Devestated and lonely. But hey, I own a sailboat with holes in the hull!!! - UNTIE THE LINES S1E24
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- Опубликовано: 16 окт 2024
- It all started with one little hole in the hull...and now I am down to having ten holes in five different spots on the hull. This week was a hard week and it was the first time that it has crossed my mind that maybe this project is too big for me and that I should give up...
But I am gathering options for fixing the problem and many people have already posted lots of helpful information on Facebook. So I guess I will have to take the paint down and take a decision. But more about that...next week!
Find out more about my life with KARL on whitespotpirates. If you enjoy watching my documentary and therefore want to contribute a little bit for internet costs / video equipment, then you can do so here: www.paypal.com.... Thank you for your support!
Nike and Karl- so vulnerable. So sincere you reminded me of the point of your adventure- discovery. Isn't a boat such a lovely metaphor. So glad you're resilient.
Wow, even though this happened to you over a year ago. This video almost broke my heart watching it. I'm certain whatever you did to fix Karl's hull has made you love that boat even more. I went through a similar situation after leaving my boat on the hard for 2.5 years when I went to work, ironically in Germany. When I returned I found that the whole keel to hull joint had dried and cracked. I looked to find someone who could fix it. No one was available in the timeframe I needed it fixed. I felt the exact same way you did in this video. Then I did just like you, I picked myself up, got on the Internet and learned how to rebed, reseal, and refair the joint myself. Can't wait to see how you fixed it!
Great to see this episode, and then been able to see the following ones with you winning over the problems! Me and my partner bought a 40 foot catamaran 3 years ago with the dream of living aboard and sailing the world. After hauling it straight out of the water (never having used it yet) for a 3 month over haul we quit our jobs and started work. Now 3 YEARS later of full time work on her we are literally about 2 weeks from joining you back in the ocean :) no matter the feelings of hopelessness everything is conquerable :) can't wait to see you out there!
I am glad you did not give up, you are entertaining and inspirational, keep pushing the boundaries for everyone.
Don't Give Up! Karl or another boat. Doesn't matter. If nothing else, Karl has given you a great education!!! Karl deserves our appreciation for that, at least! Don't stop. It doesn't have to be Karl. But, Karl may be repairable. Either way, Go Sail!!!!!
I agree with a few of the comments below. Stripping paint, repainting, welding aluminum. These are things anyone can do with a little time, patience, and the ability to self-teach.
Much Respect!
Nike, please never ever give up. Many people here have been through similar experiences, me included. I bought my first boat without any clue what I was doing, and paid the price, having to fix tonnes of stuff I wasn't expecting, spending much more money than I wanted and a huge amount of time I didn't have. Always try to stay positive (I KNOW that's not always easy!) but remember how much you have learned from Karl. Whatever you choose to do, we're all behind you.
Your story on Karl is a metaphor for life. That is why it and you are special.
It is September 2019 and I am new in your page, your courage and natural mood hooked my attention, Today after all you had, I am happy that you have not give-up , realizing your and our dreams.
When I watched you video today I was really sad. I wanted so bad to see you experience your dream of sailing and transiting the Panama Canal. I have a friend living on his sail boat not far from you in the San Blas. He is very handy and has lived on the hook in the area for years. He know a ton of people with connections. He is an expert on getting things done with little or no money. If you would like his contact details lt me know and I will pass them on to you.
More than likely the tank is integral with the hull. You can fix it yourself with modern epoxy and a small four inch grinder.fortunately your hull is aluminum and the holes are just pits and not a general thinning of the metal. $4000 is too much to pay for a sand blasting $3000 is too much to pay for welding. Get yourself a hard plastic hammer and rap everywhere on the hull, you will be able to find the bad spots by their sound. Grind them to bare metal and use epoxy with powdered aluminum to fill the holes. If you're interested I can get more specific.
Good advice.
I'm binge watching your videos, and posted a comment on #23 describing how your confidence gives you a pretty glow. Even in this episode, as depression sets in and you question everything, you have not once broke down. You remain solid and explore options. As someone mentioned earlier; it's a great video to show other boaters just starting out or exploring the idea of cruising the world, that merely owning a boat takes a lot more than realized. Digging your strength.
I hope you don't give up on your dream, Nike. I rather enjoy following it every Friday. Perhaps this is the trough before things get better. Don't let us down KARL!
Nike, I have been following your adventures with great interest almost since your first post. First, like all guys most of the people here are trying to solve your problem for you. They mean well. But something tells me the real problem is not the boat, or the money, or the scope of the repairs. It is the exhaustion of dealing with problem after problem for 20 some weeks, when all you really want to do is go sailing. So here is my advice. Forget about your boat for a week or two. Find someone you have met in the marina and go on a sail with them for a day or better yet a few. After that you will be in a position to decide how much more energy you want to keep putting into Karl. There is no right answer, no one can watch these videos and not think you have not given it the best you could. You are still very young. Maybe you make this happen. Maybe you reset and do it again in 5 years or 10 years with a family and a brand new boat.
I think you are pretty right about this...it was just too many problems one after the other and it was kind of overwhelming in the end. I need to step back a little, do what there is to do to take a well based decision and then take it. We'll see :).
I think getting the paint off will tell the tale. Fixing the fuel issue may be worth it if the hull is worth saving. Best of luck to you. I am preparing to do what you are doing now. I am refitting a 23 ft Islander that was near death (fiberglass) and like you has proven to be more than anticipated but the goal was to have a boat to learn how to sail and to repair/maintain. It has cost me but it is an education that is worth the investment. Even if Karl can not be made whole again, what you have in your experience and your education is priceless. And while it is heartbreaking, strength is born. Rock on!
Take a few days, strip the hull down to metal and assess from there. If the hull is heavily corroded under the paint, it's a lost cause, if it's just those few spots, you can decide if it's worth staying with Karl or cutting your loses.
I just found your video series and from the list of additional ones it is obvious that you didn't quit!!! Your abilities, determination and skills are incredible. I just got into sailing, last month in the Gulf of Thailand but would only consider buying a "freshwater" boat from Canada or the Great Lakes area of USA to avoid exactly this type of problem. Can't wait to get caught up on your video series as you are very inspirational --- stay positive and safe, no matter what happens....
Hey there! I'm not a sailor. If anything, I'm a first mate. But I'M A DREAMER like YOU! I just want to share with you how very much my heart aches for what you're going through. I had all I could do to keep myself from crying while watching your video. Really. My best friend is a sailor and a sailboat builder. His boats are like his babies. I'm sorry but I don't have much to offer you here, except to say GOoD LUCK to YOU. I'M PRAYING THAT YOUR BOAT DREAMS ALL COME TRUE! Peace & Love... Ronni
After watching this again and seeing you so down, it's nice to see you happy again and Karl looking healthy and ready to go back in the water.
Hey Nike, I'm just at your finding the ten holes and diesel coming from the hole midway between your twin keels. You need a great huge hug. I have seen this before so I know yo can do it but I understand your self doubt. You will prevail. Stay always strong. You are magnificent. You just don't know how magnificent that you really are.
Ich hab jetzt erst angefangen die ersten Folgen zu gucken und es ist so der Hammer ,was du durchgezogen hast . Habe mir selbst vor 2 Jahren ein Boot gekauft und bin bis jetzt nur am Reparieren , eine Baustelle folgt der nächsten , das letzte halbe Jahr möchte ich schon gar nicht mehr hinfahren . Aber ich werde es so wie du machen ,einfach nicht aufgeben und irgendwann komme ich auch los .:-) grüße aus Norddeutschland.
I know how you feel! I have had two boat crossing Panama to Australia. Last one was last year. I bought a 38ft catamaran in Martinique. Found more and more trouble, when we sailed Aruba-Cartagena we lost one rudder. Had two new rudders built in Shelter bay. Then our almost new AP stopped working. Bought a new one. Sometimes it can feel very tough, but just hang in there. You will get thru and have some wonderful time! /Andreas
So.. I watched your latest video.. 2024.. Haven't really seen the ones in between.. And looked at one of your oldest.. 9 years ago!.. When you say.. You don't want to give up.. Like its all slipping away.. Then here I am.. 9 years later seeing you.. It shows you did this.. You followed the path less travelled.. Not just the physical one.. But the greater one.. The mind.. When we look back at our lives.. We only ever regret what we didn't do or try.. Untie the lines has literally become the metaphor of your life and the years from then to now 😊⛵
I know this is late in coming but I've watched up to this since starting yesterday. You are doing an awesome job with Karl and I will watch all the rest of your videos over the next few days. Remember that your dreams never die unless you give up on them! Keep up the good work. If you are ever near Galveston, Texas I'd be happy to be a member of your crew.
Do not give up girl! Following your dreams is always difficult! Many people would like to be in your place, but few have the courage or ability. Be careful! Be smart! If necessary, change the route, take your companion with experience and then traveled. My family and I support your mission. We would like to travel as you, but for now it is impossible. We wish you success!
Catching up on your channel now. I'm glad you didn't give up. Boats can be so hard. I'm glad you stayed the course.
WSP I feel your pain and sense of discouragement but you strike to be a person that is someone who doesn't quit. Period. Sometimes you have to give problems time to resolve themselves. Things happen. You continue the fight you find new solutions, new ways of looking at things, new sources of support, a new unshakeable spirit. Putting one foot in front of the other takes you a long way even when you have plenty of doubts. Hang in there.
Another very emotional episode. Somehow it was the first one in the series that I watched, and after the drama of the next few episodes, I had to stop and to start from the beginning.
Great narrative skills. Keep going and never give up using that beautiful large white smile of yours. :-)
Don't give up. Yes there are problems and costs. You can strip the paint with a grinder. I had to do that on my 42ft Maple leaf and take it down to the fiber glass and re-coat and paint her. You can learn to weld if you have too.
I know it is disheartening to find these problems. Try to hang in there. I am rooting for you.
Ahhh, this broke our hearts as we watched this morning. In our opinion, don't spend another dime on Karl until a good surveyor has given you a full report on the health of the boat. Make no mistake you have not found all the problems, and you will likely spend another 50% or more than you think you will spend. This is hard to say, but it may be the case that you should use the money you would have spent to fix up Karl and find Karl II.
Don't ever give up! You are living the dream. You have just hit a small snag. The best things in life come through taking risks, challenging your limits, learning, and keeping your eye on the prize. There are a lot of people following that we think could help you accomplish your goals and dreams.
Keep going life is a challenge and this will make you stronger. Do not give up your dream, you are very fortunate to be able to do what you are doing. Most of us wish we were where you are so do what is needed and get you adventure back on track. Hoping you will keep your dream.
Regards
think about this you will have a great boat at the end. a job always takes longer than you think and karl will not forget about your hard work.
Gees sista, will it never end. I feel your pain, boy if I was there I could of welded up Karl's haul for the price of a cold 6pack of beers and a cruise around the harbour. I used to work down the naval dock yards in Sydney Australia and that was one of my daily tasks I would class those repairs as 10 minute jobs compared to the jobs I would do on the navy ships..... Boy wish I could of fixed it for you.
So sorry to hear this. We had an aluminium boat for our voyage UK to Australia. I was paranoid about dissimilar metals, especially copper. We had one hole, probably caused by a piece of metal that bored its way through the hull. When I repaired it I used the hole to mount a huge zinc, so that had anything else been there, it would have interacted with the zinc first (I hoped). Another thing you can do is to continually wash fresh water through your bilges. That should slow galvanic corrosion down a lot. As for the diesel - that sounds like a problem. I do not think you can weld anything there. Mount a zinc over the hole with heaps of Sicaflex. The zinc will need to be bolted on and the problem is getting a bolt or nut on the inside. Cut a hole approx. 50mm diameter in the hull so you can push a 5-8mm thick aluminium backing plate in with approx 20mm aluminium on either side of the hole. The bolt should already be fixed onto the backing plate with glue. Using self tapping screws either side of the hole secure the backing plate and then secure the zinc over the hole with a nut. Put plenty of sicaflex between the zinc and the hull in the vicinity of the hole, but ensure the zinc and the hull are electrically connected. Hope this helps.
Hi Rod, thanks for the advice. Luckily, the hole was not inside the fuel tank but in the engine room and there had been some diesel on the floor that camo out throught the hole. I cleaned it nicely now and the hole is already fixed :). The idea with flushing the bilge with fresh water from time to time is a good one. I'll keep that in mind, thx.
I can agree with what others are saying about getting a different boat but certainly not a reason not to give up on your dreams. I haven't priced fiberglass, might be expensive but I thought of stripping all the paint off, see where the trouble spots are and you might be able to cover all or part of the hull with a layer of fiberglass, then re-enforce that area with epoxy from the inside. Not sure if that would work, but the effort may be better spent at other options. I really hope you are still able to make the voyage you are planning whether it is with Karl or not.
Best of luck to you. :-)
You are spot on, "a bottomless pit". Me, I would salvage every piece of gear that is usable from Karl, scrap the boat and get an fiberglass hulled boat. I know it is a huge thing to do, but if you are ever to realize your dream, I am sure it won't be on Karl. So sorry that Karl was so neglected and has let you down so bad. Hard choice, but IMO it is salvage what you can and start with another boat or go home.
I can sympathize and agree as well with many of the comments made here, but it's probable, that if you don't have a very clear understanding of the actual condition of the metal throughout the boat, anything you do from now on will be with fingers crossed. Not a good way to go out into any ocean!
I had a wonderful old pocket cruiser made of wood from about the late 1920's. Wonderful boat. I'm a woodworker and knew there would be repairs to be made, and I made many using best processes. Over time, I found that others didn't use "best " at all and after removing the entire outer hull to be replaced I found all the ribs, keelson, and stern supports to be in need also of replacing. That's pretty much the whole boat.. The upper hull also was punky.
I stripped the boat and burned it. It is still my favorite of the several sailboats I've owned, but reality intruded.
Hopefully, you will continue when able to sail the world, but in your next boat, PLEASE---- hire a competent boat survayor and listen to him.
One more thing. If you decide to strip it, keep in mind that strippers (if they aren't water types) are toxic to breathe. Water based don't work worth a damn.
Good luck to you in whatever you decide.
Ted
I feel terrible for you in this situation. I had this experience with large aluminum water tanks in my small business. I found one hole then hundreds. I had to buy new tanks and it wasn't cheap. All you have been though, and the work you have done and now this. I'ts very upsetting. I think you have it right in "gathering options for fixing the problem". I'd bet there have been others with this problem. I'm sure nobody wants you to give up either. I wish I could do more to help you....
I'm so sorry what is happening to you. When sailing you experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows! But we always make through the lows and at the end somehow only the highs stick around. Just go back and look at your episode #22. You're sailing, you're smiling and you're having a great time. You can make it through this and smile again soon!
I've been down the road with a metal boat. Did the whole sandblasting, weld up a few small holes, drain water from the keel, epoxy paint, etc... You will need access to the inside of the boat where any welding will occur, you don't want to start a fire inside. You may want to check out the Metal Boat Society, they have a web site somewhere. Should be some good info there.
After about 10 years with the boat it was about 25 years old I sold it and now have a plastic boat. Lots less maintenance. I have seen lots of metal boats with lots of big holes (2x2 foot and larger) being repaired. It can be done.
Honestly it was crazy to chose a boat like that and without a survey too, you can't just go sailing cause people tells you to when the boat is in that condition, i mean it needed to be hauled out and be completely remade from top to bottom the second after seeing it (for a tremendous amount of work and money hence not the right boat). Alberg 30 or similar would be my cheap choice in your condition, Moody 346 the more expensive one but there are plenty more if you're ok with your cabin not being aft. Apart from this i have the most sacred respect for what you decided to do and i'm very impressed by the many qualities you're showing, you just chose a bottomless pit for a boat XD
Nike, hav'nt posted for a while, but have been keeping track. Selling that boat is not giving up, get rid of the damn thing, and get another one, it's just a boat! You have learned alot, move on, apply what you have learned on a boat that will help you continue your dream - does'nt matter when you get a new boat, your dream is probably more alive than it has ever been - sell, go home take a break, start obsessively scouring boat listings like I do and fall in love with another boat - good luck, and cheer up, life is good!
Hi Nike. So very sorry to hear of these problems and can see how heartbroken you are. I have a similar sized boat and got the paint soda blasted off for less than $800. I wonder if this would be worth doing as at least you would have a better idea of potential problems before taking drastic measures. Best of luck in any case.
Neil's safety points are well made and I would only add that it is beneficial if you have a few 2kg or 5 kg CO2 (or powder if your ventilation below decks is bad) fire extinguishers to put out any little smouldering areas before they get going. CO2 doesn't leave any mess but could be dangerous in a confined area.. Obviously better to clear flammable items from near the area where the welding will happen, but it is always nice to have a backup.
Have faith. Just like all your previous challenges, when you get more information, you seem to make good decisions. Costs for labor become more reasonable and help comes from unexpected directions.I am a big fan of you and your journey..
Keep the faith and your dream will happen life is full of set backs and you are one tough lady . be safe be cool.
Whats the saying about owning a boat "its like standing under a shower tearing up fifties" i know this scenario all too well.
With my own boat the more i dug the more i found, thankfully i've almost popped out the other side. Good luck with Karl and don't give up, you'll find a way through and you'll have some cracking stories to tell.
Your #22 video is my favorite so far, it was awesome to see you sailing and upbeat. However I think Karl is the wrong boat. He can be saved even if the entire hull is ready to fail, but it will be expensive either in money or time. Joshua Slocum spent 2 years rebuilding the Spray. By the time he was done every timber was replaced. I think you are better off getting a fiberglass boat. They are much easier to repair, any one can do it. Salvage what you can from Karl, get what you can scraping him. The boat is not the dream. Keep living the life less traveled. Karl has been a great experience for all of us. But it is time to move on, your gut has been telling you that for a while. It has been very evident in your videos. Thank-you for sharing with us.
Oh crud. I feel so sorry for you and know how you must be feeling. I don't know anything on aluminum hulls but I'm sure this can be fixed somehow. As you say though, money... money... money. My thoughts are with you. Wish I could help.
Regards, Gary
Sad, we all hope the dream doesn't die. I think it all comes down to faith, i.e. faith that you can do it. From watching the other downloads "I" think you can do it but it doesn't matter what I think... it only matters if it you think you have the faith to do it. Big hug to a neat little girl.
I have a 30' o'day sailboat ready to go. Out is on the water in Beaufort north Carolina. The money you would spend on Karl you could stock provisions and sail away tomorrow
Kopf hoch! Es wird nichts so heiß gegessen wie es gekocht wird. Die Frage ist eigentlich: Geht es weiter mit Karl, oder vlt. mit Karlchen,Otto, Manfred? ;-) Kann mir gut vorstellen, dass es ein derber Tiefschlag ist. Fakt ist: Du musst Dir sicher sein es zu tun!
Viel, viel Glück!!!
Hoffentlich kann ich Deine Videos weiter hier sehen. Für mich sind es die kleinen Fluchten aus dem Alltag. Sieh nach vorn!!! Live your Dream!!
For emergency patching, "resisto roofing membrane" is good. Even dinghy or sail can be fixed. Especially if you preheat surface.
Some one with a sailboat needs to take you and a friend or two on a get away cruise for awhile. Just step back and breath.... Forget about it for a week or two!
Rum...Margaritas.....Beach ... Sun... Water and good friends. No feaking out! No getting over whelmed!
I have followed all your videos and always waiting for the next video from you. It has been wonderfully interesting to see how you coped with all the difficult problems and I think it will solve this problem with. I see a small positive thing in this difficult situation. It could have been much worse if you're in the storm and had a severe leak without the ability to repair at sea. It could have ended in disaster.
I vote for scraping clean the hull and then treat with epoxy in multiple layers. Much work and sure it costs a lot, but I will pray that God sends volunteers to step up and help you. It is possible to get sponsors who want to set up in this project. Must be easier and cheaper to renovate and reinforce with epoxy, than to scrap Karl and get another boat.
Even if you come across another boat that needs to be renovated and then move over the interior and parts from Karl to the new boat, so it will be a lot of work as well. If you add up the cost of one such option, then I think it will be a cheaper and better solution to treat Karl with several layers of epoxy. But there may never be a question of compromises that make Karl becomes dangerous to sail in high winds on the seas in long stages. Want to wish you all the success in this problem!
IF ..if it doesn't work out. Please wait and one day rethink your dream because It's a great one! You are young. You could wait a month..or..5 years.. It took me 15 years to start building my sailboat...Your dream can still live.
Sorry to hear that you are running into problems.. did you have a survey?? I have been working on a Cape Dory 33 for 3 years now and it seems like it never ends.. I know that I will be sailing her soon.. Keep your chip up
I agree with what many people are saying, open up the bilge and see the condition of the inside of the hull. There should be ways to cut open the floor to get a look, small holes with a mirror and very bright LED small snake light can let you see what condition are like in the bilge. Once you have a good look inside, you can make an informed decision. Pretty common for aluminum fuel tanks to develop leaks when exposed to salt water. If your still not sure, hire a reputable marine surveyor who has experience with aluminum boats. If it has corroded from the inside a lot I'm afraid it is time to cut your losses and look for another boat.
That price was a steal for am aluminum boat. 8 years later your still on the adventure.
It's tough watching you struggle *(I've watched most of the previous videos) however this is the dilemma of finding an affordable boat(in central America no less) this is early in your journey & now is the time to work the bugs out. I feel bad for you but I can see all of your upgrades & improvements are steps in the right direction. Perhaps being by yourself is it's own trial as a companion (a good positive companion) could encourage you through some of these trials & maybe help with some of the bills. Stay positive myself along with thousands of other people are watching you pursue a dream that I & I'm sure many other people would love to try...some day, but there you are living it now ! look how far you've come.
good luck girl! you will manage it!
Wow, what a ride!
Glad to see you respond. Was worried a little. Manning Harvey has sound thoughts and the fuel tank question that came to my mind. One caution, please. Do not weld around that tank without draining, cleaning and gas-freeing it. (Any welding, really) I was Navy for many years and voids on vessels should intimidate any salty sailor.
and this is why you should have a survey done.
wow! we all support you here so don't give up! the dept sonar you can mounted at the back of the boat-safe and more easy to maintain- improvise, the hole seel with aluminium plate or , cheaper fiber epoxy it does sticks to any surface,,,no rush soon all answers will come to you them make wise decision ;-) Damier
It's there a dye you could put in you diesel tank to see if it's coming out the hole at the bottom? Try a torch shining from the bottom of the hole and see if you have light in the tank. Smart phone cameras are great at getting in places you can't see. Video set to record and scan it around the tank. Odd that it stopped. Unless you have a vapour lock and if you open the top of the tank it all comes flowing out the hole. If Karl has been around who knows what's been spilt and made its way down the hull. Have you looked for some design specs for Karl to see where the tank is?
You know what BOAT stands for? Bring On Another Thousand.
It's not an adventure until something goes wrong.
Good luck hope it comes right. Once you have Karl sorted out the real adventure begins. Just remember if it was easy everyone would be doing it.
You can strip the bottom yourself with aircraft paint remover. I did it myself to a car that was about the same vintage of Karl. Just need some thick gloves a roller and a pan.
We (my wife and I) had a fiberglass boat. Every haul-out we had to do more blister repairs. So what!? We did it ourselves, it's not that hard. When we got the chance a few YEARS later, we hauled and kept her out of the water in the tropics for a year after stripping the hull to bare fiberglass (not that hard). Then we came back and made more repairs and continued on. It's not that hard to do it yourself, you just have to set your mind to it and get it done. It's much the same with aluminum, you just need to find out how, and do it. It's a LOT cheaper to do it yourself. Don't give up. But DO evaluate your choices. It's not stupid to consider another different boat, even after all this time.
whish you luck, be with good people and dont talk to the ones that want to stop you
Nike, keep going, it will be worth it in the long run.
Is there any option to chemically strip the bulk of the paint? As you are finding, sanding paint is a difficult proposition especially over a large area.
Practical Boat Owner magazine in the UK did an article about a man who bought an Aluminium hull from a boat yard in East Europe. From memory there was a section about paint and the need to insulate the hull from water and the bast electrics. So if Karl is worth salvaging (and I hope he is), make sure that you read up/take advice on how to paint and wire Karl to ensure that this doesn't happen again.
Keep safe, love you work
Bad luck, I was in shelter bay when you first bought Karl. Would have been happy to teach you to weld. Ask around, a marina that sees so many boats pass through is bound to have a welder or two that would be willing to lend a hand. Preping the metal is the most time intensive and doesn't require a high level of skill. Also you can strip the bottom yourself (depending on the rules of the yard) it's not hard to do.
I hope she knows to use a stainless steel wire cup on the final prep or she will contaminate the aluminum.
Nike you can't quit, you are my inspiration! After being an armchair captain all my life and sailing OPB's, I have finally bought a boat, thanks to you! My wallet is open and my credit card is out....where's the paypal button!!!
I just now found this channel. I saw the sadness and discouragement in your eyes and wanted to do or say something to give you hope.
Was that a sacrificial plate hanging down off of Karl when you hauled it out? If so, it probably was not doing its job. Thanks for providing the PayPal link. It worked. I hope that you collect enough to continue your quest.
BFerry10 Thanks for supporting my video work, I appreciate it a lot. The anodes were still on the hull, but they were quite used up. The anodes hanging off when Karl was hauled out were from the belts of the crane, they did not belong to Karl. I changed the annodes when I repainted the hull and added some more as well. So I hope to be safe now.
I know how you feel. Sometimes working on boats is extremely frustrating and it's expensive. When I repowered my last boat, I would have days that I just would have to stop and go home and sleep on things. Most of the time when I got back to the project I could look at it a little differently and figure things out. That being said, I can't really make any recommendations for you, but I think you know the right path to take. Coastal cruising is one thing, but what your planning I think you really need to look at how much safety Karl can offer you. The last thing any of us want is to read about Karl and you being lost at sea. If this is the end of Karl, I wish you the best of luck and I hope to see you on youtube or out sailing someday.
Wow, sorry to hear about it
Auch wenn es eine rationale Entscheidung ist, dieses Boot aufzugeben... halte durch und nimm einen zweiten Anlauf. Vielleicht mit einem anderen Boot. Weiß nicht.
Aber auf jeden Fall würde ich deine Videos sehr vermissen und ich hoffe du machst irgendwie weiter diesen Traum zu verwirklichen - daran würde ich auch gerne weiter hier teilhaben. :) Sei stark!
OK, Skipper. What do you want us to do? You can't do it all on your own. None of us can. When I get back on the water, you can bet I will ask for advice and help. None of us think you are helpless. All of us have great respect.
Alloy boats ... I was really impressed with all the good renovations on this boat so far but if it were my boat at this stage i would be stripping everything new back out that i could salvage buying a nice strong GRP cruising boat and loading all the good gear into it . That corrosion will be more trouble than its worth .
There is a saying 'don't throw good money after bad'. There comes a point of is it worth fixing. Did I hear that the hull is aluminium? that stuff is not like regular steel and as you now know its expensive to and difficult to weld. The amount of damage you have points to a lot of galvanic reactions having taken place and as you say there may well be more still to be found. In that part of the World there are always cheap boats available. would it be cheaper to buy another boat? What ever you do I wish you well. Be safe.
Put a donate button on your site and lets get started fixing Karl. We can all chip in and sponsor your dream.
I agree with your suggestion to put a "Donate Button" to assist in "Sponsoring her dream." However, I don't have a lot of faith in Karl. I would rather see her sailing the Caribbean in a reliable boat as opposed to becoming depressed sitting on the hard.
Every boat is salvageable with the right funding. I brought my 1961 back from a molded hull to a vessel i would sail around the world with tomorrow. If we help her she can have the entire hull sprayed with fiberglass. Never to leak again.
don't give up...it's not that bad...I agree with oceannavigator 's comments completely....get some epoxy glue and fill in the holes after grinding to clean metal....epoxy is just as strong....fill holes , paint bottom, go sailing...
Don't give up. Just change direction. You remind me of my daughter.
Nike ... watching this video many years later [2022] makes one thing crystal clear ... You, Girl, are One Helluva a 'Persevering Problem Solver' ... a Seagoing 'Joan of Arc' with an Arc Welder ... Bart
🤣 hey Bart, long time no read. Gees this video seems so so far away!
@@WhiteSpotPirates Nike ... I've been missing your 'Adventures with Karl' stories ... they make me feel like you're letting me [us?] share in a unique & magical part of your life ... hope you can reignite those stories one day soon ... Bart
btw ... you should think about doing a Kon-Tiki- like book/movie about all of your adventures ... in a lot of ways, your story is much more interesting & relatable ...
Are those pits corrosion made by crustaceans excrement? Why paint an aluminum deck? To reflect the sun heat?
Sail away with me, I've got the bux and we've got the gypsy-pirate blood :)
You describe a horror show of problems. The reality of old boat ownership. A lesson to all of us. I want to see what you do. I think I would have given up long ago.
Did you not have the boat surveyed before the purchase?
I am so sorry you are afraid, Its all part of the adventure. You need to dry out the bilge in order for the welds to be really good. You need to make sure that there is no Diesel in the bilge at all, it is dangerous. As a welder, I love metal because it can be repaired over and over. All compartments in a boat must be accessible, so you must make a way to get under the fuel tank and check it out. If you have any questions, just ask!
Have you ever used this product? www.aluminumrepair.com/video_new.asp
Facm Bo I have played with this, and it works best with softer aluminum alloys. The best and first choice is to know what type of aluminum you have and match the alloy to your welding wire and fill the holes. Also you must have some sort of zinc sacrificial anode to corrode instead of the hull. I think the welder is asking too much, Also, when the welder is working its important to have someone in the boat with a fire extinguisher or inert gas like Argon to keep anything from burning.
Facm Bo Thank you very much for the info about HTS-2000!!!
Remember you have to clean both sides of aluminum to weld it properly. Cleaning one side only will not do. It will have oil ,paint and dirt on the opposite side. The important thing when welding aluminum is to use a stainless steel wire cup or it will contaminate the weld,leaving very small holes and bubbles in your weld.
You are strong & beautiful, inside & out.. If I wasn't so old I would quit my part time job & bring my help & pension to help you & live the same dream. I say remain strong, pull Karl out and work for a while while you do a full assessment. It might be an option to strip him, sell whatever you can't transfer to another boat & get some recycle funds from the hull. I wouldn't think aluminum would be a very good choice for a hull considering the corrosion susceptibility.
So sorry for the bad news. Your safety is the priority. Expensive hull and diesel tank repairs...and then what? There is a grave risk of a lot of good money after bad. Your experience and skills make you a desirable crew thereby enabling you to still sail. Thanks for the candid, so interesting videos. So many wish you well.
It's important to remember that the issue you are having is about little sneaky leaks and NOT ABOUT A WAEK BOAT ready to fall apart. Metal boats do have their problems but one GREAT THING is that little problems even a bunch of little problems (a) do not compromise the entire structure, (b) can be repaired by fixing just that one little spot. What I see as your biggest challenge is that you likely have a bilge full of tanks and stuff that hide the inside of the hull and if you could see the inside of the hull then a fix or a patch would be easy to imagine. Even if you had to lose the tanks in your bilge (water/fuel) you still have the most important things which are the hull=>home and the sailing_rig=>motive power. If you had to improvise future smaller fuel tanks it would make you more reliant on sails ( A GOOD THING ) and if you had to improvise future smaller water tanks it would make you more frugal and self reliant about water ( A GOOD THING ).
Not easy to get knocked down by a black squall, half fill with water, almost sink and then be able to find the silver lining in that dark cloud, . . hope you find the silver lining.
I am at a loss for words Nike. Sometimes you just have to lick your wounds and rest a bit before getting back on your feet and doing what needs to be done. Karl is still sick has a few broken bones that need to be mended but he has a good sailor at the helm. The price you paid for Karl represented this very risk. It sucks but you have to move forward with your life (adventure).
I sure hope you have it all figured out and this "conflict" is just part of developing your story line. All stories/movies/books have "conflict" in them.
I guess severe mold growth on the inside could have been an early indication of holes in the hull.
I think the best part about fixing it yourself is that if it starts failing again, you know exactly where to start since you made the repairs yourself. I would fix it then spend some time close to shore to make sure all it well. Another option is to pay a helper that knows what hes doing instead of paying someone to complete the work entirely.
Yes and when she is in the middle of the ocean taking in water with the repair failing she can always call her helper a thousand miles away to row out to get her .
Sorry for the issues. An Aluminium boat that has sat for a long time should be avoided IMO. But that horse has bolted - get stripping back so you can see what you are up against. At the very least sound out the hull with a hammer and then use a chisel in a hammer drill to chase out the bog you come across. or Im sure you can get a soda blast for alot less than 4k. Then look at getting the prep done for the welder - you just want him to do the welding.
Just make sure she uses a stainless steel wire brush to prep it .I am a welder and if she uses an iron steel wire cup to prep it ,it will contaminate the aluminum. She could probably learn to tig weld it too in a few days. she has lots of time on her hands.Tig welding is very easy to learn . It`s not rocket science. Hey I hope she does the right thing. Also I hope she knows about replacing the anodes on the boat. That is what caused the corrosion in the first place. Good luck to her for sure.
Keep your chin up. It will all work out.
Dunno if I would strip the paint over this. Maybe get a dead blow mallet and spend a few days going over the hull with that. When you hit corrosion the mallet will blow it out.
You can use a non-destructive Ultrasonic Thickness Guage/Measuring-device, most will work on both steel and aluminium, which you can use to establish the thickness of the paint layer and of the aluminium hull plates and give you peace of mind as to the condition of the hull. Most surveyors will have one of these and you may also be able to rent one. The local surveyors may also be able to recommend different welders so you can get a few quotes. The ultrasonic machines are very simple to use. I would guess you are hoping to find a plate thickness of at least 5mm or 6mm.
i'm watching this 3 years late, after following for the last few months, apparently you did roll the dice and spend the money to hold on to your dream, i have such a low threshold for risk, i would have given up 100%, amazing video to see 3 years late, when this chapter in your life ends, you might consider doing some motivational speaking, i can't believe you looked at those repairs, and pressed on , wow !
it is a hard choice if it was me i would cut my loses and sell and buy a easier boat to maintain and work on like fiberglass as no special skill are needed but don't give up on your dream you will regret it hang in there you are doing so great the world needs more people like you who go after there dreams
+whitespotpirates I looked very carefully for work on the bearing and seals that go between the shaft and propeller keeping water out, didn't see them check so far. But, it looks like you've got a lot on your mind in the next video so I will keep checking.