Salt & Tarvideo
Salt & Tar: Ep.352 - Prelaunch Push
30 July 2026 · 24 min · 39K views
What this video covers
The owners of the wooden boat Red Aviva prepare for a relaunch after a six-and-a-half-month haul-out. The final pre-launch tasks include applying bottom paint to the keel and rudder, reinstalling the diesel tank deck fill, and verifying engine operation.▶ 7:16 To test the engine without water in the yard, the crew uses a hose to supply raw water for cooling the freshwater-cooled system.▶ 9:35 The engine, which previously suffered from external oil leaks, remains dry after recent seal and gasket replacements.▶ 10:10 To manage the expected water ingress common with wooden hulls after long periods on the hard, the crew uses Slick Seam wax to seal underwater planking gaps.▶ 17:35 They plan to launch at high tide, aiming for a late-day slot to allow extra time for monitoring bilge pumps while the boat sits in the slings.▶ 21:33 The crew intends to rent a workspace at the yard for continued mast and interior projects once the boat is back in the water.▶ 5:41
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