Another day grinding it out in this yacht life in the Wrangell, Alaska shipyard. We are here with our 80-foot, triple masted, steel schooner - Alaskan Gypsy. The time finally came to face it - cutting open the hull to remove a corroded section of plating under the head and water tank. Years of mystery fluid (you don't want to know what that was) and pooled up above the longitudinal supports and caused significant rust corrosion. This combined with the electrolysis attacking from outside made for some concern regarding the plate integrity in this area. In this video I crawl inside the boat to prep, measure, and fire up the plasma cutter, cut off wheels, and whatever other power tools I can get my hands on. It’s loud, gritty, and strangely satisfying — real slow-TV shipyard life from inside and outside the hull. In this episode: • preparing the work by removing the plywood floor • uncovering hidden corrosion behind stringers • wiring and testing the plasma cutter • cutting out the damaged hull section • beating on our steel hull with a hammer relentlessly • inspecting the steel and planning replacement plate Subscribe to follow the full Alaskan Gypsy rebuild — welding, sandblasting, painting, and life in the Wrangell shipyard as we restore her for new adventures on Alaska’s coast. Chapters 00:00 Intro – The Rust Problem 00:45 Inside the Hull Prep 02:00 Setting Up the Cutter 04:00 First Cut Through the Steel 06:00 Fire Watch & Safety Check 08:00 Inspecting the Removed Section 10:30 Next Steps – Replacement Plan #AlaskanGypsy #SteelBoat #BoatRestoration #ShipyardLife #SailboatRefit #BoatDIY #HullRepair #PlasmaCutting #WrangellAlaska

Somewhere in the early 1990s, a creative boat builder decided to build a DIY hydraulic bow thruster system using a pacer pump, a Micro-Commander valve setup, and a lot of determination. Fast-forward a few decades, and I’m in the Wrangell, Alaska shipyard trying to figure out how it ever worked - or if it ever really did!? I heard the pump turned, and maybe it moved the bow, but nobody is for sure. . . In this episode aboard our 80’ steel schooner Alaskan Gypsy: • exploring the bow compartment and old hydraulic plumbing • finding 1,600 pounds of poured lead ballast • freeing seized fittings and tracing mystery hoses • trying to understand this “innovative” 90s thruster idea • deciding whether to rebuild, replace, or retire it for good • watching paint burn and trying not to breath too much of it • yelling at my dad through 5/16" steel plate A respectful look at someone’s ambitious DIY project that might’ve been ahead of its time… or just a little off target. Subscribe for more real-world shipyard projects as we rebuild Alaskan Gypsy — welding, sandblasting, and restoring her for life back on Alaska’s wild waters. ⸻ 📑 Chapters 00:00 – Demoing more in the bathroom/head 00:30 – Inside the Bow Compartment 02:00 – Discovering the Hydraulic System 04:00 – Lead Ballast and Leverage 06:00 – Breaking Free the Seized Fittings 08:00 – Trying to Decode the 1990s Setup 10:30 – The “Innovation” That Maybe Worked 12:30 – Options for Modern Refit 14:30 – Wrap-Up: Keep It or Cut It

A rainy day in the Wrangell, Alaska shipyard with our 80-foot steel schooner Alaskan Gypsy. With welding repairs underway on the hull, it’s time to tear out the old bathroom (head) to reach badly rusted steel and thin plating beneath. In this 22-minute slow-TV edit, you’ll see real-time refit work and hear the thinking behind it - deciding how much to remove, uncovering years of damage from leaks and corrosion, and re-imagining how the space could someday be rebuilt. What’s inside: • first rainy-day welding under the new shelter • demoing the vanity, cupboards, and tile • discovering corrosion and thin hull plate • talk about head redesign ideas and liveaboard practicality • reflections on slow progress, storage, and future rebuild plans This is pure shipyard reality - no hype, just the rhythm of the work. Subscribe to follow our full steel sailboat restoration in Wrangell: welding, sandblasting, painting, and eventually sailing Alaska’s wild coastline again! ⸻ Chapters 00:00 – Rainy Day in the Shipyard 00:30 – First Welding Under the Paint Shelter 01:00 – Bathroom Problems & Electrolysis Damage 02:30 – Planning the Head Tear-Out 04:00 – Sewage-Soaked Plywood and Rusty Plate 06:00 – Goodbye Cupboards, Hello Access 08:30 – Rethinking the Bathroom Layout 10:00 – Starting Full Demolition 13:00 – Breaking Tile & Removing Vanity 18:00 – Full Access to the Hull 21:00 – Wrap-Up & Thoughts on Rebuild

Day one in Maui, and of course, I was drawn straight to the harbor. After nearly 24 hours of travel (including a mid-flight emergency where my old nursing skills kicked back in!), I landed at Maʻalaea Harbor — the second windiest harbor in the world. For me, this walk is more than just a look at boats. It's a connection to my roots. It's a grounding feeling of home, thousands of miles away from gypsy and my soul mate. It’s a reflection on why the ocean keeps calling me back — from growing up in Valdez, Alaska and Prince William Sound, to now living and creating aboard with Scott as we take on the unfolding journey of refitting our 80’ triple-masted Thomas Colvin schooner, The Alaskan Gypsy. It's about gratitude for the entire experience! Whether in the raw stillness of Alaska or the trade winds of Hawaii, the sea has always been my grounding place. Thanks for joining me in keeping Gypsy Life connected across oceans. Feel free to comment along as I'd love to share the journey with you! :) Chapters: 00:00 – Arriving at Maʻalaea Harbor (Not in the Shipyard Anymore!) 01:06 – Checking Out Maui’s Boats & Vessel Styles 02:48 – Why Our Steel “House on the Water” Stands Out 04:14 – Harbor Reflections + My Mid-Flight Nursing Story 05:27 – How It All Connects to Refitting The Alaskan Gypsy 07:41 – Growing Up in Valdez, Alaska (My Ocean Roots) 08:19 – Deckhand Summers in Prince William Sound 10:31 – Inspired by Liveaboard Sailors I Saw as a Kid 11:23 – Dreams Becoming Reality with Scott 12:04 – Returning to Hawaii: Childhood Memories & Now 14:35 – Exploring More of the Harbor Walk 17:14 – Tropical Harbors vs. Alaskan Harbors 19:10 – Finding Maui’s Longest Stretch of Beach 20:49 – Closing Reflections: Freedom, Schooner Dreams & Ocean Life

Just over a minute of the DIY paint shelter build around our 80’ steel schooner Alaskan Gypsy in Wrangell, Alaska. With sandblasting and painting ahead, we needed to frame up a shelter strong enough for southeast storms. This short is a quick glimpse at the project — see the full 16-minute video for the real build process, late-night framing, and all the details of preparing for sandblasting and painting in the shipyard. 👉 Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/JSiCR_modqk?si=E6Omu910KFFNdi5j

Working late into the night at the Wrangell, Alaska shipyard on our 80’ steel schooner 'Alaskan Gypsy'. With sandblasting and painting ahead, I need to build a paint shelter around the hull to keep the project moving through southeast Alaska’s frequent rain. This 16-minute video shows the real DIY process - rough cut local lumber, improvised framing, bracing, and problem-solving into the evening darkness. It’s gritty shipyard work and part of the bigger journey of restoring our steel sailboat for future cruising in Alaska’s wilderness. In this video: • cutting and framing with rough cut yellow cedar boards • standing 20’ wall sections against the hull • custom fitting rafters to follow the boat’s shape • bracing for Wrangell’s stormy winds • building a structure strong enough to handle sandblast prep and painting. Fingers crossed ;-) Subscribe to follow the full refit of S/V Alaskan Gypsy - welding, sandblasting, painting, and eventually sailing Alaska’s wild waters again! We can hardly wait. ⸻ 📑 Chapters 00:00 – Intro: Why Build a Paint Shelter 00:45 – Lumber and Rough Framing 02:30 – First Wall Sections Go Up 05:00 – Bracing and Storm Prep 07:20 – Working the Stern Frame 10:00 – Rafters Along the Curve of the Hull 12:30 – Bow Section Challenges 14:30 – Evening Wrap-Up in the Yard 15:30 – Next Steps: Plastic Sheeting and Sandblast Prep

Life in a small Alaskan shipyard is full of surprises - but today we got one we never expected. The harbormaster called to say someone left us an anonymous gift at the IGA grocery store in Wrangell. In this episode of The Alaskan Gypsy Life, join us as we: • Wonder what the mysterious call means (complaint or kindness?) • Share the ups and downs of working on our steel motorsailer in the shipyard • Talk about community connections, Reiki sessions, and settling into Wrangell • Walk into the IGA to discover an incredible anonymous act of generosity — a $100 gift card • Reflect on gratitude, sensitivity, and the beauty of connection on this Alaskan journey Whether it’s welding on the boat, grounding with Reiki, or receiving kindness from strangers, this moment reminded us why we’re documenting our gypsy life: to share the raw, real, and heart-opening experiences of life in coastal Alaska. If you’ve ever had a stranger’s kindness touch your life, drop a comment below - we’d love to hear your story. 🌊 Subscribe to follow our Alaskan Gypsy journey: repairs, wilderness sailing, and the wild ride of living aboard.

Created a hole under the shower, buried under a tank, backed with foam, and nearly impossible to reach. Careful welding, tiny rods, and a lot of patience to patch it without fire or fumes. Life in the shipyard isn’t boring!

Back in the Wrangell shipyard with our 80’ steel schooner S/V Alaskan Gypsy. This time, we’re tackling electrolysis damage caused by years in a marina with stray current and neglected zincs. In this 16-minute update, you’ll see: • welding into pits and divots left by electrolysis in the hull plating below the waterline • how galvanic corrosion differs from electrolysis (with a reading from Scott Fratcher’s excellent resource here: http://yachtwork.com/report-corrosion.htm ) • how some weld seams had literally dissolved away • practical repair strategies discussed before sandblasting and epoxy primer • thoughts on long-term steel boat restoration This is part shipyard log, part technical dive into marine corrosion. If you’re into steel boat refits, welding, and real-world lessons about electrolysis, you’ll find plenty here. Subscribe for more long-form refit videos, welding updates, and the eventual return of the Alaskan Gypsy to Alaska’s wild coastline! We can't wait. But we'll wait. Good things take time, sometimes. ⸻ 📑 Chapters 00:00 – Intro: Alaskan Gypsy & Shipyard Update 01:00 – Electrolysis Damage in Ketchikan Harbor 02:20 – Welding Hull Divots & Seams 03:40 – Electrolysis vs. Rust Corrosion 05:00 – Cladding Small Pits with Weld Beads 07:10 – Sandblasting & Epoxy Primer Plans 08:20 – Audrey Drops By | To Blast or Not to Blast 09:30 – Stories from Other Steel Boats in the Yard 11:00 – Encouragement: Steel’s Surprising Strength 13:10 – Reading: Scott Fratcher on Electrolysis vs. Galvanic Corrosion http://yachtwork.com/report-corrosion.htm 15:20 – Closing Thoughts & Next Steps

Status update from the shipyard: our simple hot water heater install turned into a full-blown adventure. 🚿😅 Between high-pressure city water, 30-year-old fittings, and a boat that might sink on dry dock (don’t worry, it won’t 😉), we’re learning fast that nothing about boat life is ever simple. Will we ever get that warm dish-washing water? Stay tuned… #boatlife #liveaboard #alaskagypsylife #shipyardlife #diyboatlife #sailingcommunity

What drives two people to sell everything, move aboard an 80ft steel schooner, and dedicate their lives to the ocean? In this heartfelt episode, we share the why behind our sailing journey — the storms, the shipyard grind, the grief, the freedom, and the unforgettable whale encounters that make it all worth it. From the raw wilderness of Alaska to spiritual moments with orcas, this is a story of connection, resilience, and rediscovering home on the sea. 👉 Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@UCniNUChuiHyjptjTOSDCwEw 👉 Follow our journey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealaskangypsylife/ 🌊 Featured in this video: Orca whale encounters in Alaska Reflections on wilderness, loss, and resilience Life aboard our 80ft steel Thomas Colvin schooner Alaskan Gypsy Why we chose a liveaboard, off-grid lifestyle Thank you for tuning in.

Take a walk with us through Wrangell Harbor in Southeast Alaska! From the bustling city shipyard to wooden classics, commercial fishing boats, floatplanes, and houseboats, this harbor is full of life and stories. 🌊⚓ We’ll show you: The Alaskan Gypsy, our 80ft steel schooner project boat currently in the yard Wrangell’s busy shipyard and nearby fish cannery Local fishing vessels: trollers, gillnetters, shrimp trawlers, seiners, skiffs, and more Historic wooden boats and modern aluminum builds by Swenson Marine Shark (Shake) Island, floatplane docks, houseboats, and cultural totem sites Conversations with locals preparing for big winds and storms in Alaska This video is a look at harbor life in Southeast Alaska—a mix of heritage, hard work, and natural beauty. Whether you love boats, fishing, or just exploring unique Alaskan towns, Wrangell offers something special. 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Alaskan Gypsy Life adventures as we restore our triple-masted schooner and share life from the coast of Alaska. ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 – Intro & leaving the shipyard 0:40 – The Alaskan Gypsy: our schooner project boat 1:20 – Wrangell Shipyard & fish cannery overview 2:10 – Harbor walk begins & stormy weather talk 3:30 – Locals on winter winds in Southeast Alaska 4:20 – Harbor master’s office & floatplane dock 5:10 – Friend Tanner’s new fishing boat 6:00 – Salmon gillnetting & shrimp trawling vessels 7:20 – Unique houseboats & barge living 8:00 – Old wooden fishing boats & classic sailboats 9:20 – Shark Island & cultural totem history 10:40 – Boats for sale & quirky harbor finds 12:00 – Wooden sailboats needing love 13:30 – Swenson Marine builds from Wrangell 15:00 – More seiners, trollers & fishing gear 17:20 – Harbor skiffs & their price tags 19:00 – Refurbished boats & local pride 20:00 – Fuel dock & Wrangell’s small-town feel 22:00 – Chat with Kevin: hurricane prep & harbor life 25:00 – Shake Island boardwalk & tidal grid 27:00 – City crane & harbor facilities 29:00 – Wrapping up the harbor walk

We’re in Wrangell, Alaska with the s/v Alaskan Gypsy — but this video isn’t about our steel schooner refit. Today, we jumped in to help a neighbor Tristan salvage his project boat’s shelter after it was destroyed in a storm. With another storm on the way, it was all hands on deck: Audrey, Tristan’s family, and even the man Don Sorric pitching in to finish getting a shrink wrap shelter up over the fiberglass boat. This is real shipyard life: • teamwork in tough weather • shrink wrapping giant sheets of plastic • learning on the fly (with some comedy along the way) • preparing for hurricane-force winds Subscribe for more DIY boat refit, shipyard life, and Alaska storm prep adventures as we continue restoring the Alaskan Gypsy. ⸻ 📑 Chapters 00:00 – Intro: Helping Our Neighbor Tristan 01:00 – Audrey Joins the Shrink Wrap Crew 02:30 – Community & Small-Town Shipyard Vibes 04:30 – Storm Prep Philosophy: Helping Neighbors 08:00 – Lifting & Spreading the Giant Shrink Wrap Sheets 09:30 – Wind, Rain, and First Attempts at Securing Plastic 12:00 – Second Side Goes Up | Teamwork in Action 14:00 – Shrink Wrapping with Propane Torch 16:00 – Taping, Tightening & Fighting the Weather 19:00 – Wrap-Up & Harbor Walk Plans Back To The Wood by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

An hour and sixteen minutes in the shipyard — salvaging, cleaning out, and fighting to reinstall the hot water tank aboard our 80’ steel schooner Alaskan Gypsy. This is long-form, slow-TV style boat refit: no shortcuts, no fast edits, just the real step-by-step battle. What’s inside this tank? Mud, rust, broken zincs, plumbing problems — and eventually, some kind of victory. Along the way you’ll see: • removing & salvaging the old hot water heater • flushing years of sediment & corrosion • replacing the zinc anode • fighting with stubborn fittings and leaks • warm water washing dreams • struggling to hook everything back up again If you like real DIY boat repair, the gritty details of refit life, or just long-form shipyard “slow TV,” settle in for the full watch. Related long-form refit struggles: • Packing Gland Fail (“The Gland Won”) → https://youtu.be/1ROSrbitFqg • Rusty Rudder Post Wrangle → https://youtu.be/9yUaLQFdQ4k 00:00 – Intro: Hot Water Tank Salvage Begins 06:00 – Pulling the Tank Free from Its Spot 12:00 – First Look Inside: Mud & Sediment Everywhere 20:00 – Zinc Anode Check & Corrosion Concerns 28:00 – Flushing Out Years of Rust & Crud 38:00 – Scraping, Rinsing, and Salvage Work 50:00 – Plumbing Problems & Wrong Fittings 1:02:00 – New Zinc Installed, Tank Back Together 1:10:00 – Final Hookup Attempts (and Leaks!) 1:15:00 – Wrap-Up: Lessons Learned from the Hot Water Struggle Kool Kats by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Welcome aboard! This video is the very first time Captain Scott drove the Gypsy, right off the grid and into her stall in the Ketchikan Harbor, under the glow of the northern lights, and after a stressful few days discovering electrolysis damage on her hull and fixing a surprise diesel leak! ✨ Thanks for following along with our Alaskan Gypsy Life — your support means the world as we share our adventure restoring and sailing our 80’ steel motor-sailer, and eventually living 4 seasons aboard in Alaska!