Still Optimistic (May, 2022)

In which we miss our target launch date.

Having put the boat away in early October, I checked the calendar and learned the Escanaba marina would open again on May 3. This seemed like an optimistic date to launch so I penciled in May 5, giving us a couple extra days to get systems up and running before the 60 mile (6 hour) voyage. There's optimistic and then there's wildly optimistic. It's been a long, cold, wet, windy spring here in the Great Lakes and in case you haven't experienced it, there's a pandemic playing havoc with the supply chain for...everything.

May 5 found us still in landlocked Dexter (home port for the DHS Dreadnaughts!) After a quick Mother's Day trip to see my mom in Illinois we headed north to check on the Perseverance, still in the barn in Marinette, Wisconsin where we arrived May 8.

Our voyage from Esky to Marinette last fall was our longest continuous voyage, other trips being 2-3 hour hops across to Door County or Fayette. We were experiencing some odd operation of several systems (tach, radio, etc.) which our new best friend, Brian the mechanic at Nestegg Marine, quickly diagnosed as caused by insufficient voltage. Apparently our house batteries were charging only while plugged in at the dock and not while underway. This, combined with tests showing that our house battery bank was pretty much at end of life, meant we would be doing some electrical work over the winter. By 'we' I mean 'Brian and his guys'.

Replacing seven marine batteries is a little pricey but pretty straightforward...at least it can be. Turns out there's nothing on a boat that can't be made a little more expensive and complicated by doing a little research. Early in the off-season, suffering boat withdrawal, we watched a number of webinars to improve our skills and knowledge. One of them dealt with Lithium battery systems for your boat. The performance numbers were compelling but we weren't sure if the technology was mature enough. However, since we had to replace a bunch of batteries anyhow this would be the time to make the jump. We asked Brian about it. He'd never done that kind of system but said he'd do some research of his own.

Turns out it was going to be (a lot) more expensive and complicated than any of us thought but since we are early in our boating experience (naive?) and theoretically will get to enjoy the benefits for years to come, we convinced ourselves that the Perseverance deserves a state-of-the art electrical system. Also, Brian was REALLY into the project and we didn't want to disappoint him.

Fast forward to mid-May...the batteries have arrived as have most of the other parts with the exception of some big honking copper cables that seem to be part of the supply chain morass. There was a big pile of spent lead acid batteries in front of the boat and empty boxes for the newly installed LiFePO4 batteries. Completion of that piece of the project expected by May 13 (no confirmation as yet). There are a few other issues to be looked at like, the leaking A/C unit and the flaky radio but with some luck we hope to launch by the end of the month and be in Esky by the first of June.

Having checked on the progress there wasn't much else we could do to hurry things along so I'm concluding with some of the sights around the marina.