Sam Holmes Sailingvideo

Measuring for a new sail and installing our Marine AC

January 17, 2026 · 14 min · 38K views

Marine AC unit installed on sailboat deck with ducting

What this video covers

Sam Holmes and Arlene perform multiple refit projects on their boat, including installing a new marine air conditioning unit and preparing for a new sail. To install the air conditioner, Sam drills through-hull water intake holes, excavates the core material, and seals the edges with epoxy to prevent water ingress.4:15 He fabricates custom fiberglass air ducts using a homemade mold and circle-cutting jig, noting that bending fiberglass along the bias allows for easier shaping.11:36 The electrical system for the unit is finalized with custom cables from a local shop, and the system successfully pumps water upon testing.8:47

Concurrently, the crew removes an old sail for measurement and replacement, opting for a laminate sail with Sunbrella sacrificial protection.0:19 Arlene manages electrical repairs, including wiring the anchor, tri-color, and steaming lights, while also labeling circuits and replacing LED fixtures.5:47 Sam also replaces the dinghy fuel hose and priming bulb, and announces the future replacement of their current RIB with a 3.3-meter carbon fiber dinghy from Excelsior.2:29

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More from Sam Holmes Sailing

Hundreds of miles of rough sailing only to be turned away from our dream destinationOct 2026Making big miles offshore sailing through IndonesiaSep 2026Orca sighting! we repair one daggerboard only to break another oneSep 2026Sailing to Maratua, a rarely visited Indonesian island Sep 2026

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