{"id":40634,"date":"2016-09-22T07:41:13","date_gmt":"2016-09-22T12:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/?p=40634"},"modified":"2016-09-22T11:40:32","modified_gmt":"2016-09-22T16:40:32","slug":"fpb-78-1-cochise-first-serious-air-conditioning-test-and-record-solar-output","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/fpb-78-1-cochise-first-serious-air-conditioning-test-and-record-solar-output\/","title":{"rendered":"FPB 78-1 Cochise: First Serious Air Conditioning Test And Record Solar Output"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DSC3376\"<\/p>\n

We are \u201canchored\u201d in Denarau, visiting friends on the leeward side off the big island in Fiji. The breeze is non-existent to light, and it is hot–very hot. Perfect conditions to test air conditioning and ventilation.<\/p>\n

Working Cochise<\/em> into the narrow slot where you see her above was great fun. First we surveyed the area with the dinghy.<\/p>\n

\"DSC3401\"<\/p>\n

We found barely enough room at a two-thirds tide to get into position, and knew for certain that below half-tide, as shown above, part of the hull would be on the bottom.<\/p>\n

\"DSC3409\"<\/p>\n

We needed a plan to hold the boat in position, out of the already narrow channel, in such a manner that we could extricate ourselves if the wind commenced to blow. Oh, and the dock shown is much too light for our size.<\/p>\n

\"DSC3394\"<\/p>\n

We prepped Cochise<\/em> by bringing the large Fortress (FX 125) anchor aft to the swim step, and attaching one of our 300\u2019 (90m) spectra shore fast lines. The anchor in the photo above is our smaller kedge.<\/p>\n

\"DSC3395\"<\/p>\n

This runs through the stern fairlead…<\/p>\n

\"DSC3396\"<\/p>\n

to the Lewmar 65 seat tailing electric kedge winch aft.<\/p>\n

The dinghy was over the side, ready to be used as a tug, and the smaller Fortress kedge was ready to deploy if required. Two long 3\/8\u201d spectra lines were flaked and ready as shore fasts. As we came slowly down the very narrow channel, the kedge was dropped about 150\u2019 (48m) from where we wanted the boat centered. The rode was paid out from the reel until near the end, at which time the big Manson Supreme bow anchor was dropped in three meters (ten feet) of water. As chain was paid out the stern rode was winched in, keeping Cochise<\/em> centered in between the two anchors.<\/p>\n

\"DSC3387\"<\/p>\n

A \u201cbow\u201d line was taken across to the dock, and a breast line ashore to a palm tree. We are bow forward, as this area is shallower than aft, and our deepest draft is at the skegs and rudders.<\/p>\n

\"DSC3458\"<\/p>\n

Our four depth transducers, forward, aft, and at both stabilizers, are now showing their value in this tight draft environment.<\/p>\n

The dinghy is used to get ashore. Both anchors are splayed outward, to give us some angle should the wind switch onshore and onto our beam.<\/p>\n

\"IMG<\/p>\n

It turns out that we are aligned almost perpendicular to the sun\u2019s path, so we’re ideally situated\u00a0for good solar output. How good? Our ten 340 watt panels are averaging 15.8 kW, or 619 amps in our 24V system.<\/p>\n

This area is warmer than anywhere else we have visited, the breeze is light-to-calm, but the evening temperatures do cool quickly. To the locals this is winter. To us, used to New Zealand winter, it is uncomfortably warm.<\/p>\n

We are just starting to learn how to make best use of the FPB 78\u2019s HVAC tools, and here is what we have found so far:<\/p>\n