Acorn To Arabella · video

What this video covers

Operating a wooden boat in 30-degree temperatures along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) presents significant challenges, including frozen dock lines, iced-over hatches, and the necessity of wearing heavy layers while helming.9:14 During a winter transit from Charleston, South Carolina, the crew of the wooden boat Arabella navigates shallow, marked channels while managing discrepancies between Navionics charts and their onboard plotter.3:38 The vessel maintains a four-foot depth clearance in narrow sections while avoiding crab pots that line the channel edges.3:44 Bridge transits require precise coordination with bridge tenders, as the boat’s 33-foot clearance necessitates scheduled openings.9:38 The crew utilizes a synthetic sleeping bag in the cockpit to mitigate the effects of the cold, wet environment.8:38 Beyond the technical demands of winter sailing, the passage serves as a transition point for crew members and an opportunity to discuss the supply chain for maritime-grade white oak, which remains difficult to source for wooden boat construction and maintenance.21:13

More from Acorn To Arabella

We Stripped Our Wooden Sailboat Back to Bare Wood... AgainOct 2026Saying Goodbye to Newfoundland—and the Man Who Inspired ArabellaSept 2026Upgrading the Rudder and Another Trek To The CliffAug 2026We're Climbing a Wall No One Has Ever Climbed Before | Rock Climbing on Newfoundland's South CoastJul 2026

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