Living For Sail · video

What this video covers

Fiberglass repair and moisture remediation on the 38-ft sailboat Antidote involve vacuum-bagging laminate layers and constructing a custom forced-air drying system for the bulwarks. To repair the bow, the owner applies multiple fiberglass layers using a 10-inch mercury vacuum to compact the resin, maintaining a 50-50 glass-to-resin ratio. After confirming the hull substrate is dry with a moisture meter, the owner shifts focus to drying out the bulwarks following the removal of rotted plywood. The drying system utilizes a vane-style fan to pull air through the bulwark cavity, paired with a Conair Yellowbird hairdryer to introduce heat. The setup uses 4-inch semi-rigid aluminum ducting, rubber pipe insulation, and gaff tape to seal the intake and exhaust points. A 3D-printed vacuum attachment cleans residual dust from the bottom of the bulwark channels before the drying process begins. Monitoring with a thermocouple shows a 40-degree temperature increase within the system, stabilizing in the 80s Fahrenheit.

Boats in this video

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