Uploaded September 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This is the last video before we start the long trip home! All the last little, but critical, tasks that need to get done have to get done.
patreon.com/TheDigitalMermaid
Channels that have Helped Me;
*@ProjectBrupeg
*@OffGridGarageAustralia
*@AcornToArabella
0:00 - What Are The Last Tasks
1:00 - Well That's Not How You Remove A Compass
4:12 - A Brief Crew Intro
4:41 - Finding 12v At The Binnacle, Take 1
5:48 - Replacing the Dutchmen Lines
8:19 - Day 2's Plan
9:55 - Finding 12v At The Binnacle, Take 2
12:49 - Dutchmen and Reefing
15:12 - Having Crew ^_^
15:56 - Finding 12v At The Binnacle, Take 3
19:00 - Madi Realized She Missed The Obvious
20:16 - Spiders Are Friends
20:31 - "Installing" The New Compass
24:01 - Removing "Evergreen"
25:04 - The Last Sunset on the Chesapeake
This is the last video before we start the long trip home! All the last little, but critical, tasks that need to get done have to get done.
patreon.com/TheDigitalMermaid
Channels that have Helped Me;
*@ProjectBrupeg
*@OffGridGarageAustralia
*@AcornToArabella
0:00 - What Are The Last Tasks
1:00 - Well That's Not How You Remove A Compass
4:12 - A Brief Crew Intro
4:41 - Finding 12v At The Binnacle, Take 1
5:48 - Replacing the Dutchmen Lines
8:19 - Day 2's Plan
9:55 - Finding 12v At The Binnacle, Take 2
12:49 - Dutchmen and Reefing
15:12 - Having Crew ^_^
15:56 - Finding 12v At The Binnacle, Take 3
19:00 - Madi Realized She Missed The Obvious
20:16 - Spiders Are Friends
20:31 - "Installing" The New Compass
24:01 - Removing "Evergreen"
25:04 - The Last Sunset on the Chesapeake


![Converting 48v to 12v, Orion-Tr vs SmartSolar MPPT - Ep. 109
After the last vide, I heard that using a Victron SmartSolar MPPT charge controller was better than a Victron Orion-Tr for converting 48v to 12v. So I bought one of each to test!
I stumbled for a bit finding a way to connect the data, but I eventually was able to make an efficiency graph for both units. Spoiler, you folks were right!
] Patreon:
- https://www.patreon.com/TheDigitalMermaid
] Channels that have Helped Me;
* @ProjectBrupeg
* @OffGridGarageAustralia
* @AcornToArabella
* @BillCarlson
] References;
Victron Orion-Tr 48|12-30 Spec Sheet;
* https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-Orion-Tr-DC-DC-converters-isolated-100-250-400W-EN.pdf
Victron SmartSolar 100|30 MPPT Spec Sheet;
* https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-SmartSolar-charge-controller-MPPT-100-30-&-100-50-EN.pdf
] Chapters
0:00 - Is an MPPT a Better Buck Converter Than an Actual Buck Converter?
0:57 - The Test Plan, Possibly Doomed
2:54 - Orion-Tr vs SmartSolar Pros and Cons
5:21 - Substantial Cost Difference
6:06 - Setting up For Testing
8:50 - Moving the 48v SmartShunt Power
10:50 - Back to Setting Up The Orion-Tr
12:41 - The Start of The Struggles; Output Voltage Adjustment
14:42 - Bringing the 12v Side Online
15:51 - The Cerbo Gx Sees Only One Battery
16:18 - Starting Tests On the Orion-Tr
17:27 - The Start of a Useful Test Plan
18:25 - The BMS Config Didnt Work, As Expected
19:25 - A New Way To Collect Data
19:43 - Comparing the Orion-Tr and SmartSolar Heat Sinks
22:35 - Usiing Voltage To Collect Data
25:27 - OMG I Hate The Orion-Trs Voltage Adjustment!
26:08 - Orion-Tr Test Results!
26:56 - Configuring the SmartSolar MPPT
30:31 - Collecting SmartSolar MPPT Data
31:28 - A Clear Winner Already
35:16 - Final Results! Converting 48v to 12v, Orion-Tr vs SmartSolar MPPT - Ep. 109](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N6UXMZVyNVQ/mqdefault.jpg)

![Ep. 97 - Wiring Two Motors; Distraction & Progress
On the surface, this video is about wiring up the second motor and controller. Really though, its about making progress, even when youre distracted.
This video was edited on S/Y Zora!
Sailing Yacht Zora
* https://www.instagram.com/stories/sailingyachtzora/
] Channels that have Helped Me;
* @ProjectBrupeg
* @OffGridGarageAustralia
* @AcornToArabella
* @BillCarlson
] Chapters
0:00 - A New Toy!
1:00 - The Plan and Size Comparison
2:59 - Paralleling Golden Motors over CANBus
4:12 - Sizing Bus Bars and Cables
8:26 - Breaking Down the Old Setup
10:50 - I Got Insurance!!
12:38 - Compatible Water Block?14:06 - Plans to Deal With Motor Directions14:53 - Wiring Up The Contactors
20:57 - Sorting Our The Main Controller Cables
28:36 - Planning For Redundancy
30:29 - Planning Cable Lengths
33:09 - Troubles Crimping Larger Cables
37:44 - Travel Plans and An Origin Story
41:42 - A Thought on Travel Videos
42:22 - Back To Crimping Troubles and Work-Arounds
46:52 - Cabling The Controllers, Mostly
48:33 - A Fuse Question, And Unknown Shmoo
49:57 - Finishing Up Cabling
56:25 - Whats Next? Ep. 97 - Wiring Two Motors; Distraction & Progress](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NThY74tZYkI/mqdefault.jpg)


![A Diesel Engine Takes Flight - Ep. 112
After a winter of stepping over (and slipping off of) the engine every time I was on the boat, its finally out! I was too cheap to buy an engine hoist, so I had to figure out a way to get the engine up out of the vroom vroom truck and down onto my hand truck.
] Patreon:
- https://www.patreon.com/TheDigitalMermaid
] Channels that have Helped Me;
* @ProjectBrupeg
* @OffGridGarageAustralia
* @AcornToArabella
* @BillCarlson
] Chapters
0:00 - Back on the Boat
0:33 - The Travel Lifts Smallest Load
4:43 - Enjoying The Small Things In Life, Stairs!
5:50 - The Plan To Get The Engine Out of the Truck
7:25 - Not My First Rodeo
8:25 - Figuring Out the Rigging
10:31 - Lets Lift! Or Maybe Not...
13:13 - Near Miss
13:49 - A New Plan is Needed
15:05 - The New Plan
16:27 - Re-rigging
19:36 - Lets Lift, Again!
21:38 - Low Level Flying
22:06 - Bringing Her in to Land
23:47 - Its Down!
24:33 - Whats Next For the Ol Diesel?
26:43 - A Note on Upcoming Videos A Diesel Engine Takes Flight - Ep. 112](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Pu-fe3-1fGs/mqdefault.jpg)

![Breaker Cabinets Made From Scratch - Ep. 115
The old circuit breaker cabinet was too small and rotted out. Lets make a new one, bigger and better!
] Patreon:
- https://www.patreon.com/c/TheDigitalMermaid
] Channels that have Helped Me;
* @ProjectBrupeg
* @OffGridGarageAustralia
* @AcornToArabella
* @BillCarlson
] References;
Epifanes Q&A/FAQ & How-To Videos;
- https://www.epifanes.com/page/q_and_a
- https://www.epifanes.com/page/how-to-videos
Dan Lee Boatbuilding; How to Apply Epifanes Clear Varnish;
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0PiMZGD5LQ
Travels With Geordie
* @TravelsWithGeordie
Sail Life
* @SailLife
] Image Attribution
Teak end grain;
- https://www.wood-database.com/teak/
] Chapters
0:00 - Whats Needed and Why
1:41 - The Build Plan
3:26 - Avoiding Edge Banding with Mitres
4:53 - Off To A Great Start...
6:25 - Cutting the Mitres
10:19 - Recapping Some Offline Work
14:45 - Test Fitting On The Boat
16:10 - Trimming and Fitting The Wings
20:26 - Plywood Dulls Blades Quickly
21:55 - Adding The Bilge Pump Switches
22:56 - The AC Cabinet / Sub-panel Plans
23:51 - Starting The AC Panel Build
26:39 - Oh Look, I Missed A Step
28:20 - Moar Chamfers!
30:27 - Planning The AC Cutouts
32:05 - Fancy Wood For a Radio Mount
33:38 - Struggling With Layout
35:02 - Making The AC Cutouts
37:25 - Contemplating Finishing
38:08 - Prep For The First Coat of Varnish
40:02 - End Grain; A Bundle of Straws
41:12 - Sanding And Surface Prep
43:52 - Cleaning Before Varnishing
48:01 - Did I Get The Wrong Marine Plywood?
49:02 - Making A Pinboard
49:52 - First Coat Prep; 50/50 Epifanes Mix
52:28 - Applying The First Coat; Colour is Off...
55:04 - Second Day. Second Coat
58:47 - Third Day, Third Coat, Wrong Tool
1:02:19 - Fourth Day, Last Coat?
1:05:50 - Drips, Runs, And Card Scapers
1:09:36 - Why Not More Coats?
1:13:42 - Was Four Coats Enough (For Now?)
1:15:06 - Installing The Main Cabinet!
1:18:18 - New Panel Handles!
1:18:56 - AC Distribution Panel Install; Not Perfect
1:20:30 - Installing The Main DC Breaker
1:22:49 - Rebuilding The First DC Panel
1:25:36 - Finishing Up And Restoring Power! Breaker Cabinets Made From Scratch - Ep. 115](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RR_8_9IKeBU/mqdefault.jpg)
