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Good morning!!💘💘💘 Hi......💕💕 You are good!!!💕💕 Thank you so much!!!.🤩😍 Today is a good day. 🤩😍 I will Fighting to you!!💕💕 Bravo your life !!! Have a nice day !!!!💘 Thank you, Your good!!!💕💕
"I want boat talking to me, but now boat is dead" That's a profound way for Lenny to express his connection to his life on the boat and the ocean - what a deep little fellow!
@Rapido this is your moment to shine. Show that your team not only take issues like this seriously but also that you make sure that you have an appropriate team to understand and address the problem. The boat owners shouldn’t need to consult anyone - this sort of fault is squarely on your shoulders. It’s also clear they are not trusting your teams ability to understand or fix the issue. Pay attention - the way you respond to this is being broadcast to the world. The outcome of these repairs and your responses to them will reflect more on your company that the original build of the boat. The biggest fear anyone has when building a boat is how resolve issues after the build. Over to you - your time to shine. Make this a story of how, despite and early blunder, you’ve come through, Brough all the right people and with skill and confidence, fully resolved the issue to everyone’s satisfaction.
Fully agreed. It is unbelievable that Rapido didn't send a team for analysis and the repair. For Mr. Koch is time to intervene. PS Rapido sent 2 people that proved to be incompetent making a repair laminating the CB that felt off immediately.
Outstanding comment. My thoughts exactly. I’ve been thinking how much it would have cost to build a similar boat like this in a Europe country or Australia or USA?
I can't believe how calm you seem about these cracks! I'd be livid!!! You paid SO much for that vessel, it's unacceptable that it's falling apart! Hope everything works out.
Dagger board cases in cats and tris experience MASSIVE side loads, the dagger boards on my cat were originally made of foam and glass, they broke under load to windward and were replaced in oregon core wrapped in S glass, they were about 15 ft long and weighed about 130kgs each, was talking to a designer years ago and for the size and weight of my old boat, his estimation was 6 tonns at 15 knots boat speed to windward. Most tris use the daggerboard case as part of the compression structure for the mast. Given the deck to DB case and hull to DB case joins are kinda key to the structure, I have to be honest here, I'd be looking for further analysis of the ENTIRE dagger board case. Ultrasound of the structure to make sure there were no further de-laminations is a quick non destructive test that can help ID areas of concern. When structures have failed as spectacularly as the deck to DB case have it is generally occurs in more than one specific area. Take care my dude, your decisions have consequences.
Hi ,we are building an 80ft cat out of carbon fibre with experienced racing professionals. During the composite build phase we had regular NDT tests at various stages and picked up one or two issues that could be fixed. If you have these type of problems having an NDT test of the entire boat will show you what is weak, not up to strength. This will give you peace of mind on also parts of the boat and especially the repair. The yard should have done this as standard. If you want some further details, happy to supply them. Regards John
Rapido, there are thousands of us in this world who follow the adventures of Elayna and Riley, their sons and their friends as they sail around the world. We understand the stresses and strains the ocean, and the winds can put on a sail boat. We also know how long and hard Riley studied and checked so many different designs before he settled on the Rapido. So many of us have been most impressed by your efforts so far to produce what Riley and Elayna require for them to continue their lifestyle and for us to be able to share it. Your good reputation will excel above all expectations if you can get La Vagabonde repaired, and back to the high standard required for their safety without them being out of pocket. Please look after them.
Jai is a legend ! He really took good care of your boat while everyone was away . Definitely gut wrenching encountering these major issues , but thank goodness the family wasn't at sea in what could have been catastrophic .
It always surprises me when you find such a competent person so young. And not camera shy, too! What a gem you guys found in Jai. I cannot wait for the Japan episodes and hope you guys had a relaxing time back in AUS with family. 💜
If the next episode doesn't show a thorough inspection of the boat by a team of at least three dozen Rapido experts and engineers, I'll lose all trust in the company. Paying a premium for a brand-new boat, only to encounter structural cracks after just a few months of use, raises serious concerns and sets off alarm bells.
Hey Guys, i work with carbon fibre in the aerospace industry, if i were you i would be handing that hull back to rapido. Anyone who works with carbon will tell you that you cant successfully patch Carbon Fiber parts, especially those that require as much structural integrity as the mast and centreboard. it looks like the entire hull is compromised. i know that being creators your cant really shitbag Rapido while youre living on one of their boats but there is no way i would be sailing to japan with my family onboard on that thing..... Good luck guys
@@evangatehouse5650 yeah most of it was wet layup by the looks so I’m thinking their cure times were probably off. The crack looks more like de lamination which could potentially be worse than just a crack as the whole area would need to be cut out and reformed
Hey. Don't sail that hull. The main structure is compromised 1. Unload all your personal effects 2. Store everything 3. Hire lawyers to demand a brand. new hull. It's your family that is in jeopardy.
Cheap old person here. I have over 60 years of sailboat racing experience and thousands of cruising miles. I watch your show because you are competent and striving to learn. PPI. Perpetual process improvement. Secondary bonding is tricky, especially in tropical conditions of high heat and humidity, both enemies of epoxy. Clearly the resin in attempt #1 did not cure properly, maybe not the installers fault, provided they mixed the resin properly…I have laminated in the tropics. It is hard but not impossible. Consider laminating at night to avoid the heat. All the best to the family. Good luck. I mean that in a positive way.
Yes, epoxy and humidity+heat don't work great together and your advice is sound. Maybe even create some sort for controlled environment for the lamination process? But my disappointment is more to the design and structural calculation which are quite obviously fraught. Such a crack in such a vital part of the boat should not have appeared so early in the boat's life. I know these things happen in custom designs and calculation/design errors go unnoticed, but somebody dropped the ball and they should be bending over backwards to design a real fix (don't improvise or jerry-rig a solution before a sail of that difficulty).
@@SierraLimaOscar The entire boat was built in a high humidity high temp country in Vietnam. What does that say about being confident in Rapido's building and laminating process for the entire boat? I'd be a little concerned that as time passes and more rough water is faced, more laminating and bonding will fail resulting in more cracks and therefore more chance of catastrophic outcomes, potentially miles from any help.
@@stevebodalenko5286 You can have climate controlled facilities to do the laminating in. Which I would expect is the case for a boat builder in Vietnam...?
Bro that is only a bandage, it will break again and I hopefully no in the middle of a strong wind. Bring that boat back to manufacture before the warranty is out.
Rapido, we are WATCHING. Riley and Elena are legends, hopefully you do everything you can to make this right for them and their boys. All the best to Riley and Elena🥂
Didn't the Wynns also have lots of problems with their brand new boat done in China? - maybe the cheap labor there isn't a good solution to a high quality boat.
@@JoeTheLion60Any boat builder has issues.. Lagoon in France, ORC in France, etc etc. This really has nothing to do with your pre-conceived Asian build issues…
I can totally understand the difficulties involved with resin, carbon fiber and associated materials in open-weather tropical conditions. I’d be surprised if the final board repairs AND the main repairs don’t involve some type of controlled environment enclosure for temperature, humidity and curing control. You can feel confident that the manufacturer fully understands the greater situation which involves millions of eyes and concerns for your continued success. Cheers and looking forward to the properly engineered solutions☺️
3m39s If the crack isn't enough... NEXT to that there are two missing nuts and washers (you can see the imprint from the missing washers)! Also a random screw into what looks like clear resin... and that resin looks like a patch made to an access hole to get to the nuts. I would not be surprised if whoever fitted those bolts (with missing nuts) compromised that structure when they cut and drilled that area. FYI, I'd also double check that the entire bulkhead from mast to beams is structural and not delaminated by tapping at it. This is where so many trimarans fail.
Wow it seems that the Old vagabond may have been slower but structurally it seems it was better. I pray that after these repairs that your boat won't have anymore major structural issues for a long time, since your boat is not a year old yet. It was great seeing Elaina, Lenny and Darwin again.
Warranties are one thing, but quality and performance are another. The warranty means nothing if you end up dead because of shoddy workmanship. Disgraceful that a multimillion-dollar boat is having as many problems as this one has had. I would be thinking long and hard about setting off for Japan with cracks in such a foundational structure. Lives are in danger if it isn't repaired and stronger than the original build.
Can’t imagine Rapido is getting many new orders after this episode! Hope the repairs go smoothly going forward! I would be asking for a warranty extension!
Actually the way Rapido are dealing with it gives me more confidence in them, first few hulls of any design have teething issues, it's how the vendor stands behind their product and honours the warranty that counts, they're not doing a Lagoon and denying that there's an issue....
So who heard Lenny say, he wants the boat talking to him. But the boat is dead. Oh how sweet. So he hears and feels the boat. Such a sensitive and empathetic boy.
Love the boat, love the family, love the channel.PLEASE Do your research on AG1, it’s all BS made from a business man that fled his home country. There’s no data specifically saying how much, of what specifically is in it. It’s just “Good for you because we said so!” “trust us bro!” It may be a sponsor that will be under heat soon and wouldn’t want to see you guys get wrapped up in the drama.
The fun part about bespoke boats, RVs, houses, etc is that they ALWAYS have tons of problems. That is the experience you sign up for when you order custom.
Unfortunately I agree, all saltwater sailboats/yachts require constant maintenance, but this has become a real headache for you guys, I mean some of these problems should not be even happening for a brand new boat, hope you got a hell of a good warranty...
Longtime sub and rarely comment but felt compelled to do so. At 3:32 I had to rewind and pause. I did this a few times and still can't believe what I saw. There isn't any excuse from the factory to justify this shoddy work. You and your family place your lives on this. It's high time to go over EVERY INCH of this boat before you find yourselves in a bad spot.
The more I watch videos like this, the more convinced I am that the advice to never buy an expensive new RV or boat is sound. Pay less for a good used boat that you have had inspected and has had all the bugs worked out of it. "Good Used" is the key.
I would have kept the Cat! That boat went through very rough conditions and came through it with flying colors. I don't know if I would ever trust this boat after all this. I would put this mess back on the manufacturer and do not let him give you excuses this has been a nightmare for you guys. God Bless you and the boys!
Real explorers , new cruising grounds ,new routes, new problems, resourceful , and steadfast, all with a hint of humour, keeps all on the edge of our seats!
Congratulations on 2 million subscribers! I still remember watching your videos back when I was in college and you were on La Vagabonde 1, wow time flys!
I'm 72 following your adventures for approx 7 years. I'm disappointed that Rapido hasn't matched your expectations. Prayers that this vessel is shipshape before heading to Japan. Perhaps the delays are the UNIVERSEs way of protecting you from unexpected challenges in Japanese waters.
Hi Riley, I’m sure you’re getting loads of advice but I feel I should put in my ten cents worth. In particular regarding the crack in the dagger board. I believe that crack is the edge of a planar shear failure that extends well into the board and that superficial patching will not correct the problem. The two sides of the board need to be shear connected together perpendicular to the plane of the crack by something like a grid of dowels extending from one side of the board to the other. The lateral load on the board has exceeded the shear capacity of the core of the board. The board will now be weaker and it will deflect more under load. I’m a retired structural engineer and I’m drawing my conclusion from just the glimpse of the crack on the video but it’s likely to be the case. Good luck with the repairs and thanks for all the wonderful videos. Cheers Roger.
Um, that's not really how composite daggerboards are built. Sometimes a shear web of solid wood or C shaped glass/carbon bonded to the skins. The design could be fine; the build could have faults. Don't know yet.
I didn’t suggest how the board was built, there are a number of ways that shear connection can be designed between the skins. I’m relying on Riley’s intelligence to understand that there is a significant probability that the shear failure in the board could be more extensive than might be assumed by someone without structural analysis skills. If the board is to be repaired rather than replaced then a patch of the crack won’t be sufficient. Retrofitting some additional shear connectors should at least be considered.
A friend of mine and I were contemplating making this exact same trip (Philippines to Southern Japan). Everyone we talked to said the best time to do such a trip is April to June, and worst time being July through October. I know this trip may be really exciting to take, but you may seriously want to consider postponing until next year, unless you've sailed those seas during this time of year before. Especially considering the issues you're having. I'm new to the channel, but it sounds like you all have tons of sailing experience, so maybe everything will be ok. Still, many of the local ship owners I spoke with would not charter trips during the coming months, because of weather.
Jai seems like a solid ally and knowledgeable. Rapido and M&M need to step up. If all else fails, bring in Colin and Jamie! Hopefully not a Lagoon type dilemma. Wonder if other Rapido 60s have issue.
@@stevebodalenko5286It would be best if they sent out teams and were ready to make repairs. Luxury products like this should have a level of exceptional quality and customer care. This boat cost nearly $2 million!
Your family is awesome. I can relate to getting something new and expensive that you live in. Your boat. Our motorhome. It was fix or repair daily. When we had problems it was treated like a hot potato…no one would take responsibility for the problem. I understand your stress and frustration. Your kids bring such joy to me. They are treasures. The boat is dead comment cracked me up. You are two brave and wildly adventurous people. God bless you all. ❤
I retired from one of the major Defense contractors in the world and the last thing you want to do is take shortcuts on a major structural carbon part repair of the boat. YOU WILL regret it. They take time and the repair needs to be designed by an experienced structural engineer then fixed using sound techniques. Anything less and you will be putting your family and boat at great risk.
I agree and not something that can be done on the fly in a shipyard open to the elements. The boat needs to go back to the manufacturer for a full check over and a factory overseen repair that they will 100% warranty.
I'm one of those little old ladies! Have been watching for several years. I agree with some others... there is no way you need to take your family sailing until the boat is 100%. I know you know this. I see it in your face. We will still be here.
The stress that you two are having to deal witb is no doubt unbelievable, however it seems to me that the builders should bring the vessel back to Vietnam and come up with a plan on the repair, design changes and or whatever is necessary. They should provide you with a replacement in the meantime. I will leave it at that!!
This seems like a situation where the Rapido principals need to be literally on deck. The materials experts below with their concerns about the environmental conditions for repairs should be heeded by the Rapido team starting from the top.
I know you want the story to be different, and you want the issues with the boat to be just new boat growing pains. You are both getting STRONG messages, undeniable messages, that the boat is not up to snuff, nor the quality you contracted for. And your family is part of your life investment. Don't let sentiment, friendships within Rapido, your schedule to get to Japan, and especially not your RUclips channel get in the way of your pure gut/heart decisions making. Elana trust your mama sensing, you have them for a reason. Adventure is great, however this is about WISDOM. Besides the boat absolutely not being the quality it should be , and that you paid for, there may be reasons yet unforeseen for you not to be in Japan at this particular time. There is much weather upheaval predicted on that part of the planet in the next few months. I wish you all the best as always.💚
Hey Riley, I have been following SLV for a while now. I follow several sailboat channels, but you seem to be the most badass, hard core sailor out there. So I wish you success in all your ventures, but....... You sailed through some bad weather and gave your trimaran a stress test. I fear the Rapido 60 failed that stress test, miserably. The cracks you describe are at the point where major loads intersect. You have bending loads from the (single) centreboard. You have huge compression loads from the mast. You have bending loads from the forward cross beam. This is the strongest and most heavily loaded part of the structure. Carbon fibre construction is the stiffest, lightest form. But it fails by cracking, not tearing, like wood. The relative flexibility of wood allows miniscule movements, which share the loads throughout the fastenings, but carbon fibre is hard and stiff, with very limited opportunities to share out uneven loads. If one small region of the structure is overloaded, it cannot ask for help and a small crack starts. The cruel thing about cracks is that the longer they are, the quicker they grow. As things get stiffer, they become more brittle, like comparing a window pane with a similar sized piece of plywood. I worry that your cracked boat is like a porcelain teacup that has been dropped onto the floor. You can replace it but you cannot fix it. Please prove me wrong. I'll be genuinely happy if you do. Your boat was designed by a firm of Naval Architects with massive credentials. Could the builder have introduced some off-spec materials? Is it time to say, "Take back this unusable, broken boat and return my cheque?" Non-stop, round the world races are all won by trimarans, so the concept is proven and successful. Those racers are all carbon fibre, too. And they flog their boats through the worst weather to gain time. So a man should be able to cruise through bad weather and keep his family safe on a trimaran as big as yours. What is the key to this paradox? If your next boat is a trimaran, perhaps it should have centreboards and rudders in the outriggers. This would give redundancy and may distribute the loads better. As a side issue, it would give you more space inside the accommodation. Or you could follow the trend and get a Catamaran. Full disclosure: I am an electrical engineer with an interest in structures, but I have no professional training as a structural engineer. I have an interest in sailing, but have never sailed anything larger than a Hobie cat. I give all this advice free, but cannot accept any responsibility. Wiser men must guide you. Herb.
NA/mech eng/compsites designer here with actual experience using epoxy on board in tropical conditions doing repairs: (a) that rubbery result is typically a mix error in the resin/hardener NOT environmental conditions. Epoxy is actually quite tolerant of high heat; it just cures faster! High humidity does mean amine blush is more likely but would not cause cure problems unless it got rained on (b) Even still, it should have bonded SOMEWHAT and been hard to peel off. Very bad surface prep on the part of the guys doing the work? The good thing is just about every sort of composite structure is repairable if you have access. This isn't the end of the world but the damaged case should be investigated to determine if enough layers were used (even total thickness would give you a rough idea).
Yeah, I built a Long EZ aircraft in a non temp/humidity controlled garage with no problems at all. We didn't do any layups when it was pouring out, but did do a bunch at 95/95. At the beginning we built up some parts on a starter kit, one of which was tested to destruction. It more than passed. We never had a single delam on that entire plane. I don't know about standing water and epoxy layups, but I know that the boat layups I did were definitely hydroscopic, even when fully cured, and would 'milk up' for a whole bunch of hours after standing water was drained out of the hull (in corners and the like). It didn't seem to bother anything, but it was obvious that I needed to put some paint on those areas, and I did....when it was dry.
The one thing i though watching that... shouldn't they have taken the centre board out in its entirely and had it in the shop. Not sure what marina conditions are like but sat half in the case there will be a bellows effect pumping nice briney air every time the boat rocks. That doesn't sound like a good way to cure epoxy or whatever they used.
I can’t believe the issues you’re having with this boat. I’m with you Riley I’d be extremely concerned with how the repairs are being handled. You got your family on it. I’m really sorry. This is so fkd up.
Hang in there, you guys! It will work out and you always figure it out! You are amazing travelers, sailors and parents and people! I love watching you and you bring joy to this old lady's life (74) So carry on figure it out and keep going! Blessings!
This video perfectly illustrates the tradeoff between Performance vs Durability that does not get talked about much. You wonder how much safety margin has been designed into the boat to save weight. I guess also being one of the first boats, there will be a learning cycle and probably find later boats will need beefing up in high stress areas.
Ok Riley, as one of those “cute old people (78) I am aware of the subscribe button 😂. I absolutely love your an Alayna’s channel, one of my favourites, keep up the great content, good luck with the repairs and I hope you and your family and crew have a wonderful trip to Japan. Cheers from the west coast of Canada 🇨🇦
I am 83. Sadly, I probably ceased to be seen as "cute" some considerable time ago. Nevertheless, I have followed La Vagabonde from the very beginning, at a time I may unknowingly still have been just a little cute? As to the problems Riley and Elayna are having, LVIII is a rather more complex vessel than most other cruising boats afloat, I imagine. Maybe leading to more complex problems, too, although Rapido cannot be proud of this kind of structural damage becoming an issue this quickly.
Composites are great for strenght and light weight. But they are fussy about curing depending on temperature and humidity. Even the most perfect mix and application will do nothing if the temperature, humidity and the cure time isn't right for the process. Most of my experience with them has been in clean rooms where temp, humidity and time was strickly controlled and a sample was always taken from the batch to be checked by inspection to make sure it set properly. The good news is that it peeled off so you could see that it didn't set hard and solid like it needed to be. Good plan to keep the boys away from the boat while all this is being done. The fumes from the primers and composites before they are fully cured is highly toxic. Neurotoxins. Nothing you want them to be exposed to or even yourselves. I hope you've been able to resolve these issues by now. Godspeed LaVagabonde wherever you are, you are loved. ♾
Yeah this is horrible guys… so sorry you are going thru this. In no way shape or form should you be having these kind of structural issues on a NEW and very expensive boat… even if fixed it would weigh heavy in the back of my mind. 😢😮😢
@@robm.4512 thanks for pointing that out the latest update on see people is there off to Japan, so thankfully, it was resolved. I probably didn’t have enough information, but personally, if a vital part of the boat was damaged to such a degree, I wouldn’t want to continue.
@@stephysat28 No problem at all. Despite the strident outbursts from the “you can’t repair/revise a pre-preg carbon structures effectively” doom merchants it is a commonly undertaken and very effective process that, providing the layup schedule has been engineered and performed correctly, creates a finished article that is as robust (or more robust if the design engineer requires it) as any correctly engineered original layup. My qualification for stating that is as a composite structures design and R&D engineer who has worked in both world championship motorsports and high performance yacht structures for well north of 30 years. Additionally, I’ve had the great good fortune to have completed the lion’s share of a circumnavigation, unfortunately curtailed by a family crisis that left me with little option other than to return to the UK permanently. I think that at this point the manufacturing team will have been tearing their collective hair out over the online hysteria that has followed this project. It must have been a nightmare for them to have had this occur so publicly. Obviously it’s not been an easy time for Riley and Elayna either, I just hope that they don’t take too much notice of the slings, arrows and prognostications of doom that have been hurled their way. The fact is that the cause and mode of failure is entirely unknown to any of the people commenting here. A few seconds of poorly lit video and a layman’s description of it to camera are simply insufficient information to base ANY meaningful conclusion upon. I’m glad to hear they’re underway again, I’m absolutely certain that neither Riley, Elayna, nor their very experienced professional sailor/crewman would have departed unless they were completely satisfied that both the cause and the solution were well understood and executed, so I think you can rest a little easier. Cheers! R.
Been around high tech boats all my life. 50 plus years. From the early composite structures in Newport RI. What you are experiencing should have been expected from an ultra fast carbon cursing boat. There is a reason why real adventure sailors opt for more tried and true, simple designs and construction techniques. If you desire this kind of design you will need to expect this kinda of experience. It will not end with these repairs.
Make the boat sea worthy and then sail it back to the factory for dry dock and re-design. Then, write off the cost as R&D. It's all good, it's learning and growing but the pain has been surrounded by pleasure and love. This R&D shake out is a very advanced course and you all are doing a great job of adapting and overcoming. You should be proud of yourselves for the courage you have demonstrated.
He's exactly correct as the way to look at this. I stated that you should expect a 2 year shakedown process for this boat upthread, as one would with any serious custom boat. Me? I made my opinion clear above'. I'd never sail this boat offshore with my family in it, sorry.
The rule for cracks is: The longer the crack, the faster it grows. Aircraft mechanics regularly check the length of known cracks. There is a critical length for each crack, and when the crack reaches this length, the aircraft is taken out of service until the skin is repaired.
Yeah, I was in Navy avionics. At first, as a plane captain, it seemed crazy to me, we were stop drilling cracks and taping them, on mach+ fighter jets. Then I realised, everything is within a performance envelope. I serious saluted those 'guys and gals' who saw this on walkaround, we explained it to them, and they jumped in the cockpit, I strapped them in and pulled pins, and we launched. I had 'balls' but these people are 'off the charts'.
@@hubrisnaut Almost 3,000 hours in A-6s (USMC). First A-6 flight was in 1976. I was flying planes that had visible battle damage repairs on them. Avionics/Fire Control and hydraulic intensive jet. I was also the Flight Line Division OIC for a while. Guys worked real hard. Hand salute to you.
Our xo, flying an f-5, had a bird strike that shattered the canopy and peeled off 3 quarters of skin of one wing, and landed the plane. I did a examination. The secret shit I can't say about wild things, I cant say, it is incredible
@@williamdykes2750 Dude,salute sir, I had some bad experiences with the a-6, bro, I was stationed at at Oceana. I just realised there is no f-ing way I am sending anyone up that. I would 'tap out' I almost got 'offed' when they crashed. scared the f out of me. Because I had a secret clearance, I read the reports. You know what happened over Lebanon,
@@hubrisnaut I had several tours at Cherry Point. Flew up to Oceania quite a bit. Many parts runs. We had some good birds, but flew a lot of Navy rejects.
Now Lenny has me wondering if that tree is happy! I love how he sees things and then goes way beyond what most people would see. Lenny has a real caring and loving nature.
Omg the stress is next level! I really hope the repairs get done to your satisfaction. The importance of these repairs could be life and death. Especially going into this weather system. I’m so sorry guys you are going through this
I always read the comments in any RUclips video. I can’t add much more to the comments that are already there. Your boat is truly amazing. Hopefully you can go back to the manufacturer and be repaired properly. It may take you out of the boat world for a while, but you are so resourceful. I’m sure you can come up with a reinvention of yourself while the boat is being repaired. Best of luck and safe travels.
My boyfriend is a naval architect, and he's been watching these episodes with me. He mentioned that this is often a design flaw with catamaran boats. There's too much stress on the area under the mast, and the angles of the board under the mast are too sharp, which leads to cracking. The way to fix it is by adding an extra support base for the mast.
Well we shall see what has to be done to fix the major crack. In my mind there is something else moving that puts stress on this area which in my mind didn't have enough carbon laid up to take that stress. So if that wasn't supposed to happen then what else is moving under the mast that would put the stress that cracked the carbon. Will putting extra carbon really fix the issue or is there an underlying issue which is still hidden? If these were the 2 top guys at Rapido then were shortcuts made during construction of this critical area that management and engineering is not aware of? If I were you that question is paramount to be answered. It was awesome that JAI found the crack.
A 1000 times this. The boat is too new for a crack of that size to appear on a structurally critical part of the boat. Mistakes and errors can go unnoticed on custom 1 off designs, but now that they know they should be reviewing the design and structural calculation from scratch - applying strips of carbon over the old structure is not going to fix that.
Thanks for sharing, definitely would not be easy pointing out such a massive issue to the world when you have made such a strong bond with everyone that built and designed the boat.
Damn... I don't mean to catastrophize, but...that structural failure right underneath that huge mast is a fricken catastrophe! I mean, that's so utterly essential and foundational to the safety and seaworthiness of your boat. How can applying a few layers of carbon fiber patch over a crack of that magnitude and location possibly resolve this issue and hold that mast and the centerboard firm if it didn't hold up when everything was cast monolithically? That huge crack is in the foundation of the entire ship! Everything you hold the dearest in your life is on that boat. They sent their two "best guys" over to fix it and the first go just peeled off?! Honestly, I'm not a sailor or a boat builder, but I'm not sure I wouldn't demand a completely new boat over this one, or at least a complete rebuild of that whole section of the boat. Just sayin...
I trust you get the repairs completed with the best people helping. My prayers to you guys, and thanks to having found you guys. You are wonderful people. Great job on the video.
To see how big Lenny is now, is completely nuts. I've watched this kid grow up! What a life he gets the opportunity to live. I love Riley, love Elayna, and now Lenny and Darwin? Such an amazing channel. TY for everything.
WOW! A major structural crack in this expensive boat in such a short time…what a shame. Also very terrifying considering your family lives on that boat. I hope it is able to be repaired 🤞🏻
You two are, I'm sure holding back your frustration. Rapido will be wanting to have these issues sorted as not a good look for them. Congratulations on nearly achieving 2 mill subscribers what an amazing goal. Love your work.
Excuse me Riley I am an old male person from England. Some of us might not be the brightest bunch but I can assure you I have been a subscriber for yonks. Love you channel and always will. Watch every episode and love your family. This hassle with your mast securing base needs sorting to your 100% satisfaction I know, not just for Japan but all future sailings. If they sent two specialists to sort this and failed, what are rest of their workforce like. Hopefully it will get sorted for you all.
I’d be stressed too Riley. This is a new Boat and should never have had a crack like that. Is it a design flaw? Good luck be safe. Rapido need to step up I believe. Sending good vibes guys. ❤️❤️👍
New design new build you will have what you are experiencing, what my shock your audience is quite normal on a new build. You being the seasoned professional, once the initial shock wore off understand. Putting the safety of one's life and that of your entire family in harm's Way would shake any man to their core. I have no doubt all found deficiencies will be professionally resolved to better than original engineered specs.👏😁 With real time real world sailing,testing all systems in all weather conditions sing what works and what does not, Rapido will persevere and figure out laying in carbon fiber in high humidity and or bad batch of something. They know the fix they just need products to work as intended. Riley and Elena I believe you made the right choice in vessels, it is truly magnificent. Powerful stable smooth and sleek, and absolutely futuristic looking. What you two conceptualized your new home to feel like interior wise homie is so far from the norm from every other catamaran builder sterile white interior. You trend setters have nailed it made a beautiful home and in short order will be safely sailing and making new memories and adventures that we cannot wait to experience from the comforts of our landlocked homes without the threat of having to punch out obnoxious freaking monkeys lol.😎❤️👏
Considering the boat is not even a year old yet and its got a structual failure is pretty poor! I would return the boat to the manufacturer and demand a full investigation into why it could have happened...Hope it gets resolved soon!
Wow. To be so skilled at something so young is impressive, and to travel the world using that skill is outstanding. Just 23, amazing. Jai has really found the trick to life. Good on ya, legend! So glad things are getting sorted. Super lucky you caught this before the voyage to Japan. That could've been a dangerous disaster! Ah stop growing SO quickly Lenny and Darwin!!! 😄 Darwin's pin ball machine energy cracks me up every time and Lenny, ohhh Lenny, the deep thinker and feeler has my heart melting every time. They really are such tremendously special kids and they are growing so fast. We love all of you guys too, thank you for bringing such beautiful and entertaining joy to our lives for all these years and the work you put in ❤
Just wanted to let you know this cute ole lady has subscribed to your channel for awhile. Love watching your family adventures. Your boys are just amazing. Cutest ever. So sad to see the issues you are having with the boat.❤
I wish you well with the structural repairs around the mast. Hopefully the structural integrity of this critical load bearing section of the yacht will be rebuilt successfully.
You will love sailing around the inland sea of Japan. One of my favorite waters. Lots of small villages that are relatively isolated. Beautiful landscapes.
Hey Riley, in regard to the repair delaminating I believe it is due to vacuum on the repair drawing air from the pourousity in the existing laminate creating a layer of air between the substrate and the wet Epoxy resin. I have seen this before. Although you would not expect the existing substrate to have pourousity, any vacuum / infusion laminate could have some pourousity. To remedy this you need to seal the existing substrate first with Epoxy resin. Then do the repair process. Or don't use vacuum on the repair, this will result in a slightly heavier repair but on such a small repair not a big deal. It won't fall off without vacuum, changing resin will give the same result. Hope this is helpful, and you may already know this buy now. All the best in getting back on your journey. Simon Coulson owner of Composites Warehouse Perth Western Australia 🇦🇺.
Yes agree also carbon is stiff but brittle and may crack. It may be an idea to use aramid fibers for this kind of repair as these are more tough (I’m not a boat builder but have done repairs and choose the right material for every purpose)
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Good morning!!💘💘💘
Hi......💕💕
You are good!!!💕💕
Thank you so much!!!.🤩😍
Today is a good day. 🤩😍
I will Fighting to you!!💕💕
Bravo your life !!!
Have a nice day !!!!💘
Thank you, Your good!!!💕💕
Love the AG link, can’t seem to find it 😊
*That cheeky grin from Darwin at around the **2:34** mark has Riley written ALL over it!!! Way too cute!!* 💕😊💕
Love this channel, but you guys need to stop promoting AG-1 before you begin loosing subscribers.
Seriously Google what's wrong.
@@TPhillips-w9kMaybe Google "the truth about Scott Carney" (founder) beforehand.
"I want boat talking to me, but now boat is dead" That's a profound way for Lenny to express his connection to his life on the boat and the ocean - what a deep little fellow!
From out the mouths of children. Sensible observation.
A sailing vessel does talk to you in a way. It sings to you when the sails are up.
@Rapido this is your moment to shine. Show that your team not only take issues like this seriously but also that you make sure that you have an appropriate team to understand and address the problem. The boat owners shouldn’t need to consult anyone - this sort of fault is squarely on your shoulders. It’s also clear they are not trusting your teams ability to understand or fix the issue. Pay attention - the way you respond to this is being broadcast to the world. The outcome of these repairs and your responses to them will reflect more on your company that the original build of the boat. The biggest fear anyone has when building a boat is how resolve issues after the build. Over to you - your time to shine. Make this a story of how, despite and early blunder, you’ve come through, Brough all the right people and with skill and confidence, fully resolved the issue to everyone’s satisfaction.
Fully agreed. It is unbelievable that Rapido didn't send a team for analysis and the repair. For Mr. Koch is time to intervene. PS Rapido sent 2 people that proved to be incompetent making a repair laminating the CB that felt off immediately.
Perfectly said
Outstanding comment.
My thoughts exactly.
I’ve been thinking how much it would have cost to build a similar boat like this in a Europe country or Australia or USA?
If a highly visible customer is having issues getting resolution, imagine someone without a RUclips channel
Absolutely 100% agree!!
I can't believe how calm you seem about these cracks! I'd be livid!!! You paid SO much for that vessel, it's unacceptable that it's falling apart! Hope everything works out.
Exactly. And I'm speaking from experience.
That is for the camera can you imagine off camera and he had a. Meltdown I would have
No way I'd trust it now.
@@bbakus8 we paid so much for the boat! They’ve not done a days work in years
I'm not surprised. I wasn't impressed with the build quality that I saw watching the build videos. Good luck with the rest of the boat. Yikes. 🤦♂️
Dagger board cases in cats and tris experience MASSIVE side loads, the dagger boards on my cat were originally made of foam and glass, they broke under load to windward and were replaced in oregon core wrapped in S glass, they were about 15 ft long and weighed about 130kgs each, was talking to a designer years ago and for the size and weight of my old boat, his estimation was 6 tonns at 15 knots boat speed to windward. Most tris use the daggerboard case as part of the compression structure for the mast. Given the deck to DB case and hull to DB case joins are kinda key to the structure, I have to be honest here, I'd be looking for further analysis of the ENTIRE dagger board case. Ultrasound of the structure to make sure there were no further de-laminations is a quick non destructive test that can help ID areas of concern. When structures have failed as spectacularly as the deck to DB case have it is generally occurs in more than one specific area. Take care my dude, your decisions have consequences.
I fully concur with this comment. I confined my comment to the board only assuming the damage to the case was more obvious.
ultra sound the structure is mandatory
Hi ,we are building an 80ft cat out of carbon fibre with experienced racing professionals. During the composite build phase we had regular NDT tests at various stages and picked up one or two issues that could be fixed. If you have these type of problems having an NDT test of the entire boat will show you what is weak, not up to strength. This will give you peace of mind on also parts of the boat and especially the repair. The yard should have done this as standard. If you want some further details, happy to supply them. Regards John
Rapido, there are thousands of us in this world who follow the adventures of Elayna and Riley, their sons and their friends as they sail around the world. We understand the stresses and strains the ocean, and the winds can put on a sail boat. We also know how long and hard Riley studied and checked so many different designs before he settled on the Rapido. So many of us have been most impressed by your efforts so far to produce what Riley and Elayna require for them to continue their lifestyle and for us to be able to share it. Your good reputation will excel above all expectations if you can get La Vagabonde repaired, and back to the high standard required for their safety without them being out of pocket. Please look after them.
pretty sure their reputation is sufficiently tanked at this point.
Millions of us, and it is a huge powerful network of ocean loving people. Take it or leave it.
Jai is a legend ! He really took good care of your boat while everyone was away . Definitely gut wrenching encountering these major issues , but thank goodness the family wasn't at sea in what could have been catastrophic .
It always surprises me when you find such a competent person so young. And not camera shy, too! What a gem you guys found in Jai. I cannot wait for the Japan episodes and hope you guys had a relaxing time back in AUS with family. 💜
I don't know, I'd be employing someone with a lot more experience for a structural fix like that.
@@d.Cog420I agree. They are clowns.
Ahhh Lenny. “Is the tree really happy?” ❤ such a sweet gentle soul.
If the next episode doesn't show a thorough inspection of the boat by a team of at least three dozen Rapido experts and engineers, I'll lose all trust in the company. Paying a premium for a brand-new boat, only to encounter structural cracks after just a few months of use, raises serious concerns and sets off alarm bells.
100%!
Pretty sure the dont have one composites experts let alone three dozen.
Hey Guys, i work with carbon fibre in the aerospace industry, if i were you i would be handing that hull back to rapido. Anyone who works with carbon will tell you that you cant successfully patch Carbon Fiber parts, especially those that require as much structural integrity as the mast and centreboard. it looks like the entire hull is compromised. i know that being creators your cant really shitbag Rapido while youre living on one of their boats but there is no way i would be sailing to japan with my family onboard on that thing..... Good luck guys
Yup
Was the boat built using Pre-preg? I didn't think so. Maybe the mast was?
@@evangatehouse5650 yeah most of it was wet layup by the looks so I’m thinking their cure times were probably off. The crack looks more like de lamination which could potentially be worse than just a crack as the whole area would need to be cut out and reformed
Repeat: "no way i would be sailing to japan with my family onboard on that thing"
Hey. Don't sail that hull.
The main structure is compromised
1. Unload all your personal effects
2. Store everything
3. Hire lawyers to demand a brand. new hull.
It's your family that is in jeopardy.
Cheap old person here. I have over 60 years of sailboat racing experience and thousands of cruising miles. I watch your show because you are competent and striving to learn. PPI. Perpetual process improvement. Secondary bonding is tricky, especially in tropical conditions of high heat and humidity, both enemies of epoxy. Clearly the resin in attempt #1 did not cure properly, maybe not the installers fault, provided they mixed the resin properly…I have laminated in the tropics. It is hard but not impossible. Consider laminating at night to avoid the heat. All the best to the family. Good luck. I mean that in a positive way.
Yes, epoxy and humidity+heat don't work great together and your advice is sound. Maybe even create some sort for controlled environment for the lamination process?
But my disappointment is more to the design and structural calculation which are quite obviously fraught. Such a crack in such a vital part of the boat should not have appeared so early in the boat's life. I know these things happen in custom designs and calculation/design errors go unnoticed, but somebody dropped the ball and they should be bending over backwards to design a real fix (don't improvise or jerry-rig a solution before a sail of that difficulty).
@@SierraLimaOscar The entire boat was built in a high humidity high temp country in Vietnam. What does that say about being confident in Rapido's building and laminating process for the entire boat? I'd be a little concerned that as time passes and more rough water is faced, more laminating and bonding will fail resulting in more cracks and therefore more chance of catastrophic outcomes, potentially miles from any help.
@@stevebodalenko5286 You can have climate controlled facilities to do the laminating in. Which I would expect is the case for a boat builder in Vietnam...?
@@SierraLimaOscar Exactly, thank you!
For someone whose almost 40 having a go at "old People" is a bit risky :-)
A 2 million new build should never have a crack it the foundation.
I never heard them discuss the cost of the boat, do you recall when that was?
2 million haha, what currency? I'd wager $200K - $300K. It's such a shit boat too.
Bro that is only a bandage, it will break again and I hopefully no in the middle of a strong wind. Bring that boat back to manufacture before the warranty is out.
NO - Make them collect it - by ship it is unsafe~!!
Rapido, we are WATCHING. Riley and Elena are legends, hopefully you do everything you can to make this right for them and their boys. All the best to Riley and Elena🥂
Can’t believe how calm you guys are. The issues you have had with a NEW boat is next level in my mind!!!!!
These two ; sometimes have a lot more patience then me.
the cutting room floor would of been piled high after the edit.
Didn't the Wynns also have lots of problems with their brand new boat done in China? - maybe the cheap labor there isn't a good solution to a high quality boat.
I suppose after having built one in France previously, dealing with third world warranties is communicatively less frustrating 🫣
@@JoeTheLion60Any boat builder has issues.. Lagoon in France, ORC in France, etc etc. This really has nothing to do with your pre-conceived Asian build issues…
I can totally understand the difficulties involved with resin, carbon fiber and associated materials in open-weather tropical conditions. I’d be surprised if the final board repairs AND the main repairs don’t involve some type of controlled environment enclosure for temperature, humidity and curing control. You can feel confident that the manufacturer fully understands the greater situation which involves millions of eyes and concerns for your continued success. Cheers and looking forward to the properly engineered solutions☺️
Glad the issues were found before anything happened! All the best!
Let’s all appreciate Elayna’s attempt at keeping the spirits up. What a gift. Good luck guys, love you
3m39s If the crack isn't enough... NEXT to that there are two missing nuts and washers (you can see the imprint from the missing washers)! Also a random screw into what looks like clear resin... and that resin looks like a patch made to an access hole to get to the nuts. I would not be surprised if whoever fitted those bolts (with missing nuts) compromised that structure when they cut and drilled that area.
FYI, I'd also double check that the entire bulkhead from mast to beams is structural and not delaminated by tapping at it. This is where so many trimarans fail.
I'm a cute old person and I noticed that too. Looked kinda sloppy.
@@margaretocean322 I'm also old and not a sailor but I noticed those scews and missing bolts. So shoddy. Really worrying.
Don't think they accessed the bolts from that 'patch' as there is access to them from underneath...from the viewing point.
Yeah what are those bolts for? They also show them at 0:45 in the video.
Wow it seems that the Old vagabond may have been slower but structurally it seems it was better. I pray that after these repairs that your boat won't have anymore major structural issues for a long time, since your boat is not a year old yet. It was great seeing Elaina, Lenny and Darwin again.
Agreed. Newer and faster is not always better and they’re unfortunately learning this the hard and expensive way.
Warranties are one thing, but quality and performance are another. The warranty means nothing if you end up dead because of shoddy workmanship. Disgraceful that a multimillion-dollar boat is having as many problems as this one has had. I would be thinking long and hard about setting off for Japan with cracks in such a foundational structure. Lives are in danger if it isn't repaired and stronger than the original build.
Can’t imagine Rapido is getting many new orders after this episode! Hope the repairs go smoothly going forward! I would be asking for a warranty extension!
That environment looks way to hot for resin work. Really needs to be in a controlled environment.
Actually the way Rapido are dealing with it gives me more confidence in them, first few hulls of any design have teething issues, it's how the vendor stands behind their product and honours the warranty that counts, they're not doing a Lagoon and denying that there's an issue....
@@daveamies5031or those mob over at Leen or Neel, stay away from the French.
@@daveamies5031 Thats very true
It’s a new semi-custom boat. Other than the crack, these are all very normal post-shakedown issues.
So who heard Lenny say, he wants the boat talking to him. But the boat is dead. Oh how sweet. So he hears and feels the boat. Such a sensitive and empathetic boy.
Maybe Lenny is right, perhaps the boat is dead!
Lenny is soooo sweet!
Out of the mouths of babes.
Love the boat, love the family, love the channel.PLEASE Do your research on AG1, it’s all BS made from a business man that fled his home country. There’s no data specifically saying how much, of what specifically is in it. It’s just “Good for you because we said so!” “trust us bro!”
It may be a sponsor that will be under heat soon and wouldn’t want to see you guys get wrapped up in the drama.
I was thinking the same thing. Total scam. They should find another sponsor.
@@Picasso_Picante92 They are grifters/e-beggars themselves.
For a nearly £2 million pound boat only a few months old the amount of problems is a disgrace
The fun part about bespoke boats, RVs, houses, etc is that they ALWAYS have tons of problems. That is the experience you sign up for when you order custom.
Unfortunately I agree, all saltwater sailboats/yachts require constant maintenance, but this has become a real headache for you guys, I mean some of these problems should not be even happening for a brand new boat, hope you got a hell of a good warranty...
Longtime sub and rarely comment but felt compelled to do so.
At 3:32 I had to rewind and pause. I did this a few times and still can't believe what I saw. There isn't any excuse from the factory to justify this shoddy work. You and your family place your lives on this. It's high time to go over EVERY INCH of this boat before you find yourselves in a bad spot.
Not really, it’s custom built to handle conditions from 0-100 this is a normal scenario for these types of vessels.
2mil pounds holy shiy
The more I watch videos like this, the more convinced I am that the advice to never buy an expensive new RV or boat is sound. Pay less for a good used boat that you have had inspected and has had all the bugs worked out of it. "Good Used" is the key.
Absolutely true with RVs
Thank God for Jai. Thank God for companies who care about their work.
I would have kept the Cat! That boat went through very rough conditions and came through it with flying colors. I don't know if I would ever trust this boat after all this. I would put this mess back on the manufacturer and do not let him give you excuses this has been a nightmare for you guys. God Bless you and the boys!
That was so beautiful when Lenny asked if the tree is happy. He is a boy that is very intuitive. ❤
Real explorers , new cruising grounds ,new routes, new problems, resourceful , and steadfast, all with a hint of humour, keeps all on the edge of our seats!
Grace in the face of disappointment. We love you guys.
Congratulations on 2 million subscribers! I still remember watching your videos back when I was in college and you were on La Vagabonde 1, wow time flys!
If you mention it, it(unbelievably)makes it more noticeable
.
Just an observation from an old man
I'm 72 following your adventures for approx 7 years. I'm disappointed that Rapido hasn't matched your expectations. Prayers that this vessel is shipshape before heading to Japan. Perhaps the delays are the UNIVERSEs way of protecting you from unexpected challenges in Japanese waters.
Nearly 2 million followers ❤🎉
@kishanpatel2331,
interesting that you see 2 million.
On my end it’s 1.92M as of Aug 17, 2024.
Hi Riley, I’m sure you’re getting loads of advice but I feel I should put in my ten cents worth. In particular regarding the crack in the dagger board. I believe that crack is the edge of a planar shear failure that extends well into the board and that superficial patching will not correct the problem. The two sides of the board need to be shear connected together perpendicular to the plane of the crack by something like a grid of dowels extending from one side of the board to the other. The lateral load on the board has exceeded the shear capacity of the core of the board. The board will now be weaker and it will deflect more under load. I’m a retired structural engineer and I’m drawing my conclusion from just the glimpse of the crack on the video but it’s likely to be the case. Good luck with the repairs and thanks for all the wonderful videos. Cheers Roger.
Um, that's not really how composite daggerboards are built. Sometimes a shear web of solid wood or C shaped glass/carbon bonded to the skins. The design could be fine; the build could have faults. Don't know yet.
I didn’t suggest how the board was built, there are a number of ways that shear connection can be designed between the skins. I’m relying on Riley’s intelligence to understand that there is a significant probability that the shear failure in the board could be more extensive than might be assumed by someone without structural analysis skills. If the board is to be repaired rather than replaced then a patch of the crack won’t be sufficient. Retrofitting some additional shear connectors should at least be considered.
A friend of mine and I were contemplating making this exact same trip (Philippines to Southern Japan). Everyone we talked to said the best time to do such a trip is April to June, and worst time being July through October. I know this trip may be really exciting to take, but you may seriously want to consider postponing until next year, unless you've sailed those seas during this time of year before. Especially considering the issues you're having. I'm new to the channel, but it sounds like you all have tons of sailing experience, so maybe everything will be ok. Still, many of the local ship owners I spoke with would not charter trips during the coming months, because of weather.
Jai seems like a solid ally and knowledgeable. Rapido and M&M need to step up. If all else fails, bring in Colin and Jamie! Hopefully not a Lagoon type dilemma. Wonder if other Rapido 60s have issue.
I'm betting Rapido have already sent all owners emails describing what to look for..
@@stevebodalenko5286It would be best if they sent out teams and were ready to make repairs. Luxury products like this should have a level of exceptional quality and customer care. This boat cost nearly $2 million!
I thought of the Lagoon debacle too. That company showed exactly what not to do.
Your family is awesome. I can relate to getting something new and expensive that you live in. Your boat. Our motorhome. It was fix or repair daily. When we had problems it was treated like a hot potato…no one would take responsibility for the problem. I understand your stress and frustration. Your kids bring such joy to me. They are treasures. The boat is dead comment cracked me up. You are two brave and wildly adventurous people. God bless you all. ❤
I retired from one of the major Defense contractors in the world and the last thing you want to do is take shortcuts on a major structural carbon part repair of the boat. YOU WILL regret it. They take time and the repair needs to be designed by an experienced structural engineer then fixed using sound techniques. Anything less and you will be putting your family and boat at great risk.
I agree and not something that can be done on the fly in a shipyard open to the elements. The boat needs to go back to the manufacturer for a full check over and a factory overseen repair that they will 100% warranty.
@@stevebodalenko5286 better safe then sorry. It could turn into a tragedy
correct. Boeing?
@@jackie5522pretty sure you mean better safe than sorry. Big difference 😂
He's right! Please be sure to listen to him and respond accordingly.
No other words but this is scary. And legitimately makes me wish y’all had the old boat. Sorry for all this trouble you’re experiencing
I'm one of those little old ladies! Have been watching for several years. I agree with some others... there is no way you need to take your family sailing until the boat is 100%. I know you know this. I see it in your face. We will still be here.
The stress that you two are having to deal witb is no doubt unbelievable, however it seems to me that the builders should bring the vessel back to Vietnam and come up with a plan on the repair, design changes and or whatever is necessary. They should provide you with a replacement in the meantime. I will leave it at that!!
100%
This seems like a situation where the Rapido principals need to be literally on deck. The materials experts below with their concerns about the environmental conditions for repairs should be heeded by the Rapido team starting from the top.
I know you want the story to be different, and you want the issues with the boat to be just new boat growing pains. You are both getting STRONG messages, undeniable messages, that the boat is not up to snuff, nor the quality you contracted for. And your family is part of your life investment. Don't let sentiment, friendships within Rapido, your schedule to get to Japan, and especially not your RUclips channel get in the way of your pure gut/heart decisions making. Elana trust your mama sensing, you have them for a reason. Adventure is great, however this is about WISDOM. Besides the boat absolutely not being the quality it should be , and that you paid for, there may be reasons yet unforeseen for you not to be in Japan at this particular time. There is much weather upheaval predicted on that part of the planet in the next few months. I wish you all the best as always.💚
Hey Riley,
I have been following SLV for a while now. I follow several sailboat channels, but you seem to be the most badass, hard core sailor out there. So I wish you success in all your ventures, but.......
You sailed through some bad weather and gave your trimaran a stress test. I fear the Rapido 60 failed that stress test, miserably.
The cracks you describe are at the point where major loads intersect. You have bending loads from the (single) centreboard. You have huge compression loads from the mast. You have bending loads from the forward cross beam. This is the strongest and most heavily loaded part of the structure.
Carbon fibre construction is the stiffest, lightest form. But it fails by cracking, not tearing, like wood. The relative flexibility of wood allows miniscule movements, which share the loads throughout the fastenings, but carbon fibre is hard and stiff, with very limited opportunities to share out uneven loads. If one small region of the structure is overloaded, it cannot ask for help and a small crack starts. The cruel thing about cracks is that the longer they are, the quicker they grow. As things get stiffer, they become more brittle, like comparing a window pane with a similar sized piece of plywood. I worry that your cracked boat is like a porcelain teacup that has been dropped onto the floor. You can replace it but you cannot fix it. Please prove me wrong. I'll be genuinely happy if you do.
Your boat was designed by a firm of Naval Architects with massive credentials.
Could the builder have introduced some off-spec materials? Is it time to say, "Take back this unusable, broken boat and return my cheque?"
Non-stop, round the world races are all won by trimarans, so the concept is proven and successful. Those racers are all carbon fibre, too. And they flog their boats through the worst weather to gain time. So a man should be able to cruise through bad weather and keep his family safe on a trimaran as big as yours. What is the key to this paradox?
If your next boat is a trimaran, perhaps it should have centreboards and rudders in the outriggers. This would give redundancy and may distribute the loads better. As a side issue, it would give you more space inside the accommodation. Or you could follow the trend and get a Catamaran.
Full disclosure: I am an electrical engineer with an interest in structures, but I have no professional training as a structural engineer. I have an interest in sailing, but have never sailed anything larger than a Hobie cat. I give all this advice free, but cannot accept any responsibility. Wiser men must guide you.
Herb.
Some comments here are way too generous toward Rapido. I'm with the poster who suggests handing the hull back to them.
NA/mech eng/compsites designer here with actual experience using epoxy on board in tropical conditions doing repairs: (a) that rubbery result is typically a mix error in the resin/hardener NOT environmental conditions. Epoxy is actually quite tolerant of high heat; it just cures faster! High humidity does mean amine blush is more likely but would not cause cure problems unless it got rained on (b) Even still, it should have bonded SOMEWHAT and been hard to peel off. Very bad surface prep on the part of the guys doing the work? The good thing is just about every sort of composite structure is repairable if you have access. This isn't the end of the world but the damaged case should be investigated to determine if enough layers were used (even total thickness would give you a rough idea).
True @SailingLaVagabonde 26:41
Yeah, I built a Long EZ aircraft in a non temp/humidity controlled garage with no problems at all. We didn't do any layups when it was pouring out, but did do a bunch at 95/95. At the beginning we built up some parts on a starter kit, one of which was tested to destruction. It more than passed. We never had a single delam on that entire plane. I don't know about standing water and epoxy layups, but I know that the boat layups I did were definitely hydroscopic, even when fully cured, and would 'milk up' for a whole bunch of hours after standing water was drained out of the hull (in corners and the like). It didn't seem to bother anything, but it was obvious that I needed to put some paint on those areas, and I did....when it was dry.
The one thing i though watching that... shouldn't they have taken the centre board out in its entirely and had it in the shop. Not sure what marina conditions are like but sat half in the case there will be a bellows effect pumping nice briney air every time the boat rocks. That doesn't sound like a good way to cure epoxy or whatever they used.
I can’t believe the issues you’re having with this boat. I’m with you Riley I’d be extremely concerned with how the repairs are being handled. You got your family on it. I’m really sorry. This is so fkd up.
Hang in there, you guys! It will work out and you always figure it out! You are amazing travelers, sailors and parents and people! I love watching you and you bring joy to this old lady's life (74) So carry on figure it out and keep going! Blessings!
Honestly, I can't believe you are fixing that boat alone on the go - return that thang to them to fix.
This video perfectly illustrates the tradeoff between Performance vs Durability that does not get talked about much. You wonder how much safety margin has been designed into the boat to save weight. I guess also being one of the first boats, there will be a learning cycle and probably find later boats will need beefing up in high stress areas.
Ok Riley, as one of those “cute old people (78) I am aware of the subscribe button 😂. I absolutely love your an Alayna’s channel, one of my favourites, keep up the great content, good luck with the repairs and I hope you and your family and crew have a wonderful trip to Japan. Cheers from the west coast of Canada 🇨🇦
I am 83. Sadly, I probably ceased to be seen as "cute" some considerable time ago. Nevertheless, I have followed La Vagabonde from the very beginning, at a time I may unknowingly still have been just a little cute? As to the problems Riley and Elayna are having, LVIII is a rather more complex vessel than most other cruising boats afloat, I imagine. Maybe leading to more complex problems, too, although Rapido cannot be proud of this kind of structural damage becoming an issue this quickly.
Composites are great for strenght and light weight. But they are fussy about curing depending on temperature and humidity. Even the most perfect mix and application will do nothing if the temperature, humidity and the cure time isn't right for the process. Most of my experience with them has been in clean rooms where temp, humidity and time was strickly controlled and a sample was always taken from the batch to be checked by inspection to make sure it set properly. The good news is that it peeled off so you could see that it didn't set hard and solid like it needed to be.
Good plan to keep the boys away from the boat while all this is being done. The fumes from the primers and composites before they are fully cured is highly toxic. Neurotoxins. Nothing you want them to be exposed to or even yourselves.
I hope you've been able to resolve these issues by now. Godspeed LaVagabonde wherever you are, you are loved. ♾
Yeah this is horrible guys… so sorry you are going thru this. In no way shape or form should you be having these kind of structural issues on a NEW and very expensive boat… even if fixed it would weigh heavy in the back of my mind. 😢😮😢
I agree.
Agreed. 100%
Love seeing you again!!!
Be patient as you get to do the repairs. It'll all work out.
Looking forward to the passage to Japan.
CHEERS!
Riley as a praying mantis is priceless!!! Thank you!
Your insurance company should total the boat and you should start over.
Agree completely. I am just floored at the damage to the boat.
@@coleenoliva291 Posted today on their app Sea People , they’re off to Japan. So it all worked out. 🙌🏼
@@stephysat28 It’s warranty work with the manufacturer picking up the cost.
It has nothing whatsoever to do with their insurers.
@@robm.4512 thanks for pointing that out the latest update on see people is there off to Japan, so thankfully, it was resolved. I probably didn’t have enough information, but personally, if a vital part of the boat was damaged to such a degree, I wouldn’t want to continue.
@@stephysat28 No problem at all.
Despite the strident outbursts from the “you can’t repair/revise a pre-preg carbon structures effectively” doom merchants it is a commonly undertaken and very effective process that, providing the layup schedule has been engineered and performed correctly, creates a finished article that is as robust (or more robust if the design engineer requires it) as any correctly engineered original layup.
My qualification for stating that is as a composite structures design and R&D engineer who has worked in both world championship motorsports and high performance yacht structures for well north of 30 years.
Additionally, I’ve had the great good fortune to have completed the lion’s share of a circumnavigation, unfortunately curtailed by a family crisis that left me with little option other than to return to the UK permanently.
I think that at this point the manufacturing team will have been tearing their collective hair out over the online hysteria that has followed this project.
It must have been a nightmare for them to have had this occur so publicly.
Obviously it’s not been an easy time for Riley and Elayna either, I just hope that they don’t take too much notice of the slings, arrows and prognostications of doom that have been hurled their way.
The fact is that the cause and mode of failure is entirely unknown to any of the people commenting here. A few seconds of poorly lit video and a layman’s description of it to camera are simply insufficient information to base ANY meaningful conclusion upon.
I’m glad to hear they’re underway again, I’m absolutely certain that neither Riley, Elayna, nor their very experienced professional sailor/crewman would have departed unless they were completely satisfied that both the cause and the solution were well understood and executed, so I think you can rest a little easier.
Cheers! R.
I'm sure the boat is under warranty. But this would be unexpected in a boat this new. Is this a reflection on Rapido quality?
Or did they void the warranty by Fing with it.
Been around high tech boats all my life. 50 plus years. From the early composite structures in Newport RI. What you are experiencing should have been expected from an ultra fast carbon cursing boat. There is a reason why real adventure sailors opt for more tried and true, simple designs and construction techniques. If you desire this kind of design you will need to expect this kinda of experience. It will not end with these repairs.
If this is what its like after 6 months, I don't even want to imagine what it will be like in a few years.
Make the boat sea worthy and then sail it back to the factory for dry dock and re-design. Then, write off the cost as R&D. It's all good, it's learning and growing but the pain has been surrounded by pleasure and love. This R&D shake out is a very advanced course and you all are doing a great job of adapting and overcoming. You should be proud of yourselves for the courage you have demonstrated.
Yup
He's exactly correct as the way to look at this. I stated that you should expect a 2 year shakedown process for this boat upthread, as one would with any serious custom boat. Me? I made my opinion clear above'. I'd never sail this boat offshore with my family in it, sorry.
The rule for cracks is:
The longer the crack, the faster it grows.
Aircraft mechanics regularly check the length of known cracks. There is a critical length for each crack, and when the crack reaches this length, the aircraft is taken out of service until the skin is repaired.
Yeah, I was in Navy avionics. At first, as a plane captain, it seemed crazy to me, we were stop drilling cracks and taping them, on mach+ fighter jets. Then I realised, everything is within a performance envelope. I serious saluted those 'guys and gals' who saw this on walkaround, we explained it to them, and they jumped in the cockpit, I strapped them in and pulled pins, and we launched. I had 'balls' but these people are 'off the charts'.
@@hubrisnaut Almost 3,000 hours in A-6s (USMC). First A-6 flight was in 1976. I was flying planes that had visible battle damage repairs on them. Avionics/Fire Control and hydraulic intensive jet. I was also the Flight Line Division OIC for a while. Guys worked real hard. Hand salute to you.
Our xo, flying an f-5, had a bird strike that shattered the canopy and peeled off 3 quarters of skin of one wing, and landed the plane. I did a examination. The secret shit I can't say about wild things, I cant say, it is incredible
@@williamdykes2750 Dude,salute sir, I had some bad experiences with the a-6, bro, I was stationed at at Oceana. I just realised there is no f-ing way I am sending anyone up that. I would 'tap out' I almost got 'offed' when they crashed. scared the f out of me. Because I had a secret clearance, I read the reports. You know what happened over Lebanon,
@@hubrisnaut I had several tours at Cherry Point. Flew up to Oceania quite a bit. Many parts runs. We had some good birds, but flew a lot of Navy rejects.
"Is the tree really happy?" that was deep
Now Lenny has me wondering if that tree is happy! I love how he sees things and then goes way beyond what most people would see. Lenny has a real caring and loving nature.
Omg the stress is next level! I really hope the repairs get done to your satisfaction. The importance of these repairs could be life and death. Especially going into this weather system. I’m so sorry guys you are going through this
I always read the comments in any RUclips video. I can’t add much more to the comments that are already there. Your boat is truly amazing. Hopefully you can go back to the manufacturer and be repaired properly. It may take you out of the boat world for a while, but you are so resourceful. I’m sure you can come up with a reinvention of yourself while the boat is being repaired. Best of luck and safe travels.
My boyfriend is a naval architect, and he's been watching these episodes with me. He mentioned that this is often a design flaw with catamaran boats. There's too much stress on the area under the mast, and the angles of the board under the mast are too sharp, which leads to cracking. The way to fix it is by adding an extra support base for the mast.
wow, this crack is a major "black eye" for rapido's trimaran design/engineering. If I was getting one built at this moment, I might pull out.
Fast, light, durable: pick two
🤣That would be funny if it wasn't so unfortunately true.
Well we shall see what has to be done to fix the major crack. In my mind there is something else moving that puts stress on this area which in my mind didn't have enough carbon laid up to take that stress. So if that wasn't supposed to happen then what else is moving under the mast that would put the stress that cracked the carbon. Will putting extra carbon really fix the issue or is there an underlying issue which is still hidden? If these were the 2 top guys at Rapido then were shortcuts made during construction of this critical area that management and engineering is not aware of? If I were you that question is paramount to be answered. It was awesome that JAI found the crack.
A 1000 times this. The boat is too new for a crack of that size to appear on a structurally critical part of the boat. Mistakes and errors can go unnoticed on custom 1 off designs, but now that they know they should be reviewing the design and structural calculation from scratch - applying strips of carbon over the old structure is not going to fix that.
Thanks for sharing, definitely would not be easy pointing out such a massive issue to the world when you have made such a strong bond with everyone that built and designed the boat.
Return the boat! I would not allow them to patch this fix.
Sounds like Jai deserves his own youtube channel
Damn... I don't mean to catastrophize, but...that structural failure right underneath that huge mast is a fricken catastrophe! I mean, that's so utterly essential and foundational to the safety and seaworthiness of your boat. How can applying a few layers of carbon fiber patch over a crack of that magnitude and location possibly resolve this issue and hold that mast and the centerboard firm if it didn't hold up when everything was cast monolithically? That huge crack is in the foundation of the entire ship! Everything you hold the dearest in your life is on that boat. They sent their two "best guys" over to fix it and the first go just peeled off?! Honestly, I'm not a sailor or a boat builder, but I'm not sure I wouldn't demand a completely new boat over this one, or at least a complete rebuild of that whole section of the boat. Just sayin...
Completely agree
Well said.
I agree as well. A structural failure that large and in the worst possible location looks like the boat would be written off as a total loss.
100%
Sh
I trust you get the repairs completed with the best people helping. My prayers to you guys, and thanks to having found you guys. You are wonderful people. Great job on the video.
Great video! Riley has a certain style and screen presence, rarely seen in people who are not professional actors. He is a natural.
To see how big Lenny is now, is completely nuts. I've watched this kid grow up! What a life he gets the opportunity to live. I love Riley, love Elayna, and now Lenny and Darwin? Such an amazing channel. TY for everything.
WOW! A major structural crack in this expensive boat in such a short time…what a shame. Also very terrifying considering your family lives on that boat. I hope it is able to be repaired 🤞🏻
So stoked that Lenny and Darwin dig boat life ❤
You two are, I'm sure holding back your frustration. Rapido will be wanting to have these issues sorted as not a good look for them. Congratulations on nearly achieving 2 mill subscribers what an amazing goal. Love your work.
Hey Riley us oldies know how to subscribe...its the young impatient ones who dont bother 😉 Luv watching you guys. Good luck with the repairs xxx
Excuse me Riley I am an old male person from England. Some of us might not be the brightest bunch but I can assure you I have been a subscriber for yonks. Love you channel and always will. Watch every episode and love your family. This hassle with your mast securing base needs sorting to your 100% satisfaction I know, not just for Japan but all future sailings. If they sent two specialists to sort this and failed, what are rest of their workforce like. Hopefully it will get sorted for you all.
I’m a cute old person, and I’ve been subscribed for years! 😂❤
Your boys are so in touch with nature.So lovely to see.❤
Tim Tam's for Breakie ... dosent get much more Aussie than that! Good work boys 😁
Good luck with the repairs! I’ve been following you for a few years now, I enjoy your episodes. Thank you 🧡🇨🇦
Just binging om the last 3 to 4 videos as I haven't had time. Keep the faith guys, all will be well!!
Love how you guys ride over the rough edges of life. ✅✅
THANK God for Warranty and THANK GOD it did not Break in the Middle of the Ocean with the Kids!!😱😱
I’d be stressed too Riley. This is a new Boat and should never have had a crack like that. Is it a design flaw? Good luck be safe. Rapido need to step up I believe. Sending good vibes guys. ❤️❤️👍
New design new build you will have what you are experiencing, what my shock your audience is quite normal on a new build. You being the seasoned professional, once the initial shock wore off understand. Putting the safety of one's life and that of your entire family in harm's Way would shake any man to their core. I have no doubt all found deficiencies will be professionally resolved to better than original engineered specs.👏😁 With real time real world sailing,testing all systems in all weather conditions sing what works and what does not, Rapido will persevere and figure out laying in carbon fiber in high humidity and or bad batch of something. They know the fix they just need products to work as intended. Riley and Elena I believe you made the right choice in vessels, it is truly magnificent. Powerful stable smooth and sleek, and absolutely futuristic looking. What you two conceptualized your new home to feel like interior wise homie is so far from the norm from every other catamaran builder sterile white interior. You trend setters have nailed it made a beautiful home and in short order will be safely sailing and making new memories and adventures that we cannot wait to experience from the comforts of our landlocked homes without the threat of having to punch out obnoxious freaking monkeys lol.😎❤️👏
Considering the boat is not even a year old yet and its got a structual failure is pretty poor! I would return the boat to the manufacturer and demand a full investigation into why it could have happened...Hope it gets resolved soon!
I'm 78 and I've been subscribed for years - cheers
So glad to see Elayna & the kids back on the boat & sorry for the problems you're experiencing. Safe travels. ❤
Gosh, I can’t imagine how devastated you are with these issues. Having the fix fall off is another huge issue. I sure hope it gets better soon.
Lenny is a spitting image of his dad. Mind and beyond. Love those family connections..
Wow. To be so skilled at something so young is impressive, and to travel the world using that skill is outstanding. Just 23, amazing. Jai has really found the trick to life. Good on ya, legend!
So glad things are getting sorted. Super lucky you caught this before the voyage to Japan. That could've been a dangerous disaster!
Ah stop growing SO quickly Lenny and Darwin!!! 😄 Darwin's pin ball machine energy cracks me up every time and Lenny, ohhh Lenny, the deep thinker and feeler has my heart melting every time. They really are such tremendously special kids and they are growing so fast.
We love all of you guys too, thank you for bringing such beautiful and entertaining joy to our lives for all these years and the work you put in ❤
Just wanted to let you know this cute ole lady has subscribed to your channel for awhile. Love watching your family adventures. Your boys are just amazing. Cutest ever. So sad to see the issues you are having with the boat.❤
😮 Please don't deparage us older folks. I'm an active 73 and enjoy your channel. Been watching for years from California. Get with it.
Agreed , we were your age once , we were not born old !
I found Riley’s comment quite insulting ! Mr bloody know it all!!
I'm 86!! What's with, "old people"?
Oh common he’s joking. And it’s a known fact that “older” people struggle with technology. Don’t be offended at everything.
I wish you well with the structural repairs around the mast. Hopefully the structural integrity of this critical load bearing section of the yacht will be rebuilt successfully.
You will love sailing around the inland sea of Japan. One of my favorite waters. Lots of small villages that are relatively isolated. Beautiful landscapes.
Hey Riley, in regard to the repair delaminating I believe it is due to vacuum on the repair drawing air from the pourousity in the existing laminate creating a layer of air between the substrate and the wet Epoxy resin. I have seen this before. Although you would not expect the existing substrate to have pourousity, any vacuum / infusion laminate could have some pourousity. To remedy this you need to seal the existing substrate first with Epoxy resin. Then do the repair process. Or don't use vacuum on the repair, this will result in a slightly heavier repair but on such a small repair not a big deal. It won't fall off without vacuum, changing resin will give the same result. Hope this is helpful, and you may already know this buy now. All the best in getting back on your journey. Simon Coulson owner of Composites Warehouse Perth Western Australia 🇦🇺.
Yes agree also carbon is stiff but brittle and may crack. It may be an idea to use aramid fibers for this kind of repair as these are more tough (I’m not a boat builder but have done repairs and choose the right material for every purpose)
Except the resin clearly did not go off. Cured carbon should not bend like paper !!!