tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458075112175110787.post2719854035102818650..comments2024-02-22T05:34:03.852-05:00Comments on The world encompassed: And you, you light up my skiff...Rhyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598445145507204424noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458075112175110787.post-46008791428712230652013-08-29T12:04:40.678-04:002013-08-29T12:04:40.678-04:00Good points all, Ken/Silverheels III. I picked up ...Good points all, Ken/Silverheels III. I picked up that Turigy watt/Ah/etc. meter you suggested, which lead to Radioworld on Steeles at Jane, apparently the closest place in Toronto where I could source Anderson Powerpoles. Oh, well, it's not like I couldn't benefit from a three-hour height of summer bike ride uphill in both directions...it's prep for the tropics, right? Heh.<br /><br />As for the LEDs, naturally they are the bomb for people who don't wish to carry half a tonne of batteries. Less out means less in, which is good policy aboard, I find. Have you considered "customizing" those patio lights with either bits of coloured scrim or patterns made out of tape? I thought that was semi-clever, myself, because of the fact that it won't be long before every boat sports similar cheap LEDs on a stick.<br /><br />Even with the small draw of an LED anchor light, I would prefer in my heart of hearts to have it switched off and on by a light sensor. Just the Scottish gene, I guess.<br /><br />How do you address ventilation when off the boat if you lock it down? Dorades? Head hatch too small for even a child-sized thief?<br /><br />Part of the logic, unexplained to this point, of having two tenders is that the presence of one (secured, naturally) makes the boat look more occupied, along with the stereo and VHF idea and a couple of lights.<br /><br />But the "know (and guard) your neighbours" is a good idea, particularly if you are staying put for a while.Rhyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00598445145507204424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458075112175110787.post-3888311232768911302013-08-26T19:55:22.683-04:002013-08-26T19:55:22.683-04:00Leave the anchor light on 24 hrs/day. No forgettin...Leave the anchor light on 24 hrs/day. No forgetting problems then, and returning to a darkened boat. When away at night, leave 3-4 LED reading lamps on and couple of patio lights or whatever in the cockpit to help illuminate the area. A stereo on is good too, along with the VHF on loud volume setting. All boarding ladders up and locked, all hatches firmly locked as well. Of course, a missing dinghy is a potential sign of no one home, (owning two dinghies might help here)but getting to know your anchored neighbours is a very good idea....kind of a neighbourhood watch on the water.Silverheels IIInoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458075112175110787.post-73273048250642773682013-08-20T21:20:49.027-04:002013-08-20T21:20:49.027-04:00While sitting here at anchor; Danfoss 12V fridge ...While sitting here at anchor; Danfoss 12V fridge is running, both the masthead and bimini anchor lights are on, three Caframo fans running and two (halogen bright) Sensibulb LED reading lamps and the LINK 20 monitor never turns off. Total drain 7.2 amps. LED's rule for sure. Two cheap solar patio lights sitting in the two primary sheet winches give a nice glow in the cockpit all night. A third patio light sits forward on the anchor windlass to indicate where our bow is to late night dinghy traffic.Ken Goodingsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458075112175110787.post-33292773453806828922013-08-19T11:47:18.455-04:002013-08-19T11:47:18.455-04:00Glad to hear it, Cidnie...but what do you mean by ...Glad to hear it, Cidnie...but what do you mean by "opportunity cost"? I'm unfamiliar with the term.<br /><br />We saw the space station last new moon from the boat. Around 10 PM, when it's fully dark, but the ISS is (presumably) still in full sunlight and is trucking SW to NE...man, that thing is bright, brighter than most airplanes save for those fixing to land on your head! <br /><br />One of our boaty pleasures is to sail south of the island (really a big sandbar that's south of Toronto. Much of the city's ambient light is semi-blocked and you can get the sort of darker sky usually found only after a 120 mile drive north or north-east (what we in Ontario call "cottage country"). I would imagine it takes some doing to find a dark sky in Texas these days, too.Rhyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00598445145507204424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458075112175110787.post-18194207052788314732013-08-19T09:24:08.232-04:002013-08-19T09:24:08.232-04:00I get the appeal of the colored exterior lights- t...I get the appeal of the colored exterior lights- they are pretty but the opportunity cost is far too great when you take the need for preservation of night vision into account.<br /><br />Also, all those floodlights would make it impossible to see the space station trucking across the night sky, or meteors or falling stars. <br /><br />I am with ya on this one.The Ceol Morshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16716515081322012615noreply@blogger.com