YACHTING STEADFAST · video

What this video covers

Steven Uhthoff seals the bilge pockets of a wooden boat using number three low-odor asphalt, chosen as a cheaper alternative to traditional pitch products such as Jeffreys.0:12 A 50-pound block of asphalt is cut using a putty knife and blowtorch, then melted in a pot on a propane heater — the lowest setting still runs hot enough to melt a teapot handle.1:02 The melted asphalt reaches roughly 400 degrees Fahrenheit.0:54 To control viscosity, an unmelted chunk is kept in the pot as a tempering block, the same principle used in chocolate tempering.1:08 The liquid asphalt is poured from a teapot fitted with welding plugs, inch by inch into the bilge pockets, where it self-levels and fills completely.3:56 Bamboo tools are recommended over metal or plastic for handling the material.2:32 Masking tape applied beforehand peels cleanly once the asphalt cools, simplifying cleanup.4:02 The goal is eliminating standing water in the bilge.1:43 The project is set in Maryland in summer 2025, with the full restoration expected to finish in fall 2025.4:29

More from YACHTING STEADFAST

PITCHING THE BILGE FINAL Interior view--sealing the pockets of a wooden boat rebuild with asphaltAug 2026PITCHING THE BILGE PART II Sealing the bow of a wooden sailing vessel by filling the bilge pockets.Aug 2026DROPPING HER INTO THE WATER after two years! If you haven't seen a launch, click here! Quick & easy!Aug 2026STEADFAST is Launched after 23 months of Rebuild, Refit & Hard Labor @yachtingsteadfastJun 2026

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