SV Ghost

29/11/2024

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13/10/2024

Tori finished "customizing" her new Croc pool shoes. The bling will be BLINDING in the Aruba sun 😎

05/10/2024

What will soon be Hurricane Milton has changed our plans a bit. Flying Tori back from Naples tomorrow. We'll rethink our Michigan plans and timeline. Blue-cheese Tabasco yardbird with Taziki/Hummus finished with Feta for lunch today.

04/10/2024

Readjusting to cooking in a kitchen, rather than Ghost's galley. We updated our recently-deceased coffee machine to Espresso (pretty impressed with Ninja's latest.) Threw together another tasting for visiting Family. Getting lots accomplished, but already looking forward to returning to Ghost.

21/09/2024

When we moved aboard Ghost, I left my favorite Wüsthof knives behind as I was convinced the salt air would have quickly destroyed them. I finally broke down and purchased a new Chef's Knife. I'm more than impressed with Global and their 10 degree grind angle. It's a bit more work to maintain the edge, but it makes me smile every time I pick it up.

Street tacos for lunch 🔪 🌮🍷😊

19/09/2024

Tori and Trish off to tennis lessons.

07/08/2024

It was rather a crazy day here yesterday. The Taxi drivers continued sporadic strikes choking many of the main areas; including the marina area. It was especially challenging as there were 3 cruise ships here (a rarity for August) and downtown Oranjestad was hopping.

That said, dinner came out good, (Keto Shepards Pie), and the sunset was beautiful as always...it's hard to get too upset over anything here. 😊

10/06/2024

Another wonderful evening at the Longtable event. The fireworks show takes place on the helipad located ~50m (downwind thankfully!) from Ghost.

08/06/2024

08/06/2024

All whites for dinner tomorrow

We scored last minute tickets to the Long Table event tomorrow night (WTG Trish!) This event seats 1000 people at a single table in the middle of the main road here in Aruba. The proceeds go to help the charities on island (especially the stray dogs.) The pics are from the last event we attended in 2022.

05/06/2024

Our solar addition is online 😊

We added 18 X 200W flexible solar panels covering most of Ghost’s foredeck. These are used only when in a marina or on anchor or mooring. When getting underway, the panels are folded into 2 stacks for stowing. In total, this gives us 5475W nominal feeding into our 24V/1000AH LFP house bank

Build Details (for those that have inquired)

I used 6mm Dyneema to create a frame starting from the cross beam, back to pad eyes on the deck to which I attached the panels using Velcro straps. 2 pairs of MC4 cables with waterproof quick-disconnect fittings are run from the 2X / 3S6P arrays of Allpowers SF300 flexible panels to a waterproof breaker box in the anchor locker with 2x 32a 500v DC Circuit Breakers.

From there, the lines are led back to the Nav station, then continue to 2X Victron SmartSolar MPPT Tr VE. Can 150V 70 amp located in the Tech closet int the master stateroom (Port/Aft.) The output from the MPPTS goes to a bus bar with 2X 70mm cables led aft to the Port engine room where they tie into the main system bus bar via 2x 150A/32V MEGA-fuses. The system connects to the Victron network via a CAN bus cable running from the MPPTs to the Cerbo located at the Nav station.

It’s been a bit cloudy since we brought the panels online, but thus far were generating ~20kWh per day with mid-day peaks of ~4200W

Further tweaking…

• We’re getting significant shading from the Jib. The current wiring layout has the series panels running port to starboard (across the hull). This results in the series-wired panels being shaded at peak production hours. I may rewire the panels placing the in-series panels on the extreme port and Starboard sides (running parallel to the hulls.) This should allow the more powerful mid-day sun (and resulting shade) to fall on the panels in Parallel, generating a greater output.

• I need to work out a better way to level the panels. Currently, I have our unused bean bag chairs in the lowest areas.

• I’m waiting on delivery of a couple Blue Sea Systems 285 Series 80amp DC breakers to fit between the MPPTs and Busbar.

The only cons thus far,

• We lose the use of the foredeck for lounging – When on anchor, we have comfortable seating and a wonderful sunshade that covers the entire foredeck. This is not possible when the solar arrays are in use. This is acceptable as we still have the sun lounge.

• It’s adds a bit of work when accessing the forward lazarette and anchor locker. 6 Velcro straps must be unfastened to access either locker. This is a small price to pay for the power benefits.

• It does take a bit of time to disable and stow the system when getting underway (currently about 45 minutes, which I believe will improve with practice.)

Time will tell as to how the panels hold up, but thus far I'm pleased with the results.