Leading the Escapadevideo
Ignoring This Boat Upgrade Could Cost You Everything | TruDesign Install! Ep-229
8 July 2026 · 23 min · 17K views · Panamarina
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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