We’re back in the boatyard and it’s full steam ahead (well… almost). This week we’re prepping the engine bay, cleaning, sanding, and getting it ready for paint. But not everything’s gone to plan — an unexpected injury has thrown a spanner in the works and slowed progress way down. Boat projects have a way of testing your patience, and this one’s no different. We’re learning to roll with the setbacks, take things one job at a time, and keep the dream moving forward — even when it feels like everything’s come to a halt. If you’ve ever spent time in a boatyard, you’ll know how it goes… there’s always another layer of work waiting underneath the first one! ⛵ Subscribe to follow along as we tackle the final stages of our refit and get one step closer to launch day.

In this episode, we tackle boat osmosis head-on as we uncover hidden water damage throughout our fiberglass hull. After weeks of sanding and grinding, we start the process of repairing the osmosis blisters, applying primer, and prepping the hull for the next stage of the bottom job. Watch as Josh rolls the first coat of primer, and we get the hull ready for epoxy filler and a fair, smooth surface. This episode is all about the reality of dealing with osmosis in boats, how it develops over time, and the meticulous work required to fix it properly. If you’re dealing with fiberglass hull osmosis, thinking about a bottom job, or just curious about the process, this video gives a clear look at what’s involved from start to finish.

In this episode of Seafolk Sailing, our haul-out at the boatyard revealed a major setback we didn’t see coming. While inspecting the hull, we discovered significant osmosis and unexpected damage, leaving us with the big question: is our hull fixable, and how will this delay getting back in the water? We take you through the full haul-out inspection, show exactly what we found, and share the real challenges of sailboat maintenance and repair. From surprises in the boatyard to major setbacks, this episode gives an honest look at life aboard a cruising sailboat and the unexpected hurdles that come with it. If you’re interested in sailing adventures, cruising sailboats, boat refits, or hull repair, this episode is packed with insight and real-life experience. See how we tackle setbacks, make decisions about repairs, and plan our next steps to get back on the water. 🔧 Topics covered in this episode: Sailboat haul-out and inspection process Osmosis in sailboat hulls and how it’s detected Boatyard surprises and unexpected setbacks Planning and decision-making for sailboat repairs Real-life challenges of cruising life 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe and hit the bell to follow our sailing adventures, boat refits, and life aboard a cruising yacht. #SailboatLife #SailingAdventure #BoatMaintenance #HullRepair #Osmosis #MajorSetback #CruisingSailboat #SailboatRefit #SeafolkSailing

Today I tackled one of the worst jobs on our sailboat… and it nearly made me throw up. Boat life isn’t always sunsets and sailing — sometimes it’s the dirty, hidden work that nobody talks about. This job pushed me to my limits, but it’s all part of keeping our floating home seaworthy. Join us as we dive into the not-so-glamorous side of sailing and share the reality behind life aboard our 45ft Jeanneau.

In this episode, we tackle one of the toughest jobs in our boat refit — cleaning out the engine bay. Watch as we scrub away years of grime, grease, and build-up hidden deep in our sailboat’s engine bay. If you’re interested in boat maintenance, DIY refits, or just love seeing behind-the-scenes sailing life, this video gives you an honest look at the hard work involved. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to follow our journey restoring our sailboat,

We’re finally tackling a massive job that’s been haunting our storage lockers — clearing out three owners’ worth of clutter from our boat! From ancient ropes to mystery tools and forgotten gear, we’ve built a rubbish pile big enough to sink a dinghy. While we’re at it, we also remove the anchor and chain to check for rust and give it the love it deserves. Join us for some serious boat spring cleaning, satisfying dump runs, and a step toward making this vessel 100% our own.

After decades of service — through calms, storms, ocean crossings, and countless little breakdowns — it was finally time to say goodbye to the 40-year-old engine that’s powered our floating home. This moment hit harder than we expected. She’s been the heart of our boat since long before we owned her. But with the adventures we’ve got ahead, we need something more reliable. Removing the engine marks a huge milestone in our sailboat refit and a step toward a more self-sufficient future at sea. It’s the end of an era… and the beginning of a new one. Thanks for being here with us through it all. 🌊 ⛵ Subscribe for more of our liveaboard journey, sailboat refit, and ocean adventures. Instagram → @seafolksailing #sailinglife #boatrefit #engine #sailboatlife #liveaboard

We’re finally hauling out our sailboat to kick off a long-awaited refit, but things definitely don’t go smoothly. With crane crews, shifting ground, and a fair bit of stress, getting the boat safely out of the water turns into more of a mission than we expected. This episode shows the reality of boat projects — even before the refit has properly started, there’s plenty that can go wrong. We’re sharing the honest ups and downs as we start this next chapter, and take you behind the scenes of getting our boat ready for a full transformation. If you’re into sailboat refits, liveaboard life, or just want to see what it really takes to maintain and rebuild a boat, you won’t want to miss this. Subscribe and join us for the ride — there’s a lot more to come!

We’re back in Far North Queensland, this time at Cairns Boat Yard, and facing one of our toughest challenges yet — hauling out without an engine. With only a rope and a lot of determination, Josh has to maneuver our sailboat from its mooring to the trailer, fighting wind, current, and a tight timeline. It takes several nerve-wracking tries to get her lined up perfectly. What happens next might surprise you — will we make it onto the trailer safely, or end up in a much bigger mess? Once we’re finally out of the water, there’s still plenty to do with a high-pressure hull wash and more boatyard chaos ahead. 🌊 Join us for this behind-the-scenes look at life on a sailboat in tropical North Queensland.

We finally get stuck into our sailboat refit, starting with the removal of our old, leaky hatches and windows. What begins as a straightforward job quickly turns into a bigger project when we uncover even more hidden wood rot beneath the frames — just what every sailor loves to find… With no working engine (our prop shaft snapped), we have to figure out how to move our 45-foot sailboat once again. The plan? Tow her up the Cairns inlet using a couple of small tinnys — a DIY towing mission that’s becoming all too familiar. Between the window removal, surprise repairs, and yet another sailboat towing operation, this week is all about making slow but steady progress on our floating home. If you’re into liveaboard life, boat restoration, or want a behind-the-scenes look at the realities of fixing up a classic cruising yacht, this episode is for you.

The boat refit begins… and we’re already uncovering more than we bargained for! In this episode, we start prepping for haul-out by disconnecting the engine and stripping things back. But as we dig in, we find some pretty sketchy home repairs from previous owners, leaking compartments, and areas of rotting wood that definitely weren’t in the brochure 😅 This is just the beginning of a long road to getting the boat back in top shape — and we’re taking you along for the ride. ⛵ Subscribe for weekly episodes of boat life, big fixes, and sailing adventures. 📸 Follow our day-to-day on Instagram: @seafolksailing #sailboatrefit #boatlife #sailingcouple #sailinglife #liveaboardlife

After days at sea without a working engine, we make our approach into Cairns, Australia—under tinny power alone. Strong tidal currents, tight quarters, and unexpected chaos made this one of our most intense arrivals yet. Let’s just say… things did not go to plan. In this episode, we share what it’s really like arriving into a busy port without a motor, the challenges of navigating tidal flow, and why sailing teaches you to adapt—fast. Subscribe to @SeafolkSailing the refit chapter starts next… #enginefailure #sailboat #jeanneau #disaster #adventure

Becalmed, drifting… and surrounded by reef. In this episode, the wind dies completely, leaving us stranded in the middle of a major shipping channel — with reef all around and no engine to fall back on. With a snapped prop shaft and no breeze to fill the sails, we’re powerless as the current pulls us closer and closer to danger. No engine. No wind. No control. Just reef, tide, and a race to stay afloat. — Join us as we sail off-grid through Far North Queensland, chasing freedom and facing the raw side of life at sea. Follow our journey here: YouTube: @seafolksailing Instagram: @seafolksailing TikTok: @seafolksailing Facebook: @seafolksailing #SailingLife #BecalmedAtSea #NoEngine #ReefSailing #OffGridAdventure #SeafolkSailing #LiveaboardLife #OceanAdventure #SailingAustralia #RemoteLiving

⚠️ No Engine. No Visibility. 50+ Knot Winds. Midway through our 500-mile journey from Thursday Island to Cairns, the weather turns on us—fast. A massive supercell rolls in with sideways rain, howling wind, and near-zero visibility… and with a snapped prop shaft, there’s no turning back. This is sailing at its rawest. No engine. No escape. Just sails, grit, and trust in each other. Would you keep going? Watch now to see how it unfolds! Next time: we reach Cairns… barely. — Follow our off-grid sailing life, freediving adventures & wild ocean living: YouTube: @seafolksailing Instagram: @seafolksailing TikTok: @seafolksailing Facebook: @seafolksailing #SailingLife #OceanStorm #OffGridLiving #LiveaboardLife #Freediving #Spearfishing #sailing

🌊 Snapped Prop Shaft! Sailing 500 Miles – No Engine 🚤 🌊We’re halfway through our toughest journey yet—no engine, no autopilot, just us against the open water. Hand-steering with 3-hour watch swaps, can we make it? Watch to find out what happens next in our off-grid sailing adventure! Next time: a 50-knot supercell hits. Don’t miss it—subscribe and hit the bell! 🔔 🌟 Follow us for more sailing, freediving, and underwater photography: YouTube: @seafolksailing Instagram: @seafolksailing TikTok: @seafolksailing Facebook: @seafolksailing #SailingAdventure #BoatBreakdown #SailingLifestyle #Freediving #UnderwaterPhotography #Spearfishing #BoatLife

After weeks of struggling with light winds, we finally catch the breeze we’ve been waiting for as we make our way toward Thursday Island. Spirits are high, and we’re ready for a smooth arrival—until everything suddenly takes a turn for the worse. In this episode, we face our biggest challenge yet, one that puts our entire journey to the test. Something serious happens, leaving us completely stranded and unable to move. With no other options left, we have to make a call we never wanted to make… to the water police. What started as an exciting sail quickly turns into our boat being rescued, changing everything for us. What went wrong? How did we get out of this situation? And what does this mean for our journey ahead? Watch to find out! ⛵ Subscribe for more sailing adventures 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @seafolksailing ☕ Support our journey: https://buymeacoffee.com/seafolksailing #sailing #sailboat #boatlifestyle #adventure #sailinglife #rescued #sailingchannel

🚨 PUSHING FORWARD: A Makeshift Fix & a Big Crossing! ⛵🔧 With an open ocean ahead and no time to waste, we do what we must to keep moving. A quick fix, a leap of faith, and a long, unpredictable passage across the Gulf of Carpentaria. Flat calm seas stretch endlessly before us, testing our patience and pushing our limits. But after days at sea, we finally approach the Torres Strait—one step closer to new horizons. 📌 In this episode: ✅ A last-minute fix to keep us going ✅ Crossing the vast Gulf of Carpentaria ✅ Flat seas, long days, and the journey to Thursday Island This adventure is far from over—subscribe and hit the bell so you don’t miss what’s next! 🔔 #sailing #offgrid #sailinglife #boatlife #YachtLife #youtube #viralvideo

🚨 STRANDED AT SEA: Engine FAILURE & No Wind! ⛵💨 What happens when your engine fails in the middle of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and there’s no wind to sail? We set off from Gove, Australia, toward Thursday Island, expecting a smooth passage—but instead, we’re left completely adrift at sea with no clear solution in sight. With no wind, no engine, and miles of open ocean around us, we’re forced to face one of our toughest challenges yet. Will we make it out, or are we stuck for good? To be continued… 📌 In this episode: ✅ Our engine suddenly fails—leaving us stranded ✅ No wind, no power, no easy way out ✅ The harsh reality of life at sea The story isn’t over yet—subscribe and hit the bell so you don’t miss what happens next! 🔔 #Sailing #Offgrid #SailingLife #BoatLife #YachtLife

In this episode we take you through the breathtaking Hole in the Wall, one of Australia’s most iconic sailing destinations. Known for its stunning scenery and narrow passage, this spot is a must-see for any sailor or adventurer. But the excitement doesn’t stop there—while cruising through these pristine waters, we hook a massive Spanish mackerel, one of the most sought-after fish for anglers in Australia! Join us as we showcase the thrill of the catch, the beauty of the sail, and what life is really like living aboard our sailboat, Phoenix. Whether you’re into fishing, sailing, or exploring hidden gems off the beaten path, this episode has it all.

In this episode, we finish provisioning in Darwin and set sail on our first major passage towards Cairns! After weeks of prep, it’s finally time to leave and embrace life on the ocean. Join us as we navigate remote waters, explore the stunning northern coastline, and take on the challenges of long-distance sailing. Follow along for more sailing adventures, freediving, and off-grid living! ⛵ SUBSCRIBE to join our journey: www.youtube.com/@SeafolkSailing 📸 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/seafolksailing #SeaFolkSailing #SailingLife #SailingAdventure #BoatLife #circumnavigation #SailingCouple