Latest Update - Thanks for All the Questions and Comments

I should apologize to the kind readers of this blog who expected a reply to their generous offers and questions.  We are having a slight technical hitch, probably in the form of my lack of computer technique.  I'm having some instruction and hopefully will be able to correspond on the blog soon!

To generally respond to queries about the equipment we chose and how its working out from a non-technical point of view I'll go through a couple of things:

1. The combination of the new enclosure with the heater (the bus heater), that works while we're traveling on the Westerbeke, when we're stopped at anchor the Espar heater works, when we're plugged in at a marina the reverse cycle air conditioning works. These various heaters, along with the enclosure made us especially comfortable during the first half of this trip.

2. The full enclosure is essential for traveling in any climate.  During the first half of the trip it protects you from the elements allowing travel in shirt sleeves in close to freezing temperatures. As we have got warmer, though not too warm yet, we've opened the various 'doors' and 'windows', and don't have any heat running, we're comfortably solar heated right now. In anticipation of much warmer temps the enclosure will be closed up again to run the AC.

The enclosure also gives an amount of privacy around the cockpit in a marina. As Gemini is so light and open, and not dark and enclosed like a monohull there are times when you'd prefer the marina not to see what you're having for dinner. This also makes use of the pleated blinds of course.

Tony is making copious notes of voltages, power use etc.on the electronic items we have, including the KVH satellite TV, more on that stuff later.

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