A week. . . in Solomons

Sorry it has been a little longer since my last post. We have been spending long days working on the boat to get the electronic system upgraded. This meant completely taking out the batteries, the wires and switches for the DC power system all the way up to the distribution chanel (break panel). Kevin is reconfiguring it to add in the new batteries as well as 3 new 5 kW inverter/chargers. This will allow us to have AC power all the time, and lots of it, to support our electric galley, as well as decrease our dependance on our generator. We are also adding in over 3kW of solar panels and associated charging electronics. All this to say, that we have had no power on the boat for the last week. It has been slow work and of course, things always take longer than expected. This is especially true when you are pulling out wires that have been worked on several times or been added to with little regards to the final results. There are layers upon layers of old wires that Kevin and Owen have had to trace back before pulling them out.

The week started with moving into a marina. Then, we spent a morning removing the chain from our boat and taking it to Baltimore to have it re-galvanized. The chain is 78m long and 600lbs. It took a true ‘chain gang’ to move it off the boat and onto the truck. We were told at Baltimore that we ‘left it to the last minute’ with our chain. It was truly rusted and falling apart. To re-galvanize it they said that they would have to burn it twice and dip it in acid twice to remove all the rust before galvanizing it. We are very excited to see what the chain looks like when we get it back. We also had our old anchor, ‘Dragon’, re-galvanized as a back-up.

The trip to Baltimore was quick but I have had little experience on the east coast of the U.S., so it was lovely to see the country side. We also had the opportunity to stop briefly and have tacos and talk to the sailmakers in Annapolis. We have arranged to have them do some final repairs of our sails in preparation for our trip across the Atlantic. We want our boat in top shape.

We have rented a house in Solomons and have enjoyed the conveniences of a house. It is funny how quickly you can get use to a way of life, be it a smaller boat to live on, or a larger house with all the appliances. One week here and already I feel like we have been here for ages. Our rental house here is only 4 blocks from the marina. So, we start the morning with a pleasant walk though a very well-planned neighbourhood, outlined with multiple marinas. Then, we do work until the little kids (everyone but Owen who is acting the apprentice to Kevin, the electrician) and I go back for lunch. Then, more work at the boat before the little kids and I go for a swim in the marina’s pool right before dinner time. We head back to the house for dinner and call the bigger boys ‘home’ when it is ready. It has become a routine. While Kevin and Owen tear apart and rebuild the electronics, I, with some of Halyna’s help, am doing odd end jobs like putting on mast steps, making new electrical panel doors and building batteries. Today, my job was to take down our mainsail in preparation to have it repaired by the shop in Annapolis. That was a 3-hour affair involving a lot of heaving on the sail which probably weights about 300lbs. Owen and Kevin pitched in with folding it because, let’s face it, I am not THAT strong. We are having the sail people repair the batten pockets (one is torn open allowing the batten inside to move around and threaten to fall out) and some of the chaffing around the head and luff of the sail.

We did have a chance to wander and have dinner in town once this week. Solomons is very small but a good place to do boatwork, at least for us, because it is only a short drive to bigger places with all the shopping we could want and the marina has a courtesy vehicles for us to use! Also, being a boating town, there are marine related shops here despite the limited retail area.

The weather here has been so warm this week. It has been challenging to remain cool, especially since the air-conditioner is off. Luckily we have water to drink from a hose, but we could really do with some ice! We have therefore been so happy to return to the air-conditioning of the house at the end of the day.

Our plan for the next few days is up in the air because we are not sure how quickly Kevin and Owen can put the system back together with all the new parts. It looks like the new batteries will not be put in because the battery tray is too small so we have to widen it before they are installed, but the old batteries can be use in the meantime to get us motoring up to Annapolis to pick-up our sail and continue our journey towards New York (now only about 5 days of sailing away). Kevin will have to continue his work as we go.