August Refit: Power, Solar and Progress

QUEST LOG · AUGUST 2026 · LAGOS, PORTUGAL

August was one of our most productive refit periods so far.

PRANIS remained ashore throughout. We had her lifted slightly higher to reach the areas hidden by the keel and yard supports and complete the remaining antifouling.

A new electrical heart

The biggest project was rebuilding the electrical system for long-distance cruising.

The centrepiece is now a 1,280 Ah LiFePO₄ house bank, providing around 16.4 kWh nominal capacity, supported by a separate lithium backup bank.

A new Victron MultiPlus-II 12/3000/120-32 handles the main inverter and charging duties, while the existing Phoenix Combi remains as backup. The AC and DC systems were completed and tested under load.

900 W of solar

4 × 170 W rigid + 2 × 110 W flexible panels = 900 W

Multiple independent MPPT controllers help deal with the constantly changing shadows from mast, boom and rigging. All six panels are now operational and charging the batteries.

More jobs completed

The Johnson toilet was refitted, the liferaft installed, the induction hob fitted and tested, and the old microwave removed.

We also continued installing the communications infrastructure around the Teltonika RUTX50, external antenna and future Starlink connection.

PRANIS is changing

From outside she still looks much the same. Below deck, however, PRANIS is becoming the boat we want:

More energy, more redundancy, more independence – and considerably less reliance on shore power.

The goal is not just a seaworthy yacht, but a comfortable and largely self-sufficient home for years of long-distance cruising.

Next major project: new standing rigging, starting in September.

August gallery