We’re officially kicking off the installation of our electric drive system! ⚡️ Back in the spring, we received our electric motor, but we couldn’t move forward with fittings until our couplers were milled to the proper size. With that step now complete, we’re finally able to start positioning and aligning the motor inside the boat. In this episode, you’ll see: Milling the coupler to achieve a precise fit between the motor and prop shaft Bringing the electric motor onboard for its first placement Measuring, bonding, and glassing in the motor mounts (temporarily) Priming the mounts in preparation for final alignment work This stage isn’t permanent yet — everything is still in “trial fit” mode — but it’s a huge step forward in our progress. Next up, we’ll be glassing in the mounting structures for auxiliary equipment and continuing to refine the motor installation alongside the stern tube. We’re excited to share this milestone with you as our catamaran moves closer to becoming fully electric-powered. Thanks for following along on the journey! #ElectricBoat #CatamaranBuild #BoatLife #SustainableSailing #MJSailing We hope you enjoy!! Much love, Jessica, Matt & Georgie If you have spring projects on your own boat and would like 5% off your purchase of Total Boat products, make sure to use our link here! https://www.totalboat.com/MJSailing Link to our boat: https://maxcruisemarine.com/ Link to SouthCo: https://southco.com/en_us_int/ Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible. To join the Patreon ranks, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/mjsailing or Buy us a beer through PayPal! https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing or Help contribute to the build by shopping our Amazon Wish List! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2B2BOYEH9THAH/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 Delivery address: Kentmorr Marina 910 Kentmorr Road Stevensville, MD 21666 Thank you!, Matt & Jessica Videos made by Jessica, featuring Matt. 00:00 - Milling our couplers 02:28 - Our electric motor is brought inside for the first time 07:32 - Quick update on our AC install 11:56 - Prop shaft is in, we can begin alignment 14:14 - Bonding in the foam core engine mount 17:22 - Everything is aligned - let's glass it in! 21:29 - Closing thoughts and next steps 25:04 - Closing Music: Oh! Sun - Nevin Pandemonium (Tribute Version) - The Mondays Camera equipment used: - Google Pixel 9 - DJI Action 4 Previous Boats: 1983 Trisalu 37 - custom aluminum, built in Quebec (Elements of Life) Where we've been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth's; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores; Ireland; Scotland; Norway; England 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity) Where We Sailed Her: U.S. - Bahamas - Jamaica - Cuba - Cayman Islands - Honduras - Guatemala - Belize - Mexico - Bermuda - Azores - Madeira - Canary Islands - Sint Maarten - BVI's - USVI's Editing software: Adobe Premier Pro Website: http://www.mjsailing.com Facebook: / mattandjessicasailing Instagram: / mattandjessicasailing & / mj_wayfaring

Can you believe we're finally getting to the install part of our build?? Although, since most things won't get permanently mounted until the end, I guess we could call this a fitting, haha. This week we prepare for the install of our 9k BTU AC unit from Marine Breeze, into our master berth. We went with a slightly smaller unit here, because it is meant for when we close off this hull and just want to cool our berth at night when we sleep. There will be a 16k BTU getting installed in the other hull, which will have vents to the bridge deck. Since we hadn't originally planned for AC on this boat, we didn't have a dedicated space to put it. Which means - glassing in new adjustments!! Luckily there is a space that is just about perfect for it, under our berth. We just need to make it a little deeper. Matt sets to work measuring out the space, cutting the shelf, and glassing it back in 1/2" lower. Once it's in place and can handle the weight, we do a dry fit of the unit to make sure it fits. Then, it's on to custom duct work. We'll each have our own vent that will allow us to control how warm or cool we want to be in bed (hopefully). This is going to be such a great addition to our cruising life, we can't wait to get on the water and start using it! We hope you enjoy!! Much love, Jessica, Matt & Georgie Look at all the products from Marine Breeze: https://marinebreeze.net/products/ If you have spring projects on your own boat and would like 5% off your purchase of Total Boat products, make sure to use our link here! https://www.totalboat.com/MJSailing Link to our boat: https://maxcruisemarine.com/ Link to SouthCo: https://southco.com/en_us_int/ Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible. To join the Patreon ranks, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/mjsailing or Buy us a beer through PayPal! https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing or Help contribute to the build by shopping our Amazon Wish List! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2B2BOYEH9THAH/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 Delivery address: Kentmorr Marina 910 Kentmorr Road Stevensville, MD 21666 Thank you!, Matt & Jessica Videos made by Jessica, featuring Matt and Georgie. Music: BRN RDY - Matt Large Pandemonium (Tribute Version) - The Mondays Camera equipment used: - Google Pixel 9 - DJI Action 4 Previous Boats: 1983 Trisalu 37 - custom aluminum, built in Quebec (Elements of Life) Where we've been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth's; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores; Ireland; Scotland; Norway; England 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity) Where We Sailed Her: U.S. - Bahamas - Jamaica - Cuba - Cayman Islands - Honduras - Guatemala - Belize - Mexico - Bermuda - Azores - Madeira - Canary Islands - Sint Maarten - BVI's - USVI's Editing software: Adobe Premier Pro Website: http://www.mjsailing.com Facebook: / mattandjessicasailing Instagram: / mattandjessicasailing & / mj_wayfaring

This week, we’re diving into a project that’s been quietly taking shape in the background: building our helm seat from scratch. While it might seem like a small piece of the boat, it plays a major role in both comfort and functionality—so we wanted to get it just right. Inspired by the layout of the Max Cruise hull 16, but aiming for something much lighter, we decided to build ours entirely out of foam and fiberglass—no metal frame and no extra weight. In this episode, we take you through the full process: from cutting and laminating Nida-core panels, to bonding and shaping the seat, and laying down multiple layers of glass using both vinyl-ester and polyester resin. You'll even get a peek into one of our vacuum bagging sessions, complete with that oddly satisfying whoosh as the bag seals down tight. While we were hoping to get the seat attached to the cabin top before releasing this video, we had a somewhat unexpected trip home. There was a memorial service to attend for a family member - so back to Michigan we went. And after a few days with family, bonding over old memories, the two of us took a side trip to Northern Michigan to relive some old memories of our own. We hope you enjoy!! Thanks as always for being here and supporting us through each stage of this build. We love having a place like this where we can share not just the progress, but also the quiet moments and the why behind every decision. 💙

We’re back in the engine bays this week, continuing to prep both sides of the catamaran for our twin propulsion systems—an electric motor in the starboard hull and a diesel-electric hybrid in the port hull. After receiving our full system from Hybrid Marine in the UK just a few weeks ago, we’ve been modifying and refining each engine bed to match its unique needs. On the hybrid side, Matt widened the stringers to accommodate the slightly larger diesel engine and glassed in the new structure. To get this area ready for gelcoat, I wiped down the polyester fairing compound with styrene to reduce tackiness, but even then, I spent days sanding it smooth. Meanwhile, work in the owner’s hull has been a bit more straightforward. After smoothing the surface with TotalFair epoxy fairing compound, I rolled on the first three coats of Alexseal primer. As I worked through this space, I also touched up a few low spots with more epoxy fairing, and later primed the remainder of the sole to complete the base layer for our Alexseal topcoat paint. From modifying structure to dialing in surface prep, it’s been a week of sanding, fairing, and priming—getting us one step closer to installing our propulsion systems.

We're prepping our catamaran engine beds for a brand-new hybrid propulsion system—an electric motor in one hull, and a 300+ pound diesel-electric hybrid in the other. In this episode, we tackle fiberglass reinforcements, fairing work, and reveal how we plan to move the hybrid engine into place without a crane. Back when our engines from Hybrid Marine first arrived, Matt shared his plan to rig up a pulley system in the overhead to lower the diesel-electric hybrid into the guest hull. But as always, our viewers came through with even better suggestions—so today, Matt walks through the new method we plan to use to move this 300+ pound beast into place. Before we can install anything, though, we need to fully prep the engine beds. Over in the port hull, we’ve upsized to a larger diesel engine than originally planned, which means cutting back some foam and reinforcing the area with more fiberglass for strength. Once that’s done—but before our motor mounts arrive—I jump into the fairing process in both hulls. The guest hull, where the diesel hybrid will go, will eventually be lined with sound-deadening foam, so I focus on smoothing out the base and lower hull sides. But the real fairing workout happens in the owner’s berth, where our electric motor will be installed. I’m not kidding when I say I’ve gone through nearly four gallons of epoxy fairing compound in that space alone. It’s finally close to ready for primer—and I can’t wait to see how much that transforms the space! We hope you enjoy the progress!

Get a FREE pair of crew socks with your 100% waterproof Vessi shoes! https://crrnt.app/VESSI/y6920bP9 We’ve got both bows bonded onto our catamaran now, but before we can start glassing them in place, we run into a tough—and time-consuming—setback. While the methacrylate cured between the flange and the bow, it expanded more than expected, leaving hardened ridges that now need to be ground down before we can move forward. So Jessica spends the day in tight quarters with the belt sander, clearing the way for fiberglass work on the interior seams. Once that’s sorted, Matt begins glassing the exterior—two layers of 12 oz cloth laid top to bottom, sealed in with resin and peel ply for a strong, smooth finish. Bit by bit, we’re locking these bows in place for good. Thanks for watching and supporting our build—one layer at a time! – Matt & Jessica If you have spring projects on your own boat and would like 5% off your purchase of Total Boat products, make sure to use our link here! https://www.totalboat.com/MJSailing Link to our boat: https://maxcruisemarine.com/ Link to SouthCo: https://southco.com/en_us_int/ Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible. To join the Patreon ranks, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/mjsailing or Buy us a beer through PayPal! https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing or Help contribute to the build by shopping our Amazon Wish List! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls... Delivery address: Kentmorr Marina 910 Kentmorr Road Stevensville, MD 21666 Thank you!, Matt & Jessica Videos made by Jessica, featuring Matt and Georgie.

Go to https://nordvpn.com/mjsailing to get 4 extra months on a 2-year plan!! Just use code MJSAILING A huge thanks to this video's sponsor NordVPN. ALL PROCEEDS go directly to materials for custom build catamaran. This week we once again try bonding a bow onto our boat. If you caught last week's episode, you'll know that everything started smoothly, but right at the end our methacrylate cured before we had the time to make our fine tuning adjustments, and has left some gaps between the bow and hull that will need a lot of extra fairing. We didn't want to have to go through that chaos again, especially since we're down the extra set of hands that my dad had lent, so for the port side bow we try a completely different approach. This bow is getting bonded while it's already in place. It was easy enough to get the bow seated and use screws and blocks to adjust the flange until it was flush with the hull - but the prep for injecting methacrylate was so time consuming!! On the exterior Matt had to cover the seam with clear tape to keep our bonding agent from squeezing out, as well as drill holes just outside of this to be able to inject the methacrylate. Then I had the fun job of sliding into the forward lockers, still covered in exposed fiberglass, and then tape the seams through the inside - trying to stick my head and arms into the little holes drilled into bulkhead one last week. In the end we were left with a perfectly aligned bow, but with all the prep work and multiple mixings into 300 ml caulk tubes, this job took 4 hours instead of 1. Was it worth it? We're not sure...we're just glad the job is done! Enjoy!!

Get 15% off your data plan for Saily by using code MJSAILING. Follow this link: https://saily.com/mjsailing We’ve waited years to attach the bows—and one wrong move could ruin it. Watch as we finally take the leap to bond them on. We're so happy the weather has been in our favor over the past few weeks where we've been getting to work on a lot of outdoor projects. Although I think our April showers were postponed until May, because we've also been working around a number of rainy days here. (And I'm sitting through a surprise thunderstorm as I write this, lol.) But through the rain, we've been blessed with cooler days, which are perfect for bonding. Especially with our new methacrylate, because our newest batch only has an 18 minute work time before curing. The first project we're using it on - the starboard bow!! Something we help off on until spring, because our methacrylate only has a 6 month shelf life, and there's still plenty of things to bond on. After days of dry fitting, reinforcing, and a last check with out laser level, we were ready for the bonding. We even went so far as to drag my father in to help hold everything in place to make sure this went as smoothly as possible. Long story short, even with all our preparations, it did not go to plan. Make sure to watch our video to see where it went wrong. Much love, Jessica, Matt & Georgie If you have spring projects on your own boat and would like 5% off your purchase of Total Boat products, make sure to use our link here! https://www.totalboat.com/MJSailing Link to our boat: https://maxcruisemarine.com/ Link to SouthCo: https://southco.com/en_us_int/ Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible. To join the Patreon ranks, please visit: / mjsailing or Buy us a beer through PayPal! https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing or Help contribute to the build by shopping our Amazon Wish List! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls... Delivery address: Kentmorr Marina 910 Kentmorr Road Stevensville, MD 21666 Thank you!, Matt & Jessica Videos made by Jessica, featuring Matt and Georgie. Music: Pandemonium (Tribute Version) - The Mondays Camera equipment used: Google Pixel 9 DJI Action 4 Previous Boats: 1983 Trisalu 37 - custom aluminum, built in Quebec (Elements of Life) Where we've been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth's; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores; Ireland; Scotland; Norway; England 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity) Where We Sailed Her: U.S. - Bahamas - Jamaica - Cuba - Cayman Islands - Honduras - Guatemala - Belize - Mexico - Bermuda - Azores - Madeira - Canary Islands - Sint Maarten - BVI's - USVI's Editing software: Adobe Premier Pro Website: http://www.mjsailing.com Facebook: / mattandjessicasailing Instagram: / mattandjessicasailing & / mj_wayfaring

Get your hands on THE BOOK: The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization Use code MJSAILING10 (10% discount, valid 1 month) https://mdsh.io/e2hrx7340f thebook #howtorebuildcivilization #hungryminds I'm so happy to tell you that we're 5/6ths of the way through our interior painting journey!! This week we spray the salon, which makes A HUGE difference to the feel of the interior of our catamaran. Some changes were made to our plans and we still have to save one more section for later, but if it causes us to not bump into wet paint as we work, we're all for it! Another round of 5 coats was sprayed on and we're thrilled with the difference it has made! There was a little bit of extra work put on our plate though, as a storm passed through the night we painted and blew some of our protective plastic onto the wet paint! Hopefully it can be buffed out, otherwise it will have to be re-done with the next section. With most of the interior sprayed, it's time to nail down the color for our accent walls on bulkheads 5 & 6. We want a nice neutral color that will go well with the white oak, and help it to feel a lot more cozy inside when we're done. Getting a sample jar from The Hope Depot, I brush on a few spots here and there, but it will be a little while before we take on all of these surfaces. Let us know what you think of the color, or what your choice would be if this was your boat! Much love, Jessica, Matt & Georgie If you have spring projects on your own boat and would like 5% off your purchase of Total Boat products, make sure to use our link here! https://www.totalboat.com/MJSailing Link to our boat: https://maxcruisemarine.com/ Link to SouthCo: https://southco.com/en_us_int/ Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible. To join the Patreon ranks, please visit: / mjsailing or Buy us a beer through PayPal! https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing or Help contribute to the build by shopping our Amazon Wish List! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls... Delivery address: Kentmorr Marina 910 Kentmorr Road Stevensville, MD 21666 Thank you!, Matt & Jessica Videos made by Jessica, featuring Matt and Georgie. Music: Pandemonium (Tribute Version) - The Mondays Camera equipment used: Google Pixel 9 DJI Action 4 Previous Boats: 1983 Trisalu 37 - custom aluminum, built in Quebec (Elements of Life) Where we've been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth's; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores; Ireland; Scotland; Norway; England 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity) Where We Sailed Her: U.S. - Bahamas - Jamaica - Cuba - Cayman Islands - Honduras - Guatemala - Belize - Mexico - Bermuda - Azores - Madeira - Canary Islands - Sint Maarten - BVI's - USVI's Editing software: Adobe Premier Pro Website: http://www.mjsailing.com Facebook: / mattandjessicasailing Instagram: / mattandjessicasailing & / mj_wayfaring

Use code MJSAILING at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: https://incogni.com/mjsailing We're at Stage 4 of painting, which means more work on the bridge deck! Because of the tight spaces and the hose of pressure/air that follows Matt around, we have to be very careful on how to section off what we're painting, to avoid bumping into wet paint as we go along. Although we have enough time on our hands to do a much larger area, this week the focus sits on the outboard portion of the galley, as well as the port side steps, and the forepeaks at the front of the salon. We tried something new in this stage, which was mixing just enough paint to get through each round - which ended up giving us a much nicer finish because the thinner didn't have time to evaporate between rounds. Coming in to check the finished product before bed, we were very pleased at how smooth and shiny the surfaces came out, in addition to how well we were able to blend the line from our previous round of painting. Next week will be the cockpit seats and rest of the salon! Because there isn't much for us to do inside between rounds of paint, we've also been turning our focus back to the exterior. With weather hovering between 60-70 degrees (15-21), it's the perfect time to suit up in Tyvek and strip off the gelcoat at the seams of where our hull had been pieced together. This is a project I had started about a month ago, but understandably became distracted with interior sanding & prep coming to an end. Although we're at multiple stages here and there as we work our way around both hulls, this week I take off the last bits of gelcoat, including underneath the boat (a project Matt started when we were still in the tent). Then Matt and I prep a section of the starboard hull, glass the two sections together, and then begin fairing. Before you know it, the exterior of our boat will begin to look like it's one solid piece! 🙌 Much love, Jessica, Matt & Georgie If you have spring projects on your own boat and would like 5% off your purchase of Total Boat products, make sure to use our link here! https://www.totalboat.com/MJSailing Link to our boat: https://maxcruisemarine.com/ Link to SouthCo: https://southco.com/en_us_int/ Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible. To join the Patreon ranks, please visit: / mjsailing or Buy us a beer through PayPal! https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing or Help contribute to the build by shopping our Amazon Wish List! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls... Delivery address: Kentmorr Marina 910 Kentmorr Road Stevensville, MD 21666 Thank you!, Matt & Jessica Videos made by Jessica, featuring Matt and Georgie. Music: Pandemonium (Tribute Version) - The Mondays Camera equipment used: Google Pixel 9 DJI Action 4 Previous Boats: 1983 Trisalu 37 - custom aluminum, built in Quebec (Elements of Life) Where we've been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth's; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores; Ireland; Scotland; Norway; England 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity) Where We Sailed Her: U.S. - Bahamas - Jamaica - Cuba - Cayman Islands - Honduras - Guatemala - Belize - Mexico - Bermuda - Azores - Madeira - Canary Islands - Sint Maarten - BVI's - USVI's Editing software: Adobe Premier Pro Website: http://www.mjsailing.com Facebook: / mattandjessicasailing Instagram: / mattandjessicasailing & / mj_wayfaring

Click the links below and use my code 25EFSMMJSA for an extra 5% off @EcoFlowTech WAVE 3 and GLACIER Classic. (The code is valid until May 25 and cannot be combined with other coupons). Get a free 110W solar panel with your WAVE 3 order（From April 25 to May 2) and get a free power hat with your GLACIER Classic order(From April 25 to May 25). EcoFlow WAVE 3: https://bit.ly/4cBnvcE WAVE 3 on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EsjB9o EcoFlow GLACIER Classic: https://bit.ly/3Gbhqrl #EcoFlow #EcoFlowWAVE3 #EcoFlowGLACIERClassic #OutHereInComfort #WAVE3 #GLACIERClassic This week marks a major milestone in our build—we're finally spraying finish paint on the cabin sides! 🎨 As the first section of the bridge deck to get a fresh coat, this moment has been a long time coming, and it feels amazing to see real color going on. From vacuuming and wiping down surfaces to dialing in our airflow and lighting during spray time, we’re doing everything we can to make this job count. But the real showstopper? Our new electric hybrid propulsion system has arrived! Thanks to Hybrid Marine in the UK, we now have a 40 hp Yanmar diesel engine paired with two electric motors ready to go. The only challenge? Figuring out how to actually get them inside the boat and down to the aft berths—no easy task when you're dealing with tight corners and a whole lot of fiberglass. 💬 Got any ideas on how we should tackle the install? Drop your suggestions in the comments—we’re all ears. Enjoy! Much love, Jessica, Matt & Georgie If you have spring projects on your own boat and would like 5% off your purchase of Total Boat products, make sure to use our link here! https://www.totalboat.com/MJSailing Link to our boat: https://maxcruisemarine.com/ Link to SouthCo: https://southco.com/en_us_int/ Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible. To join the Patreon ranks, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/mjsailing or Buy us a beer through PayPal! https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing or Help contribute to the build by shopping our Amazon Wish List! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2B2BOYEH9THAH/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 Delivery address: Kentmorr Marina 910 Kentmorr Road Stevensville, MD 21666 Thank you!, Matt & Jessica Videos made by Jessica, featuring Matt and Georgie. Music: BRN RDY - Matt Large Pandemonium (Tribute Version) - The Mondays Camera equipment used: - Google Pixel 9 - DJI Action 4 Previous Boats: 1983 Trisalu 37 - custom aluminum, built in Quebec (Elements of Life) Where we've been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth's; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores; Ireland; Scotland; Norway; England 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity) Where We Sailed Her: U.S. - Bahamas - Jamaica - Cuba - Cayman Islands - Honduras - Guatemala - Belize - Mexico - Bermuda - Azores - Madeira - Canary Islands - Sint Maarten - BVI's - USVI's Editing software: Adobe Premier Pro Website: http://www.mjsailing.com Facebook: / mattandjessicasailing Instagram: / mattandjessicasailing & / mj_wayfaring

Click the links below for an exclusive discount on the @EcoFlowTech GLACIER Classic from April 18 to April 24! Pay $100 and get $300 off the GLACIER Classic. (The coupons can be redeemed between April 25 and May 25). EcoFlow GLACIER Classic: https://bit.ly/4jbycVW GLACIER Classic coupon: https://bit.ly/3GbjgIL #EcoFlow #EcoFlowWAVE3 #EcoFlowGLACIERClassic #OutHereInComfort #WAVE3 #GLACIERClassic After three long years of sanding, fairing, and priming every inch of our interior… we’re finally here. This week, we reached a massive milestone in our catamaran build — spraying the coats of finish paint inside the boat! We’ve spent countless hours shaping corners, smoothing surfaces, and meticulously prepping each cabin, and now we’re finally seeing all that hard work pay off. The transformation might not be complete (it will take about 4 stages to complete all the surfaces), but it marks the start of a whole new chapter for the interior — one that actually feels like progress we can see. In this episode, we take you through the final stages of priming, show how we prepped each space for paint, and walk you through our spraying process using Alexseal’s finish primer and topcoat. The v-berth and guest head gets the spotlight this round, but don’t worry — there's plenty more paint coming soon. Thanks for sticking with us through the dusty days — this is where things finally start to get exciting. 👇 Drop a comment to let us know which space you’re most excited to see finished! Enjoy! Much love, Jessica, Matt & Georgie If you have spring projects on your own boat and would like 5% off your purchase of Total Boat products, make sure to use our link here! https://www.totalboat.com/MJSailing Link to our boat: https://maxcruisemarine.com/ Link to SouthCo: https://southco.com/en_us_int/ Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible. To join the Patreon ranks, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/mjsailing or Buy us a beer through PayPal! https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing or Help contribute to the build by shopping our Amazon Wish List! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2B2BOYEH9THAH/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 Delivery address: Kentmorr Marina 910 Kentmorr Road Stevensville, MD 21666 Thank you!, Matt & Jessica Videos made by Jessica, featuring Matt and Georgie. Music: BRN RDY - Matt Large Pandemonium (Tribute Version) - The Mondays Camera equipment used: - Google Pixel 9 - DJI Action 4 Previous Boats: 1983 Trisalu 37 - custom aluminum, built in Quebec (Elements of Life) Where we've been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth's; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores; Ireland; Scotland; Norway; England 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity) Where We Sailed Her: U.S. - Bahamas - Jamaica - Cuba - Cayman Islands - Honduras - Guatemala - Belize - Mexico - Bermuda - Azores - Madeira - Canary Islands - Sint Maarten - BVI's - USVI's Editing software: Adobe Premier Pro Website: http://www.mjsailing.com Facebook: / mattandjessicasailing Instagram: / mattandjessicasailing & / mj_wayfaring

From three pieces into one, we're now continuing work on our cabin top. A coat of primer brings our cabin top seams closer to disappearing—plus adds vital UV protection to the fairing work beneath. In this week's video we turn to work on the exterior and transform our cabin top even more. After it has gone from three pieces into one, I begin the process of priming to blend it all in together and protect our seams from UV damage. Last fall, as soon as we were moved outside from the tent, Matt went through with our TotalFair and started to blend the fiberglass seams into the cabin top. It was one layer of protection against the elements, but that is where it has sat for the past six months. Now that we're heading into spring (and before we know it, summer) with a strong sun beating down on our cabin top, we need to have it even more protected. With a sunny and warm (yet windy!!) day last Saturday, I took the opportunity to move us further along. Sanding down the most recent coat of fairing compound, I took off any rough edges and keyed the surface. Then, mixing up 24 oz of our AlexSeal Finish Primer, I rolled three coats on to each side. This was just a very rough beginning step, but standing back, the difference of watching these three pieces become a whole is quite noticeable! I can't wait to work on in more as the weather allows. Speaking of 'just the right weather', as we sit in the 50s & 60s (10's -20) right now, it's the perfect time to don Tyvex and tackle jobs where fiberglass dust is involved. Since there are just SO MANY SEAMS on the exterior of our boat which need to be addressed, I start the process of removing gelcoat from the hull sides where the two pieces are bonded together. This will later allow us to add a thin strip of fiberglass and then blend the two sections together. Let me tell you, I'm not used to having my arms above my chest for any length of time, and even though I'm using the smallest of belt sanders, this job has been TOUGH!! One step closer to making these pieces a whole though, so you won't hear me complain! We hope you enjoy!!

Last chance to enjoy the Early Bird Deal for Everfrost 2: Pay $10 now to save $300 later, plus get a free gift: https://ankerfast.club/jmsb9o #AnkerSOLIX #Everfrost2 #electriccooler #outdoorfridge #campingfridge Once again we apologize for the silence through this past month, but we've still just been keeping our heads down in the hopes of getting paint on shortly. The good news is, about 80% of our areas have their last coat of final primer on, or are about to get them tomorrow! Most of our remaining work is in the bridge deck, and luckily the settees will be covered, so they won't need a lot of work, and the galley is mostly cabinet doors, so there isn't much space in that area which needs sanding/priming. Now that we're almost done with the interior work, we thought we'd break down all the sanding tools we've used to get to this point. Some of them I am so happy that I haven't seen in months and months, because they are what we used to prep fiberglass surfaces. Others are tricks that we've just happened upon in the past 4-12 months, and would have saved us SO MUCH TIME had we used them as soon as the first coats of fairing compound went on. I just wanted to pop this up right now, but if you're interested in each of the tools we show here, I should have links up to them tonight or tomorrow. Enjoy! Much love, Jessica, Matt & Georgie If you have spring projects on your own boat and would like 5% off your purchase of Total Boat products, make sure to use our link here! https://www.totalboat.com/MJSailing Link to our boat: https://maxcruisemarine.com/ Link to SouthCo: https://southco.com/en_us_int/ Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible. To join the Patreon ranks, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/mjsailing or Buy us a beer through PayPal! https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing or Help contribute to the build by shopping our Amazon Wish List! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2B2BOYEH9THAH/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 Delivery address: Kentmorr Marina 910 Kentmorr Road Stevensville, MD 21666 Thank you!, Matt & Jessica Videos made by Jessica, featuring Matt and Georgie. Music: BRN RDY - Matt Large Cellar Clefs - Dusty Decks Eastern Shades - Matt Large Good Day - Albin Lewin If I Could, I Would - Mindme I'll Get Up - Mindme Love Reborn - Matt Large Sunglasses - Timothy Infinate Vacation Mode - Rocket Jr Pandemonium (Tribute Version) - The Mondays Camera equipment used: - Google Pixel 7 - GoPro Hero 10 Previous Boats: 1983 Trisalu 37 - custom aluminum, built in Quebec (Elements of Life) Where we've been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth's; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores; Ireland; Scotland; Norway; England 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity) Where We Sailed Her: U.S. - Bahamas - Jamaica - Cuba - Cayman Islands - Honduras - Guatemala - Belize - Mexico - Bermuda - Azores - Madeira - Canary Islands - Sint Maarten - BVI's - USVI's Editing software: Adobe Premier Pro Website: http://www.mjsailing.com Facebook: / mattandjessicasailing Instagram: / mattandjessicasailing & / mj_wayfaring

Temperatures dip well below freezing as we try to stay warm aboard our 31' liveaboard boat during our off hours, and we work hard to keep the catamaran at a minimum of 55 degrees so we can continue to work through the cold. We wish we had a more interesting update to bring you this month, but truth be told, we've just been plugging away at our fairing, sanding, and priming as usual. About a month ago the plan had been to paint different areas of the catamaran as they were ready, but based on some contamination kinda ruining the paint in our master head, we've decided to get ALL of the surfaces finished and then begin painting. This will give us an opportunity to get as much dust out of the boat as possible, so we don't have newly painted surfaces ruined again. So in this week's video we give an extended walkthrough of our build at the moment, where each section is at, and what is left to be done. The good news is, with temperatures warming back up again it will be much easier for our fillers and primers to cure, so we'll be faster at this whole process in February than we were in January. Hopefully by the end of this next month we'll be brining you more painted surfaces!

Use code 50MJSAILING to get 50% OFF plus free shipping on your first Factor box at https://bit.ly/4fLjcfw! We are SO INCREDIBLY HAPPY to bring you this episode because it is a moment we have all been waiting for, for so long. Years, in fact. This week we got our first coat of paint on in the boat. So not only is that a huge milestone for us in this build, but it means that specific area has been checked off and should never have to be faired, sanded, primed, or painted ever again. It's only new projects in there from now on. The area we tackled first was the master head, between bulkheads 3 and 5 of the starboard hull. This includes the shower as well as the toilet and vanity area. Part of the reason we chose to do this space first is because we know we'll be keeping a high gloss finish in here, where in other areas of the boat we're debating adding a flattening agent to the paint to end up with something closer to a semi-gloss. There would be no testing with percentages of that additive in here though, all we had to do was prep and paint. Much easier said than done though. After going through an entire day dedicated to wiping, vacuuming, and washing - we painted the next day and ended up with runs EVERYWHERE. We had a good feeling when we started that it would not magically turn out perfect for us, and we were right. It's ok though, because it taught us exactly NOT what to. Spending two days sanding the surface back down, and then another day doing a full cleaning, we were ready for attempt two. Although there are still some minor flaws, we're very happy with how it came out. And now that this area is done, we can paint the starboard hallway next. Let us know what you think of the process and how it turned out!

From epoxy challenges on our wood trim to an inspiring interview with Steve of Acorn to Arabella, this episode is packed with stories and skills! In this episode, we feature the hardwood trim, which we had mentioned in our interior time lapse video, went to replace the painters tape and found the seal was not good and some paint had leaked through. Before we go any further with priming and painting we want to get the trim protected so this does not happen again. Cleaning up the wood and taping the outside edges, Matt mixed up small batches of our Total Boat epoxy and gave a thin coat to the wood. Eventually this will be sanded and varnished, but it does ease our minds going forward. Once that had cured it was time to tape the wood back up and move forward with our next and final coat of finish primer. To get it as flat as possible, we thinned it 20%, 13% with reducer and 7% with an accelerator. Except for just a few runs, the finish was flawless. We are now in the process of sanding it all down with 320 grit sandpaper, but we expect to get actual paint sprayed in our master head this next week! In other fun news, we had the chance to sit down with Steve and Robin of Acorn to Arabella. Steve is another boat builder, who spent 8 years building his wooden ketch in Massachusetts. It launched in 2023, and the pair are now on their way south for the winter. We had a chance to look over their finished build and ask a few questions about the process! We hope you enjoy!

Watch as we start with two empty hulls and a bare bridge deck and piece by piece, turn it into our future home and living space. Get your hands on the sleek and stylish Level8 luggage: https://www.level8cases.com/discount/MJSAILING10 Use code: MJSAILING10 Instead of looking forward, today, we're going to take you on a trip through the past! We hope you caught last week's episode of all the work that went into taking two containers worth of materials and turning them into a hull and bulkheads. But those weren't the only pieces for us to assemble - all of the floors and furniture needed to be trimmed, placed, glassed, and faired out. Sit back and enjoy as we take two empty hulls and a bare bridge deck, and piece by piece, turn it all into our future living space. Before we start though, we quickly show you what we're up to in real time, and why there have been a few hold ups on our progress. We're trying really hard to get that final paint on, and every time we think it is within reach, yet another things pops up that keeps us from moving forward. We hope you enjoy!! Much love, Jessica, Matt & Georgie If you have spring projects on your own boat and would like 5% off your purchase of Total Boat products, make sure to use our link here! https://www.totalboat.com/MJSailing Link to our boat: https://maxcruisemarine.com/ Link to SouthCo: https://southco.com/en_us_int/ Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible. To join the Patreon ranks, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/mjsailing or Buy us a beer through PayPal! https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing or Help contribute to the build by shopping our Amazon Wish List! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2B2BOYEH9THAH/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 Delivery address: Kentmorr Marina 910 Kentmorr Road Stevensville, MD 21666 Thank you!, Matt & Jessica Videos made by Jessica, featuring Matt and Georgie. Music: BRN RDY - Matt Large Cellar Clefs - Dusty Decks Eastern Shades - Matt Large Good Day - Albin Lewin If I Could, I Would - Mindme I'll Get Up - Mindme Love Reborn - Matt Large Sunglasses - Timothy Infinate Vacation Mode - Rocket Jr Pandemonium (Tribute Version) - The Mondays Camera equipment used: - Google Pixel 7 - GoPro Hero 10 Previous Boats: 1983 Trisalu 37 - custom aluminum, built in Quebec (Elements of Life) Where we've been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth's; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores; Ireland; Scotland; Norway; England 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity) Where We Sailed Her: U.S. - Bahamas - Jamaica - Cuba - Cayman Islands - Honduras - Guatemala - Belize - Mexico - Bermuda - Azores - Madeira - Canary Islands - Sint Maarten - BVI's - USVI's Editing software: Adobe Premier Pro Website: http://www.mjsailing.com Facebook: / mattandjessicasailing Instagram: / mattandjessicasailing & / mj_wayfaring

In this episode, we take you on an incredible journey through the early stages of building our fiberglass catamaran. Watch as the boat goes from a collection of components packed into a shipping container to a fully assembled hull and bulkheads, all topped off with the cabin roof. It's Jackery's grand debut in the offline world! This top seller has finally decided to step out from behind the screen and into you local store. You'll discover way more than you bargained for! Got an urgent need, we got you covered! Don't miss out on the in-store excitement, come explore Jackery at Target! https://bit.ly/3YP27tX @jackery.inc #homebackuppower #wholehomebackup #jackery300plus #homebackup #powering50homes #jackery #solargenerator #batterybackup #whatcanjackerypower #portablepowerstation #target Through a stunning time-lapse, you'll see the countless hours of hard work, precision, and teamwork that went into crafting the foundation of our dream sailing vessel. This video captures the sweat, determination, and progress of transforming raw materials into something extraordinary. Whether you're a boat-building enthusiast, a fellow sailor, or just love seeing dreams come to life, this is a story you won't want to miss. Subscribe and join us as we continue building and chasing our sailing adventures! ⛵ New episodes every week! 📲 Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates: https://www.instagram.com/mattandjessicasailing/

Watch how we upgrade both security and style with this simple install of a new door handle and lock from SouthCo. . . This week we're back to focusing on the cockpit doors. Now that we have them primed and in place, it's time to get them locked up. Last summer we mentioned that we're partnering with SouthCo for a lot of our hardware, so as soon as we were at the stage to be able to lock our doors up, we knew where to turn. Matt will walk you through each step, from why we chose this handle and set for marine environments, to prepping the door, drilling the mounts holes, and getting everything aligned smoothly for a perfect fit. (Easier said than done in some areas.) We're excited to begin installing this hardware not only for it's functionality, but because of the sleek finish and style it adds to our boat. Yet another project with more steps than one could imagine, but we'll sleep a lot better each night now, outside the tent, knowing we're properly locked up. We hope you enjoy! Much love, Jessica, Matt & Georgie If you have spring projects on your own boat and would like 5% off your purchase of Total Boat products, make sure to use our link here! https://www.totalboat.com/MJSailing Link to our boat: https://maxcruisemarine.com/ Link to SouthCo: https://southco.com/en_us_int/ Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible. To join the Patreon ranks, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/mjsailing or Buy us a beer through PayPal! https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing or Help contribute to the build by shopping our Amazon Wish List! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2B2BOYEH9THAH/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 Delivery address: Kentmorr Marina 910 Kentmorr Road Stevensville, MD 21666 Thank you!, Matt & Jessica Videos made by Jessica, featuring Matt and Georgie. 00:00 - Doing a dry fit of our handle on scrap honeycomb 02:54 - Even one mm off is too far 05:30 - Hope it's right, because it's time to drill! 07:40 - The first looks of our shiny handles in place 09:33 - The door frames to our head have been primed 13:00 - How our 2 cockpit doors will latch together 15:38 - There's always at least one set-back 18:46 - Closing Music: Bewtiched - Zorro Forever Young - Jake $ing Sunny Days - Adelyn Paik Pandemonium (Tribute Version) - The Mondays Camera equipment used: - Google Pixel 7 - GoPro Hero 10 Previous Boats: 1983 Trisalu 37 - custom aluminum, built in Quebec (Elements of Life) Where we've been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth's; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores; Ireland; Scotland; Norway; England 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity) Where We Sailed Her: U.S. - Bahamas - Jamaica - Cuba - Cayman Islands - Honduras - Guatemala - Belize - Mexico - Bermuda - Azores - Madeira - Canary Islands - Sint Maarten - BVI's - USVI's Editing software: Adobe Premier Pro Website: http://www.mjsailing.com Facebook: / mattandjessicasailing Instagram: / mattandjessicasailing & / mj_wayfaring