Hashtag Salvideo

The Crazy Decision to Build a Boat Without Ever Sailing | Cut from #SAL #70

September 3, 2026 · 6 min · 2K views · Itajaí

What this video covers

A couple with no prior sailing experience decided to build their own sailboat after failing to find an affordable, suitable vessel on the market.3:18 The decision followed a trip to Ilha do Mel, where they initially considered renovating a 14-meter boat before realizing the high fuel costs of a motor-driven schooner made a sailboat more economical.2:21 Lacking construction experience—limited to a small, crooked chicken coop—they committed to the project after discovering online blogs documenting home-built boat construction.4:39 To manage navigation costs, the builder developed a custom chart plotter system using OpenCPN software running on a Raspberry Pi computer.5:14 This setup integrates AIS, depth sounder data, and nautical charts, displaying the information on a 40-inch television screen.6:09 The system shares data via Wi-Fi to tablets and smartphones, allowing navigation information to be accessed from anywhere on the boat.5:57 The project demonstrates that custom electronics can provide high-end navigation capabilities at a lower cost than commercial marine hardware.

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