Sailing SV Cordeliavideo
The LEAK that Stopped Our Refit Instantly!
January 30, 2026 · 19 min · 3K views · Chisec, Guatemala
Woman holds fish aboard sailboat under clear sky
What this video covers
Steve and Annette's Venus Ketch, Cordelia, is undergoing a major refit in Guatemala when a deck wash reveals water ingress around a starboard chain plate.1:40 Steve releases rigging tension on all three starboard chain plates, digs out two-year-old Sikaflex applied in Martinique, and re-beds the fittings with butyl tape, packing it in layers and trimming the excess.3:41 He tapes the rigging screws before removal to preserve tension settings, allowing him to restore the rig to its original tune without re-measuring.6:28 A mismatched cover plate — too small for the port main cap shroud, causing screws to seat in sealant rather than wood — surfaces as a secondary problem requiring a separate fix.4:54 A rain test confirms the chain plate leaks have stopped.16:12 Separately, Annette makes her first foam cushions for the forward berth and saloon, cutting templates from plywood, gluing foam pieces together two centimetres oversize for firmness, and stapling fabric over a wood insert.9:06 Varnish removal in the galley and saloon also progresses.14:23 Steve's conclusion: Sikaflex loses adhesion to metal chain plates in tropical heat and movement, while butyl tape retains a flexible, chewing-gum-like grip that should outlast the previous two-year seal.17:20
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