After nearly two years without a mast, this is the moment everything finally starts to come back together—we step the mast AND reinstall the boom, and for the first time in quite awhile… it actually looks like a sailboat again. In this episode of our sailboat refit, we complete one of the biggest milestones of the entire project. We fully rebuilt our mast from bare aluminum—removing every piece of hardware, sanding off all the paint, rewiring everything, servicing blocks, upgrading clutches, and fabricating custom components including spreader ends, light mounts, and a welded masthead plate for our electronics. But getting here wasn’t easy. Our biggest setback came from sourcing new turnbuckles for the standing rigging. After importing them and waiting weeks for delivery, we discovered they were completely wrong—threads didn’t match, pins didn’t fit, and we had no choice but to cancel our crane day. After sending detailed measurements and specifications back to the manufacturer, we waited another two months for replacements. This time, everything fit. Ten weeks after cancelling our original appointment, the crane returned and we successfully stepped the mast without incident. Then, just two days later—with the help of the yard—we were able to get the boom back on as well, bringing the rig back together faster than we expected. Now, with both the mast and boom installed, we’re rapidly working through the final tasks needed to get this boat back in the water. The momentum is real, and after a long refit journey, we’re finally closing in on launch. If you’re into sailboat refits, rigging, mast stepping, DIY boat restoration, and cruising sailboats, this episode captures both the technical work and the emotional milestone of putting the rig back together. We’re not done yet—but we’re closer than ever. ⛵ One step closer to sailing. 00:00 Feeling nervous 00:41 Channel intro 00:57 New turnbuckles 04:12 Diamonds 05:22 Step the mast 10:32 Reinstall the boom 11:26 Wrap up/Like and Subscribe 12:14 End Card #SailboatRefit #MastStepping #BoatRigging #DIYBoat #SailingLife #LiveaboardLife #BoatRestoration #CatamaranRefit

In this episode of our sailboat refit, we tackle the prep work for installing new LED lighting throughout the boat, and like most projects on a refit, it turned into more work than expected. To start, we removed two stainless steel light strips in the salon—each holding eight fixtures—and enlarged every mounting hole to fit the new lights. For this, we tried a new tool: a Vevor punch-out tool, which made quick, clean work of resizing the holes and turned out to be a game changer for this kind of job. From there, we worked our way around the perimeter of the salon, widening additional light cutouts and even removing a hanging cabinet to gain access and properly modify the openings. With the holes prepped, we installed new wire harnesses throughout the interior, setting the stage for a clean and reliable lighting system. The cockpit lights got the same treatment, where we used fish tape to run new wiring through tight spaces. The most challenging part of the entire project was feeding wires for the salon’s perimeter lights—tight, hard-to-reach areas that required patience, a flexible fish tape, and a grabber tool to finally get everything in place. This episode is a real look at the behind-the-scenes work required for upgrading sailboat lighting, including cutting, wiring, and problem-solving in confined spaces. It’s not glamorous, but it’s a critical step toward making the boat feel functional, comfortable, and liveable again. With all wiring run and holes prepped, and new LED lights installed, we’re finally ready to reinstall the ceiling panels and bring the interior back together—and that’s a huge milestone after months of teardown. If you’re into sailboat refits, marine electrical projects, DIY boat upgrades, or LED lighting installs, this episode walks through the process, tools, and lessons learned along the way. ⛵💡 00:00 Intro to project 00:33 Channel intro 00:51 Remove stainless steel sheets 01:19 Vevor punch-out tool 04:23 Enlarge holes in wood supports 06:22 Prep lights for installation 07:59 Build wiring harnesses 09:01 Reinstall stainless steel sheets 12:20 Overhead cabinet holes and wires 15:39 Enlarge holes for perimeter lights 17:09 Fish wires through perimeter and cockpit ceiling 18:30 Install lights 19:49 test lights 21:23 Wrap up 22:02 Like, Subscribe, Emoji, Bye! 22:23 End Card ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website.More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam #SailboatRefit #BoatLighting #MarineElectrical #DIYBoat #LiveaboardLife #LEDUpgrade #BoatProjects

After ripping out every hose and fitting in our boat, we committed to completely rebuilding our fresh water pressure system from scratch. Instead of traditional marine hose, we chose a PEX-A plumbing system with expansion sleeves—a residential solution that’s marketed as being easy for DIY installers and far more reliable long term. We’re firm believers that when household systems make sense on a sailboat, they’re often the better choice. To do it right, we invested in the expensive electric PEX expansion tool (the only realistic option for working in tight hull spaces) and ordered hundreds of fittings—sleeves, elbows, tees, manifolds, valves, and couplers in both 3/4" and 1/2". We ran nearly 200 feet of PEX pipe through both hulls, from engine room to engine room, and all the way forward into the bow locker. It was one of the biggest infrastructure projects of our refit. We made the final connection, stood back, and felt confident. We were wrong. To pressure test the system, we rented an air compressor and immediately discovered far more leaks than we thought possible. We chased air hissing through bilges, engine rooms, and heads. Soapy water bubbled at fittings we were sure were perfect. What followed was seven days of troubleshooting, ten hardware store runs, and a crash course in the realities of PEX-A installation. Here’s what we learned: Technique with the expansion tool matters more than you think PEX connections don’t seal well in very cold temperatures Reusing a fitting is nearly impossible once you cut off the sleeve—one tiny score mark can cause a leak Confidence is not the same thing as a sealed system After days of cutting, re-expanding, re-routing, and re-testing, we finally sealed the entire freshwater system...or so we thought. This episode is a real-world look at DIY boat plumbing, PEX installation on a sailboat, and the kind of setbacks that come with a full refit. It’s not glamorous—but reliable onboard systems are what make long-term cruising possible. On to the next project. 00:00 Episode Intro 01:00 Channel Intro 01:19 Day 1 - Optimism 07:38 Day 2 - Hopeful 10:59 Day 3 - Persistant 14:11 Day 4 - Frustrated 17:40 Day 5 - Laugh so you don’t cry 20:18 Day 6 - %&*#@ 23:44 Day 7 - Forlorn 24:52 Wrap up 25:32 Like, Subscribe, Emoji, Bye! 26:00 End Card ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website.More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam #SailboatRefit #BoatPlumbing #PEX #DIYBoat #LiveaboardLife #CruisingSailboat #MarineSystems

It’s the middle of winter, we’re still on the hard, and a sub-freezing cold snap has settled in—so this episode of our sailing refit looks a little different. When temperatures drop below freezing, outdoor projects grind to a halt, but refit life doesn’t stop. In this video, we show what winter boat work really looks like when you’re living between a boatyard and an apartment and doing everything you can to keep moving forward. With the help of two space heaters, Shawn heads out to the boat to tackle interior refit projects that can be done despite the cold. He works on electrical wiring, continues building the fuel polisher system, connects plumbing to the fresh water tanks, and installs pumps in the bilge—slow, careful progress in tight spaces while trying to stay warm enough to function. Meanwhile, Geri stays back at the apartment—she’s far less cold-tolerant, and skipping the boat during this deep freeze is honestly saving her sanity. Being warm, rested, and functional means she can take care of herself and stay energized for what’s ahead, instead of just enduring the cold. If you’re refitting a sailboat in cold climates, living through winter on the hard, or just curious what boat life looks like when sailing season is still months away, this episode captures the quiet, unglamorous, but necessary side of the journey. Every small task completed now brings us one step closer to launch day and getting back on the water. This video is part of our ongoing sailing and refit series, documenting the real challenges of rebuilding and preparing a cruising sailboat—one cold winter day at a time. 00:00 Snow 00:26 Intro 00:43 Channel intro 01:00 Handling the cold snap 01:57 Wiring AC panels 5:23 Wire/Cable management 06:45 Bilge pumps 07:44 Shower panels 08:25 Sink drains 08:55 Toilet controls 09:37 Hot water tank and pressure tanks 11:08 Coolant hoses 11:47 Fuel polisher 13:30 Frankenfilter 14:48 Geri’s projects 17:50 Wrap up 18:57 Like, Subscribe, Emoji, Bye 19:16 End Card ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website. More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam #SailingLife #BoatRefit #SailboatMaintenance #CruisingLife #DIYBoatProjects #SailingCouple #SailboatRestoration #LiveaboardLife © Sailing Roam 2026

EP64 of Sailing Roam is full of surprises! What started as prepping the anchor chain became a complete windlass replacement. Watch Geri and Shawn clean, repair, and upgrade their cruising catamaran in this hands-on refit episode. After nearly 18 months of refit work, it was finally time to tackle one of the last untouched systems on our sailboat refit: the windlass and chain locker, all in preparation for a shiny new anchor chain. In this episode, we dig into inspecting our existing windlass and gypsy to see if they were still serviceable—or if repair, maintenance, or full replacement was unavoidable. What we found was worse than expected, and honestly a little scary: the windlass was in such poor condition that we’re lucky it hadn’t failed on us already. As Shawn wrestled with removing the windlass, we uncovered another major issue hiding in plain sight—a rotten wood bulkhead inside the chain locker. Years of rust, dirt, and debris from the old galvanized anchor chain had turned the chain locker into a filthy, neglected space. Geri took on the big cleanup job, sanding and cleaning the chain locker down to bare surfaces, while Shawn cut out the rotten bulkhead entirely. To make sure this problem never comes back, we replaced the failed wood with Coosa board, a rot-proof composite material ideal for marine environments. We tabbed the Coosa in with fiberglass, creating a strong, permanent structural repair. After the glass work cured, Geri sanded the resin drips, applied epoxy primer, and finished the space with bilge coat paint. The transformation is incredibly satisfying—watching a grimy, rust-stained chain locker become a clean, bright, and beautiful space again. The locker is now fully prepped and ready to receive new anchor chain… just as soon as the new windlass arrives. This episode is a perfect example of refit life: one project leads to another, unexpected problems surface, and in the end the boat is safer, stronger, and better than before. If you enjoy sailboat refits, anchoring systems, windlass repairs, chain locker rebuilds, and real-world cruising prep, this episode is for you. 00:00 Short intro 00:13 Channel intro 00:32 Remove windlass 12:01 Clean out chain locker 12:58 Sand chain locker 17:31 Clean out rotten wood 20:43 Replace wood with Coosa 25:00 Prime and Paint 27:36 Wrap up 27:58 Like, subscribe, BYE! 28:20 End Card ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website. More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam #SailingLife #BoatRefit #SailboatMaintenance #CruisingLife #Rigging #DIYBoatProjects #SailingCouple #SailboatRestoration #LiveaboardLife © Sailing Roam 2026

After more than a year with our mast down, we’re finally pushing hard toward re-stepping — or so we thought. In this episode, we dive back into the final stages of our complete mast rebuild, a project that has included stripping the old paint, full rewiring, new clutches, new lights, and cleaning and servicing every single piece of hardware. This week was all about getting the mast as close to ready as possible for crane day. We wire the masthead VHF antenna, anchor light, and weather instrument, then tackle one of the most challenging parts of mast work: running lines internally. To get past the obstacles inside the mast, we break out an RC car to help pull messenger lines through — an unconventional solution that actually works. From there, we reassemble the furler, reinstall the spreaders, wire in the spreader lights, and hang the standing rigging back in place. Everything is coming together — except the final step. We can’t secure the lower ends of the standing rigging yet because we’re still waiting on our new turnbuckles. Then comes the gut punch. Two days before our scheduled crane appointment, the turnbuckles finally arrive… and they’re wrong. The threads are too large, they won’t fit, and there’s no workaround. The crane is canceled. The re-step is postponed. And after a year of work, we’re absolutely crushed. This is the reality of long refits — progress, momentum, and sometimes heartbreaking setbacks right at the finish line. If you’ve rebuilt a mast, dealt with rigging delays, or lived through parts arriving almost right, you’ll understand this one. Thanks for following along as we keep pushing forward. We’ll get there — even if it takes a little longer than planned. ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website. More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roamntic_whatsapp_status Here's an index of the video in case you want to see something specific: 00:00 Welcome back to mast prep 00:47 Channel intro 01:04 Running lines into the mast 08:54 Wiring the mast head equipment 14:29 Installing and wiring spreaders 18:14 Installing mast winch 23:33 Assemble furler and forestay 26:59 Standing rigging 28:20 Turnbuckles 29:59 Like, Subscribe, and leave an emoji 30:21 End card #SailingLife #BoatRefit #SailboatMaintenance #CruisingLife #Rigging #MastWork #DIYBoatProjects #SailingCouple #SailboatRestoration #LiveaboardLife © Sailing Roam 2025

After nearly a year of planning and waiting, we finally begin building out the heart of our onboard electrical system ⚡⛵ In this episode, we tackle a major refit milestone by designing and installing the core power infrastructure for our catamaran. We’re building a native 24V and 48V electrical system, and the first big decision was relocating critical power equipment out of a deck locker that posed a serious water intrusion risk. Instead, we converted the forward captain’s berth/office into a dedicated utility room — safer, drier, and far more serviceable. To support the electrical gear, we built a custom structural wall using 1-inch Coosa board laminated with 1/4-inch fiberglass for strength and rigidity. As we mocked up the layout, we discovered that not everything would fit as planned — the large inverters had to be moved to an adjacent wall, forcing a rethink of the design before final installation. With the wall bonded in place using bolts and Sikaflex, we mounted a significant portion of our power system, including: Victron inverter and transformer Two battery chargers DC/DC charger 24V and 48V DC bus bars AC electrical panel(s) This Victron equipment has been stored away for nearly a year while other refit priorities took precedence, so finally getting everything mounted and positioned feels like a huge win. The system is coming together, and the next major step will be wiring and commissioning the power plant. If you’re interested in catamaran refits, marine electrical systems, Victron installations, or large-scale sailboat upgrades, this episode is a big step forward in our long refit journey. Thanks for following along — progress is finally visible, and it feels great. 00:00 Teaser clips 00:18 Channel Intro 00:36 Intro to project 01:06 Layout power wall 09:22 Support ledge 11:42 Create aluminum backing plates 15:30 Epoxy in backing plates 17:31 Drill and tap for mounting hardware 17:55 Cut outs for Aircon vents 18:14 Dry fit 19:22 Prep wall to support Multiplus inverters 20:26 Glue and screw wall into place 24:06 Mount Victron gear 29:34 Like and subscribe 29:58 End card #SailingLife #BoatRefit #SailboatMaintenance #CruisingLife #powerplant #DIYBoatProjects #SailingCouple #SailboatRestoration #liveaboardlife #victron #victronenergy © Sailing Roam 2025

After 18 months (and counting) of refit life, this episode is all about the projects that keep us moving forward while we wait on weather windows and delayed parts. Big milestones don’t always happen on schedule, but there’s always something that needs doing on a boat. In this video, we tackle a series of essential “in-between” projects that bring our sailboat closer to being fully functional again: ⚓ Remounting the davits — getting them back in place after earlier refit work. 💧 Installing a new freshwater pressure pump — using a shallow well pump instead of a typical yacht pump for improved performance and reliability. ⚡ Starting the AC wiring in one hull — laying the groundwork for onboard power systems. 🚿 Replacing the shower sump boxes — upgrading to smart drains and dedicated pumps for a simpler, more reliable solution. 🍽️ Reinstalling the galley cabinets — a big psychological win that means the galley is now fully plumbed and wired again. These are the kinds of jobs that don’t always make headlines, but they’re what turn a stripped-out boat back into a livable, functional home. After a year and a half of refitting, moments like these remind us that progress is still happening — even when the big projects are temporarily stalled. If you enjoy real-world sailboat refits, practical system upgrades, and the honest pace of DIY boat work, this episode is for you. ⛵ In This Episode: Davit reinstallation Freshwater system upgrade AC electrical system prep Shower drain and pump upgrade Galley reinstallation and systems completion 00:00 Original song slideshow 01:08 Intro 01:49 Channel intro 02:06 Install fresh water pressure pumps 05:55 Install shower drains 09:19 Re-hang davits 12:36 Reinstall galley cabinets 15:36 Start AC wiring 19:54 Coming up next week 20:17 Like, subscribe, and leave and emoji 20:37 Original song reprise 20:51 End card #SailingLife #BoatRefit #SailboatMaintenance #CruisingLife #Rigging #MastWork #DIYBoatProjects #SailingCouple #SailboatRestoration #LiveaboardLife ----------------------------------------------------------- #SailingLife #BoatRefit #SailboatMaintenance #CruisingLife #Rigging #MastWork #DIYBoatProjects #SailingCouple #SailboatRestoration #LiveaboardLife © Sailing Roam 2025

This week aboard our sailboat, we were racing the clock to prep our bare mast for restepping — and winter had other ideas. With a hard deadline looming, we took on an ambitious list of mast projects, working in cold temperatures, late nights, and even falling snow. Our goal was to get the mast fully ready to go back in the boat. That meant installing the mast track, running all electrical wiring and lines, and mounting critical hardware including pad eyes, blocks, the gooseneck, and radar. We also upgraded the deck hardware by switching from traditional mechanical rope clutches to constrictor clutches, a less common setup in the cruising world that offers a cleaner, simpler approach. While prepping the mast, we cleaned up the standing rigging and ran into an unexpected setback while servicing the furler — discovering a bent extrusion. We ordered a replacement, only to have the wrong size arrive, pushing us further behind schedule. To finish the masthead, a friend stepped in to help weld a custom plate that will support the VHF antenna, anchor light, and weather station. On the day of the weld, the weather turned brutal, with snow dumping down as we worked. Despite the long days and hard push, we ultimately missed our deadline and had to reschedule the mast stepping for another month out. We’re still waiting on the correct furler extrusion and new turnbuckles, but we’re confident that next time, we’ll be ready. ⛵ In This Episode: Mast prep for restepping Mast track, wiring & line runs Pad eyes, blocks, gooseneck & radar install Constrictor clutch upgrade Standing rigging cleanup Furler extrusion setback Custom masthead welding Cold-weather and night work realities Refit deadlines vs real life If you enjoy real-world sailboat refits, technical mast work, and honest sailing life — setbacks included — this episode is for you. 00:00 We have a date 00:18 Channel intro 00:36 Hardware 01:08 PSA 01:49 Mast track 04:10 Wires and cables 09:17 Pad eyes, gooseneck, and blocks 11:26 Running rigging 13:32 Standing rigging 14:19 Radar 17:39 Clutches 19:34 Furler 21:32 Mast top plate 23:02 Wrap up 24:57 Like, subscribe, comment, emoji 25:21 End card #SailingLife #BoatRefit #SailboatMaintenance #CruisingLife #Rigging #MastWork #DIYBoatProjects #SailingCouple #SailboatRestoration #LiveaboardLife ----------------------------------------------------------- #SailingLife #BoatRefit #SailboatMaintenance #CruisingLife #Rigging #MastWork #DIYBoatProjects #SailingCouple #SailboatRestoration #LiveaboardLife © Sailing Roam 2025

This week aboard our sailboat we hit a huge milestone in the refit — installing the sail drives, mounting the props, testing a new eco-friendly rudder paint, and moving the engines into place using a DIY bridge crane we built ourselves. It was a big week of progress and one of our most satisfying yet. ⚓ Project 1: Installing the Sail Drives With the mounting surfaces prepped and aligned, we finally lowered the sail drives into position and secured them — a major step toward getting this boat back in the water. ⚓ Project 2: Installing the Propellers Once the drives were in, we fitted the props and torqued everything to spec. Another big checkmark on the list. ⚓ Project 3: Painting the Rudders with F2 Eco We tested F2 Eco, a new opalescent white marine coating that’s just entering the recreational yacht market. It looks stunning and promises environmental benefits — we’ll be watching closely to see how it performs. ⚓ Project 4: Moving the Engines Into Place To move the engines into their homes and bolt them to the sail drives, we built a DIY bridge crane out of Unistrut and used a compact chain hoist from Amazon. It worked beautifully and made this huge job manageable. Every one of these tasks brings us closer to launching, and this week felt like a major leap forward. ⛵ In This Episode: Sail drive installation Propeller mounting Rudder painting with F2 Eco DIY bridge crane build Engine alignment and installation Real-life sailboat refit progress F2Eco link: https://f2ecousa.com/ Original music created with SUNO 00:00 Intro 00:38 Channel into 00:57 Install sail drives 04:28 Install props 10:00 Paint the rudders 19:31 Move engines into place 24:25 Wrap up 24:39 Coming up next week 24:59 Like and subscribe 25:29 End card ----------------------------------------------------------- #SailingLife #BoatRefit #CruisingLife #DIYBoatProjects #SailboatMaintenance #SailDrive #SailingCouple #EcoFriendlyBoatProducts #PropInstallation #MarineRefit #CatamaranRefit © Sailing Roam 2025

This week aboard our sailboat, we made huge progress on the deck refit — but the weather had other plans. Our main goal was to prep and paint the rear deck, including the sugar scoops, helm stations, and transom alley. The process started strong: days of sanding, fiberglass repairs, fairing, and priming. Everything was ready for paint… until temperatures in Virginia dropped too low for proper curing. So for now, we’re calling it “good enough” with primer — the paint will have to wait until we reach warmer weather farther south. It’s not the finish we hoped for, but that’s real-life boat work for you. In between coats (and rain), we also tackled several smaller but important jobs: ⚓ Rebedding bolt rope rails to prevent leaks 🛠️ Rebedding safety rails for better security under sail 🔩 Replacing deck hatch latches for smoother operation Even with the setback, it’s satisfying to see progress — and we’re one step closer to having a freshly finished deck when spring returns, or we get south to warmer weather. ⛵ In This Episode: Deck prep & priming process Cold weather challenges in Virginia Rebedding rails & hatches Real-life DIY refit aboard our sailboat ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website. More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam Here's an index of the video in case you want to see something specific: 00:00 Teaser clips 00:12 Intro to episode 00:25 Channel intro 00:43 Re-bed bolt rope rails 03:54 Re-bed deck hatch latches 04:39 Re-bed safety rails 06:35 Prep deck for paint 07:05 Sand 07:20 Patch swim ladder holes 09:56 Remove weather stripping 12:55 Fairing 15:02 Sand fairing 15:18 Prime the deck 17:10 Remove tape 17:33 Wrap up project 19:24 Wrap up episode 19:49 Like/Subscribe and Bye! 20:12 End card ----------------------------------------------------------- #SailingLife #BoatRefit #DIYBoatProjects #CruisingLife #SailboatMaintenance #SailingCouple #SailingYouTube #SailboatRefit #FiberglassRepair #BoatWork #deckpainting © Sailing Roam 2025

This week aboard our sailboat was all about progress — tackling a mix of big and small refit projects to keep our boat seaworthy and ready for adventure! 🔧 Project 1: We measured for new sheaves in the boom and mast, and for new turnbuckles and jaws for our standing rigging — important steps toward a smoother and safer rig. 📡 Project 2: We mapped out the path and measured the VHF cable run, crawling through deck lockers and under the nav desk to trace every inch. 💧 Project 3 (The Big One): A leaking valve repair turned into a major fiberglass project. Working in tight spaces, we cut out the old valve and glassed in a new fiberglass tube. Using a balloon to apply pressure kept epoxy under control — messy but effective! The leak is finally sealed, and the job’s done. 🚰 Project 4: We continued the PEX plumbing installation for the freshwater system into the galley — another step toward completing the refit. After a week of hard work, fiberglass dust, and plenty of crawling into tight spaces, it feels great to see real progress on the boat. LInks: Episode 14 - The one where the sheave broke and we lost our gennaker. https://youtu.be/RMrTujr7b6c?si=pdaKsK4Y9P5cAPXg ⛵ If you love DIY boat projects, refits, and real-life sailing maintenance, this episode is for you. ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website. More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam Here's an index of the video in case you want to see something specific: 00:00 Intro 00:28 Channel intro 01:23 Measure for custom sheaves 05:31 What size are our turnbuckles? 09:08 How long should the VHF cable be? 13:02 Repair failed rain catchment system 23:28 Pex 27:43 Wrap up 28:24 Like and subscribe 28:47 End Card ----------------------------------------------------------- #SailingLife #BoatRefit #DIYBoatProjects #CruisingLife #SailboatMaintenance #SailingCouple #SailingYouTube #SailboatRefit #FiberglassRepair #BoatWork © Sailing Roam 2025

Join us as we finish one of the biggest jobs aboard — refinishing all the aluminum on our sailboat, including the mast, boom, crossbeam, spreaders, and davits. We’re using a professional metal conditioning power tool and a unique product called Nyalic — a clear coating not often seen in the yachting world. Most aluminum masts are painted or anodized, but Nyalic offers a long-lasting, UV-resistant finish that’s easier to apply and far less expensive than paint. Things didn’t go as planned: on the day we were set to finish the mast, Shawn had a serious pressure washer accident, sending us to the hospital for emergency surgery to prevent infection and compartment syndrome. The next day, Geri returned to the boat to finish the job alone — a tough day’s work ending just as the sun went down. If you’re considering how to protect or restore your aluminum spars, this video covers everything from metal prep and conditioning to real-world lessons about safety, teamwork, and life aboard. Nyalic: https://www.nyalic.com/ ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website. More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam Here's an index of the video in case you want to see something specific: 00:00 Intro clips 00:28 Channel intro 00:46 Explain new tool and start conditioning spreaders 02:13 Prep and spray spreaders with Nyalic 05:41 Condition boom 06:28 Condition mast 06:39 Start mast prep for Nyalic 07:51 Shawn is injured 07:57 1st ED visit 08:28 2nd ED visit 09:01 Geri returns to complete the project 09:08 Geri describes injury 11:15 What needs to happen today 13:15 Set up the frame/arches 18:36 Get the plastic off the boat and over the arches 22:02 Minor meltdown 23:35 Last ditch effort 24:12 Final preparation 25:17 Apply Nyalic…finally! 25:50 Done 26:55 Shawn’s out of the hospital 27:45 Remove plastic 27:59 Wrap up 28:22 Like and subscribe 28:47 End Card ----------------------------------------------------------- #SailingLife #BoatMaintenance #AluminumRestoration #Nyalic #SailingCouple #CruisingLife #DIYBoatRepair #SailboatRefit © Sailing Roam 2025

There is no AAA in the middle of the ocean, so ensuring that our engines are in the best shape possible is a priority. This extended video is a step-by-step reassembly of one of our Yanmar 4JH4-TE marine diesel engines. In this video we clean and service critical components like seals, valves, oil cooler, injectors, and motor mounts. This process will help extend the life of our Yanmar engines, improve fuel efficiency, and ensure reliability. LInks: Clamptite: https://clamptitetools.com/?sid=syroam 10% off code: Gerischaffer10 Engine mounts: Oceanic Innovations: https://oceanicinnovations.store/ ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website. More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam Here's an index of the video in case you want to see something specific: 00:00 Teaser clips 00:15 Intro to Sailing Roam 00:31 Intro to reassembly 00:55 Clean up 04:12 Oil cooler and automatic cold start device (ACSD) 06:29 Remove bonnet (valve cover) 06:49 Remove front main seal 08:28 Valve adjustment 09:37 Wiring harness 11:10 Dipstick 11:38 Motor Mount 13:04 Oil cooler 13:22 Inlet hose 13:51 Steering cable bracket 14:38 Vacuum booster hose 15:12 Water pump 17:14 Bonnet 20:02 Valve seals 20:31 Water circulating pump 21:29 Thermostat 23:25 Front main seal 25:55 Crank pulley 26:32 Heat exchanger/turbo 27:34 Mostly little things left 29:49 Chase the threads 30:26 Connect turbo to intake manifold 31:30 Clamptite 33:06 Mixing elbow 34:40 Air Cleaner 35:50 Motor mounts 37:12 Remove flywheel and vibration dampener/clean 38:46 Rear main seal 40:22 Replace flywheel/vibration dampener/fan 40:58 Wrap up 41:07 Like, Subscribe, See you next time 41:28 End card ----------------------------------------------------------- #Yanmar #MarineDiesel #BoatMaintenance #DieselEngine #YanmarEngine #MarineRepair #BoatLife #liveaboardlife #cruisinglife © Sailing Roam 2025

In this video we take you step by step through setting up our new climate-controlled storage workshop to prepare for the big project. We carefully move in the counter and all the supplies, making sure everything is perfectly organized. The counter get leveled with precision so it’s ready for the highlight of the week - an epoxy resin pour. Shawn’s sisters (NW Resin Design) join us in Virginia to transform a plain white counter into a one-of-a-kind epoxy resin masterpiece. Watch as the resin pour process brings life to the countertop, turning it into something truly unique and beautiful. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more refit projects! #stonecoatcountertops #RK3 #KCDC #NWresindesign NW Resin Design in Facebook: https://share.google/LqGSR3L5LHAgb9W3I Stone Coat Countertops: Website: https://stonecoatcountertops.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=14829601633&utm_content=662517461445&utm_term=stone+coat+epoxy&utm_placement=&tw_source=google&tw_adid=662517461445&tw_campaign=14829601633&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=14829601633&gbraid=0AAAAADN_apr6Gv0ftiPOvxzwk-SNT-9zQ&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxL7GBhDXARIsAGOcmIPghDUf_PyB3dbm8cJrLha5QkcRTMcYSNiquvIzXg_7FUdZCyrPtwwaAu6bEALw_wcB&view=sl-ABB67A7A Facebook: https://share.google/dqaInzwQ2kUoqkSOR RK3 Designs Website: https://share.google/UgeFRu5YMunUtErs6 Facebook: https://share.google/iP5HYpbFJvD85eZTL KCDC Design Website: https://share.google/JwFc5lWmCB74hpoWF Facebook: https://share.google/jlzvhNE2G44cRc1nc Products: Art Coat epoxy by Stone Coat https://amzn.to/47N4svM Stone Coat dyes: Ocean Blue translucent dye https://amzn.to/46pGFQc Blue translucent dye https://amzn.to/4poDPn2 White opaque dye https://amzn.to/4psaqII Brown translucent dye https://amzn.to/4poHe5c Ultimate Top Coat - Matte Finish by Stone Coat https://amzn.to/3Kp5Fzn White Undercoat by Stone Coat https://amzn.to/4pwACSG Fuzion Relax Spray https://shoprk3designs.com/products/fusion-relax-spray ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website. More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam Here's an index of the video in case you want to see something specific: 00:00 Intro to storage space turned art studio 00:36 Channel intro 00:54 Moving into a climate controlled work space 02:50 Curb and gutter 03:10 Level counter 06:00 Introduce the epoxy pour 06:45 Sit down chat with NW Resin Design 07:45 Re-level 07:52 Fogging 07:58 Mix epoxy 08:32 Grease coat 08:53 Mix up colors 09:40 Color coat 11:04 Fly in our epoxy! 11:45 Sand and flood coat 12:34 Debubble and remove lint 12:50 Sand and Ultimate Top Coat 14:28 Big reveal 15:12 Like, Subscribe, See you next time! 15:30 End Card ----------------------------------------------------------- #boatlife #catamaran #travelvlog #digitalnomad #lifestyle #sailboats #nautitech #yachtlife #sailingroam #liveaboardlife #cruisinglife #explore #exploretheworld #refit #catamaranrefit © Sailing Roam 2025

We are replacing all of our appliances, and that requires a new counter! While removing the old one, we discovered just how heavy Corian is. It's are to believe anyone puts it in a catamaran. In this episode we are building a new counter from Coosa Board laminated with 1/8 inch fiberglass sheet. We're pretending we know how to be carpenters by using biscuits to join the pieces and even created drop edges. It looks just like it's supposed to...as long as you don't look too closely! ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website. More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam Here's an index of the video in case you want to see something specific: 00:00 Remove old Corian countertop 00:33 Channel intro 00:49 Cut and fit Coosa 05:30 Cut and fit fiberglass 08:52 Laminate Coosa together 11:43 Ooops...forgot to cut the channels 12:03 Laminating fiberglass to Coosa 16:58 Cut holes for appliances 21:01 Trim router 21:28 Epoxy in drop edges 22:54 Fair and sand and fair and sand 24:16 Test fit 27:58 Prime and paint 30:37 Wrap up 31:31 Like/subscribe 31:55 See you next time 31:59 End Card ----------------------------------------------------------- #boatlife #catamaran #travelvlog #digitalnomad #lifestyle #sailboats #nautitech #yachtlife #sailingroam #liveaboardlife #cruisinglife #explore #exploretheworld #refit #catamaranrefit © Sailing Roam 2025

We've known from the start that the teak on ROAM was is bad condition. What we didn't know, was just how bad it really was. We were hoping to give it a light facelift until we had more time and more budget to deal with it properly, but that was not to be. ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website. More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam Here's an index of the video in case you want to see something specific: 00:00 Scenes of a difficult process 00:13 Back in Guatemala 01:08 Channel intro 01:28 Remove teak...first try 03:08 Clean adhesive off non-skid gelcoat, part 1 05:25 Remove teak...second try 06:50 Clean adhesive, part 2 10:21 Sand gelcoat to remove adhesive residue 10:32 Rotohammer 11:44 Sand gelcoat to remove adhesive...again 13:51 Like and subscribe 14:05 End Card ----------------------------------------------------------- #boatlife #catamaran #travelvlog #digitalnomad #lifestyle #sailboats #nautitech #yachtlife #sailingroam #liveaboardlife #cruisinglife #explore #exploretheworld #refit #catamaranrefit © Sailing Roam 2025

In this episode we’re recruiting a very talented friend to help us install our new bowsprit on the crossbeam. The process included welding strips to secure the trampolines in place and welding the holding rings in place. It was a brutally hot day, but in the end, worth every sweaty minute. ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website. More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam Here's an index of the video in case you want to see something specific: 00:00 Intro to sanding the crossbeam 01:18 Intro to us 01:36 Sand, sand, sand 03:46 Wet-sandblasting 04:15 Fit the pin 04:56 Welding day 08:40 Get bowsprit in place 11:51 Wrap up/Thanks Austin 12:16 Like/subscribe/See you next time 12:29 End Card ----------------------------------------------------------- #boatlife #catamaran #travelvlog #digitalnomad #lifestyle #sailboats #nautitech #yachtlife #sailingroam #liveaboardlife #cruisinglife #explore #exploretheworld #refit #catamaranrefit © Sailing Roam 2025

Is a boat really a boat if it can't float? Months ago we removed every thru-hull in order to replace them with new seacocks and skin fittings, but we didn't reuse every one. We have decided to relocat

We are ready to consider our galley appliances. We want to use electricity for cooking for multiple reasons including reducing the types of fuel we have to source and carry, and heat in the tropics. Additionally, we’re exploring how we can reclaim some of the countertop space for food prep, and still have all the appliances we want. Under counter induction cooking exists, but the literature claims you MUST use porcelain counters. We are hoping to prove that requirement wrong. FLIR Edge Pro - wireless bluetooth thermal imaging camera https://amzn.to/44YCOtB Case for FLIR Edge Pro https://amzn.to/44H1F41 Stone Coat Countertops https://stonecoatcountertops.com/products/art-coat-gallon-kits ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website. More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam Here's an index of the video in case you want to see something specific: 00:00 Intro to project 01:39 Intro to Sailing Roam 01:58 Intro to sample creation 02:46 Create sample coutertop 07:49 Attempt 1 failed 08:44 Ready to start testing 11:02 Test 1 12:48 Test 2 13:59 Test 3 15:40 Long test 17:42 Final test 18:04 Destroyed it! 18:30 Wrap up 18:55 Like, Subscribe, Bye! 19:19 End Card ----------------------------------------------------------- #boatlife #catamaran #travelvlog #digitalnomad #lifestyle #sailboats #nautitech #yachtlife #sailingroam #liveaboardlife #cruisinglife #explore #exploretheworld #refit #catamaranrefit © Sailing Roam 2025 @StoneCoatCountertops @Flir