Systems

Even though Confetti is a "sailboat,"there are about a million other systems on board always requiring attention. The Volvo 3cyl. 43hp diesel inboard engine is one of those. We carry 100 gallons of fuel with us, which we consume at a rate of about 1-1/4 gallons/hour. Generally we can motor at 7-knots (nautical miles per hour), so we have the capability to motor roughly 560-nm's (the trip from San Francisco was about 1600).
Depending on how long the passage is we will motor when the wind is light or non-existent, but the engine is also really important for charging the batteries (we have 5 car size) when the solar panels can't keep up.

The batteries run all the navigation instruments and electronic equipment, the cabin and running lights (so other vessels can see us at night), the pressure water, refrigerator, watermaker (yes we can turn salt water into FRESH!!!!! at a rate of 12 gallons/hour), fans (it is hot here!), radar, VHF radio, HF radio and of course the stereo that we have our ipod plugged into. Managing our power consumption, keeping the batteries charged and making sure all systems are working properly is a big part of each day at sea.