Vagabond Voyagesvideo
Preparing the sailboat in Tahiti before the big departure: launching, fuel on board... Ep75
9 May 2025 · 41 min · 11K views · Tahiti
What this video covers
After ten days of intensive maintenance in a Tahiti boatyard, the crew of a 45-year-old ketch prepares for relaunch.4:26 Projects include replacing a corroded through-hull fitting, polishing the hull, and installing a 220-watt flexible solar panel on the bimini.7:47 To manage the new solar capacity, Tom installs a 450-watt-rated MPPT charge controller, routing cables through the interior to the battery bank.22:23 The crew also performs routine maintenance on the propeller, including anode replacement to mitigate electrolysis, and completes interior upholstery work in the saloon.10:07 To ensure cooking autonomy, they transfer propane from a 12.8kg reserve tank into smaller 6kg bottles using a manual transfer setup, a process requiring dry weather to function correctly.25:30 Despite the boat’s age, the hull remains free of osmosis, though the crew plans for a future full repaint in a drier climate.13:46 The vessel returns to the water following the completion of these final refit tasks.17:40
More from Vagabond Voyages
From Vagabond Voyages — 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.