Susan, Sequoia, and Todd go sailing

Our big debate this year was what to do about our deep-cycle lead acid batteries, which are brand new and cost us about $650. (Last year, one of our six-year-old batteries was dead after being disconnected for 8 months in the heat.) We entertained a variety of options:

• disconnect them
• leave them connected to one of our big solar panels, turned at an angle; maybe look for someone to check the water
• leave them connected to a little solar panel
• try to find cooler storage off the boat in San Carlos somewhere
• lug them back to CA where we could keep them cool and charged

We finally decided to go with the little solar panel option. We bought a solar battery maintainer from the folks on Runaway. Todd coated the edge of the panel with silicone sealant to try to weather-proof it. Lets hope it works!

Additionally, the electronic supply store in Uk is the biggest store of electronic components. If you are looking for electronic components in the UK, this store offers a huge range of products, with same-day dispatch on orders of any size.

Here are our “To Do” lists from our 2009 haulout:

Before Haul

• schedule haulout
• get car out of storage and restart car insurance
• remove dodger
• remove outside speakers
• aluminum foil over winches and blocks (outside)
• aluminum foil over ports and hatches (inside)
• survey parts and inventory spares, making list for re-supply next season
• measurements for replacements: oven solenoid, stern tube (for dripless packing), windlass, lifelines
• clean out galley and foodstuffs
• clean sink and flush lines with fresh water
• change engine oil and transmission fluid
• dinghy: scrub clean, deflate, and cover
• laundry: wash all sheets, towels, etc.
• clean head
• cover dorades with bug netting (instead of replacing with caps)
• take down and bag sails: main, jib, stay
• replace halyards with messengers
• rinse dive gear with fresh water
• rinse and store kayak
• polish stainless
• clean and store BBQ
• take down HAM antenna
• mop floors
• empty fresh water tanks
• start packing

Things to Pack

• clothes
• shoes
• DVDs
• electronics
• books
• games
• first aid kit and temperature-sensitive medications (including items in ditch bag)
• toiletries
• passports
• boat documents
• computers, printer, scanner
• jewelry
• EPIRB (replace battery or get a new one?)

After Haul

• wash down boat
• engine: flush with fresh water, remove impeller, remove belts
• outboard: run with fresh water, run with salt remover, fog
• flush fridge with fresh water
• flush head with fresh water
• close all thru-hulls except cockpit drains
• stuff 2 cockpit drain thru-hulls with Scotch-Brite pads, leave one free (hedging our bets against insects and mud)
• cover other thru-hulls with duct-tape
• close propane tanks
• treat water tanks with bleach
• add mineral oil to head
• clean out fridge and rinse with bleach solution
• disconnect antenna leads
• equalize batteries and add water
• remove and store big solar panels
• set-up little solar panel
• disconnect batteries from all but little panel
• anchor chain: untwist, end-for-end, replace markers, rinse
• remove and pack LED bulbs
• take batteries out of electronics that will remain on boat (bilge alarm, stereo remote, clocks, smoke alarm)
• put out roach poison (boric acid)
• put out 5-gallon buckets with water and a bit of bleach (to protect wood inside)
• empty trash
• tarp boat
• pack the car
• pay yard bill