Stella Overboardvideo

The Worst Part of Owning a Sailboat (Boatyard Chaos Begins)

March 14, 2026 · 12 min · 17K views · Cenang Beach, Malaysia

Sailboat Stella hoisted by travel lift at marina

What this video covers

Camille Milligan and Jesse haul their sailboat out at a Malaysian marina for maintenance, intending to replace the cutlass bearing and address rudder water intrusion.4:30 The project immediately encounters mechanical setbacks, beginning with a seized propeller hub that resists both manual force and a dedicated propeller puller.5:11 After removing the coupling from the gearbox, the crew discovers the propeller shaft cannot be extracted with the rudder in place.7:17 They hire a professional to assist in removing the steering quadrant and dropping the rudder using a travel lift.8:09

The team successfully removes the old cutlass bearing, but the replacement part compresses during installation, preventing the shaft from sliding through.10:30 After four hours of failed attempts to seat the bearing, they remove the damaged component.10:29 With no local replacements available, Jesse flies to Australia to source a custom-made cutlass bearing.11:32 The rudder remains on the hard stand to drain and dry while the boat awaits the new part.9:46

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