Small Step Big Problem Essential Sailboat Repair Before We Sail the World On Our Oceanis 430 Ep 117

Hi and welcome aboard @SailingAstridTheWombat We are Gav and Shezz and two and a half years ago we bought our Beneteau Oceanis 430 sailboat with absolutely no sailing experience and jumped straight into the deep end of liveaboard sailing. Our very first passage was just over 700 nautical miles, launching us headfirst into the world of bluewater cruising, learning to sail, and real life at sea. Since that moment, we’ve been fully immersed in boat life, documenting the journey of turning a production cruising sailboat into a capable, self-sufficient home as we prepare for full-time liveaboard life. From major sailboat upgrades and off-grid power systems to everyday maintenance and skills building, we’re learning what it truly takes to own, sail, and live on a boat while working toward our goal of sailing around the world. If you’re into sailing adventures, beginner sailing, sailboat ownership, cruising lifestyle, and traveling the world by sailboat, our journey is all about real-time learning, ocean freedom, and building the confidence to chase long-term world cruising under sail. In this episode of our liveaboard sailing adventure, we take on a critical sailboat repair—fixing and rebuilding our top step onboard our cruising sailboat as we prepare for full-time liveaboard life and sailing around the world. Boat maintenance and DIY boat projects are a huge part of the sailing lifestyle, and this repair is essential for safety, durability, and offshore sailing readiness. If you’re interested in sailing, liveaboard sailing, or dreaming about sailing around the world, this video is packed with real-world experience. We walk you through the full process of diagnosing structural damage, removing worn materials, and completing a step-by-step sailboat repair using practical tools and techniques that any sailor, beginner sailor, or boat owner can learn from. This sailing vlog is perfect for those researching sailboat maintenance, DIY boat repair, and how to prepare a sailboat for long-term cruising. Whether you own a sailboat, plan to live on a boat, or are just getting started in sailing, you’ll get valuable insights into fiberglass repair, boat carpentry, and essential boat work required for offshore cruising and bluewater sailing. As full-time liveaboard sailors getting ready to leave the dock and travel the world by sailboat, every project matters. This boat project is one of many as we prepare our sailboat for ocean crossings, remote anchorages, and the realities of cruising life. If you’re searching for sailing vlogs, sailing around the world content, or tips on how to live aboard a sailboat, you’re in the right place. Our channel focuses on liveaboard sailing Australia, real sailing adventures, and the journey from dock life to offshore sailing. We share everything—boat upgrades, sailboat refits, maintenance challenges, and the excitement of preparing for world travel by sailboat. In this video, you’ll learn about: • Sailboat repair and maintenance • boat carpentry • Liveaboard sailing lifestyle • Preparing to explore the world by sailboat • Sailboat upgrades and refit projects • Beginner sailing and boat ownership tips Follow our journey as we transition into full-time cruising and chase our dream of exploring the world by sailboat. Subscribe for weekly sailing videos, boat life content, and liveaboard adventures. You can also become part of our crew over at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/sailingastridthewombat/posts Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:03 Boat Hatch Covers 02:53 Boat Step in Disrepair 04:26 Prepping the Step 06:02 Repair Plan 10:16 Gluing the Step 14:35 Sanding the Step 15:00 Applying Non Slip Please leave a comment, like and subscribe to follow our journey. Join us now as we settle into liveaboard life and get our boat ready to take off and sail around the world in just a few weeks. As new sailors we want to share all of our learnings and keep it real in our videos. We want to show step by step what it takes to choose a boat, buy the boat and learn how to sail. Our sailing learning curve is steep so come along with us as we learn and grow as liveaboard sailors. We promise you will have a laugh! Welcome aboard Astrid The Wombat Gav and Shezz You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook: Sailing Astrid the Wombat #sailing #liveaboard #sailingaustralia #sailingadventures #sailboat