Practical Sailor · video

What this video covers

A friend named Mark offers a free 24-foot sailboat named Dagmar, on a trailer, and the host inspects it for the first time on camera to decide whether to take it on as a restoration project.0:12 The keel is iron, bolted on, and shows no independent movement from the hull.3:07 Inside, the bilge holds standing water, the floor has cracked fiberglass, wood stringers are exposed, and a diesel fuel line runs to a single-cylinder diesel engine with a large flywheel and what may be a six-volt alternator or magneto — make and year unknown.4:19 A new battery sits in the boat alongside an old Uniden VHF, a Gusher bilge pump, a corroded switch panel, and heavily questionable wiring.5:53 Telltale mold appears on interior surfaces, and multiple areas show sealant and added fiberglass layup suggesting previous leak repairs.5:57 The keel bolts are visible and not obviously corroded.6:35 The host frames the project as a community-driven educational restoration, with the eventual goal of donating the finished boat to a sailing school.0:52

More from Practical Sailor

The 11.5 Knot Cruiser – Bavaria Match 42 Yacht TourOct 2026Sailboat Backstay Adjustment for BeginnersOct 2026The Bargain Bluewater Sailboat - Catalina Morgan 44Oct 2026Sailboat Maintenance for Beginners - 10 Jobs You Can’t IgnoreOct 2026

From Practical Sailor — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.