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We Made It Through The Hurricane! Our Sailboat's Solar Panels Didn't. | Ep 36
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Oct 13, 2024
We weathered Hurricane Milton with minimal sailboat damage, although others nearby weren't as lucky. The hurricane dislodged our solar panels, damaging our Bimini, but thankfully, our sailboat remained watertight. We have book this marina fora month, should be plenty of time for repairs. New solar panels are on order and will be featured in an upcoming video. Additionally, we have arranged for someone to inspect and repair our Bimini. We're grateful to be in this marina and not on the sailboat during Hurricane Milton. š¢ Our Website: https://www.chrisdoeswhat.com/ š¢ See Our Recipes: https://www.dininginwithdanielle.com Tools I Love: š Milwaukee 18-Volt Drill and Impact Driver Kit https://amzn.to/366BwxM š Husky Mechanics Tool Set https://amzn.to/3kuGUzD š iCrimp Ratcheting Crimping Tool https://amzn.to/3uv7u6i š KAIWEETS Digital Clamp Meter Multimeter with Measuring Temperature https://amzn.to/3Xy3cWo š Heat Shrink Connectors https://amzn.to/3HMB4r9 What's In The Kitchen: Beelicious 32QT Extra Large Air Fryer https://amzn.to/48NfQUY Empava IDC12B2 Horizontal Electric Stove Induction Cooktop https://amzn.to/47DD3bz What We Us In The Kitchen:
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0:00
Okay guys, so we picked up anchor. That was a nightmare. The anchor had like a tan on or something. Oh my gosh, that was a mess. But we're running from Hurricane Milk and we have reservations for a marina. It's got great protection from the wind. Should keep our, I was pretty safe during the storm, but it's right now we have about 14 nautical miles to get it
0:29
up that way. We're going there the day before and then we're going to play in the morning
0:35
So hopefully the winds are calm enough in the morning so we can get in
0:42
So, yeah, but we listened to you all and of course, you know, we were also, you know
0:51
wondering if we needed to go to the mangroves or what we needed to do
0:56
and we just opted for Tysville Marina that. I had some room, so we figured we slipped right in there
1:04
What was a good decision? The input right there is the middle of the ICW
1:10
Looks like it's locked up, and I guess they're waiting for it to die
1:16
What do you think, babe? That's what seems like a lot of people are doing
1:20
The anguish where we're at, the reason why we were thinking how big we should leave
1:24
is because we heard that everybody was sitting off their boats. And we were like, well, that's not anything good
1:30
And they're all coming into us. And another friend of ours is going to the barge c
1:39
But it's a little bit too shallow for us. It would definitely wind up on any mud
1:45
Well, it's us too shallow in the middle. It's just too shallow on the sides
1:49
Yeah, or we would have to tie up to mangroves. So hopefully this is a good decision
1:57
Okay, we're about to go under the NASA Causeway over there, but it's getting cold out here
2:06
Not enjoying this weather. We're supposed to be Caribbean-bound and this is not Caribbean filling at all
2:14
Hopefully the wind isn't too bad. Hopefully the wind isn't too bad. It's calmed down a lot, but yeah, I'm like to get back on
2:25
Because I got to get through this bridge without hitting it. That would be bad
2:32
My baby always loves going into bridges. Always know which way to go on this one
2:43
We're working on it last night. They're trying to have to be kind of confused on which one they're supposed to walk
2:49
Yeah, now they have all the pylons out and everything. So we're good
2:55
Okay, it is 820. We are at Titusville, and my babe doesn't want to anchor at night again
3:08
That's too sketchy. We almost anchored next to a quote we didn't even see because there's no lights on it
3:15
Nobody has any lights on. Nobody turns lights on. And it was dark blue. Yeah
3:19
We had to get flashlights. That's too sketchy. Don't do that. So, yeah
3:24
But tomorrow. would be pulling Tysville Marina. Hopefully the wind's not picking up, and we can do that
3:33
And our dog, she also stressed us out the whole way on the boat
3:39
She ran to the front of the deck while we were at four and a half knots
3:43
You just stays stressful. Okay, guys, so we did move to Tysville, as you saw
3:51
and we got our boat secure, got double lines on the front, double lines on the back, spring lines, our sailbag tied up
4:02
We still have our Dodger up. I don't know if we're going to take that down or not, but we have that big boy blocking
4:08
some wind for us, so hopefully we won't have to. So it's getting a little windy here, but yeah, everybody's tuck in their boats, and
4:18
most people are leaving. I haven't met really, I haven't met anybody that's staying, so
4:25
That's why we're going to go get a car right now. So if you see right now, it's pretty calm
4:30
but it's supposed to really pick up probably tomorrow afternoon. So we picked up a car through Enterprise, our sweet ride
4:43
And I'm going to go back and pick up my baby, and we're probably just going to park this spending on the boat
4:48
Hopefully it's not too stormy. So we're back in Titusville. These people have hooked us up
4:55
We were struggling with what we're going to do for the hurricane and they took us in
5:00
So there's some just great people here. If you're in a bind or just nigh a buying, you want some AC or something, some electricity
5:10
Or ice cream. Or ice cream. Come down to Tysville and get your butt all hooked up in here
5:17
Okay, my baby's making her curry chicken. on the stove top on the stove top
5:26
my slow cooker has taken a turn for the worst I need to buy another one
5:31
but this is our pre-hurricane food but she's using real garlic in here
5:37
you have real garlic I use real garlic I know it's not the minced
5:42
it's actually you had to cut it up yeah because we couldn find it at the store and that they have this so I was like well I just use that I have another jar but I saving it
5:59
Yeah, man, if you look at our pantry, it's getting, uh, uh, it's cutting some holes in there
6:06
It's a little empty. No. No, there's stuff down in there. Oh
6:12
There's stuff over there and over there. The only reason why I have it open is. reason why I have it open is because we have the AC on could learn a marina for hurricane and
6:21
it's I'm just kind of like letting aired out stuff yeah dry out yeah I actually should start
6:28
opening up covers take advantage of all this marina power we have yeah it's expensive okay guys
6:39
it's 11 a.m. here we have a car we are going to be leaving our
6:45
boat. We've made sure it's tied down and hopefully it stays safe but here's what it looks like out here right now
6:54
So you see, it's just raining. This couple here has just left. They're going to leave their boat, but
7:06
yeah. I'm not supposed to get a lot of storm search here because
7:15
there's the ICW and we're pretty far away from inlets but it will
7:23
probably rise about three foot I'm hoping that our lines keep us off these
7:30
poles right here because we have these lines over here so and then we have a
7:36
ton of filtered fenders out there on the pylons out there. Okay guys, so we are leaving the marina and we have us a hotel so wow this is foggy
7:54
Still better. But yeah, I've unplugged shore power in case the lightning strikes the grid and yeah, we're out
8:06
here but still pretty calm. And I'll get the door. I'll get the door
8:16
We never lock up. Yeah. They're leaving the gates open just in case
8:21
Yeah. And we don't know if, you know, some, somebody would want to just like, they know that everybody's gone over here
8:29
Yeah. We're locking up. And y'all be safe out there. Okay, this is what she looks tied up
8:38
Said, we double-lined everything. so hopefully we make it through. So just as we getting off the boat, it started raining
8:48
Boring. Boring. So we're heading to our hotel. It's about 15 minutes from our boat, so we can go check it every so often
9:00
Okay, guys, so we made it to a Best Western, and this is where we're going to camp out during the hurricane
9:07
While we were here, our car got kind of grazed right there and got their insurance and all that
9:17
I don't think it's that big of an issue. In fact, I think it's going to pop out as soon as the sun comes out
9:23
But it's just a plastic bumper. Yeah. Let's just add to the stress
9:30
Yeah. I already stressed about my boat. We'll keep you up to date throughout the same
9:37
process and hopefully nothing goes seriously wrong for anybody in this hurricane building so yeah okay guys so all the grocery stores are closed we're
9:50
in the hotel and we don't have any food there's no restaurants or anything like
9:55
that so here's our option that's it and we're picking out some stuff and hopefully
10:03
we can eat tonight so we're in Tysville the best Western and
10:07
Getting a little windy out here, but a little rain, but we're doing good
10:14
And our puppy right there. And then my wife, she's still going to chilling out
10:23
She's trying to have to freak them out. I'm really worried about the boat and our kids
10:33
Okay, we have all our hot pockets in the microwave spinning around
10:37
My wife is sorting out the... Want to know what I wish I was doing
10:44
On my boat, with my fridge full of meat, making a good meal
10:50
Yes. But yeah, food in a hotel sucks. And... Well, normally, you're able to go to a restaurant or something
11:00
But everything's closed, so we can't go to restaurants. It's over there measuring our top ramen
11:11
Because we all know if we'll have power for the remainder of the night
11:17
We also have our hot pockets over here cooking. I've got all four of them there in the microwave
11:24
We're not eating all this night. We have to have food tomorrow too. Yes. Because tomorrow for this side, for the hurricane
11:33
on the east side it's going to be the heaviest and so we can go back to our boat yet no so we have to stay here and tomorrow everything is closed So there no food So but if we have no power
11:48
We have no food still. I guess I would be crunching on that
11:52
Dry hot Father ramen young. Our boys used to eat that. I haven't eaten this in so many years but it was the only thing available
11:59
So we got our hot pockets are cooked and baby's gonna wrap them up and stick them in the fridge
12:06
in the fridge. And this is a dinner for and lunch and breakfast
12:14
and all that. If we don't have power at least they're cooked, they'll be cold
12:22
They won't be frozen. Okay. It is now hitting our side. And
12:33
the power wound out there. Saw that transformer spark. And our power is flickering here
12:46
Okay, we are out here and this is Ticeville. This is where we stayed the night
12:53
And it looks like we made it through it. It was pretty hairy last night
13:00
If you see over here, this Lanai has just screens blown out
13:06
The traffic lights looked to be going and I think they got power back over here
13:13
Maybe I saw the transformer spark during the winds. I didn't get that on camera because I didn't want to go out of the room
13:21
It was windy. But yeah, it's pretty good now. We're going to be going back to the boat here soon
13:31
But I'm hoping it fared well. I know y'all said, you should have taken down that Bimini
13:36
And yeah, I was contemplating it, but it's raining. Boats can be replaced
13:44
I wanted to get me and my wife out of there and we got to this hotel
13:49
So we're going to go check on our boat, and hopefully it's not damaged or not too much
13:59
Okay, guys, we're here at the marina. We're about to go through the gate and see what my boat looks like
14:04
I still see the sail there, so it's not tilted or anything
14:09
Okay, we're coming down. See, you made it through the weather. What do you think, baby
14:34
Hey look our Dodger. It's got a rip in the side. Right there on the side of it
14:44
Oh our solar is damaged too. Yeah, we got some damage. Our fuel cans are still here
15:04
Yeah Okay What? What? What
15:16
Our solar panels? Yeah, our solar panels Oh my dad, did it run on
15:23
the back area? I'm a, we'll check. Oh wow, wait. Yeah. Yeah
15:31
So we can So we got some damage. I'm guessing I should have tied them down
15:41
Shit. Yeah, that's damaged. Okay, so I'm looking at the solar panels
15:51
These bars back here came out. So that was a problem, which caused this to bend
16:03
the other side snapped, these solar panels are shut. The boom didn't move any, but the solar panels are what caused us a damage
16:15
So what? Yeah, these are gone. Okay, so I got that tied down right there
16:23
We have a hole right here. And that is pretty much it
16:31
The structure of our Bimni held up fine. And that's where the solar panel hit and that's what tore that
16:37
But we can patch that and, uh, but the solar panels are gone
16:42
You see there's a sag right there. So it looked like something landed on top of it
16:47
I wonder if something hit this. That's why it broke loose. But it's, yeah
16:55
So I'm in the boat and we got no water leaks. We got no water in here
17:01
turned on the AC to help dry it out because it's just humid
17:07
but yeah it's everything's pretty much dry the way we left it
17:12
check the villages they're empty so so far I think we did pretty good
17:21
just losing we lost the two 350 watt solar panels which weren meeting our needs but really him or replace him this time and yeah okay I gonna head back to the hotel I turned on the fans and turned on the AC to help
17:47
humidify it in here and now I've got charging at about three amps that would that's
17:53
ten amps over what the boat's using so yeah make that make sense but
17:59
so we should be able come back to a nice dry boat
18:07
hopefully tomorrow so what you think babe well I'm glad that there's nothing
18:15
like holes in our boat or it's sinking or anything like that but we do have to spend
18:21
some money we were going to buy solar panels anyways it just wasn't going to be right now but I guess
18:27
now we have to The Dodger was getting a little iffy anyways, and we were going to have it patched
18:36
But I guess we really have to have it patched now. Because I don't want to build a new one right now because those are too expensive
18:43
So we just have it patched up. You'll just call us patches from now on. Yeah
18:48
That's what's going to be. Because now we have to get solar and we're going to get a water maker and so
18:55
We have to stay at the marina longer now because we have to order. solar panels and stuff now
19:01
Oh, I just... Oh, I just... It's easier just to stay a month because it's only 5.50. Yeah
19:08
So I'll see if the marina's open. Okay, guys, so yeah, we got that little damage
19:15
but I'm gonna go ahead and get these solars removed and so we can get this..
19:21
Get space for our new solar. Okay, I got the solar off, and, yeah, I just had my wife winch up on the hell of you're
19:29
Here's our two cords. So, yeah, I just have to build something new here and hopefully a little stronger
19:39
And these are the solar panels that screwed up. You can see where something impacted this right here
19:48
I don't know what that was. That was on the top. And, yeah
19:53
So these are off. I guess I'll haul these to the dumpster
19:59
So we saved our bars that we pulled off the back, the sail bar
20:03
You probably got to pick up more. Because we do have new solar ordered, all right
20:08
And no, I didn't claim on insurance. If y'all know anything about boats and crap like that
20:16
our deductible would be far more than the damage. So our damage is probably a couple thousand
20:25
The deductible would probably be around 20,000. so we weren't going for insurance claim and crap like that
20:36
So we got a guy coming, he's going to give us a repair on this and, you know, that's minimal
20:45
and we'll need a new cover right here. But yeah, you know, should have strapped down the solar, that was our only problem
20:55
The solar caused the hole. and yeah it's gone now but our solar panels were already not efficient they had some cracks in
21:06
so they're in need of replacing but the hurricane expedite that and yes a few of y'all complained
21:16
about my fuel cans up on the deck well I'm not going to put them in the boat they're full of
21:23
fuel. So it's better that they're out here. They are a ratchet strapped down. They didn't move a bit
21:30
And yeah, if you want to see things on a boat, our neighbors around here, pretty much all of them
21:39
had lots of things on the boat. And we had a lot of head sails lost. Our main cell, we strapped it
21:47
down. I pulled that tight with a winch. And now our head sale, I got plenty of wraps on
21:53
it and there was no impact there but you see that sale back there that
21:58
head sale that's that shredded but a lot of people made it through the storm
22:03
unscathed here the anchorage we were at there's a ton of boats on the rocks the
22:10
pier at dock's bay house is gone and yeah this this was it caused a lot
22:19
damage and we are on the east side so it was a
22:23
Tropical Storm Cat 1 on the west side our boys went through this and it was a cat 3
22:30
And they had minimal damage of course the power steel out But they got that generator squared away they're they're doing good and yeah, yeah, I'm just glad that you know a lot of people
22:45
were really good in this and our dog is now back to her
22:53
barking annoying self Thank you
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