Leading the Escapade · video

What this video covers

The crew of the sailboat *Escapade* replaces nine aging bronze through-hull fittings with composite TruDesign valves while hauled out at Panamarina in Panama.0:11 The team removes the original fittings by grinding four cuts into the exterior flange and using a hammer and chisel to break the seal, often requiring a heat gun to soften the old sealant.1:39 After removing the old hardware, they sand the hull back to the gel coat, apply a barrier coat to protect exposed fiberglass, and use a mixture of epoxy resin and cabosil to fill any uneven divots.3:11 They dry-fit the new composite fittings to ensure proper alignment of the ball valve handles, then use calipers to measure and cut the threaded stems to the correct length.11:35 To prevent thread damage during cutting, they thread a nut onto the fitting before using a hacksaw.12:51 The final installation uses 3M 4200 sealant on the threads to secure the valves in the desired orientation.20:18

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