Acorn To Arabella · video

What this video covers

Arabella, a cruising sailboat, completes a passage from Key West to the Dry Tortugas.6:46 While anchored at Garden Key, the crew explores local snorkeling sites, including Africa Reef and Loggerhead Key, using their dinghy, Victoria.8:29 During the stay, the crew reactivates their Spectra water maker after a period of storage.16:59 The process involves replacing the charcoal and pre-filters, flushing the system with seawater for one hour to remove storage chemicals, and verifying the output salinity remains below 500 parts per million.17:43

Separately, the owner attempts to install a Garmin Reactor 40 autopilot system.22:21 The project requires integrating a Pelagic power arm and a rudder feedback sensor because the standard Garmin tiller arm requires below-deck mounting, which the boat’s layout prohibits.23:04 The owner struggles to find a suitable mounting position for the actuator that provides the necessary 10 inches of stroke without obstructing the cockpit.23:24 The installation remains incomplete, and the owner considers a wind vane as an alternative or backup steering solution for future offshore passages.24:42

More from Acorn To Arabella

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