It is time for another update. While we stay in port, damage still happens. A few weeks ago, I noticed that the anemometer was damaged. It had lost its vane and little windcups. The brother angle sensor was damaged too. The arm that connects the shaft to the rod that goes to the rudder has broken. I purchased repair parts from Jerome and material from MSC. I fixed the anemometer, and then I fabricated a new rudder arm using an acetal piece: drilling, tapping.
Then last week I noticed when I got to the boat a rotten egg smell. The batteries were being charged by the shore charger. One of the batteries was overheating and had reached a temperature of 60° c. I went down a rabbit hole of battery research, but ultimately, the two other batteries are relatively healthy, if old. For now, I will continue to use these two until I decide what my future plans are.
The space available in the battery box was such that I could only replace with a group 49 type. But this was because there were little stubbies at the bottom of the box. So I took a chisel and removed them today. I can now use battery type group 31.
With the two remaining lead-calcium batteries (after a week of resting the voltage was 12.91), I did a load test in port. With everything on, the voltage reads 12.57V: autopilot (standby), NkE, B&G, VHF, AIS, radio (volume = 17). Using the autopilot to move the rudder back and forth, the voltage drops further to 12.36-12.47 V. With everything back off, the voltage now reads 12.77 V, creeping up very slowly, like a tenth per 15-20 seconds.
That’s it for now. I’ll have to think about why that one failed when the other two are still okay. I suspect it’s the way they’re wired together. Oh, and the engine coolant was low so I topped that off. Now for pictures.
