See me at sea · video

What this video covers

Nova Loman repairs a leaking chain plate on her 1970s-era sailboat by drying out the water-damaged balsa core and resealing the deck penetration.3:42 After identifying the leak, she uses a heater to remove moisture from the core, excavates the damaged area, and fills the void with glass fiber filler.5:51 She shapes the filler to match the deck profile before it cures to minimize sanding.9:26 To reinstall the chain plate, she applies sealant to the hardware and uses a soap-and-water solution on her fingers to smooth the bead.9:39 She notes that while proper maintenance requires addressing all chain plates to prevent future deck rot, she prioritizes only the currently leaking unit due to time constraints.14:11 The process concludes with a 24-hour cure time for the sealant.13:13 Loman also discusses her strategy for managing rigging failures at sea, noting that she once continued a passage on a single tack after a shroud broke.6:50

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