Fish Under Sail · video

What this video covers

Natasha and Kyle prepare their newly purchased 40-year-old Nauticat 43, *Sand Dollar*, for a world circumnavigation by performing extensive electrical and refrigeration upgrades in California.0:06 The owners replace an aging radar and chart plotter suite with a full B&G electronics package, integrating an NMEA 2000 backbone to connect two chart plotters, AIS, and multiple antennas.6:50 They also install a Simrad autopilot control head and a Precision-9 compass.10:11 When the original refrigerator fails, the pair initially attempts to service the system with R134A refrigerant before discovering a leak in the copper lines.10:54 They ultimately replace the entire unit with a new cold plate system to convert the compartment into a dedicated deep freezer.12:27 Additional repairs include splicing a severed wire to restore the starboard fuel tank gauge and climbing the mast to install a new radar halo.14:17 The project highlights the necessity of addressing unforeseen maintenance issues that arise after a pre-purchase survey.15:52

Boats in this video

More from Fish Under Sail

*Channel Update* - Big Things Coming, but First Going QuietSep 20268 Months of Hell — Splashing Sand Dollar at LastAug 2026Repairing a Crack in the Keel — This Had to WorkJul 2026Will the Engine Start? First Test after Hydrolock RebuildJul 2026

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