Sub-Freezing Refit Life | Boat Work When Winter Hits Hard Ep. 65 #refit

It’s the middle of winter, we’re still on the hard, and a sub-freezing cold snap has settled in—so this episode of our sailing refit looks a little different. When temperatures drop below freezing, outdoor projects grind to a halt, but refit life doesn’t stop. In this video, we show what winter boat work really looks like when you’re living between a boatyard and an apartment and doing everything you can to keep moving forward. With the help of two space heaters, Shawn heads out to the boat to tackle interior refit projects that can be done despite the cold. He works on electrical wiring, continues building the fuel polisher system, connects plumbing to the fresh water tanks, and installs pumps in the bilge—slow, careful progress in tight spaces while trying to stay warm enough to function. Meanwhile, Geri stays back at the apartment—she’s far less cold-tolerant, and skipping the boat during this deep freeze is honestly saving her sanity. Being warm, rested, and functional means she can take care of herself and stay energized for what’s ahead, instead of just enduring the cold. If you’re refitting a sailboat in cold climates, living through winter on the hard, or just curious what boat life looks like when sailing season is still months away, this episode captures the quiet, unglamorous, but necessary side of the journey. Every small task completed now brings us one step closer to launch day and getting back on the water. This video is part of our ongoing sailing and refit series, documenting the real challenges of rebuilding and preparing a cruising sailboat—one cold winter day at a time. 00:00 Snow 00:26 Intro 00:43 Channel intro 01:00 Handling the cold snap 01:57 Wiring AC panels 5:23 Wire/Cable management 06:45 Bilge pumps 07:44 Shower panels 08:25 Sink drains 08:55 Toilet controls 09:37 Hot water tank and pressure tanks 11:08 Coolant hoses 11:47 Fuel polisher 13:30 Frankenfilter 14:48 Geri’s projects 17:50 Wrap up 18:57 Like, Subscribe, Emoji, Bye 19:16 End Card ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website. More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam #SailingLife #BoatRefit #SailboatMaintenance #CruisingLife #DIYBoatProjects #SailingCouple #SailboatRestoration #LiveaboardLife © Sailing Roam 2026