Sailing, Solar, and Shower Confessions: The Dirty Truth

Feb 28

So, Joe ran us aground. Yep, you heard that right. We had just entered the Alligator-Pungo Canal, minding our own business, when a barge—big as a floating apartment complex—decided to pass us. Joe, trying to be polite, nudged over just a smidge, and BAM! We hit something HARD. The kind of hard that makes your stomach drop and your life choices flash before your eyes. But credit where it's due—Joe immediately cut the power, so we didn’t grind into oblivion. Luckily, backing out was easy, and we were back in business. I made sure to put him back at the wheel to keep his confidence up. Can’t have the man losing his nerve—who else is gonna cook dinner?

Speaking of running aground… I hit my first boat ever! We arrived safely, and I was feeling great—no issues, smooth sailing. Docking is always a little stressful, but I’ve handled some tricky spots before, and this one seemed easy. No current, light wind, and I had my approach all lined up. Backing in was going perfectly... until I ran aground. The docking area was shallow—a little too shallow. No big deal, though—I got off the ground and went for a different angle. But then, the wind had other plans. It nudged me sideways... slowly... ever so gently... right into another Antares. Yep. I hit another Antares. Did I ever tell you about my very nice toe rails? Well, thanks to those, my boat was completely fine. The other guy? Just a small chip in the gel coat lip around his bow. So yeah, I ran into my first boat, but at least it won’t be a major repair. Just a little “love tap” to keep things interesting!

Speaking of which, everything on this trip has run like clockwork. I mapped out 10-hour sailing days at six knots, and like magic, every evening we ended up where we needed to anchor—sometimes even ahead of schedule. And let me tell you, eating regular meals with Joe again has been a blast. Just a lot of food. Being single, I need to watch it! But the real kicker? Joe is like a woman when it comes to food planning. Before I even have my morning coffee, he’s already asking what’s for dinner so it can start defrosting. I never think that far ahead—I’m convinced this is some "Donna Training Camp" graduate-level skill.

Now, no sailing trip is complete without a few hiccups, and our list of casualties is growing. First, that damn salon door decided to stage a protest—first, it wouldn’t open, then it wouldn’t close. So, that’s on the repair list. Then, there was this high-pitched noise that had us thinking we were under attack by an angry dolphin. Turns out, it was the Arid Bilge system—when it clogs, it lets out a whistle that could shatter glass. Easy fix, though—just hit it with the bike tire air compressor. And then the fuel gauges started bouncing around like they were possessed. The more I think about it, the more I suspect it’s the tank sensor. The “Ex” used to be amazed at how I figured these things out—what she knew well that sometimes I just needed to sleep on it and let my brain do its thing, constantly reminding me of this.

Now, about the solar upgrade. I’ve been going back and forth, but I think I’ve nailed down the plan to get me 3,120 watts (maybe more). Here’s what’s on deck for the entire upgrade being done:

Next 3 Weeks:

Installing three inverters (plus a cooling fan system under the seats).
Upgrading to 1,200 AH lithium batteries.
Adding a DC-DC charger for the engine batteries and generator.
Swapping in a new color GX Touch screen and Cerbo controller.
Installing a 50Hz transformer system.
Adding two more solar controllers.
Putting soft starts on all AC units so I can have air-conditioning when at anchor.
Removing the SSB electronics, head unit, and its antenna.
Replacing the SSB head unit with a new 9” chart plotter at the Nav station.
Completely rewiring the boat so everything (oven, water heaters, washer/dryer, watermaker, etc.) runs off batteries. Dock power will just be for recharging. This setup should cut down electricity costs big time since solar will handle most of the load year-round.

When I Return to Annapolis:

Installing a stainless-steel arch assembly for solar panels.
Mounting the Starlink and Iridium Go antennas on stainless steel supports.
Installing six solar panels (maybe replacing two in the cockpit), taking total solar capacity from 1,200W to over 3,200W!
Designing and sewing a Sunbrella panel to waterproof the back deck. It'll have a zip-out section in the center so I can still see the sail while underway.

Now, onto the "First Mate" situation. My chats with “Ohana Lisa” are going well—she’s got a solid sense of humor and a good vibe. Naturally, I hit her with my classic icebreakers, the same ones "Old Lisa" and "The Ex" probably still roll their eyes about.

"Smooth or crunchy?" (Gotta see if they can handle a little weird.)
"What side of the bed do you sleep on?" (Her response was funny, but I had to remind her our relationship is platonic for now!)
And, of course, the ultimate test: "Do you pee in the shower?" This isn’t about hygiene, or to see if they are a germaphobe neat freak appalled by the question —it’s about honesty. If she acts too prim and proper, we got problems. Lucky for me, she’s a true boater chick, so we’re good!

Sailing, solar, and shower talk—just another day in the life. Cheers!