Untidevideo
The Dirty, Exhausting, UNSEEN Side of Sailing Dreams (S&S Swan Refit)
8 July 2025 · 21 min · 38K views
What this video covers
A 1970 Sparkman & Stephens Swan 37, *Elixir*, undergoes a comprehensive refit in a Tauranga, New Zealand, boatyard after four years of circumnavigation. The project begins with a haul-out to address a broken forestay tang at the masthead, requiring the mast to be unstepped and transported to a local workshop for professional aluminum welding. The owner removes the engine to replace corroded mounts, discovering extensive secondary damage including worn engine legs, a damaged gearbox, and a failed cutlass bearing. Interior work involves stripping and re-varnishing floorboards, removing galley joinery, and cleaning bilges. The owner also replaces seized seacocks that were neglected during long periods of inactivity. The refit reveals that structural fiberglass floor bearers require grinding and repair, expanding the scope of the project beyond the initial plan. The owner emphasizes the necessity of exercising seacocks regularly and acknowledges that complex refits often exceed planned timelines and budgets.
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