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I Got Hired for My First Professional Boat Delivery: Fiji to French Polynesia
October 1, 2025 · 25 min · 22K views · Fiji
Bearded sailor grips catamaran rail, cutting through sunlit water
What this video covers
A professional delivery crew prepares a 15-year-old Katana 55 catamaran for a 2,400-nautical-mile passage from Tahiti to Hawaii.▶ 1:07 After taking ownership at the Dream Yacht Charter Base in Raiatea, the crew encounters multiple mechanical failures during a short shakedown cruise, including a malfunctioning autopilot, dead house batteries, and a lost mainsail batten.▶ 8:13 The autopilot failure required two separate returns to the charter base for technician repairs.▶ 9:18 The crew spends several days in Tahiti provisioning and performing essential maintenance, including replacing the entire battery bank and installing new solar controllers to prepare for the upcoming offshore transit.▶ 11:21 While waiting for parts and additional crew, the team explores local hiking trails near Tahiti.▶ 15:23 Meanwhile, the boat's co-owner recovers from a physical injury in Colorado, focusing on rehabilitation and family time before reuniting with the vessel.▶ 21:38 Thorough shakedown cruises are essential when commissioning a used charter boat for long-distance offshore passages.
Boats in this video
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