Acorn To Arabella · video

What this video covers

Steve completes the shore power installation aboard Arabella, a wooden boat wintering on Cape Cod, and walks Robin through the full operating procedure.2:16 Shore power enters through a deck fitting, runs to an isolation transformer in the lazarette, then to an inverter/charger (a Multi Plus Compact), and finally to the AC distribution panel.5:04 Steve explains why the isolation transformer is critical on a wooden boat: it breaks the electrical loop between shore and boat, preventing galvanic corrosion and electrified water.5:04 He describes three operating modes on the inverter — charge only, inverter only, and combined — and recommends connecting shore power only to top up the battery bank rather than leaving it permanently connected, citing overcharge and fire risk.7:16 A GFI breaker with a monthly test button protects the 110V circuits.9:58 In the galley, Steve repurposes a salvaged shelf from the previous boat Victoria to build a spice rack above the sink, filling the void left by a removed wood stove with modular cabinetry.14:34 Starlink hardware is mounted in the forward face of the cockpit, clipped into plastic housings for easy removal.1:12 Steve and Robin visit a Cape Cod Maritime Museum, where a guide covers the 1898 Portland Gale, lighthouse keeper artifacts, U.S. Life Saving Service history, and a 1944 surf boat under restoration.19:11

More from Acorn To Arabella

We Stripped Our Wooden Sailboat Back to Bare Wood... AgainOct 2026Saying Goodbye to Newfoundland—and the Man Who Inspired ArabellaSept 2026Upgrading the Rudder and Another Trek To The CliffAug 2026We're Climbing a Wall No One Has Ever Climbed Before | Rock Climbing on Newfoundland's South CoastJul 2026

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