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Finally Sailing Again After a YEAR… Then I Run Aground!

October 17, 2026 · 15 min · 176K views · Patuxent River

What this video covers

After a year of maintenance on the hard in the Solomons, the owner of the yacht Doodles departs for a 50-mile passage to Onancock, Virginia, via the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay.0:10 The vessel carries 300 gallons of diesel, providing a range of approximately 100 hours at a cruising speed of 6.5 knots and 2,000 RPM.3:25 During the transit, the crew identifies a failed battery in the wireless wind transducer, necessitating a future climb to the masthead for replacement.7:54 While navigating a narrow, unlit channel near the destination after sunset, the operator cuts a turn too sharply and runs the boat aground.10:39 The vessel is freed by applying full throttle, which reveals that the tachometer is incorrectly calibrated, as the engine exceeds its 2,600 RPM limit during the maneuver.11:43 The crew plans to recalibrate the gauge using an RPM gun.12:03 The passage concludes with a successful docking at the Onancock marina, followed by a visit to the local town.12:29

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Boats in this video

Island SPIRIT 525Their boat

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