Nerdiness Qoutient: 3/10 Our aim is to use as little fossil fuel as possible. On one hand, there is the environmental impact and pollution caused by fossil fuels, while on the other there is the cost. Diesel has become much more expensive over time. We have had entirely positive experiences with the solar panels installed a couple of years ago. They efficiently charge the batteries, and since we have plenty of space for more panels along the rail, we opted to install two additional 215 W panels, one on each side. This has increased the maximum charging capacity, enabling us to charge the battery by up to 1 kWh on sunny days. This means that we can remain at anchor for several days without worrying about our onboard power consumption, and when we’re in port, we don’t need to connect to shore power. The Victron 40V 215W solar panels are effective and robust. They can very easily be placed on the railing using the Noa panel stays. Each panel on the railing got its own 75/10 MPPT charger w

Nerdiness Qoutient: 4/10 Doing the laundry quickly becomes quite a chore you dread if you have to wash it in a bucket. Our 7 week sailing trip last summer made it clear to us that we had to find a solution for the laundry. Using laundrettes in random places turned out to be a challenge; they were simply not to be found on the Greenland east coast, or like the one that was found in Raufarhofn - Iceland which kept us there for hours... Friends of ours who sail in more civilised parts of the world also complain that they spend a disproportionate amount of time trying to get their laundry done wherever they go. The YouTube University revealed that the Koreans have made a efficient 3 kg washing machine for small spaces, and many sailors report that they are absolutely delighted after installing one. Locally in Norway, it was difficult to find anyone selling them, but AllerGoedKopst in the Netherlands sent us one within 10 days. We found the needed space in our forward head, and is now looki

Nerdiness Qoutient: IMPORTANT TO ALL OF YOU ALL..! I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realised that the onboard shore power connection had become hot, in fact very hot. I came across the problem by chance when the shore power was disconnected for the summer. I consulted an electrician, who could see that the cable at the back had not been fitted properly. Over time, this had resulted in a poor connection, which had subsequently caused an electric arc to develop in one part of the socket, causing it to overheat. A new cable and sockets were required at both ends. Such work must be carried out by a professional to ensure it is done correctly. In addition, the clamping screws in the socket had to be tightened to a specific torque of 22 Nm, for which special tools were needed. The local electrician was therefore called in to complete the job. The new system has a current rating of 38 amps from the outside connection via the cable to the ground fault circuit interrupter, meaning it has

Nedriness Qoutient: 2/10 It was a rather unusual winter, with little snow but strong winds and bitterly cold temperatures. Although the aurora borealis is often seen in our region, this winter was extraordinary in that respect, with the phenomenon occurring night after night for an extended period. The high pressure that brought the clear skies was accompanied by freezing cold temperatures. We still managed to get a decent amount of miles on our skies. Mr Gordon was always present. By the end of the season, the skis were completely worn out. It's clearly time for the sailing season to begin!

Nerdiness Quotient: 2/10 Mr. Gordon´s Boothcamp continues.. It´s a perfect environment for training ahead of our planned trip next summer. While Mr. Gordon consentrating on defrosting in front of the fireplace

Nerdiness Quotient: 7/10 Thanks to Victron Remote Management (VRM), it's easy to keep an eye on the onboard climate and the status of the Lithium batteries. The 24/7 online monitoring system provides continuous updates, offering reassurance that even when it is below freezing outside, the temperature inside remains well above zero degrees Celsius. Any DC or AC load can be easily monitored. The battery status of 68% is held more or less constant due to the charger settings of the Multi Pluss-II. (Described in the Oct. 25 blog) According to the Victron Smart LiFePO4 battery manual, the recommended State of Charge for long-term storage is between 60% and 80%. Since the boat is abandoned, the 'fridge' is not operational, so the temperature sensor has been placed directly on an un-insulatet part of the hull in a storage compartment without heating. The absolute coldest place on board..! When the YOYO Power 220V system thermostat (see picture below) kicks in, approximately 1600 W is drained