area while being low profile to lessen great results. The oven is a bit bulky,
the sail effect, etc. The phrase “kill the though very lightweight and requires
engineer,” meaning stop designing only sunshine. Most of our cooking is
and start building, didn’t dawn on now done with the solar oven.
us in time. Now we bake under what If there is one last thing that we
Siobhan, our five year old, calls “a tiny wish for, it’s better personal floatation
little thing”, in a mock British accent. devices (PFD) for younger kids. There
The effect of sun beating on deck are plenty of “everyday” PFDs for
so it reaches 130 degrees, while the children, but they suffer from a lack
cabin temperature hovers around 100 of imagination in hot, bulky, and
degrees, does more than just cause mild uncomfortable designs. Is there any
insanity. It’s also taxing on the electrical wonder why kids don’t like to wear
system as every fan on the boat whirls
Most of our cooking is done with the solar
them? Further, we’ve never found a
away and the refrigeration works
oven. Food takes a bit longer to cook, but it
child’s “Type I” PFD or PFD with a
overtime to keep up. We’ve learned
requires only sunshine.
built-in harness. Is there a better way
that installing a $9.00 computer fan in to ensure the safety of young crew then
the refrigerator box does wonders for to shower using very little water. being able to tether them to the boat
circulating the cold air and improving Now that we’ve cleaned-up and when conditions warrant it?
the overall efficiency. gotten a cold drink, how about cooking? These improvements all make
Refrigeration can also suffer from We kicked around the idea of a solar material differences in our day to day
frost buildup on the evaporator plate oven as a way to cook without propane, lives, and we continue trying and
and dust buildup on an air cooled but wondered how well they really learning. In the greater scheme of
condensing unit. Better than praying worked. As the summer temperatures things, life is so good, and our needs so
that you don’t puncture the evaporator made cooking in the already hot minor! Seeing firsthand major damage
plate as you chisel the ice off (and cabin like hell itself, we chose to give from the hurricane Jimena that hit
crying when you do), is the magic solar cooking a try. We purchased the Mexico in September, those needs feel
deicing and cleaning tool commonly “Sport” model made by the Solar Oven even smaller. We appreciate every day
referred to in your local hardware store Society and immediately put it to use. that we have the opportunity to be
as a bug sprayer. This inexpensive and The oven temperatures reach 200 to 250 cruising as a family.
indispensible item is even a great way degrees so food takes longer, but with 48° N
Mahina Offshore
E xpEditions
Ocean Passagemaking with
Expert Instruction
Sail aboard Mahina Tiare III, a Hallberg Rassy
46, for a dynamic and unique hands-on learning
experience with John Neal and Amanda Swan Neal.
Do-It-Yourself
Boatyard
• On-Site Boa

t Repair Yard
Repairs by Darb & Aberto
• Chandlery Open Year-Round
With a combined experience of 456,000 miles and 61
years John and Amanda help you master ocean voyaging
Tuesday - Friday 7:30-2, Saturday 9:30-Noon
skills including seamanship, navigation and heavy
(503) 287-5794
weather tactics.
Cascade Yacht Builders, LLC
www.mahina.com | 360.378.6131
55 years in the business
48° No r t h , oc t o b e r 2009 Pa g e 31
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