วีดีโอ

Woo Hoo! New Water Tank ! Great Job. 👍 I must Admit, I would have Really liked the Same Beneteau Oceanis Model, as yours Built in the USA, as things like Draft and Mast Height Air Draft fit for the ICW etc, seem to have been easy options, so pretty Sad to have lost the Factory, but Just Maybe it will Reopen, given the new Rule - If you want to Sell in the USA, then it must be Built in the USA, so fingers crossed. 👍 But in the Meantime, I have an Amazing Company, absolutely working their Butts Off Trying to get me as close to what I need in a New Sailboat as they can get it, with a Customised Saloon and Galley Layout Compared to Standard, as standard really doesn't Suit Cruising needs at all - Due to a Really Dumb Hexagonal Table prominent Design Feature, which totally removes any prospect of having Port and Starboard Comfortable Settee Passage Berths which are pretty darned essential with Lee Cloths tbh, and also the standard three Cabin can be Reduced to two, lush the Forward V Twin walkabouts can be changed to an Offset Pullman, which can now be a Comfortable double for use on Passage, that doesn't Catapult you onto the floor like a Walkaround does. That Stupid Hexagonal Double, is a bit of a Giveaway about what the Boat is - it is not a Beneteau, it is a Dufour 44, and instead of the 50 hp Volvo Penta Saildrive, it comes with the 76 hp Yanmar, but I'm Trying to get them to add the 80 hp Yanmar, as that is the smallest Size that comes with the Excellent ZF Saildrive. The Hull of the 44 is a really Superb Umberto Felci Design, with an excellent Design ofvthe below Waterline form, between the Chines, and no matter the Sea Conditions, a Maximum Heeling Angle of only 18 degrees . The Only thing I need to sort, is the Shoal Draft is 5 foot 8 inches, so unless Dufour have a change of heart, I will have to Order a Custom Lead Wing Keel, which may well take it to the 4 foot Draft I really Want, and as the Catalina 445 can be had with an iron keel Draft of 5 feet, 4 foot Draft should be on the cards in Lead. Oh the Factory will also Order the Suit of Sails to my Specification, and will fit them in the Factory. That's a pretty good Summary of my Progress So Far. Best Wishes. Bob in Wales. I'll provide full Details of the ompany, liaising with Dufour for me, and pass on updates as and when things start happening. As Dufour are intent on Changing Sailboat Direction towards Cruising, they have been paying attention to what I have been asking for, which is very promising imho. 🤔🌟🌟🌟👍❤️ eta, typo had the wrong Catalina model, so corrected it to the 445.

Just catching up on your videos! I’m stoked you got to NC safely, stoked you got a car and super stoked you finally got a new water tank!!! lol🎉🤙

You need some kind of device that uses humidity or what ever to make water ... I have watched many survival vids and it was the water that saved their lives ... Love you channel 💕

I don’t think it’s worth fixing

Dog Life Jackets on the dogs???

Is there any risk that the claws on the dogs might puncture the life raft?

A total would have been nice!

Good drill and good message. One thing that I would comment on is your tethers hanging down create a trip and entanglement hazard. I sail in the Pacific NW and our water is rarely over 55º and often much colder. Given that I solo sail a lot, I use my jacklines and tether most of the time. I have found that the tether creates more problems than it solves if it is hanging down like yours are. When not attached to the jack line, I loop it over my shoulders which keep it out of the way and much less likely to get hung up on something.

I have a list printed and posted in "several locations" of what is needed to abandon ship. Easy to cross reference what is needed and prioritized.

Dog food and water, also bowls to put it in.

Good first time effort. One point to understand is that in a real actual event when the worst happens extremely fast, you will not have time to think of everything. For this reason it is critical that the essential survival items are already packed in the life raft. Your grab bag should have all of the extra essential items packed inside except for the epirb. For the handheld vhf radio consider the gmdss McMurdo with the non rechargeable spare batteries or the sailor equivalent, both are waterproof and float. The dogs will be another complexity to a survival situation, the point that was raised by another commenter regarding the muzzles and booties is a valid point. The abandon drills that I was part of for over 30 years had a max time of 3 mins from the alarm to ready to launch lifeboats or life rafts. In reality you will have much more time to prepare (unless it is a freak catastrophe). Remember the best life raft is your yacht, abandoning it is a last resort always. For the drills try planning them during the day to start with. Then once comfortable spring them unexpectedly regardless of the conditions and activity on board. One that I used to spring on the crew occasionally was in the dead of night when most were asleep, that was the telling one. One other point for the dogs, don’t forget their life jackets. Cheers🇦🇺

Ditch bag... Sun protection cream, hats sunglasses, long sleeve tops and pants, warm clothing, towel,....

Not enough water because of the dogs!!!

Nat, you need a check list for evacuation procedures! When real situations happen, we are under stress! Krystyna in WI. Xxoo

Some great additions already, in this day and age if you have an epirb and the iridium go you would most likely get rescued within 48 hours. Gone are the days of weeks and months in a life raft even if you are in the deep pacific. However I would add a spare pair of reading glasses for anyone that needs them so you can read the instructions on your flares and inside your raft. Plus a few days medication for anyone on the crew who has medical needs. Foul weather gear for each crew member. Blankets will be no good as soon as you get in the raft there will be water in the bottom so you won’t be able to keep anything dry. I would also add plastic zip lock bags to your grab bag so you can keep things dry, you can also use plastic bags to make an outdoor still that produces water in desperation. Hand fishing reel to catch fish if you’re worried about food. You have very little space and clutter will make your life more uncomfortable. I would also add microfibres towels as they are the best invention yet for drying and mopping stuff as well as padding out and protecting the raft from penetrations. Have every crew member drink as much water as the possible can whilst gathering stuff. If they can slam 1/2 litre of water before getting into the life raft that will be a big help.

❤

You forget the life west straps for your ass, without it the aid the west will provide is essentially lost, and you will drown in the real storm. But, overall, the drill will show where the procedure have to improve and also mentally prepare you. The EPIRB is the first line of communication for help. However, if far out in the ocean, i.e. 300 miles offshore, a helicopter can remain on scene 45 minutes, hoist six people on board and fly back, thus sets a rescue limit by air. Another likely situation is that you will spot a regular ship and then your red rockets become absolutely essential (to get their attention), and the radio (limited range though) and red smoke for near guidance. I would stock up plenty more of these, since they may get wet and become less reliable. I would also have a huge supply of water. Cheers. (A very telling YT story is Whale's Fierce Attack Leaves Couple STRANDED at Sea for 117 Days!)

If you have to abandon your sailing vessel at night time, chaos sets in. Try a drill at night time.

EXCELLENT!

😀😀😀👍👍👍❤‍🩹❤‍🩹❤‍🩹

You need muzzles and socks for the dogs so they cant bite or scratch the inflatable raft, aka the only thing keeping you alive. How much water do the dogs need? Would be prepared to give the dogs water and food on day 3? Do you not have a solar panel power station thing, that might be crucial. How about a sat phone? With the proper cords to power anything like that up? Flashlight you can power from the power station? All that assumes in your bags you have cold weather stuff, fishing gear, any water purifiers, and emergency rations for a while.

I use a laminated ditch checklist so I can go through it quickly and efficiently. I sail Lake Superior so fresh water is not an issue, but the water is so cold I pack winter thermals in the ditch bag just in case. On a lighter note; I would add a better muff your mic. It is really hard to hear you with all the wind noise.

Ahoy Zephyr Family!! Thanks for watching this week's latest episode! If you love coming along on the adventure with us every week, subscribe to our channel so you never miss a new episode. It's completely free, super easy, and it actually helps us out so so so much.... Just click the subscribe button above! And if you want to get a notification every time we post a new video, click the little bell icon right next to it. Sending loads of love to each and every one of you!

A ditch checklist posted beside your Mayday script will help you remember what to grab in a hurry.

I could see that you have a 4-man liferaft. Do you know what the interior dimensions are (once deployed)? Very few liferafts manufacturers give that information. And my understanding is that each person is expected to be in a crouching position. I'm further guessing that a 4-man liferaft would not have enough space (length or width) for a person to lie down with legs extended. Possible additions in the ditch bag: survivor portable watermaker (no batteries required). Solar charger.

Good Test Run. 👍 I've been thinking this through for a while (years really ) and have revolved it around maybe two liferafts of valise rather than cannister types, as canister ones are prime targets for thieves - connected with the Inflatable Di ghy and Outboard with a protective Cover, and roped together 5 gallon Jugs for water and Gasoline, that can be just unclipped to just drag off that side deck into the water, for tying to both liferafts, then everything in Grab bags, ready to go, with a few collapsible buckets, and all of the Washing up liquid (dish soap in the USA? ) that's on the boat into the Dinghy. then if the leak hasn't been able to be plugged , both Liferafts inflated, Straps from each, connecting them to the Dinghy, Water Jugs shared between the Liferafts, Gasoline Jugs into the Dinghy, and set up Water catchers for each Liferaft, and small Solar panels and chargers for radio, torch batteries, plus mobile phone and Tablets with Navigation Charts to check for the closest land. if in range, use the Dinghy, plus Outboard to head to shore slowly, or, try to get comfortable with thermal Blankets in one of the liferafts. For Flares, I have always kept to old outbof date ones in a cool place and dry containers, and if needing to signal, always start with the oldest ones first, because if kept cool and dry, I have never had an out of date one fail to work yet, in familiarisation sessions. With a protective cover for the Dinhy, you have an outside toilet, and you just put some seawater into a collapsible bucket with a short squirt of washing up liquid, which you wet a mi ro fiber cloth with tonuse as toilet paper, rinse thoroughly over the side of the Dinghy, then empty and rinse the bucket, and the current carries what is now Shark Repellent down current from you. There are pretty cheap manual water Desalinater Devices, and Solar Stills available, but they don't produce that much. Next, depends on responses to your EPIRB, and whether any other boats are in VHF Range, and log GPS chart changes of direction and current changes, every 12 hours or so. The it is basically sitting it out, conserving water, and using food carefully. If land comes into range, motor towards it slowly, to conserve as much fuel as possible, and be careful with Surf, rocks etc, to get bothnliferafts ashore in as good a condition as possible, because you have ready made Shelters to use onshore, already with you. I like three pretty complete First Aid Kits on a Boat - a Main one close to the Galley and the grab bags, and two Satellite ones, one in the ForwardcHead, the other in a Cockpit Locker, which should be plenty until Rescue. Once you reach Shore, you need to be able to boil water, andcyou can sterilise water with Plain Bleach One of the Grab bags, will probably be full enough with Snack bars and bars of Chocolate, to sink one ofvthe Liferafts being me - when Motorbike touring Europe, I always carried enough dehydrated food, tea, coffee, Sugar and Condensed Milk, to last 3 months, just in case I got stranded in an EU Collapse. in 2012, when I got to Hungary, I stayed an extra 5 weeks over the 3 weeks planed because the weather was so bad, it just wasn't safe to travel, due to Constant Thunder Storms, torrential Rain, Landslides etc, and I actually ran out of Coffee, as people on the site were running out. I was OK for tea though. 😊🌟🌟🌟👍

Best to have a list by priority. Dog food and bowls?

Always remember the three 3 rule----3 minutes without oxygen--3 days without water---3 weeks without food !!!

Foul weather gear seems important.

We will be at the boat show on Thursday. Will try to stop by the booth to say hi!

Just for nets

Dude, having access to a whole system that catalogs the parts available to your boat is a huge benefit!! Sourcing a boat part is definately a time suck for the rest of us.

I know this is after the fact but use a heat gun works the best. You just said that when I was typing

Mantiz No.1

Ahoy Zephyr Family!! Thanks for watching this week's latest episode! If you love coming along on the adventure with us every week, subscribe to our channel so you never miss a new episode. It's completely free, super easy, and it actually helps us out so so so much.... Just click the subscribe button above! And if you want to get a notification every time we post a new video, click the little bell icon right next to it. Sending loads of love to each and every one of you!

I like your floors, they look great. I was told a few years ago by a vinyl tile installer to just use a heat gun to pull up a tile to replace any and they would come off easy. Can we in Australia use the American Beneteau parts web site to order parts, I had heard they shut down and were no longer accessible?

❤

James that new dew looks nice. Long over do.

When underway on passage do you put documents and any additional items in the ditch bag temporarily?

So if I had tried this my dog would have knocked the epirb off the dock into the water 😂. Y’all did pretty good.

I find naphta to dissolve lot of glues. Luckily it also dissipates rapidly in air so there is no residue.

🧿👍

Hope you’re enjoying your stay in New Bern! Anchor chain becomes a muddy mess when hauling in around here so save some of that fresh water to wash thoroughly!

Did those ships at 9:15 ish go past too fast again whilst you were all attempting to salvage the boat caused by the same idiots?

Nat, thank you for taking the time to share your input to my question regarding my Brittney. It is deeply appreciated. She is such a sweet girl, but my fear, living in the deep woods of WISCONSIN is that is she ever gets loose, we’d never see her again even with her chip! Too many hunters that would love a free Brittney! This is why we must train her to stay and mind. Yes, she sits, lays down, gives hugs snd begs and as cute as all these are, it does not help with her safety. Once again, thank you for taking the time to write. Really enjoy your episodes. Krystyna

Please tell me what episode to watch about the "dowalackey" to put under the mattress . We're in Port Douglas QLD and I'm looking for something that works but doesn't cost an arm and a led lol. Love you channel.

The haircut cut was well overdue, but maybe brushing could also be part of the change.

How are you liking the new mattress? We've been looking but haven't had any luck.

I loved James t-shirt in the intro!! 🥰