SUNDOWNER SAILS AGAIN! Hell yeah baby! Soooo good to see you guys back on the boat. Don't get me wrong, I love RV Dani & Tate but I have a secret sailor crush on Westsail Dani & Tate. I think you guys need some salt on your skin. Great job documenting the battery change-out. Appreciate all that you do and will continue to support. You guys rock. Can't wait to see the tour!
Guys, as a fellow Westsail owner (WS42), I have followed your progress. Watching you battle the batteries brought back memories of restoring our Westsail. Keep up the great videos! Fair Winds and Following Seas! Doug on WS42 Harmony
The boat looks great, all the work bagging & painting before hand seems to have made a huge difference, have always heard how easy the living is down there, cheap food, fuel, Safe Travels
Looks grueling but if any two people can muscle through that sort of backbreaking work, it's y'all! PS: All that proper form you preach during squats and lunges has paid off in spades for you, Dani. My back and knees groaned as I watched this!
Of course, we liked your video! Tate, I have to tell you that after watching your first mate help with the batteries, you really have a keeper. She's got a good, strong grip, and can carry her load. I joke that my first mate is a strong Hungarian woman, but she really is about a quarter Hungarian and is REALLY strong. I'm sure you agree that helps when you're in tight spots, eh?
Real manly work. Good thing you have a real man on board Dani. Happy Birthday Tate. And as an aside, at 3:30pm in Ponchatoula, it's 72 degrees and 41% humidity and the windows are open. I'm not gloating or anything but Tate's sweating reminded me of that. ;^)
I just found your channel and now I need to go look through it all, but it looks interesting so far. I subscribed and now I'm looking forwards to seeing how this goes.
Well all I can say is if she treats you like that on your Birthday. How does she treat when its not. Wow !!!!!!!!!!!!! Won't forget that Birthday !!!!!!!!!!! Ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For what's it's worth. Happy Birthday. Ha Ha :)
as for the question below about the solar panels, if the batteries can't hold a charge the solar charge is useless, with the batteries replaced the solar panels should be fine with the new batteries and solar panels cleaned and connected.
Great vids, guys. You really need to locate your batteries in a more accessible place, as they do need regular maintenance (unless they are AGMs), and I don't see how you can attend to that when they are so inaccessible.
+Jack Rabbit Thanks! We use the Flowrite battery watering system that connects to the batteries and we can water them from in the galley with a hand bulb and hose. There isn't really a better place for them. The last 5 years they worked pretty good there, though we have to balance the weight in the boat.
Great isn't it, crawling into impossible places putting stuff in or taking stuff of holes that you need to pretty much dismantle the keel and the mast to get to... oh the joys of boating... Warren s/y Legend
Suggestion. How about pull the boom out, tight the preventer have a halyard go through the end of the boom and everything except batteries winched up in a net and batteries done one at a time to keep them right side up.
+Alain Pascal Routhier Good plan in truth but it would have taken longer to get all the rigging back out than we had at the time, since everything was stowed.
could it have been easier getting your bags and batteries up into the boat and then placing the batteries in place by using the halyards and/or boom? A couple fiddle blocks, I think, would help ease having to lift heavy objects. The installed batteries are in a really inconvenient location. Take Care.
+Daniel - S/V Rhapsody Good point. We used the boom the first time around lowering the batteries into place but this time around it wasn't so bad with the two of us and those ropes. It took less time and less work for us (taking the bimini down) to do it by hand. But definitely if you were short handed or it was easy to get to the boom it would be a great idea to use a pulley lever system. The batteries are VERY inconvenient...but that's really the only place for them and once we put them in 5 years ago we haven't messed with them since. We use the Flowrite battery watering system to be able to water the batteries from the galley:)
5 years is good time, I think. The batteries I got when I bought my boat lasted only a couple years, but I kinda accidentally killed them (3yrs ago). I recently bought new batteries and finally got around to installing a battery charger I bought two years ago. Now, I have a larger capacity house bank and a larger size charger to keep them topped up. One of these days, I'll add solar so I can keep the boat off-grid ;-)
+Daniel - S/V Rhapsody Awesome! We also accidentally killed our batteries at the start of our trip, so that didn't help! We love being off the grid:) Wait until you actually need solar because the technology is always getting better/cheaper.
+ptrinch I was wondering if anyone would see that. They would come out at night too in the bedroom but I couldnt film it fast enough. We actually didnt have hot water and we didn't actually have functional water in the room for the first four days, lol.
+h2odragon1 Meaning there are 4 batteries. 2 sets of 6v are wired in series. Then the two sets are wired together in parallel. This yields a 12v bank with double the capacity of a pair of batteries.
+Cody McMillan She is a 1974 Westsail 32'. She has an interesting history having been sailed around the world 3 times previous to us from 1978 to 2002 by a retired Navy commander and his wife Roger and Molly Firey. You can see pictures and more details here. sundownersailsagain.com/about-sundowner/
Definitely! The ocean is brutal anyways to a boat so we don't really care too much about the cosmetics. Sundowner is a very safe and VERY comfortable boat for world travel. We love HER.
+Allyn Onderdonk Thanks Allen for thr warning. These were the only batteries we could get for around $100 each here . The rest were over twice that amount. Hopefully they'll last a few years.
![PURPEECH - นี่ฉันเองคนที่... (It's me) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NuhHd0hOOg8/mqdefault.jpg)
SUNDOWNER SAILS AGAIN! Hell yeah baby! Soooo good to see you guys back on the boat. Don't get me wrong, I love RV Dani & Tate but I have a secret sailor crush on Westsail Dani & Tate. I think you guys need some salt on your skin. Great job documenting the battery change-out. Appreciate all that you do and will continue to support. You guys rock. Can't wait to see the tour!
+HaveWindWillTravel.com Thanks Annie! The tour will come once the boat is put away! Miss you guys.
No worries at all. No rush. I'm just excited. So happy for you guys to be back on a s/v from the RV! : )
Guys, as a fellow Westsail owner (WS42), I have followed your progress. Watching you battle the batteries brought back memories of restoring our Westsail. Keep up the great videos! Fair Winds and Following Seas! Doug on WS42 Harmony
Hello Mr. Tate :), Thanks for the kind comment and for stopping by. The Westsail 42 is such a beautiful boat. Take care.
There is something about your name, Tate!!! Fair Winds you two!
The boat looks great, all the work bagging & painting before hand seems to have made a huge difference, have always heard how easy the living is down there, cheap food, fuel, Safe Travels
I feel your pain ,glad to see you two back on the boat again :)
+Nicole Belleau it's great to be back!
That looked like a ton of work, great job! Happy Birthday!
+Steve Houck Thanks!
Looks grueling but if any two people can muscle through that sort of backbreaking work, it's y'all! PS: All that proper form you preach during squats and lunges has paid off in spades for you, Dani. My back and knees groaned as I watched this!
+sinistre :). It was wasn't so bad. Miss you to the moon!
happy belated birthday tate
+vickie mears Thank you much Vickie! Want quite as fun as last year but any time here in paradise is fun.
Of course, we liked your video!
Tate, I have to tell you that after watching your first mate help with the batteries, you really have a keeper. She's got a good, strong grip, and can carry her load. I joke that my first mate is a strong Hungarian woman, but she really is about a quarter Hungarian and is REALLY strong. I'm sure you agree that helps when you're in tight spots, eh?
+Sail Before Sunset Trust me man, I know what I got. That's why I put a ring on it.
I thought after all she made you do you might take the Ring back. Ha
Your videos rock!, keep filming while you work, its very informative!
+david romero We are trying. Hope they are fun to watch as well. We know some people aren't into boat work but it is part of the lifestyle.
Real manly work. Good thing you have a real man on board Dani. Happy Birthday Tate. And as an aside, at 3:30pm in Ponchatoula, it's 72 degrees and 41% humidity and the windows are open. I'm not gloating or anything but Tate's sweating reminded me of that. ;^)
+lowell mccormick Thanks Lowell, thanks... NO seriously, enjoy the nice weather while you can!
Dani here, Hello Ponchatoula! Thanks for the weather update
Happy belated birthday! Boats are a lot of work!
+Carroll McGuire Thanks. Yes but the rewards are unmatchable.
What a huge undertaking!
+Brian K Kinney Just life on a boat!
Nice video guys... Tate-- bro, that battery swap looked beast in the heat man... You'll get there soon! 👍
+SY Explorar Conmigo Beastly times call for beast mode Tate
Glad to see yall on the boat again. X2 on the Music too loud. Great information on this video. 6V is the way to go. 5 years is a great life too.
+pate allan We are happy to be back! We'll work in the audio levels:)
You can say it ... we are all cruisers here ... hoarders ... see that was easy and it did not sting half as much :)
Happy Birthday. I see everyone put their strong guns to work.
+499PUCK Tate says thanks! Oh yeah we DID NOT STOP working while in the boatyard. You gotta make hay while the sun shines!
I was worried about your toes getting crushed. Be careful
That looked like some work my friend. good job!
+MrBackpacker48 True true but worth it for the sake of power!
I just found your channel and now I need to go look through it all, but it looks interesting so far. I subscribed and now I'm looking forwards to seeing how this goes.
+Amber Rodman Welcome aboard Amber, we are just getting started!
Thanks for sharing the tough work that goes into the cruising life. You he battery swap looked miserable.
Well all I can say is if she treats you like that on your Birthday. How does she treat when its not. Wow !!!!!!!!!!!!! Won't forget that Birthday !!!!!!!!!!! Ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For what's it's worth. Happy Birthday. Ha Ha :)
+Terry Skeans Don't worry Terry, I thrive despite the work
Best of luck my friends.
+Solar Power Electricity and Electronics :)
Great video
+SNAKEEYES44 Thanks a bunch.
as for the question below about the solar panels, if the batteries can't hold a charge the solar charge is useless, with the batteries replaced the solar panels should be fine with the new batteries and solar panels cleaned and connected.
Great vids, guys. You really need to locate your batteries in a more accessible place, as they do need regular maintenance (unless they are AGMs), and I don't see how you can attend to that when they are so inaccessible.
+Jack Rabbit Thanks! We use the Flowrite battery watering system that connects to the batteries and we can water them from in the galley with a hand bulb and hose. There isn't really a better place for them. The last 5 years they worked pretty good there, though we have to balance the weight in the boat.
Great isn't it, crawling into impossible places putting stuff in or taking stuff of holes that you need to pretty much dismantle the keel and the mast to get to... oh the joys of boating...
Warren
s/y Legend
Smart four two
+Roland Butler Say what?
Suggestion. How about pull the boom out, tight the preventer have a halyard go through the end of the boom and everything except batteries winched up in a net and batteries done one at a time to keep them right side up.
+Alain Pascal Routhier Good plan in truth but it would have taken longer to get all the rigging back out than we had at the time, since everything was stowed.
Wow a Lott of work ahead did any of the solar panels survive and working or do y'all have to replace them all
+kd4ysi some survived!
I liked the video but now I have back ache after watching you replace those batteries.
+Vaughn Herren Haha, at least this is only a once every 5 years job!
hi guys great video but can you have the music down lower as we can't hear what you are saying when its up, keep up the great work.
+Geoff Hughes-Brown Hi! Sure we'll lower the music down in the future. Thanks!
could it have been easier getting your bags and batteries up into the boat and then placing the batteries in place by using the halyards and/or boom? A couple fiddle blocks, I think, would help ease having to lift heavy objects.
The installed batteries are in a really inconvenient location.
Take Care.
+Daniel - S/V Rhapsody Good point. We used the boom the first time around lowering the batteries into place but this time around it wasn't so bad with the two of us and those ropes. It took less time and less work for us (taking the bimini down) to do it by hand. But definitely if you were short handed or it was easy to get to the boom it would be a great idea to use a pulley lever system. The batteries are VERY inconvenient...but that's really the only place for them and once we put them in 5 years ago we haven't messed with them since. We use the Flowrite battery watering system to be able to water the batteries from the galley:)
5 years is good time, I think. The batteries I got when I bought my boat lasted only a couple years, but I kinda accidentally killed them (3yrs ago). I recently bought new batteries and finally got around to installing a battery charger I bought two years ago. Now, I have a larger capacity house bank and a larger size charger to keep them topped up. One of these days, I'll add solar so I can keep the boat off-grid ;-)
+Daniel - S/V Rhapsody Awesome! We also accidentally killed our batteries at the start of our trip, so that didn't help! We love being off the grid:) Wait until you actually need solar because the technology is always getting better/cheaper.
I see you're sharing that shower with a gecko. @ 2:45
+ptrinch I was wondering if anyone would see that. They would come out at night too in the bedroom but I couldnt film it fast enough. We actually didnt have hot water and we didn't actually have functional water in the room for the first four days, lol.
+Sundowner Sails Again
@11:11 can't make out what Tate is saying, the disco music's too loud.
+nyyght7 haha. Sorry, hopefully we'll fix some of that later.
wHY USE 6VOLT BATTERIES RATHER THAN 12V DEEP CYCLE TYPE?
+Jack neff 6v are generally cheaper and provide more amp hours.
The Batteries are wired,'In Series parallel'?
+h2odragon1 Meaning there are 4 batteries. 2 sets of 6v are wired in series. Then the two sets are wired together in parallel. This yields a 12v bank with double the capacity of a pair of batteries.
OK!
what length is Sundowner? what type of boat is it?
+Cody McMillan She is a 1974 Westsail 32'. She has an interesting history having been sailed around the world 3 times previous to us from 1978 to 2002 by a retired Navy commander and his wife Roger and Molly Firey. You can see pictures and more details here. sundownersailsagain.com/about-sundowner/
awesome. I love seeing old boats given another chance. only way some of us folks can afford to do these kind of things
Definitely! The ocean is brutal anyways to a boat so we don't really care too much about the cosmetics. Sundowner is a very safe and VERY comfortable boat for world travel. We love HER.
Any weed in that pipe?
with all them battery's if i were you guys i would put a big rig cb radio on that thing ,,,,,,,,,, 500 watts 10 & 11 meteor
+BlueFlyer In the marine world the radios come in two flavors, vhf and ssb. We use vhf and have about 25 mile range.
ssb is on the big rig , range is hundreds of miles , skip conditions,, thousands
First view.......
+Marty Handley Hooray!
Never buy those energizer batteries ever again. So many people have trouble with them in terms of longevity.
+Allyn Onderdonk Thanks Allen for thr warning. These were the only batteries we could get for around $100 each here . The rest were over twice that amount. Hopefully they'll last a few years.