Installing the wind generator

Monday just before lunch time the new poles arrived, and UPS managed to ship them without any damage. Good job, it only cost me a week, but I put that time to pretty good use (and I was staying anchored out for free).

I went straight at work, setting the pole up temporarily using rope, and moving it around bit by bit to see what would be the best place (the best compromise between the recommended installation and what is workable on my boat). And I think I got a location that I think will work.

Monday afternoon I had the holes drilled (a total of 6) for the main pole (which is held up by two mounts). Then this morning I continued with making the backing plates. That is actually the most work, I have some small strips of aluminum that I use to make backing plates. These have to be cut at length (using my new hacksaw) and holes have to be drilled in them (using the drill on the inverter). Luckily I am getting better at using the drill, so I don’t have to reset the inverter all that often any more.

The main pole was up temporarily around lunch time. Than came the hardest part, putting the bolts through and getting the backing plates over them without the bolts just coming out again. This is where being just by myself really starts to hurt: nobody to just hold on to the bolt while I am trying to work on the back of it. The mast is coming almost on the stern, the back of the mounts can only be reached by creeping completely in the port locker, and squeezing myself through about a 20cm wide opening. It is absolutely awkward, and my back is hurting pretty bad now (from twisting in impossible angles, and laying sideways to work over my head somehow). Climbing in and out plenty of times as well of course. Duct tape over the bolts (to hold them in place) did part of the job, for the rest patience was about the only other help.

Once the main pole was up, I continued on the port/forward stay, that was a lot easier (only 3 bolts). I thought I had it all rightly done in about 3 hours, but then I looked at the drawing in the manual, and I had setup the plate wrong (the stay is supposed to come on the inside of the plate, I had it on the outside). I looked at correcting this (by putting the stay inside as well), but this put it too close to the gib sheet, so I am just sticking to my mounting. It is not a major difference, I don’t think it makes any difference strength wise, it just occupies a little more deck space then necessary.

Then at 4 four (I was almost done with the first stay) I received a call from the Southpoint Anchorage. They had a mooring ball for me. At first I thought I would go there the next day, but my project finished up fast enough, and the opportunity for a warm shower really sounded inviting. So I went an pick up the anchors, yeah, right…. So the anchor rodes were wrapped (which made things already hard), but also the anchors had dug in deep, I mean DEEP. The CQR came out with some major power work (by the windlass operator), but the Danforth (which I don’t know how to get the 2nd anchor up using the windlass once the first one is up, need to study that) would not come out by hand. Motored the boat right over it, pulled up as much as possible, and then pushed the boat forward over it, on the second try it came out, with a large amount of mud.

Motored to the mooring ball, and was able to pick the mooring line on the first try (though barely, and using the longest hooked pole on board). So, now I am close to the anchorage, can take advantage of all their services, and am closer to the stores (and have internet access from the boat).

Tomorrow morning I am going to mount the second stay for the wind generator. Once the pole is up completely I need to go shopping for some electrical parts (wire, fuse, maybe an amperage meter) and then I should be able to finish the installation. It might be finished by tomorrow evening, but if not, I am still quite happy with the progress made so far.

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One Response to Installing the wind generator

  1. damcajun says:

    Frank,

    Sounds like you had fun today! Hope you get the wind gen setup finished tomorrow.
    Before you know it you’ll be headed for Cuba.

    cheers,
    dickie

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