The sailing magazine for the rest of us! - Good Old Boat Magazine

Florida, and from there they spent a
month cruising each spring and fall.
Enchanté became something of a test
boat for their cruising lifestyle. Bradd
researched systems, installed them,
and tested them in the real world of
Caribbean cruising. He soon realized
that they were slaves to refrigeration.
They also needed electricity for
instruments and lighting. Power consumption
dictated that they be able to
generate and store electricity and find
ways to reduce demand.
Bradd installed a bank of AGM batteries,
shorepower, a charger, and a
wind generator. He reduced demand
with more. Now that the kids were
older, they wanted to be aboard for a
couple of weeks at a time. Eventually,
Bradd and Maeve decided to keep the
Beneteau and sell the Endeavor.
It was time to prepare the Beneteau
for extended living aboard, based on
lessons learned on the Endeavor. The
list of additions to the Beneteau grew
as they incorporated their wish list.
First, Bradd addressed their basic
electrical systems. He added a 110-volt
AC distribution system, 12-volt DC
outlets for accessories like the handheld
radio, cabin fans, and compact
fluorescent lights in the cabins. Next,
Bradd researched systems,
installed them, and tested them in
the real world of Caribbean cruising.
by changing interior lights to compact
fluorescent lighting. The Endeavor
had the icebox to die for: 12 cubic
feet. They mounted an efficient 12-volt
cold plate under the cover to reduce
the demand for ice. A propane oven
upgraded the galley.
He next addressed peace-of-mind
issues. He upgraded instruments
and ground tackle. He installed dual
anchor rollers to support a primary
30-pound CQR anchor with 66 feet of
chain and 200 feet of rode and a 35-
pound Danforth anchor with 20 feet of
chain and 150 feet of nylon.
Comparing notes
About this time John Van Blois and
Bradd formed Cruising Solutions, although
John has since left the company
to Bradd and Maeve and serves as an
advisor. Their big idea started when the
two men sat together at John’s kitchen
table comparing notes on equipping a
cruising boat. Both had done a lot of
research and sought a way to share
this knowledge with others. They
envisioned starting a company selling
cruising gear they had tested and could
recommend without hesitation.
Bradd and Maeve continued sailing
the Bahamas, Florida Keys, and
Cuba, learning during their monthlong
cruises that the Endeavor was
adequate for two people but crowded
he added a radar system with an arch
that incorporates seats, a motor hoist,
motor mount, rod holders, and anchor
light. He also added a swim ladder,
offshore life raft, and watermaker.
Adding equipment
Crew needs were addressed by adding
a microwave oven, larger winches
(Lewmar 58s), an electric windlass, Bimini,
dodger, and a propane barbecue.
Bradd realized they’d need to be
energy self-sufficient. His system for
energy production and management
is well researched. He used Nigel
Calder’s formulas to figure demand,
planning to run the engine about two
hours every fourth day to replenish
the batteries. He knew he’d need a
respectable house bank and passive
generation to extend amp-hours by
keeping ahead of the demands of refrigeration.
With this in mind, the following
items were added to the boat: a
660-amp-hour house battery bank plus
a starting battery, a 100-amp alternator
to supplement the original 55-amp
unit, one 55-watt solar panel, and a
Rutland 913 wind generator.
Bradd figures their solar panel puts
out daily about 3 amps for four hours
and 1.5 amps for another four hours.
He chose the Rutland 913 because
he wanted a unit capable of generating
in less than 10 knots of wind in
Over the years, Sampatecho has
become the comfortable cruising home
and the place of business for Bradd
and Maeve, who are breaking ground
as sailors who combine their work and
cruising lifestyles. They sometimes
teeter at the leading edge of communication
technology with the associated
frustrations, but Bradd and Maeve are
showing others that the businessaboard
dream works for them.
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