Hashtag Sal · video

What this video covers

After a three-month refit at Aratu Yacht Club in Salvador, Brazil, the 1988 sailboat *Balanço* returns to the water. The project included painting the hull and bottom, as well as replacing nine through-hull fittings. Because the boat lacks an engine during this phase, the club’s support vessel tows it to a service pier for continued interior and deck work. The owner performs a critical inspection of the new through-hull fittings immediately upon launch to ensure no leaks exist before the boat is fully released from the travel lift. Future planned repairs include removing and resealing leaking portlights, painting the deck, and addressing interior cabinetry. The owner also demonstrates a custom emergency rudder system designed to attach to the stern ladder, reinforced with steel plating to handle steering loads. This refit process serves as both a necessary maintenance cycle and a way for the owner to gain deeper technical familiarity with the vessel's systems.

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