From the Trash to Our Boat: Refitting Paikea with Carbon from Race Boats

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:57:36 +0000

Paikea refit, sailboat restoration, America's Cup boat salvage, carbon fiber repair, sailboat interior renovation, DIY boat building, Volvo Ocean Race, boat refit series, Valencia boat yard

After a huge push, we’re finally at a point where the massive refit of our boat, Paikea, is showing serious progress. We’re tired, but we’re committed, and in this video, we’re giving you a full walkthrough of where we’re at.

In this episode:
America’s Cup Salvage: We grabbed carbon nomex panels and massive carbon sail battens from an AC catamaran Alinghi 5 that was being demolished. Will it look cool or just warped?!
Structural Stiffening: See how we used a carbon batten to fix a flexy spot on the cabin roof and prevent hard points.
Interior Demolition & Reconstruction: We’ve ripped out the old liner and are rebuilding the galley, companionway steps, and a MASSIVE new pantry.
Upcycled Lockers: Harry is building out his cabin with lockers from the Volvo Ocean Race boat, Trifork/Ericcson 4.
Aft Cabin & Shower: The shower/toilet area is finally taking shape! We’re fitting a carbon sink we’ve been saving for years and building a custom floor.
Smart Plumbing: We’re installing a gravity-fed black water system to minimize pumps and complexity.
Plus new hatches, stanchions etc.

We’re getting there! From the "oh sh#t" phase to the "okay, we’re getting there" phase, I definitely think there is a bit of crazy here on Paikea.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro & America's Cup Salvage
1:40 - Cabin Top Stiffening with Carbon Battens
3:35 - Galley, Pantry & Companionway Steps
5:50 - Harry's Upcycled Lockers (Ericsson 3)
7:40 - New Flush Hatches
8:30 - Aft Cabin: Shower, Toilet & Carbon Sink
12:25 - Aiden's Room & Plumbing Reroute
14:45 - Progress & Pizza Night

USEFUL LINKS
➜ Supporting blog post https://youngbarnacles.com/
➜ Want to go deeper? Access our detailed composites videos, project files, and community on the Youngbarnacles Members Hub: https://youngbarnacles.com/plans/all-access-memberships/
➜ Need world-class engineering for your project? Learn more about our professional design and consultancy services at SYAS Performance: https://syasperformance.weebly.com/
➜ Free Sailing Library: Check out our free guides on composites, systems, and seamanship: https://www.youngbarnacles.com/resources

MUSIC
YouTube Audio Library ➜ https://www.youtube.com/

SAFETY DISCLAIMER: PROFESSIONAL WORK
This video documents professional marine work with significant risk of injury or vessel damage. This is NOT DIY instruction. You are solely responsible for your own safety and actions. We are not liable for any application of this information.
Full Disclaimer: https://youngbarnacles.com/website-disclaimer/