Sailing Catalpa · video

What this video covers

The crew of the 44-year-old sailboat Catalpa completes final refit projects in a boatyard before a scheduled splash. Repairs include welding a new solar panel rack, surfboard racks, and swim platform supports, with the owner using a TIG welder and remote pedal operation by a crew member to reach difficult spots. To address pinholes in the diesel tank, the crew seals the bottom with metal set A4 epoxy and installs three new inspection outlets using quarter-inch bolts and gaskets. The project list also includes installing a new bilge pump, replacing standing rigging components with repurposed stay locks, and fitting new sheets and halyards from Precision. Despite logistical setbacks involving lost shipping parcels containing transducer parts and last-minute insurance requirements, the crew prepares for a crane lift during an 11-foot tide. The final tasks involve removing the headsail and furler to accommodate the lift, with the goal of departing for an anchorage 100 nautical miles away.

More from Sailing Catalpa

arriving to the most remote atolls on earth...the TuamotusSept 2026they weren't expecting thisSept 2026one of the most remote islands on the planetSept 202629 days sailing Panama to French Polynesia the whole passageAug 2026

From Sailing Catalpa — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.