Salt & Tarvideo
Salt & Tar Ep.271- We're Back!
11 January 2024 · 24 min · 44K views
What this video covers
After a six-week break in the United States to renew visas and visit family, the crew returns to their boat in Loreto, Mexico, to resume maintenance projects.14:31 The primary technical focus involves installing a new, higher-capacity alternator to replace a unit that failed due to excessive load from a 660-amp-hour battery bank during hot summer months.13:33 To prevent future overheating and overworking of the alternator, the installation includes a Victron DC-to-DC charger, which regulates the amperage drawn by the house bank.15:16 The crew also modifies the deck and frame structure to relocate the running backstays, using eye bolts, turnbuckles, and custom-cut spacers to transfer tension directly to the hull's structural frames rather than the deck.11:12 Despite initial concerns about fitment and the need for a specific drill bit, both the alternator and the running backstay modifications are completed successfully.20:31 The crew confirms that cooler winter temperatures have restored solar panel efficiency, further stabilizing the electrical system.14:49
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