wind predictor

[gbellware]

Don't know if this is the right section for this, but anyway...

http://www.predictwind.com/

In preparing from my trip next week to the Florida Keys I came across this wind predictor site that is as good as I have seen. You can use it for free unless you want some of the more sophisticated features, then it is a subscription site. Maybe I like it so much because, combined with the National Weather Service long range forecast, it tells me that I will have favorable winds for all 10 days I will be in the backcountry. 12-16mph ENE winds will carry me down the archipelago as fast as I care to go.

The site claims to have the most accurate predictive algorithms in existence, has anyone come across anything to compare?

Best,
g

[DLee]

I'll put the free version on my phone and see how it works.

When are you going? Want to take my Hobie Sidekicks along?

d

[gbellware]

Thanks for the offer Dennis! But no, I am going bare with the Kayaksailor 1.6 + jib. I will have about 400 pounds of ballast, including my 190 pounds, so the Quattro will be stable and safe. The wind will be up, probably gusting to 20, but it will be following and my only fear is the stress it will put on the rig. I will have a full set of replacement sheets, cables, and other moving parts in the event that I need to make repairs. Safety first
g

[DLee]

Sounds like you're all set. I'm envious.

Have a great time and take lots of pictures and videos for those of us stuck at home.

How are you going to be charging your electronics?

d

[gbellware]

Put in at Key Largo next Wednesday, take out at Big Pine Key on Friday the following week. I will stay two out of nine nights in the comfort of the State Parks where I can shower, recharge, replenish water supply. I have 30,000 mAh of spare battery to recharge my marine radio and phone, which should be plenty to keep me going. I really suck as a photographer, but I will take pics with my phone just for fun.

g

[chrstjrn]

Have a great time.

Also check out the site called "windfinder".

[DLee]

30,000 mAh in one battery? What the heck are you dragging along with you? Double duty as an anchor eh? LiPo or lead?

I took a smallish (emergency light) 12V 7Ah battery to scout camp this summer to charge cell phones. The idea was to recharge this big battery at the AC outlet by the office and charge the phones back at the camp site via a 12V car adapter. We ended up charging all week with no recharge on the big battery. It was still recharging phones after 7 days. Unfortunately I let the voltage on the 12V get too low and now she won't recharge... C'est Live'.

d

[chrstjrn]

There's also solar...

[gbellware]

Dennis, that is closer than you could have known. Not an anchor. I have a pair of Anker LiPo storage batteries, one is 10,000 and the other is 20,000 mAh. And Chris, I did consider solar but I was worried that most of my sunshine hours will be spent on the water, and I generally have only my radio and GPS, both completely waterproof, on deck. The solar stuff looks a bit scary to leave out in the elements, no?

Best,
g

[chrstjrn]

There are waterproof solar options.

The solar-charging options seem to be improving every year (both better and cheaper), so it's an option that is worth that is worth keeping an eye on.

[DLee]

I have the Goal Zero system, or had, I seem to have lost track of it after the Scout Camp this summer. The panels were waterproof (?) but none of the electrical connections are... pretty weak in terms of weather-ability.

Here's what I got: http://www.rei.com/product/851177/goal- ... arging-kit

There's a lot more by Goal Zero now that looks more impressive. I don't think this stuff was available when I bought mine.

The fully charged storage battery would take my iPhone 6 from near zero to around 80%. Then the charging battery would be dead. I believe the solar panel re-charged the storage battery in around 6-8 hours of good summer no break sunlight. 4 hours for full charge from a wall socket. Of course it's recommended that the storage battery not get hot while charging (i.e. don't let it sit in the sun) which is hard to do when the charge cable is about six inches long. Ha. Kinda ridiculous, but I have to say that it did work and I kinda like.

Setting up a waterproof case that could hold the entire package would be a neat rig. You could velcro the solar panel to the top of the case and have the charging wire run from the panel into the case where charging would remain cool and dry. When not charging put the panel back into the case. Should probably market that...

Anyway, your units look pretty incredible. I just cannot figure out how they are getting 20,000 mAh into such a small package.

If you were going closer to midwinter I'd send you my BSD rig to try out Greg. But right now I'm still playing...

d

[gbellware]

Just arrived in Florida, can't wait to get in the water! The solar option sure is attractive, but until there is a marine-friendly set up I just don't want to trust anything on my deck. The combination of salt, heat, sun, and wind can destroy anything in a surprisingly short time.

g