Today was Day Two of the solar panel install and there was general upheaval everywhere we looked: another day of watching the wiring being pulled through the bulkheads, holes being drilled on the very little remaining woodwork that was free and open to accomodate the BlueSky console and when the day was said and done, just about an hour before sunset, the cardboard was finally liftend off the solar panel and we clapped our hands with glee as we noticed a small reading come through the controller. Even an hour before sunset, and what light there was was on one panel only, and it was reading about 7 amps! Fantastique !!

Banyan came to us with one existing solar panel, however, as many times as we tested it, or played with the console parameters, we never found a reading of a charge coming through. Darrell played around with it and he confirmed what Dave's findings had showed: she's good, wires are good, current is flowing... just not sure how to manipulate the console to show the reading. Either way it wasn't enough to supply us with enough amps (electricity) to live our lives (AKA laptop, freezer, fridge and coffee machine) without running the generator, on an almost daily basis, as was evidenced by our stay in Vero Beach.



What we purchased were two Kyocera 140 watt panels from E-Marine, along with a BlueSky MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) (boosts the power coming from the solar panels into your batteries)... and a charge controller and IPN ProRemote.

Given our existing dodger/bimini structure, we needed a little something custom made, and Joe was called in to fabricate some SS (stainless steel) rods that would hold the panels on either side of the existing one.

Something happened with the clamps and E-Marine, and after a few long (and frustrating) delays, with daily phone calls going back and forth, everything finally arrived. Banyan now has the old solar panel along with its charge controller as a stand alone unit. And the two new panels are wired up separately. Dave is a wee bit concerned with the structure, and bought two more rods that he may install, should Banyan's bouncing through the waves, prove to be too much...



Thank goodness that, with the last delay (E-Marine not sending the stuff on time, and then Whiticar being delayed another few days as they had other jobs to do) there was no weather window coming up as that would really have made us cranky. Had we been delayed and there was a weather window to cross, oh no, not good ! However, all was as it was... and so,

We have to, and really want to, give A DOUBLE THUMBS UP, from both of us to: Joe, Darrell and Jad from Whiticar Boatworks who worked with us the from start to finish and made this work seem effortless. Despite the delays (which were not their fault), over an already stressful timeframe (something called Christmas Holidays that shut production down a few times over), the work, once started, got done and done fast. They were on time, respectful and considerate of our time and home, made a few minor corrections if we pointed out something that needed to be done just a bit differently, and really listened to what it is we wanted and needed.

Also, a great SHOUT-OUT to Harbortwon Marina for accomodating us, on Whiticar's time and dollars. Their facility and staff are professional, welcoming and very friendly. The only down side was the lack of laundry facilities, however, we knew about that going in, and it really wasn't an issue.

Harbor Cove Bar just at the end of our dock was way too inviting with their Happy Hour (and after two days of watching other people work on your boat, you just need a drink or two).



Their rum punch was, decidedly, a little too good !