We have Solar!

Yesterday we picked up two 240w solar panels and the controller. Had the mounting hardware and wire all ready, so it was a relatively easy task of bolting on the panels last night and finishing hooking up the wire this afternoon. Early results: Impressive. We have 480w of solar panels, and right off the bat it was dumping 25.5A into the batteries. At the then 13.95v that comes to 355w delivered! Remember, this is May - and these panels are not oriented for optimal production - instead they are laying flat.

I still need to connect a computer to the controller so we can set up the data-logging capability. But once have that done will be able to log (and report) in great detail the energy production of these two panels up here in the PNW!

Kristi was busy taking photos,

These things are BIG - 65" x 38"

Everyone on the dock was lending a hand.

Here they are, all in place

Amps increased as we got closer to Noon!

Details of the system:
    2x  REC-240 Solar Panels @ $394 ea = $788
    Morningstar 45 MPPT controller         @ $425
    Mounting Hardware and Wire:             @ $619
====================================
   Total System Cost:                               $1,832
   Less 30% Fed Credit                              $550
   Final Cost                                            $1,282

As always, the Small Stuff adds up. Hardware and Wire being a significant cost. But the big ticket items are the panels.

As mentioned in a prior post one can source these for around $1/watt - however you will need to add in shipping. Expect $250-300 for shipping a panel or two - it is the size that counts. I contacted a local solar company: http://www.rainshadowsolar.com/ They were more than happy to add two additional panels to a large order they were placing, and gave me a fair price on the Morningstar controller as well. I figure I paid about the same as mail ordering these, plus I got to support a local business!

One hint: When you order panels, make sure to also order jumper wires. There are a few different 'connectors' used on Solar panels and you need to make sure you get the correct ones on your pigtails.

With the 30% federal tax credit, and the rather high cost of generating energy using our small Kubota generator, I figure we will get an ROI in about a year and a half. Will know more after we get some actual data to look at.

But for now, I am very happy! (Plus, I am surprised how well the panels blend into Viking Star. Walking around, they really are not that offensive in their looks)

The view from afar

To see more about these, including performance - click on the Solar label on the right.

South Beach Diet, One Year Later

Last May, after we got medical insurance, Al went in for a physical.  His doctor gave him a goal that required him to lose more than 50 pounds.  He recommended the South Beach Diet, so we bought the paperback, began reading, and studied the sample menus.

We decided that when I returned from a trip to Minnesota for a family reunion and sendoff of my sister and her husband to Germany for three years, we would dive into the diet.

During that week I was gone, Al had a surprise removal of his appendix, and he had a head start on the weight loss.

The weight began to fall off, quickly!  I forget exactly when we hit our lows, but it was only 2 or 3 months after beginning.

Well, it's been a year now, and how are we doing?

I am a pound or two above my lowest weight, and manage to stay within a three-pound range, seemingly whatever I eat, and have stayed in Size 8 jeans.  When I began, I had 'hoped' to lose 10 pounds, and one pant size.  Well, it was 2 pant sizes, and I have bumped up from a 30-pound loss to hold at 27-29 pounds less than my high.

Though Al lost more weight, faster, he has also gained back a little more than me.  He is also down 2 pant sizes, and has been able to stay in that size.  December was tough for him.  We were in town, with so many food delights to indulge in, AND the holidays, AND visiting family.  Depending on how the waves are rolling (it's hard to get a reliable scale reading on a boat), he is 6-10 pounds over his lowest reading.

We are presently docked on a rather remote island, and still the indulgences seem to find us.  We brought nuts to munch on and our 'two-week supply' is nearly gone after a week.  A few beers found their way to the boat from our pirate friends.  And today, an apple/berry pie arrived!

Al is presently on a boat trip to Orcas Island to pick up the solar panels.  He has a short list for the grocery store -- eggs, salad, and broccoli.  See?  We are TRYING to be good.  And we are HOPING to take a long hike some day during our time here at Sucia.  We have not yet been to Ewing Cove, which is the furthest point from where we are, maybe as much as 6-8 miles round trip.

Sights today:

These two and their entourage came to the boat this morning.  Are these the two leaders we saw two weeks ago?

Reposting the photo from two weeks ago for comparison...

On a short stroll this morning, this plant life caught my eye:

Gooseberries?

TINY starflowers....

Most have six petals,

But occasionally only five.

What Do Park Hosts Do?

We are learning.

Al worked very hard yesterday, pulling ivy and sweeping restrooms.  I took a walk with Mark and Lauresa, picking up litter and moving branches off the path.  Then I took some time to soak up some sunshine and develop some tan lines.

We finished up with some fun!  The International Yacht Club asked us to judge their costume contest.  We thought all these pirates were a bit too clean and sweet-smelling, but they were all having a good time!

Though he brought his parrot on a leash, we chose the second man from the left because his t-shirt said 'The beatings will continue until morale improves' and he even brought a big stick to make sure! (Disguised as a crutch)

The ladies were a tougher decision, but the one with the most 'bling' won.  You can't see it very well here, but the lady at the center had a very sparkly belt.

There's always time to watch what's going on around you.  There were four eagles soaring over the boat yesterday afternoon.

Today, several parties were scared off by the weather forecast.  As the day progressed, we came to see that  they had all left during the worst weather of the day!  That's okay, more island for the rest of us.

It appears someone has been working on a labyrinth

Sweet Peas on the beach

Sedums in bloom

Sedums close up

The creepy crawlers gave me the 'creepy crawlies'!

Today, much of our afternoon was spent sorting payment envelopes by camping, moorage, and permit holders, recording payments and counting money.  We do feel that we saved the ranger several hours at this task, as it took Al and I both working together a couple of hours to get through the collection, from many areas of Sucia, and also Patos and James Islands.

On Duty

After a week of showing our friend Brian around the San Juan Islands, and moving every day, we are now set to stay in one spot through Memorial Day.

We are now on duty as brand new Washington State Park Volunteer Marine Hosts!

The website says Sucia has hosts, but Ranger Steve has been here for six years, and says he has NOT had hosts....until now.  This is a test, and we hope we pass.

I believe Al is having a ball!  He loves chatting with people, and there has been plenty of opportunity for that today.  The International Yacht Club is here, bringing lots of friendly Canadians.  A large group of Boy Scouts arrived this evening.  Former Scout Al will be showing the boys where to work on their service project tomorrow morning, removing English ivy.  And it is the final weekend of the shrimp season.

Sadly, the afternoon brought tragedy.  A small shrimp boat overturned just off Little Sucia and all three boaters were tossed into the water.  Even though former firemen from our dock took a surgeon out in their fast dinghy to help, and our own Ranger Steve was on scene and helped perform CPR, one man lost his life.  A Coast Guard helicopter and boats were there to help the two survivors.  Other boats were near too.  Our shrimping friends Mark and Lauresa who rescued US two weeks ago recovered some debris and tossed one of their sleeping bags to a hypothermic man.

Our prayers go out to all:  the man who lost his life and his family, the two survivors who lived through this harrowing experience, the first responders who worked so hard but were unable to save one, all those nearby listening on the radio and knowing there was nothing they could do.

Buddies at British Camp

Brian brought us Chives and Thyme, so Viking Star now has an herb garden!

Last night we anchored in Gerrison Bay.  It was the first time using the 'new' 75lbs CQR anchor.  (Actually, one of the 'spare' anchors Al dug out of the lazarette).  Even I could FEEL it set!  (We also anchored in Deer Harbor a few hours this afternoon to visit our friend Peter Fromm's Gallery.  Again, stopped the boat with a jerk-- NOT going anywhere with this one!)

So here 'the boys' are, loaded into the dinghy for a trip to shore.  Part of my plan to avoid testosterone poisoning this week is to spend SOME time alone, so I happily stayed behind on Viking Star while Brian and Al explored British Camp.

I do admit, I kind of kept an eye out for them, saw them walking around from building to building.  Then I saw them taking a load off.  Thank you zoom, for this shot of two old buddies on a park bench!

The water is so calm.  Here is the view of British Camp from Viking Star.  Young Hill is in the background.

Going Solar

When we publish May's Cost to Cruise it will be a budget buster for sure as we will have two rather large costs:  300 or so gallons of fuel and now two large solar panels with an associated MPPT controller to include.

Yes, Viking Star is going Green!

As mentioned in a prior post(here http://looking-at-solar-again ) I have been watching the costs of Solar panels drop like a rock the past few years.  And they hit rock bottom late last year -  bringing the ROI on a system to under 2 years. (Side note:  Panels are now commonly available for under a $1/watt!!!)

Yesterday we placed an order through a local solar installer (Rainshadow Solar) for two REC-240 panels and a Morningstar 45 MPPT controller.  They should be in in a couple of weeks.  As Rainshadow let me 'piggy back' onto another (much larger) order we will not have to pay special shipping for these two panels.  Just pull Viking Star up to Deer Harbor dock and they will toss them aboard!

Am a bit excited about these as modeling indicates we will be able to get a very large % of our electricity use from these two panels, maybe even 100% at their peak - but more likely 60-70% of daily needs.  And that will be fine.   Combining these panels with motoring every few days we should be rolling in the Amps!.

And even better, the MorningStar controller has data logging capability - so I will be able to record (and publish) the ACTUAL output over a long period of time.  Ah, REAL DATA - Not just the 'It does all I need', or 'Batteries are full by 11am', or 'I have no idea' type answers I have gotten from asking around.

Solar, combined with a promise of the shift out of the cold/wet weather pattern this summer should = very little generator time.  Bring it on!

Mmmmmmmeditation

Here are photos from my 'walk to the restroom' that turned into a pleasant hour alone on the beach.  I think I finally achieved a state of calm on Sucia.

Layers

Goose couple silhouette

Sea gull couple

I was the only person on the beach

God uses the ocean to artfully arrange

Snails in the sunset

Teeny!

Turtleback Mt on the left, Waldron Island on the right

Sweetpeas at sunset

Mushroom Rock, Fox Cove