Snug until we are not

Today has not been what was forecast. We had hoped for the dry morning that was forecast when we went to bed. Instead, it rained, there have been a few short dry spells but mostly rain today.

Still, we have been snug and comfortable inside. My adjustments to the Refleks diesel stove mean that the temperature control doesn't make much difference, but it is burning very slowly, gently and silently. It is using far less diesel now and is maintaining a very comfortable temperature inside. We have it on in the morning and all evening. Today, I had it on most of the day. I might need to adjust the regulator to give it a bit more fuel when the weather gets a lot colder. Although, hopefully by then we will have the wheelhouse enclosure finished (which will help a huge amount, especially when the wind is from the North) and more insulation inside the cabin.

This evening, the wind has really picked up again. Currently, very noisy and a bit shaky (Jane has just decided to postpone going to bed). A recent gust was strong enough for a big bang. On the front of the boat I had some sheets of XPS insulation weighed down by our metal decorators step-up. Despite them being very low, the wind got under and the step-up was blown right off the boat. I managed to rescue all the XPS sheets and have temporarily stacked them under the wheelhouse where they are sheltered.

It is definitely a bigger test than I would like for the new solar panels that I fitted today. They seem to be holding well so far:

The solar panels on deck are also ok, although the wood underneath is being moved around a bit. Today was one of our worst days for solar power, in the last 31 days we have had a total of 13.85kWh from our two 215W panels. That is an average of 0.45kWh or 450Wh per day. Today was only 170Wh. I don't get the data from the 4 side solar panels integrated into our display, but the port side two have produced 9.79kWh in October (the starboard ones are likely a bit lower due to shading from the wheelhouse and mizzen mast). However, that does mean around 30kWh from solar in October. That must have saved us quite a lot in boatyard electricity :-)

The first side covers that Jane has made for the wheelhouse are standing up to the weather well and are keeping the cockpit a lot dryer. She has nearly finished the two roof panels which are the next bit to fit. First, there are two battens to hold them down that need to be epoxy coated for protection as soon as we get a few dry hours.

I replaced the last two mains powered lights today (in the aft cabin). So all our lighting is powered (more efficiently) from the 12V house battery now. I have two lights to add in the forward heads and cabin (which are not lit at all at the moment). Then I want to fit some USB chargers so that we can charge our phones, headphones, torches from the 12V system.

Yesterday, I had a conversation with the Yard Manager, they have run out of space (you could argue boats are not as closely packed in as many boatyards - but that is generally a nice thing) and will not be able to move us. That means from next week we will be a bit protected behind one of the big Sea Coast Safari tour boats (which might need to be moved to let us out or let a crane in to put up our mast if/when we are ready).

Anyway, time for bed :-)