SmoCo Sailingvideo
[Ep 47] Boatyard Era Finale: A Setback, A Surprise & The Final Days
22 January 2026 · 13 min · 830 views · Mexico
Sailboat on blocks under clear blue sky
What this video covers
A saildrive bellows replacement on Cosmo, a 1972 wooden sailboat in a San Carlos, Mexico boatyard, consumed most of a three-month haul-out after two failed installs. Armand attempted the first replacement himself; an inadequate seal allowed oil to migrate into the water-ingress side of the drive.0:58 A hired mechanic completed a second attempt, but oil was still leaking the morning after reinstall — the shop had skipped a pressure test and may have under-torqued the seals.1:25 Armand drained the drive, pulled it again, and ordered replacement o-rings, gaskets, and shims in triplicate before giving the Mexican mechanics another chance.2:45 A separate surprise repair emerged when a fresh-water hose connection inside the V-berth broke free — the result of a multi-piece plumbing workaround installed because local stores lacked a single hose of sufficient length.6:22 Armand also applied prop speed to the saildrive after the final repair.5:24 Armand and Liya obtained one-year Mexican temporary residency visas during a U.S. trip for parts and a consulate interview.8:17 A planned June 20 splash was pushed five days to Wednesday after strong afternoon winds and stories of boats damaged during marina entry made the original date too risky.9:05 Repeated saildrive disassembly destroys the seals each time, making specialist involvement and new seals essential from the first attempt.
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