ANNAPOLIS, MD

ANNAPOLIS, MD

JULY 23 – 31, 2017

At 0806 hrs on July 23^rd, we departed Spring Cove Marina (38-20.088 N; 76-27.623 W) on Solomon Island for Annapolis, Md: 40 miles distant.  The purpose of going to Annapolis was to have Nathan Horton, from SeaFrost Refrigeration Systems, spec- out our system and make recommendations on the installation of a new DC SeaFrost System.  The 1991 Valiant 40 came with an engine driven SeaFrost  System that has worked very well over the years.  The main drawback to this system is that the Main Engine has to be run two hours per day to keep things cold.  Additionally, since the cooling isn’t constant, between refrigeration charges, it is difficult to keep frozen food from having a slight thaw out.  The DC Refrigeration System will keep the temperature constant within a few degrees.  The plus side of the Engine Driven System is that it keeps the batteries charged up because the engine is being run two hours per day.  The downside of the DC Refrigeration System is that, with two compressors running, the battery draw is 120 amps per day.  We have a D400 Wind Generator and a 240W Solar Panel that will put some of these needed amps into the battery bank but, I believe, we will have to occasionally run the engine to make up the difference.  Our battery bank is 600 amp hours and we have never had a problem with batteries running low.  In the end, a reliable DC system is the better choice for keeping frozen and refrigerated food at optimum temperatures.  Whenever we have to motor, the alternator is putting amps into the system.

On July 25^th, we shifted over to the Bert Jabin repair yard in Back Creek (38-57.710N; 76-28.917W) and Nathan Horton came aboard to spec-out the system.  The end result was that the two existing SeaFrost systems (Engine Driven and Shore Assisst) would have to be removed in order to install a new SeaFrost DC Refrigeration System.  Also, some additional insulation would have to be added.  It is a big job and will be expensive:  just how much? I don’t know yet. This is the difference between buying an older boat and a newer one.  The newer one will take a lot more money upfront but the older one will require more maintenance and replacing systems as they become obsolete or wear out.  I still think that the better value is found in a well maintained older boat.

After the consultation,  we were ready to set sail for New London, CT on Thursday July 27^th, however, a severe Wx Warning was given for the Mid-Atlantic States and New Jersey Coast.  We plan to set sail on Monday July31st.  In the meantime, we have always liked Annapolis.  The Annapolis Yacht Basin has good moorings, pump out and Water Boat, showers, laundry, and a water taxi.  It is a safe place to be and, at $35 per day, very reasonable.  The old historic district is interesting with lots of interesting places to see.  The US Naval Academy has one of the best maritime museums we have seen.  They have a collection of what were called Dockyard Models dating from 1650 until the end of the golden age of great tall ship building in the early 19^th century.  These small scale models were made up as a guide for planning  the  actual construction of the vessels.  They were, mostly, for the construction of naval war ships.  The museum claims that it is the best collection in the world;  there is one in London that rivals it. 

For those that choose to anchor, there are many creeks that afford a safe place to be for an extended period of time.  Back Creek is one possibility and has Water Taxi Service and Pump Out, or one can use their own dinghy:  these can be tied up almost anywhere.  Every street that ends at the harbor is a dinghy dock!

We will return at the end of September to have the new DC Refrigeration System installed and attend the Annapolis Boat Show on October 5^th.  After that, along with all the other boats heading South for the Winter, we, too, will be in that group.