Sail Life · video

What this video covers

Refitting a 44-foot catamaran requires extensive structural work on the keels, including cleaning, drying, and installing custom bilge sumps.Watch The process begins by draining hundreds of liters of water from both keels and removing accumulated algae, fiberglass strands, and dust using a pressure washer and degreaser.0:28 To prevent future water accumulation, the project involves building and installing custom foam-core sump boxes designed to collect bilge water for easier removal.1:28 These sumps are bonded into the keels using thickened epoxy and fiberglass cloth.18:10 During the refit, unexpected rain reveals leaks in the deck hatch covers, forcing a delay in the final fiberglassing of the sumps until the deck is sealed with temporary wooden hatches.15:06 The project also includes constructing a dedicated fiberglass rack to organize materials and upgrading tools with an 18-volt battery-powered router and an oscillating multi-tool.13:33 Proper surface preparation, including tapering edges and using thickened epoxy fillets, ensures a strong bond for the new sump installations.17:29

Boats in this video

More from Sail Life

The road back to boat work: We're gravel rich & ready for shipping containers! Ep. 694Sep 2026Can I build an aluminum fuel tank with the xTool MetalFab laser welder and CNC? Ep. 693Aug 2026The road back to boat work: shipping delays, site prep and bending metal with a 3D print Ep. 692Aug 2026The road back to boat work: Cutting trees, picking up plywood, and 240V in the shop. Ep. 691Aug 2026

From Sail Life — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.