention that we will soon be grandparents?\u00a0\u00a0 Yes, so exciting.\u00a0 Crazy busy too\u2026<\/p>\n
Yesterday\u2019s trip to Albany was to photograph some of Archie\u2019s work for the book, a total of 165 pieces that he has in his personal collection.\u00a0\u00a0 Some of the larger pieces had to be held up to shoot. \u00a0\u201cJust hold that position for a few moments.\u00a0\u00a0 Wait\u2026one more shot.\u00a0 Can you raise the right side \u00bc\u201d?\u201dWhat a marathon day\u2026<\/p>\n
Today, off to Brenda\u2019s publisher to return the photo equipment. \u00a0 Here is Archie and Brenda celebrating the end of a long day and job well done. ![\"10-21-16a-024\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/10-21-16a-024.jpg\")
Aren\u2019t they cute together?<\/p>\n
So, along with everything I somehow found time to get Pandora ready and this coming Monday, first thing, she goes back in the water.\u00a0 Weather permitting I\u2019ll head out with my friend Jim for Hampton late Monday or Tuesday.\u00a0 Fingers crossed that everything falls into place as planned.<\/p>\n
The GRIBS suggest a \u201cbrisk\u201d run south.\u00a0 Lots of \u201cflags\u201d forecasting strong NW winds.![\"10-21-16-grib\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/10-21-16-grib.png\")
The biggest project of this season was to take the higher capacity water maker from our old boat and combine it with the smaller unit that came with \u201cnew\u201d Pandora.<\/p>\n
Both units are Spectra but the one from \u201cold\u201d Pandora is manual and the one on \u201cnew\u201d Pandora is highly automated. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This is a shot of the two membranes next to each other in my shop.\u00a0 The \u201cnew\u201d one is a lot larger.![\"10-14-16a-012\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/10-14-16a-012-1.jpg\")
Spectra has an automated system they call \u201cMPC\u201d, basically a computer that controls it\u2019s functions including startup as well as deciding when to divert \u201cproduct water\u201d to the tanks.\u00a0 It even flushes the salt water out of the system and shuts it down when the tanks are full.\u00a0 It\u2019s a terrific system.\u00a0 Expensive, but terrific.<\/p>\n
Years ago I did some research on which system to put on \u201cold\u201d Pandora and settled quickly on Spectra as it uses a unique pump that is far more efficient than any other on the market with electricity consumption about a half to a third of what other systems use.\u00a0 This means that a good solar array, such as is aboard Pandora, can power the system along with nearly everything else aboard.\u00a0 This is important to us as we don\u2019t have a house generator and still need a good supply of water.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Remember, a clean Brenda is a happy Brenda.<\/p>\n
I described why I decided on Spectra in this post a few years ago<\/a>.<\/p>\n The switch over from \u201cold to new\u201d units was more of a process of creating a \u201chybrid\u201d system utilizing the automation of the Ventura system<\/a> that came with \u201cnew\u201d Pandora and the extra output and larger membrane of the Cape Horn Extreme system<\/a> from \u201cold\u201d Pandora.<\/p>\n The basic difference the two units was first, capacity, with the Ventura system putting out 6 gallons per hour, on it\u2019s best day, and the Cape Horn Extreme 7-14 GPH depending on the use of one or two pressure pumps.\u00a0 The problem is that Spectra doesn\u2019t want to get involved with someone trying to configure what is in essence a hybrid semi-automatic unit.\u00a0\u00a0 So, after thinking about the problem for about a year, I think I came up with a pretty elegant solution.<\/p>\n My solution was to use a single pump, which the MPC computer was designed for, as the primary driver for the unit. Along with a second pump, when I needed higher output, on it\u2019s own power supply and switch, so I could switch it on manually when I need more output.\u00a0\u00a0 This is a shot of the old pump layout. I have had problems with sound from the pumps resonating through the bulkhead and decided to add some vibration dampers.\u00a0 Note that the black square dampers in the corners isolate the pump unit from the bulkhead along with the damper \u201cfeet\u201d that isolate the booster pump from the board itself. \u00a0I purchased the mounts from McMaster Carr.<\/a> \u00a0They have just about everything you can imagine.\u00a0![\"10-14-16a-013\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/10-14-16a-013.jpg\")
The new system, with two pumps is set up with the one on the right serving as a \u2018booster\u201d when more capacity is needed. \u00a0\u00a0![\"10-21-16a-004\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/10-21-16a-004.jpg\")
I ran this idea by the manufacturer as well as their rep here in New England and both thought my idea was sound.<\/p>\n![\"10-21-16a-006\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/10-21-16a-006.jpg\")
I hope that this cuts down the noise.<\/p>\n
![\"10-21-16a-005\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/10-21-16a-005.jpg\")
She\u2019s also all shined up.\u00a0 \u00a0You can see your reflection in her hull.![\"10-21-16a-011\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/10-21-16a-011.jpg\")
With the sometimes overwhelming list of \u201cto-do\u2019s\u201d and finding myself potentially facing grave \u201cmarital strife\u201d if I didn\u2019t get that bathroom done, it felt pretty dark there for a while. \u00a0Mom, your words rang true once again as the sun did finally did come up.<\/p>\n![\"10-21-16a-003\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/10-21-16a-003.jpg\")
Crap just about everywhere. \u00a0![\"10-21-16a-001\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/10-21-16a-001.jpg\")
Some spilled out into the cockpit. ![\"10-21-16a-002\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/10-21-16a-002.jpg\")
However, sun the sun came up after all and everything is back in place.![\"4-26-15a-012\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/4-26-15a-012.jpg\")
So now, let\u2019s hope that the weather window is there for a departure for warmer climes as planned next week.<\/p>\n