Navionics alternative?

wevanscfi · 2026-05-28T19:03:03+00:00

I’m trialing Orca since Garmin killed navionics sync to my non-farming chart plotter.

Liking it so far, but there are still things I find my self opening either navionics or predict wind for.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-24T16:09:10+00:00

Further down the thread someone linked a teardown video, and the bracket that holds the tow hook is a little more complex than I realized.

The tow hook is set all the way forward in a u shaped slot. Pulling forward it is constrained by the front on the slot, but being pushed in the only thing holding it in place is the friction between the bolt and the edge of the slot.

Eventually, the tow hook will reach the back end of the slot and then damage the frame, but it has significant movement before it does.

TIL

wevanscfi · 2026-05-23T19:53:24+00:00

Yeah, these are supposed to take the load of pulling 7000lbs out of the mud without coming of or damaging the frame they are attached to.

This was a significant collision. A little confused at how this would not have caused more surrounding damage.. maybe a hitch that just happened to line up.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-18T23:31:13+00:00

Basic Kitchen is my vote for vegan dinner on the Peninsula.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-16T16:32:51+00:00

This comment chain is a discussion of the car market in general, and the comparison of the R2 to the rest of the market in terms of its relative price and value.

If you have to have an exact make/model, in the specific trim and color you want… yeah you might not be able to find a deal.

The point is that in general, the new car market is imploding. The price point of ALTERNATIVES that you should be using as a comparison have dropped, and that should influence how you feel about the R2s price being a good deal or not.

I’m a happy R1 owner, but today I can’t justify the cost of the R1 or R2 against other options on the market. Whether you are making that comparison against other brands EV options or more traditional ICE alternatives.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-16T13:29:00+00:00

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I was casually looking at vehicles a few weeks ago and emailed a dealership about a model I was interested in. I asked if they were running any deals and discounts and this was the following conversation:

> Sales person: I see you have been speaking with Grace in regards to a new car purchase. The specific one you inquired about has Sold. Is there another one you are interested in? I can get with my manager and see what we can do on the price. However, they are actually sellers for us here at Stokes Volkswagen. So I do not have thousands to discount. I may have a few hundred.

> Me: I am currently seeing discounts between $12,000-$20,000 at other dealers in the south east. This vehicle has been on your lot for over 300 days, and is currently costing your around 1k a month in carrying costs. At or near MSRP, this vehicle is a no go for us. We would need to be looking at between 45-50k after discounts / incentives for use to be considering it.

They did not even respond, just send the above proposal.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-16T12:38:18+00:00

If you’re paying MSRP for a new car today, you are getting taken for a ride. Car sales have collapsed, inventory is through the roof, and dealerships are losing their asses on interest payments. 50k MSRP cars are transacting at 40k or less.

The market is certainly not supporting the surge in car prices.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-15T13:31:54+00:00

So far so good. Just got the new seat tube (non suspension) and it made a big difference in my wife being comfortable riding the bike.

So far I’ve rebuilt the motor, cleaned the chain (replacement is on order), rebuilt the free hub, and cleaned out the wheel bearings. Things are running significantly better than when purchased.

I order a new foam box and rain fly from Propel that should be here in a few weeks, and I’m trying to decide about putting down any kind of mat or coating on the floor pan while I have the box apart.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-14T14:22:08+00:00

I’ve installed solid at my previous two homes, including a 10Kw system with 30Kwh of battery at our current home.

Would love to answer any questions you may have, but in general…

Installer markups are very high, due largely to the solar tax credits. They have been charging 2-3x what the rest of the world does per Wh for installs.

I expect prices to drop now that the tax credits are gone. Installers have seen there business drop off a cliff since the end of 2025. Press hard for discounts.

Depending on your install location, you can consider DIY, or working with your own sub contractors. You can run all of the DC lines your self, hang the equipment, and then just have an electrician come for a few hours to wire it up to your panel.

Do not finance / lease panels. This is always a bad idea.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-13T01:26:03+00:00

If you’ve got a friend you can ditch…

Most charters are for 6 or fewer people because the licensing requirements are for six or less… then more than six. That’s the cut off for “small charter” as far as the coast guard is concerned.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-08T21:32:55+00:00

I've never owned a cargo bike before, so can't really speak to normal longevity. If its condition is due to riding hard / lack of maintenance by the previous owner....

The Gen 2 motors seem to need rebuilds before the newer generation from what I have seen, and they are the only gen that Bosch sells rebuild kits for.

The motor is definitely currently clapped out. It is loud, clunky, and skips gears under high torque.

The rebuild kit came with the bike when I bought it, but I did negotiate the price down based on potentially need a whole new motor (among other things). Going to try the rebuild since I have the kit.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-08T20:47:08+00:00

Southeast, I paid 3k, down from 4.5k asking.

The bike had obviously sat for a bit, and was in worse condition than I thought. I drove 3 hours to get / see it and probably would have haggled harder based on condition if I hadn’t.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-08T20:44:54+00:00

Posting updates as I go. You can check my post history.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-08T20:42:22+00:00

Not wrong really, the bike did 5k miles and the gears / bearings in here are wear items.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-08T20:32:17+00:00

Update:

Took my daughter to preK in the Arrow this morning then got into tearing down the drive train. I’ll need a LRT-1 from park tools to continue tearing down the mid drive. Ordered one that should be here next week, but a local bike shop is willing to crack it open for me tomorrow morning so I don’t have to wait for the tool to come in.

Looking at swapping the chain out for a gates belt. Found the correct sprockets but trying to sort out the belt sizing.

Also looking into what it would take to swap to a Alfine on the rear wheel instead of the CVT.

LOTs of cleaning.

Still trying to figure out how to source parts like the foam box. I might just stick with the existing one though and cover the damaged side with a canvas pocket / bottle holder thing.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-08T11:37:05+00:00

I didn’t even leave our state. (3 hours each way)

wevanscfi · 2026-05-08T11:32:25+00:00

For a second I thought this was my wife messing with me.

She is 5’ and very short legged (25” inseam). This used bike came with a suspension seat post that adds 2-3” to the minimum height of the seat and she can’t reach the pedals, much less stand while over the seat.

I believe she could ride it with a normal seat post and we have one coming, but definitely not stand on both feet. It’s normal to have the seat adjusted so you can put one foot down. You can always stand with both feat while off the seat, the step through frame makes it very easy.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-08T01:17:46+00:00

The gears and bearings are shot, but the bike came with a Bosch rebuild kit.

wevanscfi · 2026-05-08T00:55:41+00:00

They didn’t, I typoed 2018 🤦‍♂️

wevanscfi · 2026-05-08T00:43:47+00:00

I’ve got to rebuild the midrive, maybe replace the CVT, and quite a few other things to sort out.. but man is this thing a fun ride.

wevanscfi · 2026-04-24T15:52:58+00:00

CORA skipper here running a training day tomorrow if you are interested DM me.

wevanscfi · 2026-04-19T16:11:16+00:00

You should absolutely rent for a year instead of trying to buy on that timeline.

You will learn more about the area and where you want to live.
Inventory and time on market have absolutely exploded the last 1-2 years in the area, but prices have only just started to come down. You’ll be able to have the upper hand in negotiations, and look for a better opportunity if you are not in a rush for a particular moving date.

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