TripSailor.com® Sailing Blogs

We had three goals in Spanish Wells.  One, get diesel as they have some of the lowest prices in the Bahamas.  Check. $180 in diesel for Villainy and gas for Lil Vill.  Two, go to a dock so I can use shore power to equalize the batteries.  Sound familiar?  What we did a month ago in Emerald Bay?  Yep, this is a monthly exercise that is necessary to maintain the health of wet acid batteries.  Basically, you “overcharge” them to bring sulfates that buildup on the cell walls back into suspension.  Spent all day charging them and equalizing them, taking measurements of each cell’s specific gravity with my trusty hydrometer.  Check.  Three, hire a pilot to take us through the Devil’s Backbone to Harbour Island.  The Devil’s backbone is a treacherous pass that requires one to know exactly where to go between large coral reefs and shifting sands.  It is dangerous and has claimed many a boat.  We hired Little Woody to pilot us through.