S4E13 Solo Atlantic Crossing: Sailing the Atlantic Ocean Alone in a 21ft Home Built Sailboat Pt13

Wave Rover has departed Virginia Beach, USA and is en-route to the Port of Horta, in the Azores. We divert 150NM North of the rhumb line to avoid a high pressure system. I demonstrate how to shower on a small boat, 750NM offshore. My Bluetti B80 battery pack (emergency back up) has become my only power source, powering my AIS through thick fog.
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Thank you and fair winds

[@BuildFixGo]

I'm torn between not wanting to sound like a troll because I really love everything Alan is doing, and yet wanting to disagree with the minimization of the power situation. Even if you can sail around the world without power (you can, though not as safely), you can't keep your main revenue stream (videos on KZbin) alive without power. I'm guessing power also keeps Mrs. Rover happy because you need it to have contact with her! I've worked building mission critical remote off grid power systems for I.T. infrastructure, and there always needs to be a backup plan for when (not if) equipment fails. I'd suggest the following for your minimalist scenario: 1. Multimeter and basic tools and supplies. Takes up no space, weighs almost nothing 2. A formal way for hooking the boat's power system up to your backup battery 3. A small flexible, portable solar panel that can at least slowly replenish the backup battery Love watching the build and the adventure!

[@50Street21]

Having known you for 32 years, you always were a problem solver, Alan. Nice to see those principles still apply. Cheers! Darryl

[@delukxy]

My OCD says thanks for correcting the position of the snap hook on the top bar of the MK 3. ☺

[@tomwaite4594]

This entry has truly captured what solo sailing is all about...thanks for taking us along

[@mmullaley]

Absolutely love your attitude Alan. Good hustle. I can't wait for the next one. You owe the weather witch a beer btw. Until next time....give' er!

[@johndoudna7055]

Thanks for the adventure, Allan. Suffering slings and arrows of advice from the comfort of armchairs must a dubious feeling. That sweet capsule you imagined and built with all prior experiences to inform it speaks to capabilities and capacity to learn. Fair winds.😊

[@hecdc7703]

Great Video. Your seamanship is just like your shipbuilding, awesome!

[@KenBerger-ey2pg]

Enjoyed the article in “Sailing” - very nice piece on you & Wave Rover. May your wonderful adventures continue!

[@jessicaarverne1181]

Beautiful video. Very thoughtful and relaxing. I'm watching you from France.

[@marcgatto9675]

I've met a few solo circumnavigators. One guy who did it twice in a 26-footer. But you're the definition of the ascetic sailor.

[@matthewprather7386]

I suggest taking a basic electronics course. And get yourself a digital multimeter. They are very simple and easy to use once you know some basic theory. And they are inexpensive. And they could help you solve a problem like you had on WR.

[@adamtedder1012]

I love my multi meter. My dad was a master electrician, and I grew up around electrical, so I guess I got a head start. I couldn't imagine life not doing my own electrical.

[@willymueller3278]

How about a little generator ?

[@matthewprather7386]

@@willymueller3278having a backup energy source does seem like a good idea. Even a folding 100W solar panel would probably be enough for WR’s electrical loads. I think even the Tohatsu outboard has an alternator on it.. He could run it an hour two each day for the loads he has. But he’d have to wire it up and put it in the water, the latter which would be a hassle while in any significant sea state.

[@japc4326]

Not a fan of these lithium batteries, just too finicky with their BMS at least on a cruiser. If you do want them, keep a 12v acid battery too. I know you can't mix and match them, but at least you have a last backup plan. Sounds like you had a solar controller charger issue. I keep a cheap spare one and a few adapters to rig up a circuit. Glad to see you have a battery backup unit, they also make a very small solar panel for them too. Great videos. Thanks John

[@bernardszirth9665]

Having lived in Japan, I learned I don’t follow the Zen approach but have chosen the kyosei lifestyle which means "harmonious coexistence. You unplugged one convenience to power a necessity (or not sleep for long). I feel naval life has also in part trained your brain to prioritizing your next move! Bravo Captain!

[@shanedigby]

I love watching these videos. The sound of the water. So peaceful. ASMR. One man vs this huge ocean that extends kilometers below you. I take my hat off to you sir!

[@muskyful]

Its a bummer you lost your main power setup.... Glad you were able to do a work around with the B80 for AIS. I carry a small soft foldout 100 amp solar panel, along with 600w mini power pack, for a backup on just those occasions where I loose the main batteries & panels...might want to add a foldout panel to your gear so you could keep the B80 charged.

[@karlberardi4351]

Think about buying these things: 12V test lights (2) Multi meters (2) Posi-lock wire connectors Di electric grease Copy of ‘The 12 Volt Doctor’ Also small amounts of dust, bird splatter and the like will degrade your solar output all out of proportion with the involved area. By the time you read this you will have figured your issue. Best to you!

[@schwabrichard9829]

Good winds and smooth sailing!

[@24hourtravellers]

Always learning from you. ❤

[@daveamies5031]

I gather by the time I watched this, or you see my comment you've already reached Horta 🤞My question, did you try getting your solar panels to charge the Bluetti? is it possible to have an adaptor cable attached to the solar panels that can charge the Bluetti independently of the main power supply and charge controller? This would allow using the Bluetti as a backup supply for longer if needed in the future, maybe would have allowed leaving the AIS on all the time?

[@muskyful]

I think he said in a previous video that he determined already that the issue is the solar array is not producing and its too dangerous for him to try and work on it alone up off the stern rail. Hopefully he adds a mini folding solar panel to his stowed backup gear in the near future.

[@willymueller3278]

Hi Alan, last time I did that same trip, I sailed northeast almost to the hight of Newfoundland, to get nice, westerly winds.

[@simonhjc]

Stopped at 13 min. You are Zen. What a place!

[@HMallory1]

Hello Capt. enjoying your videos, thank you. Having encountered these electrical problems, and when you get the chance let us know what your solutions will be for completion of your voyage and for future excursions, thank you again.

[@voodoochild1954]

Alan, I applaud your trouble shooting approach to the power problem and nice job in conserving the power. But I ask you how is it you didn’t think to pack a volt/ohm meter on this crossing? I have cheap ones in all my cars. I can’t imagine not carrying one on such a remote passage as you’re doing.

[@simonhjc]

Oh! You just said what i was thinking 🙏👏👏

[@wyattfamily8997]

I hope you pay "Seahawk" on an agreed "success/failure" ratio rate, hahahaha. Set him the challenge. Unlike many seafarers, you don't seem interested in obtaining fresh fish to supplement your diet. ??? From Brisbane Australia.

[@ArcticSeaCamel]

That bluetti has mppt charge controller on it. You should be able to connect the solar panels straight to it to charge it up.

[@philipchandler330]

Wind generator and/or below the water line power generation equipment a must.

[@DrSurf-fx4gf]

Yup you're still my hero! And you get to have all the fun.

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks buddy.

[@DrSurf-fx4gf]

I will stand you for a pint any day!

[@jasonmcintosh2632]

Thanks for the video. I hope you checked the polarity of those wires from the 12V plug... Always makes me nervous when there's any uncertainty. I usually check it at least twice and I still got it wrong once. : ( That weather router sure is working out well for you.

[@vingreensill]

Having that weather routing seems critical.

[@kaym9501]

Hi Alan, did you do not have a lamp/bulb to make a simple Test-Meter? So you could trace back where you have the bad electrical connection on the panels. When the Bluetti has a PV Charger inside you can just connect it direct to one of the panels...but I am shiúre you are aware of all this :-) Good Luck for the last few miles!!!!! :-)

[@markhunter7444]

I admire your videos and vessel! But, multimeters cost $4…And,please, one explanation of the seafood omelette recipe is sufficient. Great to see the boat going so well. Definitely has me dreaming of small boat voyaging. I think a 30 footer of similar shape and rig(and cockpit footwell) would be sweet

[@laurenceholden]

Oh, how i wish you would post your position each time. I could chart it on my large chart & would add a lot to seeing the large picture.

[@delukxy]

Your philosophy face looked rather sad there, even a bit lost. Chin up. Keep forging ahead. Stay safe.

[@ImnotChuck.]

I especially enjoyed this episode. That was partly because I know much more about electronics than I know about sailing. So the fan (which you may have considered a luxury) turned out to provide the power plug for the AIS (which in my mind is a necessity). I didn't quite understand where you connected the wires from the Bluetti. Was it directly across the main positive and negative busses from the batteries? If so, the Bluetti may have been trying to recharge the main batteries. BTW, you look very thin in this video. How much weight did you lose during the Atlantic passage?

[@davidf9494]

Another great video Alan. I was wondering if you had the ability to add a map at the beginning of your videos to get a update on where you are on your journey? Also, for your electrical, do you have any solar charging capability? Safe travels! David from western Canada

[@claverton]

I wonder what the electrical problem turned out to be? It would've been handy if you could've charged up that Bluetti unit via the solar panels but obviously that wasn't possible or you would've done it! Cheers, thanks for the vid.

[@oh-brothers]

Hindsight is 20/20 !!! You might have been able to 'activate' you lithiums by using that cigarette lighter cable you cut from your fan and applying the 12v 10 amp output from the Bluetti to the 12v batteries to get the BMS in the lithiums to work again. There would have been a small risk using the Bluetti but it probably has enough circuit protection that it would have been worth the risk. I am guessing you did try to apply the solar charger to get 12v to revive the lithiums... it might not have worked because the controller would look for voltage from the batteries and there would have been none to tell it start charging. I would have chosen a different manufacturer for the lithiums... at least power queen or redodo. They sell 120v chargers that have activation built into their 120v chargers 10a/ 20a. You should probably also get the eb3a Bluetti that works with the B80 with an adapter cable for redundancy. You can use it with the 120v lithium charger /activator connected the eb3a if it ever happens again. I would do testing to ensure you can revive that batteries in the future. Also consider getting another 12v lithium battery that is not connected to the system as a backup...even a smaller one like 30 amp or 50 amps....or a 12v lead acid. Also consider a backup solar charger, fuses, and spare 12v battery kept in a sealed waterproof bag with desiccant in case your boat were to take on water and your electronics get fried. Having a multimeter onboard is a must !!!!

[@ianwright586]

Your Tohatsu Sailpro outboard should have an alternator ???

[@fuzzylogic8333]

What are the specs for Wave Rover? I have found links to buy plans, but can’t find specs anywhere

[@dennis6325]

Do you know what software or application your weather router is using?

[@RoversAdventure]

Windy mostly

[@mafp22w]

@@RoversAdventure Great app. I use it for General Aviation as well. I loved seeing your Bible. So many people that do extraordinary things by faith. And Noah believed God and it was accounted as righteousness. Mitch Moldenhauer

[@haroldstewart2381]

Where in Ireland do you hope to land and what is your estimated arrival date

[@karlschmitt6231]

Maybe next time get an outboard with a lighting coil that could charge the batteries

[@RoversAdventure]

Too rough on the ocean for outboard

[@hughhardwick816]

Did you not consider a Ampair towed water generator?

[@claverton]

can you still get them?

[@kencannuck]

While you were, of circumstances restricting your AIS transmissions to hourly, i couldn't help putting myself in the mind of some night watch officer on a hypothetical tanker making 14 kn who gets a brief AIS transmission from an approaching 20 ft sailboat making, say, 3 kn on a convergent course and 26 mile distance with no radar return. Then nothing for an hour !! Longest hour of the night.

[@bgt7874]

How about energy needed for camera/mic, editing, uploading etc.?

[@claverton]

he mentioned that in the previous video. He had to cut back a lot on use of the camera and computer, but was able to do a small amount via the bluetti unit.

[@gr3398]

Was that a Bible in the background?

[@swalemouth]

Impressive but Please acquire some basic tools and a voltmeter when you land.

[@royfollendore8252]

Leaving without a multimeter and a handfull of inexpensive tools was and is, at the very least, an inept decision.

[@MrA1582000]

Need solar charging of Bluetti . I use it

[@Andrey-z9m]

👍👍👏👏

[@NatTate-f7e]

When you get into less concerning citizen areas, keep them off your boat as much as possible. But I hope you avoid those countries all together.

[@normcharlesowen]

Who is “We”? So detached - Where’s the personal journey?

[@4278-c6b]

Like the old saying goes there's no atheists sailing in the oceans .

[@dancarter482]

_Joshua Slocum_ eat ya HEART out!