Sailing Zatara · video

What this video covers

The crew of the catamaran Zatara discovered their port-side propeller had sheared off while motoring toward the Dominican Republic.10:56 After noticing a zero-percent load on the port engine’s electronic display, the crew confirmed the loss upon arrival at Ocean World Marina in Puerto Plata.10:26 Keith Whitaker had previously removed and reinstalled the classic Max Prop units to adjust their pitch while in the Bahamas, but he suspects the failure resulted from either an installation error—specifically misaligned internal numbers—or an underwater collision during rough conditions.15:47 The incident forced a week-long delay in the vessel's passage toward Grenada while awaiting replacement Max Prop Easy units.24:24 The crew also planned to replace their aging battery bank with lithium batteries upon reaching Puerto Rico to address declining performance.25:22 The experience highlighted the necessity of monitoring engine load indicators, as the port engine’s lack of resistance served as the primary, albeit overlooked, warning sign of the mechanical failure.10:21

More from Sailing Zatara

The (harsh) Reality of Taking Over Zatara!Oct 2026It's Official: Zatara is SOLD!Sept 2026FINALLY WEATHERPROOF! (Winter won't stop us now!)Sept 2026From One Extreme to the Other!Aug 2026

From Sailing Zatara — 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.