Sailing Zatara · video

What this video covers

The crew of the 50-ft catamaran *Zatara* navigates a series of mechanical and logistical setbacks while transiting the Thorny Passage toward Puerto Rico. After a prop shaft failure, the crew spends several days in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, coordinating with a customs broker to retrieve replacement parts from FedEx without paying excessive import duties.2:45 Once the parts arrive, the captain installs new propellers and PSS shaft seals underwater, utilizing a safety line to prevent loss.4:29 During the subsequent passage to Puerto Rico, the crew encounters squalls and rough sea states, necessitating careful radar navigation to avoid storm cells.15:10 Upon arrival in Culebra, Puerto Rico, an underwater inspection reveals significant structural damage to the port-side rudder, which the captain suspects occurred when the previous propeller failed.23:26 The crew also replaces their lead-acid battery bank with 12 Epoch LiFePO4 lithium batteries to reduce vessel weight.18:22 The captain plans to haul out in the British Virgin Islands to address the rudder damage and perform further maintenance.25:30

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