This Solar Arch Changes Everything On Board [Ep.19]
9 May 2026 · 26 min · 6K views · Sicily
What this video covers
A custom stainless steel solar arch arrives in pieces at a marina in Capo d'Orlando, Sicily, requiring welding before installation on Oceanaire | Wik & Rox.0:03 The fabrication team welds the arch in a parking lot, then mounts it with Sikaflex brackets; it carries six solar panels — three large, three small — plus a Starlink mount.6:49 A new bimini frame is templated for fabrication back in the Netherlands.4:10 The electrical system takes shape in parallel: three 24-volt, 300 Ah Victron lithium batteries feed a Lynx Power In, Lynx Smart BMS, and Lynx Distributor, then route to a Victron Quattro inverter-charger.1:08 A missing half-meter BMS communication cable delays the first battery test.24:00 After the crew departs, Wik cuts open the cabin sole to investigate standing water trapped beneath a non-structural polyester panel — a design flaw where the bilge pump sits higher than the void, allowing water to pool and cause osmosis blistering in the gelcoat.17:42 The section is removed, the void vacuumed out, and a repair planned using epoxy and a new panel.22:44 A watermaker also arrives for installation.24:18 Nine days remain to complete the windlass, anchor chain, sails, lines, mast work, and full electrical commissioning before departure.16:38
More from Sailing Oceanaire | Wik & Rox
From Sailing Oceanaire | Wik & Rox — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.