Vagabond Voyagesvideo

Living on a boat: it’s no vacation! Sealing, painting, sewing & life on board. Ep73

25 April 2025 · 32 min · 7K views · French Polynesia

What this video covers

Maintenance tasks on a 40-to-50-year-old sailboat in a tropical marina include sealing window leaks with silicone, treating a weathered bimini with a mixture of white spirit and clear silicone, and sewing custom fabric covers for cockpit cushions.3:23 To protect the original Sunbrella upholstery, the crew uses cotton fabric to create removable, washable covers.11:30 The owners also prepare for a haul-out by purchasing new, low-profile through-hull fittings, which require beveling the existing holes to ensure a flush fit with epoxy.3:58 For wood maintenance, the crew prefers single-component varnish over two-part systems, citing better flexibility as the wood expands and contracts in high heat.9:58 Additional projects include repairing electrical connections for power tools and organizing storage.26:45 The crew emphasizes that living aboard requires constant, labor-intensive upkeep rather than a vacation lifestyle.19:09

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