LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and COMMENT - VOTE Yes if you think the Transom doors are safe and NO if you think they are NOT!!! WATCH - https://youtu.be/_wK55agpLYk Are transom doors on Portofino catamarans a brilliant innovation… or a serious offshore risk? 🌊⚠️ In this episode, we take a deep dive into one of the most debated design features of the Portofino 52 catamaran — the aft transom doors that give incredible sea access, but also sit directly in the firing line of following seas and breaking waves. We ask the hard questions every offshore sailor should ask: • Can transom doors leak in heavy seas? • Could they fail catastrophically in extreme conditions? • Are storm boards really necessary — or outdated? • How strong is 15mm acrylic (Perspex) when it’s wave-slammed? • What happens to acrylic after years of sun exposure? To get real answers, we go straight to the source — Rafael, the designer — and break down the engineering, materials, certifications, drainage systems, gaskets, aluminum frames, and wave-impact design behind these doors. This isn’t theory. This is real-world boatbuilding, explained in detail. You’ll also learn: ✔️ Why these doors are RINA-certified watertight ✔️ How pressure from waves actually seals the door tighter ✔️ Why the dive room acts as a coffer dam for safety and buoyancy ✔️ The hidden long-term danger of UV-damaged Perspex ✔️ Why older boats fail — and modern ones don’t We finish by putting the decision back to you. 👉 Would you trust these transom doors offshore? 👉 Storm boards: Yes or No? Drop your vote in the comments and join the debate. If you love sailing, catamarans, yacht design, boat safety, offshore cruising, and behind-the-scenes boatbuilding, make sure to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell — because the Portofino 52 launch is coming, and you won’t want to miss what happens next. JOIN PATREON if you want early release episodes, live updates, go sailing on out Portofino 52 and a chance to meet us at events throughout the year? Click here: www.patreon.com/BarefootDoctorsSailing Future proof your children with TUFMINDS Audio stories.... Help sleep, improve self image and confidence from little to teens - so get the pack for the age group and give your children, grandchildren the gift of a happier and healthier future!!! Every penny goes to Exqisit Life Foundation to support TUFMINDS Mental Resilience and Suicide Prevention Program worldwide! DONATIONS to the charity to support Suicide Prevention with the free TUFMINDS program can be made at: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=DR5NY95QLCTP6 For more info: www.TUFMINDS.com and "The Art of BECOMING BETTER" YouTube channel www.barefootdoctorssailing.com.au

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LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and COMMENT 🔔 Watch next: ▶️ The Four Design Flaws That May Sink Your Boat - https://youtu.be/1Pts63seZYY Most people shopping for a catamaran never ask the dangerous questions. They compare layouts, finishes, and brochure numbers. But after losing our own boat, we stopped trusting marketing — and started pulling designs apart. In our last episode, we revealed 50+ features that make the Portofino 52 aluminium catamaran radically different from most production boats. It sparked a huge debate. So in this episode, we answer the questions everyone actually wants answered: • How much does the Portofino 52 really cost? • What’s included — and what’s optional? • What will it truly weigh when ready to cruise? • How fast will it sail in the real world? • Are these safety systems worth it — or just expensive complexity? We dive deep into real-world cruising performance, weight management, boom furling, lithium battery fire safety, system complexity, and why aluminium construction fundamentally changes offshore safety and comfort. This is not a sponsored review. We receive no commissions, no kickbacks, and no incentives of any kind. With 50+ years of combined sailing experience and 60,000+ offshore miles, we explain why displacement matters more than draft, what “comfortable speed” really means at sea, and why abandoning ship should never be the default plan. We also compare the Portofino 52 on price and design philosophy against other serious expedition catamarans including Garcia, McConaghy, and Kinetic, and explain why many production boats still carry design risks that matter if you’re crossing oceans. There are still unknowns — and we’re honest about them. We’ll share final sailing weight, performance numbers, and long-term reliability as this boat hits the water. If you’re planning serious cruising, offshore passages, or choosing your next catamaran — this conversation matters. Kick off your shoes and come barefoot with us. ⸻ 💬 Join the discussion: How do you balance performance, safety, and complexity on a cruising catamaran? 👣 About Us We’re the Barefoot Doctors — medical doctors and lifelong sailors living full-time aboard a performance expedition catamaran. Life really is better barefoot. If you love sailing, catamarans, yacht design, boat safety, offshore cruising, and behind-the-scenes boatbuilding, make sure to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell — because the Portofino 52 launch is coming, and you won’t want to miss what happens next. JOIN PATREON if you want early release episodes, live updates, go sailing on out Portofino 52 and a chance to meet us at events throughout the year? Click here: www.patreon.com/BarefootDoctorsSailing Future proof your children with TUFMINDS Audio stories.... Help sleep, improve self image and confidence from little to teens - so get the pack for the age group and give your children, grandchildren the gift of a happier and healthier future!!! Every penny goes to Exqisit Life Foundation to support TUFMINDS Mental Resilience and Suicide Prevention Program worldwide! DONATIONS to the charity to support Suicide Prevention with the free TUFMINDS program can be made at: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=DR5NY95QLCTP6 For more info: www.TUFMINDS.com and "The Art of BECOMING BETTER" YouTube channel www.barefootdoctorssailing.com.au

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LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and COMMENT 🔔 Watch next: IT"S THE END! The last time we will see our catamaran in Dubai. The Portofino Shipyard in Dubai is closing! Friends we have made over thew past 4 years are now going to be seen much less often.... Our Portofino 52 catamaran will be shipped to Italy for the mast and launching and Portofino is moving to Fujairah. We are priviledged to be invited to the ceremony of the 10 Year Lease signing - with lots of pomp and ceremony. So we travel the 1 hour to Fugairah and can't believe our eyes - even before th contact is signed, work on the buildings and offices are already being built and quite far advanced... We are also invited to take part in a yacht race on Matrix, a carbon performance monohull - and this is serious stuff! Wile no money, lots of pride is at stake so see how we go. And EMARRASSINGLY, Eli gets trapped between the jib and stanchions in a tack and has to be pulled out by others.... Well, she is a catamaran sailor and not used to these lean over things!!!! Also exciting news about our upcoming episodes about how you can live aboard yachts for only $50K with outgoings of 1/4 -1/3 of normal seagoing prices - watch through to the end to find out how! 👣 About Us We’re the Barefoot Doctors — medical doctors and lifelong sailors living full-time aboard a performance expedition catamaran. Life really is better barefoot. If you love sailing, catamarans, yacht design, boat safety, offshore cruising, and behind-the-scenes boatbuilding, make sure to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell — because the Portofino 52 launch is coming, and you won’t want to miss what happens next. JOIN PATREON if you want early release episodes, live updates, go sailing on out Portofino 52 and a chance to meet us at events throughout the year? Click here: www.patreon.com/BarefootDoctorsSailing Future proof your children with TUFMINDS Audio stories.... Help sleep, improve self image and confidence from little to teens - so get the pack for the age group and give your children, grandchildren the gift of a happier and healthier future!!! Every penny goes to Exqisit Life Foundation to support TUFMINDS Mental Resilience and Suicide Prevention Program worldwide! DONATIONS to the charity to support Suicide Prevention with the free TUFMINDS program can be made at: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=DR5NY95QLCTP6 For more info: www.TUFMINDS.com and "The Art of BECOMING BETTER" YouTube channel www.barefootdoctorssailing.com.au

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