Amy and Matt are great artist, so they know how to film and how to speak. Amy changed a lot her voice when speaking. I love listing them. These sailors are much better than any talk show anchors.
As good ventilation control is so important, including when underway in adverse weather, might be worth adding more dorade vents? The ones I designed and installed on my Frances 26 many years ago employed an adjustable s/steel mushroom vent, hence simple and immediate fine adjustment of each unit to match airflow requirements.
I stayed in a cold basement guest room near freezing temps outside and the dehumidifier easily made the difference of heating enough to be warm. Had to be sure to keep bucket empty so the heat didn't stop. (Just for boat yard)
I find repair/restoration videos to be just as enjoyable as sailing videos. Though it may be difficult, I am sure you too will find putting Florence back in shape to be a tremendously rewarding experience.
Well, you guys are gonna get one heck of a workout with all that work to do - I hope Oyster come to the party at some point, they are just up the road and surely they've been following you around the world. Come on Oyster these guys could do with help - maybe you've got a spare 495 sitting in the yard!!!!
Big hi from Iceland one thing you need to do put 1" insulation under your floor bords it stop cold from cold sea in to the boat and upp to your legs many Artic wisitors do that
I have read a lot about oyster heritage boats and they seem like wonderful boats. I like that you guys have a real world boat for your journeys. It is neat to see those million dollar yacht’s but it isn’t realistic for most people. You guys show what can be done on a normal size boat and it’s great to see
I just found your channel three weeks ago because of your Spindrift 8 video and have now have watched every single one of your videos. I did a marathon viewing because I couldn't get enough. I'm surprised that you never spear fished. Your back and forth verbal explanation of everything is great and how you simply explain your adventures makes you two leagues above the rest in quality videos.
Even doing the long list of yard work on Florence, the presentation and product is top notch! Even though your list is long its a testament to the good construction of Florence. Carry on!
A great video again. What I think you should look at is proper mosquito screen/ nets to all of the openings on Florence. As you sail to north the amount of mosquitoes, cadflies etc biting, blood- sucking insects is really horrendous. Since the fjords are generally very deep, you must anchor close to the shore and that´s when you get these guests onboard. The amount of these flying creatures is HUGE! Someone ones said that in Scotland mosquitoes can be a problem, well they aren´t. There´s a reason why they are called the other air force. A swarm of mosquitoes are known to drive herds of reindeers into panic. Plus a lot of insect repellent for you.
Very good video, very interesting too. There is a lot of work to do, and good luck with that, stay safe during work!! We look forward to seeing Florence back to her former glory!! John
Hi guys, you just try to remember she’s not a brand-new boat and she’s done a lot of k’s/miles but once you get through all these repairs again she will be ready for another 10 plus years keep up the good work , Cliff from Logan City Queensland Australia 🇦🇺
Please don't get disheartened Amy, you're a total legend. How you, Matt & Ron as well for that matter, didn't make the New Year's Honours List is beyond me! But all jokes aside now, for what you did, sailing around the world, even just 50 years ago would have got you, at least, MBEs...
Lithium will change your lives forever!! :) Days must be getting longer, I'm down in Canaries & after a few good days gone above 50% for first time since last autumn, not a problem. Certain death to lead acid. WIndlass loves me for providing such high voltage. Good luck with the refit. 👍👍
you need a dehumidifier, its the only way to solve the condensation issue. make sure you get one that will work with your inverter. you will be damp inside witout one. bonus is the also produce quite a bit of heat so you get a bit of warmth from it too.
I use a simple gravity fed Dickinson Alaska diesel fuel heater which draws internal air for combustion on my boat here in the Pacific Northwest. During the cool, damp winter months it keeps the cabin warm and dry without using any electricity or making any noise. However condensation is an issue in the unheated cockpit locker and engine compartment.
Know the feeling .. I started with a list like yours on my Corbin 40 1981… I planned 3 months in the yard in Langkawi, and that included a complete hull and deck repaint, 14 months later it’s still on the hard, granted I’m using local labour who take off every now and then which won’t happen to you, but even so … dig deep guys !
Hi Matt & Amy. I have been following your journey for years and am delighted you have made it back safely to the UK. I was amazed to watch this episode as you sailed past HISC and on to Mill Rythe. I trust Richard and his merry men are looking after you! I hope to be down at my yacht this week to do some of the many jobs needed before relaunch. I hope it might be possible to pop by and say hello! CHEERS!
Hang in there guys. We have an Oyster 35ft ketch and we removed all the bloody Tredmaster too. Determination, a heatgun, and elbowgrease and you will be so happy never to see that stuff again. Love seeing you tackling other hardships. Proud of you!
I will be AMAZED if you manage to tick off everything in that list in 6 months time doing everything on your own. Good luck guys. Looking forward for the next episode and definately the newe adventures north.
hello guys, I always follow you from Italy. You understand how much work there is to be a king because even on my boat it is never finished!! A hug Giovanni❤
I find it amusing that you are using Rolly Tasker Sails! Tasker was my first sailing instructor, sailing Pelican dinghies on the Swan River, from South Perth (W. Australia) yacht club. He bought a house based on the size of it's L-shaped lounge, to make it into a sail loft! Memories ...
That is quite a project. Having watched some channels, such as Sailing Sweet Ruca & Alluring Arctic Sailing, it's clear how important it is to have a reliable boat, equipped for remote places and extreme conditions, including , multiple sources of heating, redundancy, large fuel supplies in proper tanks (on deck fuel/water storage greatly reduce boat stability). It almost seems that the supplies and equipment required at high altitudes require a bigger boat. Even carrying long shore lines takes up alot of space. Don't skimp on the insulation, weather proofing and dehimdifying either.
Amy, my heart sank with your closing statement. From the look on your face and the sound of your voice, I'm feeling gutted. Whatever you do, be sure the rigging is topnotch. After SV Aquarius dismasting crossing the Atlantic, I'm even more grateful yours was a success. Thanks for sharing.🤞
I recently replaced my aluminium toerail on a 1980s Trintella 44. It's a big job. I looked at refurbishment but it's wasn't viable. I had a new toerail manufactured by SL Yachting. They did a great job of building what we wanted. You would be able to incorporate stanchion bases with the new toerail and do a better job than original. Far stronger stanchion bases and no leaks. I went for solid aluminium stanchions. Super strong. It was expensive but worth it
Hi Amy & Matt. When replacing your mast wiring ( or any wiring) on the boat use marine grade " tin plated " wire, not the common and garden automotive copper wire. I came across a rather nice modern ( 12 yr) french built 40 odd footer with rotten and corroded wiring. As a quick repair I used some aircraft wire which was tin plated that I had lurking in the toolbox. Couldn't believe that they skimped on something so basic and well known to cause problems later. Not as bad as rigid solid core household wiring , which I've seen used on a main switch panel.!
You two are amazing. I follow you as I used to have a Heritage (Velindra). She is in Australia after being sailed there by a young couple. I could never have done the sort of repairs that you do as a matter of routine. Looking forward to the finished article. Good luck in whatever you do.
Good luck you guys. You’re in for a rollercoaster ride but if anyone can overcome these issues it’s you two. Chin, even though your heart will sometimes be down by your ankles. JohnL
Sounds like you have run into what Aladino and Maya ran into with Magic Carpet II. They ended up replacing about half of the deck beams, a carlin, all the decking, and the bulwarks on their boat. A 6 month refit ended up taking about 2 years.
Beautiful video. Feels like a professionally produced documentary. Music, video editing, cadence & tone of each bit of narration is equivalent to a David Attenborough nature documentary. Video makes the dry docking experience romantic, adventurous & exciting.
You mentioned re-waterproofing the canvas but I would urge you to replace it. You will be in a cold & wet climate and re-proofing rarely works for long. You want to avoid being dripped on when it’s cold & wet so I’d suggest new Bimini & spray hood!
Great to see you guys again. Seems a long time ago we were in Hout Bay South Africa, together. We’re still in the Caribbean and staying here for another season. We look forward to seeing your adventures going forward. Best wishes, John and Sandra. SV Knot So Bad
You guys are so inspirational, we love watching your adventure and so looking forward to the journey ahead. Keep those videos coming, we sail further and faster with your inspiration!
My cruising buddy boat (who is an ex shipwright) reckons that you need to plan on rebuilding a cruising boat once every seven years. Obviously, some systems last longer but some last much less, with seven years an average. Sounds as if you are right on schedule!
Ciao ragazzi!! Vi seguo sempre dall'Italia. Capisco quanto lavoro vi sia da fare xché anche sulla mia barca è sempre un gran casino. Un abbraccio Giovanni❤
The higher north you go, the lower on the horizon the sun will be. This means less energy from the sun, and doubly so if your panels are placed horizontally for instance on an arch, bimini or sprayhood. Just something to take into account is that solar might not be enough at some point.
Im amazed that bulkhead carrying the shroud plate was not bonded to the hull. The flange itself might have been better with top flange on the deck contact rather than just thin plate.
That's a heck of a list... 😮 Makes the work I've been doing with my brother on his boat seem much more reasonable. We too had the manual hand scraping saga though - a long slow job! Good luck with all the plans - will watch your progress keenly!
Clogging sandpaper issue: use it wet with a bar of soap in the water… and rub the bar of soap on the sand paper now and then. Not as daft as it sounds. It’s a godsend… so effective.
Get a dehumidifier before going anywhere cold. It is the only way, other than spending a mint on diesel, to control condensation. I remove antifouling by wet sanding it, with detergent. That helps stop the sandpaper clogging and makes the job go more quickly.
It never fails to impress me the share tenacity and patience you've shown throughout your entire amazing journey. Truly inspirational and there's certainly a few lessons I have learnt from following you both. Do you intend one day to sail back to the tropics for a second round. I'll be following with baited breath. Thanks for sharing your journey and often being a great source of positivity for myself here in NewZealand..
We don't have fixed plans beyond 2 years, however we would both like to sail across the Pacific again some day as there are so many places we didn't have time to see.
Your narration and videography are top notch and I have truly enjoyed your trip over the years! You guys are true sailors who can and have overcome just about anything! 🤘 That's a big list to which I would add the windows as a must replace.. Sorry to give you bad news, but the arctic cold is going to wreak havoc on them and crack them further. BTDT back when I lived in The Netherlands...
I wish I was in the UK to give you two a hand. Just don't tell my wife I offered 😅. But I would be sure there are plenty of folks around who would love to come supply some manual labor to help Florence with her fix up. Joining the Florence team would be special for all involved and make it easier on you to hit your mark of setting off north. Just a thought. Keep up the great work!
Thanks…enjoyed your update! As soon as you mentioned “toe rail” I cringed. Been there once, next time the boat would hit the market! Southbound on Reload n Charge!, back in Georgetown, Exumas in a week. Will keep up with your plans, you mist be about half completed by now! All the best, Andrew
That is a lot of work in 6 months. You might be able to recruit a few viewers to help with some of the graft. 💪 Also I know its wrong but after years of seeing you guys sailing and visiting exotic tropical locations seeing Amy in her sexy paper overalls and marigolds scraping gel coat in cold rainy England amused me for some reason. I know I'm a bad guy. 😂 Interested to see how the rebuild turns out. I hope there are no nasty surprises waiting. 😬
I have some lengths of the toe rail if you thinking of replacing parts of it. It’s not full lengths, but most of it is serviceable. When you have replaced the toe rail, I suggest not putting back the EY stanchion bases. I have had two yachts with the same section toe rail and made stainless bases that fix to the same fixing points along the rail + an addition bracing pad on the deck; much more of a job👍 Having done the same toe rail job on my Rustler, I know it’s a big job, so wish you well. The deck; you would be best take all the old track mark off and re-gel the deck with non slip pattern. I have seen this done on a Heritage 37 and is much better than track mark.
FWIW the tops of the chainplates on my boat pass through the deck like yours. I tried a few different sealants to seal under the small cover plates screwed down over the gap between the deck and chainplate without complete success; one of the more frustrating sealing jobs on the boat until I used butyl tape which for three years now has provided a perfect seal.
Don't try to scrape off your antifouling. Get a grit or soda blaster in. It will save you a ton of time and will provide a better key for a barrier coat of epoxy!
Headlining? I replaced the headlining in my boat in Greece using foam-backed, vinyl. 5 years on, the adhesive breaks down to powder and it droops and sags. Any ideas?
Some things I would suggest. Double glaze the windows by putting an inner piece of perspex to shape (anti condensation) also use polyurethane foam under the deck. I have several areas where the underdeck is like a rainstorm from condensation. In particular the cupboards in the fwd head were so distressing. It took me ages to develop the technique to foam upside down but the end result is warm and bone dry. I have other areas, particularly in the instrument panel where it still rains but I have improved that enough to get me through their winter. I am doing the same as you to leave NL by this coming August, so have an equally impressive list. Understand that condensation in icing conditions is like a water engine. As water condenses it makes a lower air pressure right up to creating a vacuum so there is no way to prevent moist air getting to the icy surface if there is any pathway at all. The only solution is PU foam in the underdeck and around difficult bits like the bow thruster tube.
What is the fin attached at the stern of your yacht. Its always behind you moving about but we can't figure out what it is. Love watching you both and we are inspired and are selling up to start our adventure on the sea this year. Thanks Cam and Laurent. Nth queensland Australia
Check out sailing Umas experience. One tip for high lattitudes rig your solar panels if you can so you can tilt them closer to the horizon ....horizontal only works between the tropics ...above that latitude you need to be abble to point the pannels more towards the sun for them to remain efficient. Insulating floors and cabin sides with thick cork tiles sealed on the floor will help ..cork seadeck works well and lasts .. it also insulates the hull deck from outside. Remember if the interior surfaces can breath they dont end up condensating. Theres a Pbo article on line that may help you with ways of controlling condensation on a budget both financial and from a power management point of view. You will need to double skin those windows/ports. The other thing is plan your route flexibly .. Putin is making threats about polar waters and svarlbard. 🧙♂️🇬🇧
Thought about it and weighed up the pros an cons, but it would be a major change in the Cabin. We'll see how we go with a forced air heater for a season in the cold, if we plan to do more higher latitude sailing we may revisit that one.
Great Vid , i know this might sound stupid , but would it not have been better to sell Florence then use the funds and savings on refit , on a new boat more suitable for your next adventure . No i have not watched the next episode yet 🙂
Reiterating what others have said buy a dehumidifier! It gets rid of the damp and mildew. Dries your washing. As well as reducing your heating bills.The best thing you can get for traveling in cold climates.
Good video. I know you will do a proper job. The list is very long. Two people alone will struggle, so please rope in all your friends who are able and don't try to do it alone. Looking forward to seeing the results.
Solid dodger would be worth looking at , Good diesel heater a must & possibly routing the outlet to create a drying room for wet /damp gear , A furler on the staysail is good as any thing to keep you off the fordeck in freezing conditions is a must > Runners for bracing can be a pain (Tacking) . I found taking them well arft so as with a reefed main they clear the boom end so jibing , tacking isn't a problem Oh curry & Rum helps > Enjoy
Awesome footage and editing. Great to see you guys are back home and ready for the next adventure. Met you guys in CT. Yacht Ocean Spirit. All the best. Keep up the good work
Those toerails ??? .... Oh no. They are crazy expensive. Perhaps consider replacing them with foam covered with fiberglass. Or perhaps wood with stainless caps either side? Oh my gosh ... All in 6 months? It looks more like maybe 2 years? I can't wait to follow along the rest of the yourney. Perhaps send a request for helpers in the area and arrange a few open days? Good luck ...
Matt and Amy, Hey you two. Do yourself a favor and invest in a set of Bahco scrappers and some replacement blades, you will never look back! The blades are carbide and reversible, they last and cut and last like nothing we have ever used before. You can shave and feather in your bottom paint with a fraction of the effort. I actually sort of envy your worklist! Sailing a failry simple smaller boat has some big advantages, hang in there. Best of luck with your project. J&J SV Sueno, Marmaris
😀👍👍👍❤ Please do not rush, rush, rush your repairs as it will "burn" you both out. Who knows when you will have another opportunity for a "full" refit. If it takes 10 months to complete then so be it. All the "upgrades" that will improve Florence will be fun to see happen on video. May your 2024 be a truly great, happy and healthy new year! From another boat owner following from Seattle, WA. (Northwest USA)
Wow - that is a HUGE refit list for 6 months. And that's before you find the inevitable hidden SNAFUs just waiting to trip you up and treble the size of each job!
I wonder if you could fit a extra fuel tank and perhaps run a heater or radiator off your engine coolant circuit incase your diesel heater gives trouble, I like having both options as I have had the diesel heater fail before
Those triangular chain plates need at least a weep hole to allow water an egress or perhaps some lightning holes like an aircraft wing rib with perhaps some additional steel doubling plates to allow for ventilation to the enclosed space. Or else remove the wood on the bulkhead and build up with epoxy and glass so there is no wood in the dead space
Not surprisingly, Amy and Matt make even a boat refit a kind of adventure including the usual brilliant narrative, videography and editing. 👏
Amy and Matt are great artist, so they know how to film and how to speak.
Amy changed a lot her voice when speaking. I love listing them. These sailors are much better than any talk show anchors.
Totally agree! They should have their own tv series. But it's great having them on RUclips@@michakj4994
The fact that Florence is still so fundamentally sound is a great tribute to the original designers and builders, and vindicates your original choice.
You should thing of buying and installing a de-humidifier think of it as a negative air conditioner, it will help to keep the cabinet much warmer.
Living in a cold boat in winter is like living in a tent, condensation from breathing. A dehumidifier will also stop mould. Highly recommended.
Yes Millennial Falcon finally just got one and the reduction of condensation was phenomenal
As good ventilation control is so important, including when underway in adverse weather, might be worth adding more dorade vents?
The ones I designed and installed on my Frances 26 many years ago employed an adjustable s/steel mushroom vent, hence simple and immediate fine adjustment of each unit to match airflow requirements.
I stayed in a cold basement guest room near freezing temps outside and the dehumidifier easily made the difference of heating enough to be warm. Had to be sure to keep bucket empty so the heat didn't stop. (Just for boat yard)
These dehumidifiers get a good review meaco dd8l junior-dehumidifier
I follow and watch many you tube channels, But I am addicted to you two, I NEVER miss one, please keep them coming!
I find repair/restoration videos to be just as enjoyable as sailing videos. Though it may be difficult, I am sure you too will find putting Florence back in shape to be a tremendously rewarding experience.
Well, you guys are gonna get one heck of a workout with all that work to do - I hope Oyster come to the party at some point, they are just up the road and surely they've been following you around the world. Come on Oyster these guys could do with help - maybe you've got a spare 495 sitting in the yard!!!!
I doubt Oyster will come around. They have changed their target market and are far too uppity for Florence. I hope I m wrong...I doubt it tho.....
Big hi from Iceland one thing you need to do put 1" insulation under your floor bords it stop cold from cold sea in to the boat and upp to your legs many Artic wisitors do that
I have read a lot about oyster heritage boats and they seem like wonderful boats. I like that you guys have a real world boat for your journeys. It is neat to see those million dollar yacht’s but it isn’t realistic for most people. You guys show what can be done on a normal size boat and it’s great to see
I just found your channel three weeks ago because of your Spindrift 8 video and have now have watched every single one of your videos. I did a marathon viewing because I couldn't get enough. I'm surprised that you never spear fished. Your back and forth verbal explanation of everything is great and how you simply explain your adventures makes you two leagues above the rest in quality videos.
Hope you guys get some great sponsors!
Even doing the long list of yard work on Florence, the presentation and product is top notch! Even though your list is long its a testament to the good construction of Florence. Carry on!
A great video again. What I think you should look at is proper mosquito screen/ nets to all of the openings on Florence. As you sail to north the amount of mosquitoes, cadflies etc biting, blood- sucking insects is really horrendous. Since the fjords are generally very deep, you must anchor close to the shore and that´s when you get these guests onboard. The amount of these flying creatures is HUGE! Someone ones said that in Scotland mosquitoes can be a problem, well they aren´t. There´s a reason why they are called the other air force. A swarm of mosquitoes are known to drive herds of reindeers into panic. Plus a lot of insect repellent for you.
We are already well sorted for mosquito defence on Florence after all our time in Malaria areas of the tropics.
Midges are smaller than mosquitos and can get through those nets!
What I always find with my old Sadler is that as I fix one thing it uncovers and highlights another and so on. Eventually it drives you nuts!
It's super cool to watch your videos
Very good video, very interesting too. There is a lot of work to do, and good luck with that, stay safe during work!! We look forward to seeing Florence back to her former glory!! John
Hi guys, you just try to remember she’s not a brand-new boat and she’s done a lot of k’s/miles but once you get through all these repairs again she will be ready for another 10 plus years keep up the good work , Cliff from Logan City Queensland Australia 🇦🇺
Eine wirklich bemerkenswerte to do Liste! 😲
Ich wünsche euch viel Kraft! 💪😎👍
Lovely to see you back ...don't worry, all will work out for you. ⛵️
Please don't get disheartened Amy, you're a total legend. How you, Matt & Ron as well for that matter, didn't make the New Year's Honours List is beyond me! But all jokes aside now, for what you did, sailing around the world, even just 50 years ago would have got you, at least, MBEs...
Lithium will change your lives forever!! :) Days must be getting longer, I'm down in Canaries & after a few good days gone above 50% for first time since last autumn, not a problem. Certain death to lead acid. WIndlass loves me for providing such high voltage. Good luck with the refit. 👍👍
you need a dehumidifier, its the only way to solve the condensation issue. make sure you get one that will work with your inverter. you will be damp inside witout one. bonus is the also produce quite a bit of heat so you get a bit of warmth from it too.
I use a simple gravity fed Dickinson Alaska diesel fuel heater which draws internal air for combustion on my boat here in the Pacific Northwest. During the cool, damp winter months it keeps the cabin warm and dry without using any electricity or making any noise. However condensation is an issue in the unheated cockpit locker and engine compartment.
Wish I was near you (a continent away) and I'd be happy to come help. Best of luck with your huge list!
Know the feeling .. I started with a list like yours on my Corbin 40 1981… I planned 3 months in the yard in Langkawi, and that included a complete hull and deck repaint, 14 months later it’s still on the hard, granted I’m using local labour who take off every now and then which won’t happen to you, but even so … dig deep guys !
Hi Matt & Amy. I have been following your journey for years and am delighted you have made it back safely to the UK. I was amazed to watch this episode as you sailed past HISC and on to Mill Rythe. I trust Richard and his merry men are looking after you! I hope to be down at my yacht this week to do some of the many jobs needed before relaunch. I hope it might be possible to pop by and say hello! CHEERS!
Hang in there guys. We have an Oyster 35ft ketch and we removed all the bloody Tredmaster too. Determination, a heatgun, and elbowgrease and you will be so happy never to see that stuff again. Love seeing you tackling other hardships. Proud of you!
Get oscillating multi-tool with a scraper blade on it.
@@waterboy8999that’s what I used. Shame we’re always going to be too late with our useful tips!
@@matthewclarke269 it's a great tool for many things.
I will be AMAZED if you manage to tick off everything in that list in 6 months time doing everything on your own. Good luck guys. Looking forward for the next episode and definately the newe adventures north.
We are refitting an older boat and our time table has been pushed back numerous times.
hello guys, I always follow you from Italy. You understand how much work there is to be a king because even on my boat it is never finished!! A hug Giovanni❤
Wow looks like a great deal progress crammed into this video.
Amy's final words there sound ominous.
Hope all went well in the end.
Cheers
I find it amusing that you are using Rolly Tasker Sails! Tasker was my first sailing instructor, sailing Pelican dinghies on the Swan River, from South Perth (W. Australia) yacht club. He bought a house based on the size of it's L-shaped lounge, to make it into a sail loft! Memories ...
That is quite a project. Having watched some channels, such as Sailing Sweet Ruca & Alluring Arctic Sailing, it's clear how important it is to have a reliable boat, equipped for remote places and extreme conditions, including , multiple sources of heating, redundancy, large fuel supplies in proper tanks (on deck fuel/water storage greatly reduce boat stability). It almost seems that the supplies and equipment required at high altitudes require a bigger boat. Even carrying long shore lines takes up alot of space. Don't skimp on the insulation, weather proofing and dehimdifying either.
Amy, my heart sank with your closing statement. From the look on your face and the sound of your voice, I'm feeling gutted. Whatever you do, be sure the rigging is topnotch. After SV Aquarius dismasting crossing the Atlantic, I'm even more grateful yours was a success. Thanks for sharing.🤞
Great content. I like the way ya'll are kind of overviewing the work instead of seeing someone walk back and forth to a saw to cut wood.
I recently replaced my aluminium toerail on a 1980s Trintella 44. It's a big job. I looked at refurbishment but it's wasn't viable. I had a new toerail manufactured by SL Yachting. They did a great job of building what we wanted. You would be able to incorporate stanchion bases with the new toerail and do a better job than original. Far stronger stanchion bases and no leaks. I went for solid aluminium stanchions. Super strong. It was expensive but worth it
Hi Amy & Matt. When replacing your mast wiring ( or any wiring) on the boat use marine grade " tin plated " wire, not the common and garden automotive copper wire. I came across a rather nice modern ( 12 yr) french built 40 odd footer with rotten and corroded wiring. As a quick repair I used some aircraft wire which was tin plated that I had lurking in the toolbox. Couldn't believe that they skimped on something so basic and well known to cause problems later.
Not as bad as rigid solid core household wiring , which I've seen used on a main switch panel.!
Awesome Episode!! Looking forward to future videos on your projects. Thumbs Up on your next adventure!!
The joys of old boats
We are going through similar things with our 1981 45ft ketch...numerous haul outs so far
I missed a few episodes. I last saw M & A as they were about to cross the Atlantic.
I'm glad YT is here, so I can go back and watch what I missed.
I'm looking forward to seeing all the work come together.
That good old boat doesn't owe you a thing! This is going to be an exciting, but daunting refit... but I admire your courage and resourcefulness..
You two are amazing. I follow you as I used to have a Heritage (Velindra). She is in Australia after being sailed there by a young couple. I could never have done the sort of repairs that you do as a matter of routine. Looking forward to the finished article. Good luck in whatever you do.
We have been on board Velindra in Australia, she has had a couple of owners since sailing there and the latest are Patrons of ours :-)
Good luck you guys. You’re in for a rollercoaster ride but if anyone can overcome these issues it’s you two.
Chin, even though your heart will sometimes be down by your ankles.
JohnL
Sounds like you have run into what Aladino and Maya ran into with Magic Carpet II. They ended up replacing about half of the deck beams, a carlin, all the decking, and the bulwarks on their boat. A 6 month refit ended up taking about 2 years.
Beautiful video. Feels like a professionally produced documentary. Music, video editing, cadence & tone of each bit of narration is equivalent to a David Attenborough nature documentary. Video makes the dry docking experience romantic, adventurous & exciting.
It has been a pleasure following your journy.
You mentioned re-waterproofing the canvas but I would urge you to replace it. You will be in a cold & wet climate and re-proofing rarely works for long. You want to avoid being dripped on when it’s cold & wet so I’d suggest new Bimini & spray hood!
It is probably amongst your list... you should do a valve adjustment on the engine. That's just good preventative maintenance that cost $0.
Wow, the boat is in remarkable shape!
Next door to my uncle's place, when Whale Island was the torpedo range.
Flying the staysail in close quarters is smart sailing. Congratulations!
Great to see you guys again. Seems a long time ago we were in Hout Bay South Africa, together. We’re still in the Caribbean and staying here for another season. We look forward to seeing your adventures going forward. Best wishes, John and Sandra. SV Knot So Bad
You guys are so inspirational, we love watching your adventure and so looking forward to the journey ahead. Keep those videos coming, we sail further and faster with your inspiration!
My cruising buddy boat (who is an ex shipwright) reckons that you need to plan on rebuilding a cruising boat once every seven years. Obviously, some systems last longer but some last much less, with seven years an average. Sounds as if you are right on schedule!
It is good to again follow through your life on the hard. Looking forward to your Artic Adventure. ❤😂
Ciao ragazzi!! Vi seguo sempre dall'Italia. Capisco quanto lavoro vi sia da fare xché anche sulla mia barca è sempre un gran casino. Un abbraccio Giovanni❤
The higher north you go, the lower on the horizon the sun will be. This means less energy from the sun, and doubly so if your panels are placed horizontally for instance on an arch, bimini or sprayhood. Just something to take into account is that solar might not be enough at some point.
Look forward to your New adventures. Have followed your sailing from the start. Love your filming and comments.
Im amazed that bulkhead carrying the shroud plate was not bonded to the hull. The flange itself might have been better with top flange on the deck contact rather than just thin plate.
That's a heck of a list... 😮 Makes the work I've been doing with my brother on his boat seem much more reasonable. We too had the manual hand scraping saga though - a long slow job! Good luck with all the plans - will watch your progress keenly!
Hope you keep having fun as you work through the rollercoaster that is a refit.
Clogging sandpaper issue: use it wet with a bar of soap in the water… and rub the bar of soap on the sand paper now and then.
Not as daft as it sounds. It’s a godsend… so effective.
Get a dehumidifier before going anywhere cold. It is the only way, other than spending a mint on diesel, to control condensation. I remove antifouling by wet sanding it, with detergent. That helps stop the sandpaper clogging and makes the job go more quickly.
Good luck, guys. That's a big list to do 😂
It never fails to impress me the share tenacity and patience you've shown throughout your entire amazing journey. Truly inspirational and there's certainly a few lessons I have learnt from following you both. Do you intend one day to sail back to the tropics for a second round. I'll be following with baited breath. Thanks for sharing your journey and often being a great source of positivity for myself here in NewZealand..
We don't have fixed plans beyond 2 years, however we would both like to sail across the Pacific again some day as there are so many places we didn't have time to see.
Your narration and videography are top notch and I have truly enjoyed your trip over the years! You guys are true sailors who can and have overcome just about anything! 🤘 That's a big list to which I would add the windows as a must replace.. Sorry to give you bad news, but the arctic cold is going to wreak havoc on them and crack them further. BTDT back when I lived in The Netherlands...
I wish I was in the UK to give you two a hand. Just don't tell my wife I offered 😅. But I would be sure there are plenty of folks around who would love to come supply some manual labor to help Florence with her fix up. Joining the Florence team would be special for all involved and make it easier on you to hit your mark of setting off north. Just a thought. Keep up the great work!
Thanks…enjoyed your update! As soon as you mentioned “toe rail” I cringed. Been there once, next time the boat would hit the market! Southbound on Reload n Charge!, back in Georgetown, Exumas in a week. Will keep up with your plans, you mist be about half completed by now! All the best, Andrew
Just visualising how Florence will look like a new filly after the refit :)
That is a lot of work in 6 months. You might be able to recruit a few viewers to help with some of the graft. 💪
Also I know its wrong but after years of seeing you guys sailing and visiting exotic tropical locations seeing Amy in her sexy paper overalls and marigolds scraping gel coat in cold rainy England amused me for some reason. I know I'm a bad guy. 😂
Interested to see how the rebuild turns out. I hope there are no nasty surprises waiting. 😬
Keep working!! I love your work vídeos, o follow you from Portugal 🇵🇹🛟⚓️
I have some lengths of the toe rail if you thinking of replacing parts of it. It’s not full lengths, but most of it is serviceable. When you have replaced the toe rail, I suggest not putting back the EY stanchion bases. I have had two yachts with the same section toe rail and made stainless bases that fix to the same fixing points along the rail + an addition bracing pad on the deck; much more of a job👍 Having done the same toe rail job on my Rustler, I know it’s a big job, so wish you well. The deck; you would be best take all the old track mark off and re-gel the deck with non slip pattern. I have seen this done on a Heritage 37 and is much better than track mark.
FWIW the tops of the chainplates on my boat pass through the deck like yours. I tried a few different sealants to seal under the small cover plates screwed down over the gap between the deck and chainplate without complete success; one of the more frustrating sealing jobs on the boat until I used butyl tape which for three years now has provided a perfect seal.
Don't try to scrape off your antifouling. Get a grit or soda blaster in. It will save you a ton of time and will provide a better key for a barrier coat of epoxy!
Headlining? I replaced the headlining in my boat in Greece using foam-backed, vinyl. 5 years on, the adhesive breaks down to powder and it droops and sags. Any ideas?
Some things I would suggest. Double glaze the windows by putting an inner piece of perspex to shape (anti condensation) also use polyurethane foam under the deck. I have several areas where the underdeck is like a rainstorm from condensation. In particular the cupboards in the fwd head were so distressing. It took me ages to develop the technique to foam upside down but the end result is warm and bone dry. I have other areas, particularly in the instrument panel where it still rains but I have improved that enough to get me through their winter. I am doing the same as you to leave NL by this coming August, so have an equally impressive list. Understand that condensation in icing conditions is like a water engine. As water condenses it makes a lower air pressure right up to creating a vacuum so there is no way to prevent moist air getting to the icy surface if there is any pathway at all. The only solution is PU foam in the underdeck and around difficult bits like the bow thruster tube.
Replacing the toerails - WOW, a major job
What is the fin attached at the stern of your yacht. Its always behind you moving about but we can't figure out what it is.
Love watching you both and we are inspired and are selling up to start our adventure on the sea this year.
Thanks
Cam and Laurent. Nth queensland Australia
Check out sailing Umas experience.
One tip for high lattitudes rig your solar panels if you can so you can tilt them closer to the horizon ....horizontal only works between the tropics ...above that latitude you need to be abble to point the pannels more towards the sun for them to remain efficient.
Insulating floors and cabin sides with thick cork tiles sealed on the floor will help ..cork seadeck works well and lasts .. it also insulates the hull deck from outside.
Remember if the interior surfaces can breath they dont end up condensating.
Theres a Pbo article on line that may help you with ways of controlling condensation on a budget both financial and from a power management point of view.
You will need to double skin those windows/ports.
The other thing is plan your route flexibly .. Putin is making threats about polar waters and svarlbard. 🧙♂️🇬🇧
Fundamentally a great boat then 😊 Have you thought about a Reflex heater?
Thought about it and weighed up the pros an cons, but it would be a major change in the Cabin. We'll see how we go with a forced air heater for a season in the cold, if we plan to do more higher latitude sailing we may revisit that one.
Great Vid , i know this might sound stupid , but would it not have been better to sell Florence then use the funds and savings on refit , on a new boat more suitable for your next adventure . No i have not watched the next episode yet 🙂
Reiterating what others have said buy a dehumidifier! It gets rid of the damp and mildew. Dries your washing. As well as reducing your heating bills.The best thing you can get for traveling in cold climates.
Good stuff😊
Don't forget to get like 10 spare heater plugs for the new diesel heater. Hopefully see you off on your new adventure 😊
Good video. I know you will do a proper job. The list is very long. Two people alone will struggle, so please rope in all your friends who are able and don't try to do it alone. Looking forward to seeing the results.
Solid dodger would be worth looking at , Good diesel heater a must & possibly routing the outlet to create a drying room for wet /damp gear , A furler on the staysail is good as any thing to keep you off the fordeck in freezing conditions is a must > Runners for bracing can be a pain (Tacking) . I found taking them well arft so as with a reefed main they clear the boom end so jibing , tacking isn't a problem Oh curry & Rum helps > Enjoy
Nice work.
Awesome footage and editing. Great to see you guys are back home and ready for the next adventure.
Met you guys in CT.
Yacht Ocean Spirit.
All the best. Keep up the good work
my own experiences with Hayling Yacht Co are ..... unfavourable
Cheer up, go over and see magic carpet, there refit turned into a years long rebuild from bare hull!
Those toerails ??? .... Oh no. They are crazy expensive. Perhaps consider replacing them with foam covered with fiberglass. Or perhaps wood with stainless caps either side? Oh my gosh ... All in 6 months? It looks more like maybe 2 years? I can't wait to follow along the rest of the yourney. Perhaps send a request for helpers in the area and arrange a few open days? Good luck ...
I can only imagine how much your muscles have been aching!
Matt and Amy, Hey you two. Do yourself a favor and invest in a set of Bahco scrappers and some replacement blades, you will never look back! The blades are carbide and reversible, they last and cut and last like nothing we have ever used before. You can shave and feather in your bottom paint with a fraction of the effort. I actually sort of envy your worklist! Sailing a failry simple smaller boat has some big advantages, hang in there. Best of luck with your project. J&J SV Sueno, Marmaris
I agree, they are bloody good, scraped the bottom back to primer on my 35ft Keeler, you get a good hold with two hands
Any chance you guys can give a costing breakdown for all the complete six months? I would be very interested to know, Thanks
😀👍👍👍❤ Please do not rush, rush, rush your repairs as it will "burn" you both out. Who knows when you will have another opportunity for a "full" refit. If it takes 10 months to complete then so be it. All the "upgrades" that will improve Florence will be fun to see happen on video. May your 2024 be a truly great, happy and healthy new year! From another boat owner following from Seattle, WA. (Northwest USA)
Good advice. Boat refits are marathons for DIY'ers (also from the US Pacific Northwest).
The title kind of reminds me of those game reviews that go something like "Terrible game, do not reccomend" "7,000 hours played"
You may consider an additional diesel heater for your engine. in the sub zero temperature damage can easily be done to the engine.
Wow - that is a HUGE refit list for 6 months. And that's before you find the inevitable hidden SNAFUs just waiting to trip you up and treble the size of each job!
I wonder if you could fit a extra fuel tank and perhaps run a heater or radiator off your engine coolant circuit incase your diesel heater gives trouble, I like having both options as I have had the diesel heater fail before
Cordless drills , help with all manner of fasteners . Used properly they are of great assistance;))
Those triangular chain plates need at least a weep hole to allow water an egress or perhaps some lightning holes like an aircraft wing rib with perhaps some additional steel doubling plates to allow for ventilation to the enclosed space. Or else remove the wood on the bulkhead and build up with epoxy and glass so there is no wood in the dead space