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Sail Life - Catamaran issues after 5 years 😱

27 August 2023 · 17 min · 67K views · Charleston, South Carolina

What this video covers

A 2017 Fountain Pajot Helia catamaran in Charleston, South Carolina, requires a major repair after a survey identifies high moisture levels in its sacrificial keels.0:15 The keel construction consists of two bonded fiberglass shells filled with foam, which have trapped water due to failed sealant at the hull-to-keel joint.3:47 While initial plans involve drilling drainage holes and re-caulking, the crew decides to drop the keels entirely to perform a permanent repair, which includes removing wet foam, drying the interior, re-foaming, and re-glassing.9:55 The project also addresses sail drive maintenance, including replacing lip seals and installing new shafts after previous damage from an impact driver.10:38 The crew prepares the hull for anti-fouling by sanding with 80-grit paper and applying Seahawk bottom paint, while also cleaning propellers for PropSpeed application.6:27 The boat requires re-blocking at a cost of 600 USD to allow for the keel removal process.12:18

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Boats in this video

Warrior 38Their boatHelia 44Toured

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