What do you think? Would you have done this much work on a 44 year old sailboat to fix it up? ...Or would you have just bought a new sailboat with the extra 500k you have in your bank account? Please leave a comment even if it’s just “BUY A NEW SAILBOAT” ....or “FIXUP THAT OLD SAILBOAT” ...We would love to know what the majority of our watchers REALLY think after watching this diy video!
Patrick Childress Sailing : A new or used sail boat is basically a “moving work project”. No way, apparently, to avoid the steady work needed to maintain this type of transportation 😁✅
Absolutely worth it, You know the boat much better, learned new skills, boat is in better shape, helped several guys along the way feed their families, Awesome job.
There are many reasons to buy new, but like a new car, is it really worth it? I love cars and boats and I wouldn’t buy new. I’ll let the other guy take the hit. Call me crazy but, I prefer the lines of the older boats.
@@RVLifeNOW Sure thing Rebecca. Just an update. My little Albin Vega that I bought in the autumn is coming along nicely. But arctic winters are long and there’s only so much I can do at -26°c …
In 1977 I bought a new Hunter sailboat and within 2 years I had the same problem. I thought Hunter should have taken care of it under warr but they said no. I believe there was a problematic gel coat being used in the '70s. Anyway, I sold the boat without fixing the issue. If the Hunter had been a higher quality boat I probably would have fixed the problem and kept the boat. Note I came to this site after watching Rebecca's very sad memorial for Patrick. As I now watch his videos one by one I can't seem to get my mind around the fact that he is no longer sailing the world. Rest in Piece Mr. Childress!
I was very impressed by Patrick's adapting to local conditions in terms of figuring out what works to move the project forward using appropriate technology and skill such as the water vacuum cleaners, using towels to wipe down the boat and realizing that manual labor, not importing labor-saving equipment, was the least cost solution to project completion. The complex project's narration in the video was conceptually clear and had enough detail to keep it real in terms of set backs, frustrations and pure toil. The completed refit photograph of the like-new looking hull is almost stunning compared to the previously blistered mess. Congratulations and thanks for another fine video.
Thanks for commenting and appreciating the work to rid our hull of blisters and getting ergh Er to look beautiful again. And a double thanks in appreciating the additional work it took to get it all on video in an understandable and entertaining(?) format. It’s a good thing Patrick is such high energy, or these blisters would only be half repaired by now! He says the guys set the pace... I think he set the pace! -Rebecca
The boat looks amazing again after all that work. The question of whether repairing a boat is a better option than buying a different one is very much on my mind at the moment after having spent a year and way too much money repairing one. I think the main thing that the repair option gives you is confidence that it is completely sound compared to buying another used boat in (apparently) better condition. The other nice side effect as a cruising sailor is that you end up knowing the boat inside out which is very important when you are at sea and all repairs are entirely up to you.
Yes, agree 100%. Patrick and I both have the experience of sailing on a number of boats back in the day, doing deliveries etc. And we know very well that there are MANY 2 million dollars boats out there that need so much work it isn’t funny. And they would still sell for millions. Just because a boat is a more expensive one than you have now, and prettier cosmetically..it doesn’t mean at all that there are less problems. When Patrick thinks about starting all over again with. A new boat, even brand new...he gets tired just thinking about it. Old boat, new boat...they are all just holes in the water in which you pour money in to. It never ends. You really have to like fixing up old sailboats to own any age sailboat! -Rebecca
It was wonderful to hear that your shipmates wanted to strive for perfection. There is a chord in the human spirit that resonates if fed with the right energy. You supplied that energy and made friends for life. I hope you get a chance to revisit the wonderful people that worked so hard to provide you with smooth sailing. All of them were true saints. Bless them all.
Yes these guys were so strong with so much stamina to keep at this all day, day after day....fading and sanding and puttying and puttying and faring and sanding...those hull blisters didn’t stand a chance! -Rebecca
Yes...this blister repair would have been hell if it were for those guys in Richards Bay who kept pushing. I don’t know how they keep going! They most definitely believe in an honest living! -Rebecca
I don’t know of many people who have 500k sitting in the bank! At the same time you are VERY knowledgeable and skilled in these repairs. You’ve done more than most people would be capable of. I think you did the right thing for you and the results are awesome!
The blisters make some of these old Valiants very affordable. Some owners choose to leave them, but, like a house, we always think about resale value and desirability. Thanks for your comment.
Perfect example of recycling a magnificent boat, saving thousands on new materials and resources in buying a new one. Work for local people. Fantastic end result. What is there not to like about this project ? Well done :)
Thanks, Zen Zen. We were well prepared for this work so there were no surprises. We will be living on this boat for a long time to come so thought it a good investment to get it fixed now. Plus we will be crossing more oceans and wanted to feel very confident with what is floating us there. Thanks for your comment.
That finished paint job is gorgeous, you got some great guys to help with the work. Keep the vlogs like this coming, they are great for hands on, step by step DIY!
These guys were amazing. They treated the blisters like they were on their own body and were determined to rid our hull of every last blister there was or would ever be. They wanted perfection. The guys at Fleet Management in particular are some of the most dedicated guys we have worked with, anywhere in the world! Now let’s just hope these hull blisters stay away for a good long time! -Rebecca
Patrick wasn’t understanding with all of them though...he honored those that worked hard. But fired a few along the way if they wanted too many smoke breaks, talked on their cell phones, or didn’t show up on time. He can be a tough boss. If he likes you at the end...and hasn’t fired you...you can be sure you are a good worker. We have never, anywhere in the world, except maybe Cartagena Columbia, had guys who worked so hard. And a blister repair job is not an easy boat repair. -Rebecca
Sipho pronounced seapaw:). I think we’ll worth it. You’ve reinvested in your home. There’s sentimental value associated with her and you’ve provided employment and given experience to those guys for many months. Your investment has not just been for your own benefit Patrick. Well done to u guys!
So true. Much more than just a blister repair job for us...it’s nice to have a nice new sailboat, all fixed up :) Thanks for watching and your nice comment! -Rebecca
What spectacular results. You were blessed to work with some very dedicated and talented help. Wishing you safe travels as you enjoy sailing that beautiful boat. And I would always take a restored classic over a new anything (boat, auto, home). They don’t make things like they used to.
Thats what we think too...but Im so curious what the majority of our watchers think about fixing up an old sailboat! So true about old houses...every house we flipped was an older one! -Rebecca
I just stumbled across your channel and it’s bloody fantastic. You guys have such great advice! Being a full blown boat junkie can’t wait to watch the rest of your videos. My project is very different to yours but love learning from folks like you 👍
That looks an absolutely amazing job, so surprised it was only $4000, the man hours alone, anywhere else would have probably been more than double. You’ve clearly poured your heart and soul into this boat, a big well done to you both👍
Thanks, Kit. It was a lot of work but we couldn't have lucked into a better place to get it done. I am quite certain we will not have to deal with anything like this again, for as long as we own the boat.
Greetings from Rhode Island (well, southern MA, but I sail in RI). I like the DIY videos, especially since I am doing work on my own 40 year old boat. No blisters, but I will be putting on a barrier coat as soon as it's warm enough. Great stuff!
Hi Jeff, I hope it is warming up in New England. For a barrier coat, some contractors here, (no one here uses that expensive smelly, 2 part stuff from the marine store) rather than using regular epoxy resin, most contractors use an industrial epoxy which is used on the floors of ware houses where forklifts and other heavy machinery move around. This same epoxy is used in battery recharging rooms so the battery acid will not eat through the walls or floors. It is so thick, the epoxy would be no good for laminating fiberglass. It is far more expensive than regular epoxy but I did not use it since we already had so much epoxy layup and faring compound on the bottom. It gets rolled on then tipped, just like we did with the epoxy we used. Just a thought for you. Thanks for your comment.
Hello Jeff from S Africa to Rhode Island and time Massachusetts! I learned to sail in Hull, MA. That’s where I was when I first bought this blister covered boat to someday sail away on!!-Rebecca
@@RVLifeNOW I wish I had thought of the floor sealant epoxy, but I already bought some that is packaged for boat use. I don't expect it to be consistently warm enough for application for another month, but I have plenty to keep me busy until then.
Thanks a lot for watching! Patrick agrees. It’s why he does this. He used to, well, still does, write magazine articles...and now he just does it in video form. It takes so much time, but he really is happy doing it. Imagine not just doing a blister repair job, but filming the whole thing too, and then editing it down to something watchable. I don’t know where he gets the energy!!! -Rebecca
Great job again...! I built those boats in Bellingham and loved working on them. I enjoy seeing you keeping the energy flowing with your Valiant - a very worthwhile boat to own and travel on. - cheers
Only recently have I learned that there are other lead keel configurations than what we have and some of those lead keels are not encased in fiberglass, like ours is. Do all these other Valiants have the shallow bilge like ours?
@@RVLifeNOW The only one I have worked on had a 1" shaft...it kind of looks like yours is larger than that? I remember how Uniflite ads always mentioned they were using fire retardant resin.... This is the design that really put Robert Perry on the map. Yes, he has been very prolific, with All Kinds of designs, but I really don't know of another designer who has given so much of their time and energy towards educating people. I am sure whatever he made with his column in Sailing was not proportional to what he has taught us, or the time he invested in it.
Nice video as always. Just got back home after crewing for 3 months on Britican. The CC still works as good as 2 months ago, some small barnacles in the expected places but further only a green slime that brushes off easily. Keep your videos coming.
Thanks for the “Britican Coppercoat nightmare” update! I am glad their nightmare is over...and that their bottom is doing well ;) -Thanks for faithfully watching our blister repairs and all the other rotten repairs Patrick had to do to fix up this old sailboat of ours! -Rebecca
Thank you, Dan C. We appreciate your comment and for taking the time to watch this video. And, yes, while putting on a lot of this faring compound, I did think, just like sheet rock compound, spackling. There was not much difference.
Thanks. We feel much more secure knowing everything is now as strong as possible and there will be no issues with this boat as we cross the Atlantic and work our way down to Tierra Del Fuego. Thanks for your comment.
Yes, for a blister repair job that didn’t even work for 7 years, at a place in Deale Maryland, ,and only below the waterline, it was $25,000...and that was 19 years ago...so I think I’d have to say at least 10 times that in the USA for a blister repair job, including a peel, and barrier coat etc. But it would come with a warranty...as ours did...but when the hull blisters came out in 7 years we weren’t about to sail halfway around the world to go back to Maryland! At least the guy who did the work will always be nearby if we need some warranty work done on this blister repair! Haha! -Rebecca
Thanks so much..you should see her up close. This old boat looks brand new (at least from the gunnels down!) It’s great to have all the blisters gone! -Rebecca
Yes, we have tow sizes of rollers to fit the area being glassed. It quickly becomes obvious just how important the rolling is to squeeze out air bubbles and excess epoxy resin. Thanks for your comment.
What helped to hold the cost down was all the very long hours and days and weeks I put into the project and not just going off on a safari while others worked on the boat. But the same sort of deal could have been done in Fiji, the Philippines, Malaysia or Colombia. We did work in all those places, fixing up this old boat as we sail around the world. We had some work done in New Zealand but it is expensive there if you hire the locals. Thanks for your comment.
Great job, great message! The way i see it, scraping your old boat and buying a new boat to avoid some maintenance is the cheap way-out. By far it does not bring the same joy as fixing up your old boat. I have the same experience, sometimes it is not about money and a business-case-driven decision. Before you know it, your behind your desk calculating your ROI, TCO, MTBF and other stuff like that. Sometimes it is simply about passion and personal accomplishment by doing the work yourself, with you own hands. Again, great couple, keep going guys!!
WOW great Video Thanks So much for Making it , so good to see a honest sail boat vidio , Yeah big job but verry well done Nice boat Gods speed on your travells
I am amazed how hard your sanders were working. This is a fantastic job dealing with the blisters. I sure as hell hope you do not develop any more blisters. EPIC hull refinishing ! Be happy, be safe.
Thanks Larry! Blisters aren’t much fun to deal with, but having these guys was key to doing such a thorough job. Yes I hope these nasty hull blisters stay away too! -Rebecca
Like I mentioned in last episode- it was worth it. You are out sailing. Brick House looks fantastic! It would have cost 10 times that much back in North America. This is your home. $4000 spent on your home is not even a bathroom remodel. No brainer.
In Colombia, we had all the plastic laminate galley counter tops and back splashes replaced with a Corian like material, all for $1,000. That is a fraction of what it would have cost in the U.S.. We have been able to get a lot of good work done on this boat as we sail to other countries. Thanks for your comment, Marcel.
StonyRC We agree. Patrick could not have done this blister repair job all by himself. We would still be there...and it may have just killed him! It was great to have reliable eager helpers to do in one day what would take him 10 by himself. It would be a very bad idea to do this job in an expensive country and run out of steam halfway through. That’s probably where old rotten sailboats that pile up in boatyards around the world come from...-Rebecca
I have paint boats for years in my family boat yard. The only way to get a true correct waterline / boot top is to make sure the boat is level at the start with a good level both side to side and fore and aft. Once this is completed both bow and stern either make a cut into the glass with a hacksaw blade at the WL or measure down from a fix point to the water line. Setting up the new WL either use a transit or a new modern laser. A laser can be bought a Home Depo. For between 175.00 - 200.00 dollars. The laser will give you a complete continuous level line which would represent the new water line. Good luck !
Nice! I WISH there was a Home Depot here 🤥I’m just glad to have no blisters, and a waterline, a nice old boat, and to be back in the water, and now...around Cape Aghullas and Cape of Good a Hope :) Thanks for the comment...truly...a good idea! -Rebecca
Brickhouse looks lovely Patrick and Rebecca !! I’m missing the company and your help here in the yard Patrick 😉 but seeing you guys down in Hout Bay makes me realize my time is running short to get my work done here as well. Enjoy Cape Town guys don’t just do boat work there as well. Thanks for the inspiration guys.
Thanks Mike...miss you too! We are getting close to done with old sailboat work...and will soon be in play mode again. We are on the last big chore...and it’s a doozy...but getting there! -Rebecca
Hi Mike, Great to hear from you and I have been wondering how your projects are coming along. It is a lot colder here in Hout Bay, and windy, very windy, at times. But this another great S.African place to be. With Gary gone, it must be quiet in your corner of the yard. I hope the helpers are showing up and doing what they need to do. Is Talente still around?
Patrick Childress Sailing well Patrick I have decided to go the whole “hog” so I am repowering and fitting 2 x new yanmar engines and sail drives and then the gen set. Got a lot of the small projects out the way. Talente I have not seen as he is not working for Debbie at the moment. Mainsail is back from Durban and still waiting for my stainless David system to arrive....
Mike Ferguson Good luck finishing it all up ;) At least you didn’t have to do a blister repair job too :) Stay healthy..quarantine yourself to the boat ;) -Rebecca
waterlines my old man used to tile swimming pools back when they were concrete and plaster. To set up the line for his tiles he used a clear 3/4" (or 19mm for heathens) hose with both ends suspended and filled with colour water. Of course the level is always the same. If it isnt the planet moved. So I figure if you can find a datum to make the hull level assuming the boats well trimmed in the water you can make a datum ie where the boat is level in 2 planes. For instance i know Zaya is level beamwise across the hatch. When you get on hard standing level the boat up using the datum/s. Must not forget also keeping a reference point for the waterline and use that to mark the waterline everywhere on the new surface. Otherwise make a new reference from the depth of the boat measuring up, and use the hose to make a bunch of reference marks on the new surface. So how do you level a boat, you could use bottle jacks and wedges. We used to level bridge sections in a workshop testing with a theodolite and adjusting with wedges and giant jacks, boats arent as heavy as a bridge. Just FWIW we had to heat the bottoms of the beams with large propane blow torches then hit the bottom of the beams with fire hoses to quench and therefore shrink them, giving the bridge its camber. cheers
The clear hose does sound like a good idea. If I ever have to do this again, like on someone else's boat, before hauling out, while still in the water, measurements could be taken down to the water line at the stem, stern and two sides. The ground is sandy in the Richards Bay haul out facility so it would be easy to dig away the blocking to level the boat according to those 4 points. That would give a much more professional waterline than what we got. Thanks for the idea.
After 44 years talk that Valiant has problem factory is comic. How many boats live for this time floating? All the videos that I see about DIY in boats, at any moment, talk about blisters and show it. 11 years sailing with you and others 33 with old owners is enough to confirm its name Valiant. Congratulation Patrick and Rebeca, you made a great job. Obs. Maybe is time to change, for one the biggest and latest.
Thanks for the comments. Yes this old sailboat has its challenges and always will..but it’s out home, and we will keep fixing this old sailboat up. There are so many more places to travel to! Yes, we often think a bigger, newer boat would be nice...of course we do. And we look at them from time to time. But usually what we see is bigger, newer boats with big price tags, and problems that the owners do not even comprehend.Nobody takes care of an old sailboat like Patrick does (yes I’m biased) , and every other used sailboat out there represents a ton more work..if not blisters than something else major. So why not just stick with the old sailboat that is all paid for, still floats and is so strong from all the I’m reprove mentos we have done to her over the years, and is layed out well, and is near perfect, besides being a bit old, and a bit smaller than we would sometimes like her to be?! Glad you enjoyed this diy video! -Rebecca
Yes...granted they didn’t work every day, and rarely all of them at once...but yes, no matter if it takes 2 weeks or 2 years, 4k we feel was a great price to pay. The guys were quite happy to be employed too, so morale was always very high on this blister repair job, which is saying a lot for a miserable task at hand! -Rebecca
Patrick Childress Sailing Outstanding price to pay for all that work. We have been to SA a few times and with any luck one day it will be aboard out sailboat. We are always amazed at how far our dollar goes when we visit SA.
ATX SAILOR Yes and no and depends what part you go to as well. I wouldn’t want to haul out a sailboat and do this same blister repair here in Cape Town. It seems to be a whole different economy here!! Restaurants more expensive, plumbers more expensive...and stainless steel polishers more expensive! So blister repairs here would have been much more expensive. Richards Bay is the place to do it!!! -Rebecca
Thank you Andrew. I have sailed Swan 53s, which are a bit big for our needs. A 48' is my upper usable limit for the cruising we do.....if you know of anyone who has a spare one laying around!
The Valiants have a tremendous history of blisters. I remember reading an article years ago concerning the layup in the factory- resin quality, resin depleted layups (no vacuum bagging) and inadequate mixing - have been incriminated. The Valiants are a nice cruising boat design. I use Formica for the big screeds. Also, punching into a blister using a Dremel works, using a grinder tip for metal. Lastly, all epoxies off-gas and the organic vapors are hepatotoxic, there is more than dust and particles to worry about.
Thank you, Matt. With all the repairs during this haul out, we will feel more confident with this boat as we cross the Atlantic to Uruguay and around the south regions of S. America.
We used to use a screw driver and other scrapers, and wire brushes and everything else to clean those fin rollers. Then one day, I thought, what the hell, we can nearly set the roller on fire with the heat gun, paint stripper, and just melt it clean. Randy, thanks for your comment.
Wow! I am amazed at how it came up. You guys got a great crew of workers. In the US i would think it would have cost 10x what you guys spent. Beautiful boat and great job!
Thanks for commenting on the second part of our blister repair video. Yes...we had great workers there at Zululand Yacht Club, and we will always remember them! Yes, I think 10x is probably right...we could never afford to take care of our boat there, or at least not do a major boat repair like this hull blister repair! -Rebecca
Great timely vid. I am on the sanding and fairing tread-wheel too.Also weather not warm enough this time of year. I am replacing the rotten wood in a small fiberglass fishboat and not fussing too much with the cosmetics. Cheers again from western Canada!
“Sanding puttying and faring, sanding puttying and faring”... (is it in that order?) What a maintenance treadmill that was! We had cool weather...a little hot at the end. Sounds like it is way too cold for you!!! How old of a boat is that you are working on? WhT are your plans for it? -Rebecca
@@RVLifeNOW It is a 18.5 ft 40yr old Hourston and I hope to use it a little for crab and salmon fishing on southwest Vancouver Island.Right now it gives me something to do but ENOUGH on the sanding!!! Certainly not as big a project as the one you have just completed.Great vids.Happy sailing!!!
I used to live on an old metal lifeboat in a boat yard. Near me a man was digging out all the bubbles in a fiberglass boat and finding it very hard to locate all the little hidden ones. He was very frustrated . At the time I was shot blasting with black oxide grit. The stuff you generally use only once. I jokingly suggested we blast some grit at it. Not close up, as this would have gone straight through the fiberglass. Instead we did the blasting from about 3 feet away. This gave a wide spread and covered the whole side of the 30 foot boat in about 5 minutes. Very quick. He had already done all the bits he could find and there were allot. When we looked at the result of shot blasting it from 3 feet away (Give or take some) The grit had burst hundreds of small bubbles . I mean loads of very well hidden spots of porosity. And Just lightly abraded the good and sound jell. He was very happy with the result. And very surprised at the result.
@@RVLifeNOW That was in 1997 ish. Now Im in Scotland and thinking about boats again. :-) I think the kind of damage you have needs the extra elbow grease that you have. You have done a great job.
Felt like the blister repair part went on for eternity! But this old sailboat cleaned up pretty darn well. She is back to really being the prettiest boat in the anchorage. -Rebecca
Only discovered your channel a few weeks ago and have seen just 3 or 4 videos. The blister repairs fascinated me, esp your determination to get it all done right, amazing stuff! I was also very glad & proud to see that my home countrymen did you well with their dedication to a quality job done right! (Durban was my home town where I was born (1956) & raised). Those guys worked their butts off on that job! What was the name of the marina, I didn't hear you mention it? They deserve a big shoutout I'd say 😄 Anyway great video and very informative for anyone who might have this problem. And I love restoring old homes, boats, RV's & planes - the quality of the underlying build usually makes it all worthwhile to restore, and way more financially efficient as you said. Thanks for sharing, not sure where you are located now but hope you enjoy the rest of your cruising along the beautiful & wild coast of Southern Africa, including the SW Cape and even up to Namibia, amazing things to see there too 👍🏼😄🙏🏻
Thanks for the nice compliment on the blister video. Actually, we had no idea there would prove to be this much interest in it. Happy there is though. Zululand Yacht Club in Richards Bay is where we were hauled out. The area became our home. What a great place to linger and do boat work. On some weekends we did a good number of trips up to the game parks and I finally got the close up, head on, rhinoceros pictures I wanted to get. We had a good time working with and getting to know the people who helped on the blister repair job. Now we are in Hout Bay for a while. There is no rush to leave here either. Another beautiful spot in S.Africa.
Patrick Childress Sailing Excellent! Thanks for the reply. Very glad you’re enjoying the country. Two suggested wine farm visits if you haven’t seen them already - Fairview & Backsberg. Plus hiking in the area, just be safe & enjoy ☺️👍🏼🙏🏻
Thanks for those ideas! We are almost at the point where we can start enjoying the area more. We did enjoy 2 days of sightseeing here so far, and hope for another one this coming week. You live in one of the most gorgeous countries we have seen 3/4 of the way around the world now! You can hear some bad things about South Africa, but so far we have met nothing but the best specimens of humankind here! And those guys that worked on our blister repair...wow..so much respect! -Rebecca
My father was a boat builder and his definition of a boat is "A hole in the water you pour money into." He worked for Stephens Marine in Stockton Ca from 1955-1967
Wow 4K is ridiculously cheap! Another awesome video. Thanks for posting. My wife has her eyes on a cat, I’m trying hard to sell her on a mono and a valiant is high on the list. Awesome boats! Fair winds safe travels.
Every boat has its advantages. There is never a perfect one but overall, we have little to complain about with our Valiant 40....but I would like this same boat but 3 feet longer.
Yup I’m with ya, if I can only get her to see it the same way lol. I’ve owned enough boats to know there’s always something bigger and better. Your smart to stick with a great design and keep improving it!
Before buying our current boat we shopped around new boats. What we like on new boats is the space utilization. Well we ended up buying a 22 years old boat. No way Id pay 350K for a new boat, rather spend money living experience on my sailboat than doing payments. Your bottom job reminds me of my house renovations, after priming my new drywalls I patched all the little imperfections that were visible. My wife was telling me not to bother because at one feet away from the wall they couldn’t be seen 😂, arg, gotta work to learn to let go of my perfectionism.
The patching of these blisters is much like smoothing sheetrock with several coats of compound. And once the sheetrock is primed, those little imperfections jump right out at the eye and become worse when the paint goes on. Yes, I agree, making payments does not always make sense when a used boat can be a much better deal. Thanks for your comment.
Rebecca: my deep condolencies to you. Your videos are super cool to watch, precise. I have a 1986 Beneteau 350 in the yard for the last 5 yrs, sanded all and glassed a bunch of small blisters, and stopped due to other priorities on the way... It's so interesting to read people's answer to the question if it is worth it. Like some had said, wao, what is not to love once done, regardless!!! Take care and pray for me so that I finish sometime before next summer... :) I just want to sell it for the market value... 28k I hope...
@@RVLifeNOW I did repair the blisters, less than 50, but filled them with putty, and far, very far from your kind of job. May be in a couple of years will use your techniques.
Everything made by man works on finding its way back into the ground. Kinda defeating right? Beautiful job! I enjoy your ingenuity in fabricating the sanding boards and recreating the water line.
That is really the way I see it. One day continental subduction will mix it all together again and all will be one with the earth. Sounds sort of Zen, Hippie....
We are happy how the blister and other projects came out on this haul out. We feel the boat is stronger and better than when new and ready to cross more oceans. Thanks, Tom, for your comment.
whether or not some one takes on an old boat is personal preference, personally i would, and am, when you have something you like, that works for you of coarse fix it up, there are to many who live in a throw away world, you have a wonderful working sail boat which suits your purpose, and serves your needs, why not give it the love and attention it deserves, brick house is looking well sexy, and the work being done is of great standard, shell serve you well for long miles of fun, i love the saying, its not a show pony, but is a work horse, even a work horse can scrub up with a bit of attention, brick is looking awesome, well done, :)
I would have been tempted to try a laser pointer on a tripod with a swivel. You would need two reference points; one near the bow and one near the stern. The height of the laser pointer would also need to be on the plane being traced for the water line. Setup may be a bit finicky, but it should give a very good waterline. I have not tried this technique, but might be worth considering. Of course, your boat is now good for a lifetime.
That does sound like a good idea. Before hauling out, while still in the water, measurements could be taken down to the water line at the 4 important points. The ground is sandy in this haul out facility so it would be easy to dig away the blocking to level the boat according to those 4 points. Next time!
@@RVLifeNOW Yes, the four points would be really good to have. I don't think it is necessary to have the boat level however. The rotating plane on the tripod would need to be adjusted so the laser was on the desired plane, however, this plane does not need to be level with the ground. It could be skewed to follow whatever orientation the boat was secured on.
Ryan, just maybe, one day, you will start sailing boats....and possibly these videos will help you pick out a boat that does not need so much work! Thanks much for your comment.
Great video. Question on the $4K price: does that include haul-out and storage for 8 months? Did material cost a lot more than in the US, especially paint, anti fouling, epoxy and other marine supplies? Did you pay them for the job or per hour worked? Sounds like per hour since you had time sheets. What percentage of the $4K was for labor, materials, etc. Sounds very cheap no matter what. Location matters a lot. Did you travel around the country to take advantage or had to stick around to supervise every day? Thanks!
Frank, no one worked on this boat unless I was there. We had no contract with anyone. We hired people on a day to day basis, as needed. I was my own contractor. There were a lot of other projects going on at the same time which are presented in other videos in this series or are in the making and will be released over the next several months. The $4,000 is a guestimate and does not include the $3 per day on land fee as that can be apportioned to the other projects. All materials cost more than in the U.S. as most boat repair materials are imported from the U.S. and Europe. Minimum labor rate in many countries is around $1.50 an hour or less. Fiji is a good example of this, where we did boat work, so too Malaysia and Colombia. Thailand is terrible as the national labor rate is very low but they charge boat owners, California union wages or more. Maybe one day, when out in the middle of an ocean I will dig out all the documentation and do a detailed accounting. This project would not have been worth doing in the U.S. or many other countries because of the high labor cost. Just an hours drive north of Richards Bay are some great game parks. Some times, when the work on the boat allowed, we would take Sunday and Monday off to do safaris. There are times too, we had to leave the country to renew our viisas, at which time we would visit game parks in countries to the north. Victoria Falls was a good visa run.
You are one incredible couple. From my viewpoint repairing all those blisters was the equivalent of building a pyramid. But you seem to have a history of turning ashes into gold. Congratulations.
Thanks for that nice compliment Dan. We have been very lucky...though they say you make your own luck. Repairing the blisters on this boat certainly WAS like building a pyramid, and Patrick and his crew worked like a well oiled machine on those pesky blisters, and made it better than gold! -Rebecca
I'd have had the work done as well. Sure, you could get a brand new boat but as you mentioned, depreciation is a killer for resale value. Getting another old second hand one would also come with its own issues as many do unless it's been in storage the entire time. Those guys are dedicated for sure. Good work ethic from them in that near enough is not good enough so hats off to them. I enjoyed seeing part 1 and 2. 👍 😉
Thanks for the welcome Bryan! This is a great place to come on an old sailboat...We are still finishing up repairs (a constant treadmill like nay boat) but soon we need to figure out a way to see your beautiful home! -Rebecca
Thanks! It’s nice to have those big ugly blisters gone now...and a fresh coat of paint. It won’t last forever...so gonna enjoy it until she looks like my nice old sailboat again! -Rebecca
Adorable video of both of you on the opening segment. Boat a perpetual maintenance machine "Bust Out Another Thousand" Woot! Great tip on using water with the dust collection system. I had a contractor many years ago doing some work and his Shop Vac did a poor job vacuuming up the debris because it spewed dust all over the house. I told him put a couple of gallons of water in the bottom of the vacuum and like magic the majority of the dust got collected by the liquid at the bottom. The contactor was like - this is amazing... Duh.... Looks like you had a great crew to help with all your boat projects as well. Nicely done Patrick. One of your best videos to date! Brick house looks amazing!
Wow...thanks so much David. I refuse to get all dolled up for the camera, on principal, and then always regret how bad I look. Ah well! Considering you have watched them all David...”your best video yet” really means something. What made it the best...certainly boat blister repair is a bit boring to me :) -Rebecca
@@RVLifeNOW What makes "the best yet" for me are the improvements on videography, editing, and you both are more comfortable in front of the camera. I enjoy watch boat repairs as much as watching sailing adventures and Patrick did a great job chronicling the refit of Brick House. Well done!
Ya..I don’t think I will ever be that comfortable in front of the camera. It’s so permanent and unforgiving. But yes...Patrick’s editing and filming and all of that really has gotten a much better...to think two years ago, he wasn’t even aware a camera could take a video ;) I don’t know how he can keep on this roll though...it’s so much work, and pretty soon, Internet is going to become dearer. St Helena...for example..Internet is $50 per GB. One upload will be $100 !!! And that’s if it goes right on the first try. And how could he ever make a video so rare as this detailed chronicle of his 10 month blister repair job. I mean..hull blisters and the repair of hull blisters are not a topic of great interest to me...but where else can you see such a detailed account of this, with tips and everything mixed in. It’s gonna be a tough act to follow ;) As usual David..thanks for watching and for your feedback...we are so glad to have you aboard! -Rebecca
RIP Patrick, I can tell a life well lived. My dad and I are fixing up a 1976 Ranger 33 sloop. We put out a new diesel in and replaced all the rigging. The bottom job was more of a band aide fix as we discovered some delamination and many many blisters! We have spent way too much money on everything so far and fear the next haul out. I think we’ll need to get scrappy by sailing south to Mexico or Central America to complete the work, or buy/lease land here in California(also insanely expensive) to complete the project. We’re in Monterey, CA. Any place down south you’d recommend doing the work? I could probably spend a 3-4 months, Nov-March on the project. Or sail it down there in November, grind everything down and then let dry out in the yard for a year.. definitely need to be scrappy or else we’re gonna sink into boatyard debt and have all the fun sucked out of sailing.. any advice you may have to offer I am all ears! Looking forward to watching your other videos. We have a similar ethos in seeing the value of restoring a piece of history. Thank you. Michael
Ah Michael… Good luck with the boat restoration. Yea get somewhere foreign. Perhaps Trinidad…. Or further. Everything close to the US has picked up on US pricing ripoffs and you will sink so much money in to her that yea if your joy isn’t sucked out the money will be! Good luck!!!
Wonderful work, Patrick! Great luck you guys had finding those contractors, sometime we are so tired of the work, the we go tolerant on the less hen perfect job. Happy those boys put on the extra effort and delivered you that beauty! I am very happy for you! Maybe you can give me a call when you and Rebecca make up your minds on selling that boat..... Just asking...😋😋😋
Haha. At least 10 years til we sell our blister free sailboat...and by then...maybe those rotten blisters will be back and you won’t want her after seeing how much work a blister repair job is ;) Yes...those guys really pushed for perfection at the end, when probably we were tired of boat work, and being in the boatyard, and just wanted to be done already with blisters, and painting, and all that horrible stuff!! -Rebecca
@@RVLifeNOW no worries dude, you can enjoy the boat for the next decade, I still have 3 kids to raise and drop them in the university... 😂😂😂😂 I really appreciate you posting your videos, in some way I am also poking the blisters and laying the itchy fiberglass with you. Maybe you touch base whenever you come to Brazil. Best wishes!
Andre...where in Brazil are you...if you are near Rio or south...most definitely! This year! . We love that comment..that you are poking blisters and rolling in the itchy fiberglass right alongside of us! We wish you were...the more the merrier! We hear you about the kids... it’s the only reason we could retire so soon and young...no children...that is such a big responsibility...such a commitment. If you can have kids AND sail in your life, you are a very fortunate man! -Rebecca
I went through a similar process on a Cascade 36 - another NW built boat. The propeller shaft strut looks rather small for your boat. Do you experience shaft vibration? I would like a video on drivetrain and alignment. :)
It isn't that hard to align the prop shaft with the output coupling but it is tedious work and takes time. Because of the very confined space, it would be impossible to video the alignment process on our boat. Much of it is done by feel. I hope you had help doing your Cascade 36. Without help, it would have taken me years to complete our blister repairs and I don't think my ambition would have held out that long.
Waiting till the end to give a bonus is not the way to do it. Those who did well got surprise bonuses all during the job to keep the motivation high. But also, working along side with them, getting just as dirty and working just as hard, was far better motivation than just sitting on a chair watching them work. Someone had to set the pace and keep it going. Thanks for your comment.
To answer your question of an easier way for the waterline, use a WATER LEVEL - You can use a small diameter, clear hose with water within to create a level of any length that you can now use at any location to which you stretch the end of the hose. In your case, a single measurement from the waterline to your blue tape to start to preserve your old line. Then, when ready to put the water line back on, measure down from the blue tape to your desired new water line and mark. From here on, use the water filled hose keeping the water level at your newly marked waterline position. Wherever you take the far end of the hose, the water level will be the same at both ends due to equal air pressure at both ends.
That presupposes the boat is perfectly set in the stands. Also some boats ride a little bow up which would also have to be figured in adjusting the stands.
Travis, that is a very good idea. I am just thinking, while the boat was still in the water, I could have measured down the stem to the waterline for a waterline reference and done the same at the stern, plus measured down at a mid point, port and starboard. When hauled out, the soil was sandy and easy to move so it would be easy, but time consuming, to level out the boat using the clear water level and the 4 reference points.....then continue to mark more points along the waterline. It could be tedious but should give a better result than what I did. Thanks...
Yeah sitting in the stands would never work. We were tilted just a little stern heavy...because the golf ball for the cat always rolled back to me...Coati misses that! -Rebecca
Then I would have to go to a laser line where you only need to determine 2 points and then use the laser to "connect the dots" and it would extrapolate the rest.
@@RVLifeNOW this is how I did my mobile home. it worked pretty well, but it works best with a larger diameter hose. I added clear (drinking water hose) ends to my 3/4" garden hose, but the small diameter of the hose made it sluggish. To do this with Brick House, the boat would have to be first leveled precisely in all directions, which isn't easy to do. Marking the boat while in the water would need leveling first as well, with nobody walking around the boat, zero wind or surge, then you would proceed with what you just did anyway. In other words, your method was a good choice.
Great job, so much work. It freshens up the tired appearance. Much cheaper than a new boat. Changed the shape of a racing yacht years back. Near the end of fairing the hull using long boards, a friend suggested using a pneumatic speed file with 50mm x 400mm long base and used this for the long flat areas. Wish I had of discovered the tool earlier, would have cut 40 hours sanding by hand to 10 hours. For those interested, I used 3M micro glass spheres which can also be used as an adhesive for foam cores. Remember, Epoxy will stick to Polyester laminates but not the other way around. I used Acetone to soften the surface to get better adhesion to the old hull, which was probably one of the biggest concerns for me.
Thanks Josh! It’s really nice to have all those blisters gone, and some nice bright paint in its place (not to mention a lot of fiberglass and epoxy to make everything nice and strong where the rotten blisters once were!)-Rebecca
The only foxy thing here is not to hire a contractor on a bid basis and to hire and train your own people, thus, becoming a contractor yourself. Of course at times, when the work load or expertise level required it, we did hire experienced people from a local contractor and paid 3 times the price for them but they were well worth it. Still far cheaper than in the U.S. or Australia.
Hi Patrick, another great video, thanks. Saw you guys knocking round Royal Cape Yacht Club a few days ago. Where is your boat? Hout Bay? I also would like to know how much propspeed you used. I am about to do the same on my boat and would like to know. Hope you are enjoying Cape Town regards Andrew
Yes...we had lunch there! Yes..our new beautiful blister free boat is now in Hout Bay! Patrick said he used one small kit of the Propspeed and he had lots left over. Maybe you can find another boat who wants to use it to and split he cost of the propspeed. Our propellor is on the smaller side...couldn’t tell you exactly the size...but you will for sure only need the smallest size even if your propellor is big. Thanks for watching...stop by anytime. How long are you at the RCYC...we hope to get up there within the next month...-Rebecca
What do you think? Would you have done this much work on a 44 year old sailboat to fix it up?
...Or would you have just bought a new sailboat with the extra 500k you have in your bank account?
Please leave a comment even if it’s just “BUY A NEW SAILBOAT” ....or “FIXUP THAT OLD SAILBOAT” ...We would love to know what the majority of our watchers REALLY think after watching this diy video!
Patrick Childress Sailing : A new or used sail boat is basically a “moving work project”. No way, apparently, to avoid the steady work needed to maintain this type of transportation 😁✅
When you renovate you come to know every bolt, stitch and blemish, and there;s benefits and disadvantages to it.
Absolutely worth it, You know the boat much better, learned new skills, boat is in better shape, helped several guys along the way feed their families, Awesome job.
Fix one up, hell that's half the fun!
I'm also a residential contractor, flipping is the best!
There are many reasons to buy new, but like a new car, is it really worth it? I love cars and boats and I wouldn’t buy new. I’ll let the other guy take the hit. Call me crazy but, I prefer the lines of the older boats.
Dear Sir, I read today with great sadness the news of your passing , god speed and thank you for your inspiration .
Thanks so much Darwin
Rest in peace Patrick. You passed in my home town, a beautiful place but now a sad place too. Sail well sir.
Thanks Just Tam. Cape Town is a special place in many many ways.
@@RVLifeNOW Sure thing Rebecca. Just an update. My little Albin Vega that I bought in the autumn is coming along nicely. But arctic winters are long and there’s only so much I can do at -26°c …
In 1977 I bought a new Hunter sailboat and within 2 years I had the same problem. I thought Hunter should have taken care of it under warr but they said no. I believe there was a problematic gel coat being used in the '70s. Anyway, I sold the boat without fixing the issue. If the Hunter had been a higher quality boat I probably would have fixed the problem and kept the boat. Note I came to this site after watching Rebecca's very sad memorial for Patrick. As I now watch his videos one by one I can't seem to get my mind around the fact that he is no longer sailing the world. Rest in Piece Mr. Childress!
Yes, still hard to believe
Same for me - I just discovered this wonderfully suited couple last night with the recent
update. Speechless. Rest In Peace.
Thanks for the nice compliment.
I was very impressed by Patrick's adapting to local conditions in terms of figuring out what works to move the project forward using appropriate technology and skill such as the water vacuum cleaners, using towels to wipe down the boat and realizing that manual labor, not importing labor-saving equipment, was the least cost solution to project completion. The complex project's narration in the video was conceptually clear and had enough detail to keep it real in terms of set backs, frustrations and pure toil. The completed refit photograph of the like-new looking hull is almost stunning compared to the previously blistered mess. Congratulations and thanks for another fine video.
Thanks for commenting and appreciating the work to rid our hull of blisters and getting ergh Er to look beautiful again. And a double thanks in appreciating the additional work it took to get it all on video in an understandable and entertaining(?) format. It’s a good thing Patrick is such high energy, or these blisters would only be half repaired by now! He says the guys set the pace... I think he set the pace! -Rebecca
Watching this I feel so very sad that Patrick, a wonderful man and sailor, lost his life to Covid. No words for this. I have so much admiration.
Yeah...it shouldn’t have been covid that took him down!
So sorry to hear this.
Sorry to hear this. This is the 2nd video of yours I've watched. And I found out in the comments. He seems a real gentleman.
Bless you. ❤️🍻⛵
The boat looks amazing again after all that work. The question of whether repairing a boat is a better option than buying a different one is very much on my mind at the moment after having spent a year and way too much money repairing one. I think the main thing that the repair option gives you is confidence that it is completely sound compared to buying another used boat in (apparently) better condition. The other nice side effect as a cruising sailor is that you end up knowing the boat inside out which is very important when you are at sea and all repairs are entirely up to you.
Yes, agree 100%. Patrick and I both have the experience of sailing on a number of boats back in the day, doing deliveries etc. And we know very well that there are MANY 2 million dollars boats out there that need so much work it isn’t funny. And they would still sell for millions. Just because a boat is a more expensive one than you have now, and prettier cosmetically..it doesn’t mean at all that there are less problems. When Patrick thinks about starting all over again with. A new boat, even brand new...he gets tired just thinking about it. Old boat, new boat...they are all just holes in the water in which you pour money in to. It never ends. You really have to like fixing up old sailboats to own any age sailboat! -Rebecca
Danger marine, my other favorite TH-cam, Are you thinking of fiberglass repair once your steal boat fixed up, maybe a sail boat on the horizon?
But can you fit a detroit diesel in a sailboat?? :)
I'm really happy for you two, that is really cool, hope you enjoy! Safe travels...
Thanks...I hope we don’t have to do a blister repair job again for a long time ;) -Rebecca
It was wonderful to hear that your shipmates wanted to strive for perfection. There is a chord in the human spirit that resonates if fed with the right energy. You supplied that energy and made friends for life. I hope you get a chance to revisit the wonderful people that worked so hard to provide you with smooth sailing. All of them were true saints. Bless them all.
Yes...they were truly wonderful people.One called last week, and broke down crying when I told them the bad news.
Nothing beats the talent of some very skilled hand workers. Such a great job, who needs fancy tools!? When you've got the elite craftsmen with you
Yes these guys were so strong with so much stamina to keep at this all day, day after day....fading and sanding and puttying and puttying and faring and sanding...those hull blisters didn’t stand a chance! -Rebecca
@@RVLifeNOW Deffietly! They are very hardworking men, those are who I respect the most, the labor intensive hardworking folks!
Yes...this blister repair would have been hell if it were for those guys in Richards Bay who kept pushing. I don’t know how they keep going! They most definitely believe in an honest living! -Rebecca
I don’t know of many people who have 500k sitting in the bank! At the same time you are VERY knowledgeable and skilled in these repairs. You’ve done more than most people would be capable of. I think you did the right thing for you and the results are awesome!
The blisters make some of these old Valiants very affordable. Some owners choose to leave them, but, like a house, we always think about resale value and desirability. Thanks for your comment.
Perfect example of recycling a magnificent boat, saving thousands on new materials and resources in buying a new one. Work for local people. Fantastic end result. What is there not to like about this project ? Well done :)
Thanks, Zen Zen. We were well prepared for this work so there were no surprises. We will be living on this boat for a long time to come so thought it a good investment to get it fixed now. Plus we will be crossing more oceans and wanted to feel very confident with what is floating us there. Thanks for your comment.
That finished paint job is gorgeous, you got some great guys to help with the work. Keep the vlogs like this coming, they are great for hands on, step by step DIY!
Thank you, Daniel.
Love to see folks who help others take so much pride in their work.
These guys were amazing. They treated the blisters like they were on their own body and were determined to rid our hull of every last blister there was or would ever be. They wanted perfection. The guys at Fleet Management in particular are some of the most dedicated guys we have worked with, anywhere in the world! Now let’s just hope these hull blisters stay away for a good long time! -Rebecca
I am amazed at the near perfect job. Your helpers were real experts and you were an understanding supervisor. Nice!
Patrick wasn’t understanding with all of them though...he honored those that worked hard. But fired a few along the way if they wanted too many smoke breaks, talked on their cell phones, or didn’t show up on time. He can be a tough boss. If he likes you at the end...and hasn’t fired you...you can be sure you are a good worker. We have never, anywhere in the world, except maybe Cartagena Columbia, had guys who worked so hard. And a blister repair job is not an easy boat repair. -Rebecca
Sipho pronounced seapaw:). I think we’ll worth it. You’ve reinvested in your home. There’s sentimental value associated with her and you’ve provided employment and given experience to those guys for many months. Your investment has not just been for your own benefit Patrick. Well done to u guys!
So true. Much more than just a blister repair job for us...it’s nice to have a nice new sailboat, all fixed up :) Thanks for watching and your nice comment! -Rebecca
What spectacular results. You were blessed to work with some very dedicated and talented help. Wishing you safe travels as you enjoy sailing that beautiful boat. And I would always take a restored classic over a new anything (boat, auto, home). They don’t make things like they used to.
Thats what we think too...but Im so curious what the majority of our watchers think about fixing up an old sailboat! So true about old houses...every house we flipped was an older one! -Rebecca
I just stumbled across your channel and it’s bloody fantastic. You guys have such great advice! Being a full blown boat junkie can’t wait to watch the rest of your videos. My project is very different to yours but love learning from folks like you 👍
Glad you enjoyed our blister project and happy to hear you will be watching more.
That looks an absolutely amazing job, so surprised it was only $4000, the man hours alone, anywhere else would have probably been more than double. You’ve clearly poured your heart and soul into this boat, a big well done to you both👍
Remarkable workmanship, thank you for sharing!
Thanks, Kit. It was a lot of work but we couldn't have lucked into a better place to get it done. I am quite certain we will not have to deal with anything like this again, for as long as we own the boat.
Greetings from Rhode Island (well, southern MA, but I sail in RI). I like the DIY videos, especially since I am doing work on my own 40 year old boat. No blisters, but I will be putting on a barrier coat as soon as it's warm enough. Great stuff!
Hi Jeff, I hope it is warming up in New England. For a barrier coat, some contractors here, (no one here uses that expensive smelly, 2 part stuff from the marine store) rather than using regular epoxy resin, most contractors use an industrial epoxy which is used on the floors of ware houses where forklifts and other heavy machinery move around. This same epoxy is used in battery recharging rooms so the battery acid will not eat through the walls or floors. It is so thick, the epoxy would be no good for laminating fiberglass. It is far more expensive than regular epoxy but I did not use it since we already had so much epoxy layup and faring compound on the bottom. It gets rolled on then tipped, just like we did with the epoxy we used. Just a thought for you. Thanks for your comment.
Hello Jeff from S Africa to Rhode Island and time Massachusetts! I learned to sail in Hull, MA. That’s where I was when I first bought this blister covered boat to someday sail away on!!-Rebecca
@@RVLifeNOW I wish I had thought of the floor sealant epoxy, but I already bought some that is packaged for boat use. I don't expect it to be consistently warm enough for application for another month, but I have plenty to keep me busy until then.
Thanks for sharing. Great video, I think this is what you tube is all about, teaching people about your life and experiences,
Thanks a lot for watching! Patrick agrees. It’s why he does this. He used to, well, still does, write magazine articles...and now he just does it in video form. It takes so much time, but he really is happy doing it. Imagine not just doing a blister repair job, but filming the whole thing too, and then editing it down to something watchable. I don’t know where he gets the energy!!! -Rebecca
Great job again...! I built those boats in Bellingham and loved working on them. I enjoy seeing you keeping the energy flowing with your Valiant - a very worthwhile boat to own and travel on.
- cheers
Only recently have I learned that there are other lead keel configurations than what we have and some of those lead keels are not encased in fiberglass, like ours is. Do all these other Valiants have the shallow bilge like ours?
@@RVLifeNOW The only one I have worked on had a 1" shaft...it kind of looks like yours is larger than that? I remember how Uniflite ads always mentioned they were using fire retardant resin....
This is the design that really put Robert Perry on the map. Yes, he has been very prolific, with All Kinds of designs, but I really don't know of another designer who has given so much of their time and energy towards educating people. I am sure whatever he made with his column in Sailing was not proportional to what he has taught us, or the time he invested in it.
Nice video as always.
Just got back home after crewing for 3 months on Britican.
The CC still works as good as 2 months ago, some small barnacles in the expected places but further only a green slime that brushes off easily.
Keep your videos coming.
Thanks for the “Britican Coppercoat nightmare” update! I am glad their nightmare is over...and that their bottom is doing well ;) -Thanks for faithfully watching our blister repairs and all the other rotten repairs Patrick had to do to fix up this old sailboat of ours! -Rebecca
What a great bunch of workers, she looks lovely now 👌🏼
Thanks guys! She really looks great with all these blisters gone...-Rebecca
What a spackle job!
I love your deep, step by step information!
Just like building a house- ground up, one step at a time.
Thank you, Dan C. We appreciate your comment and for taking the time to watch this video. And, yes, while putting on a lot of this faring compound, I did think, just like sheet rock compound, spackling. There was not much difference.
You folks and your crew did a hell of a job, she's a gorgeous little ship.
Thanks. We feel much more secure knowing everything is now as strong as possible and there will be no issues with this boat as we cross the Atlantic and work our way down to Tierra Del Fuego. Thanks for your comment.
WOW!!! She is looking awesome! For 4K that was a deal, if that was done in the states you would be looking at 5 times that. Looking brand new.
Yes, for a blister repair job that didn’t even work for 7 years, at a place in Deale Maryland, ,and only below the waterline, it was $25,000...and that was 19 years ago...so I think I’d have to say at least 10 times that in the USA for a blister repair job, including a peel, and barrier coat etc. But it would come with a warranty...as ours did...but when the hull blisters came out in 7 years we weren’t about to sail halfway around the world to go back to Maryland! At least the guy who did the work will always be nearby if we need some warranty work done on this blister repair! Haha! -Rebecca
very good hope you gave those worker artist a big bonus.
We gave them bonuses as they went ;) -Rebecca
@@RVLifeNOW good
Nice job looks amazing and well worth it for sure.
Thanks so much..you should see her up close. This old boat looks brand new (at least from the gunnels down!) It’s great to have all the blisters gone! -Rebecca
Amazing result and yes I would do this before buying a new 44 ft + boat. Great tip on cleaning up a fiberglass roller tool.
Thanks for your comment, and glad there was some useful info in it for you! Fixing up an old sailboat provides much opportunity for learning! -Rebecca
Im glad to see you are using the rollers. They are important.
Yes, we have tow sizes of rollers to fit the area being glassed. It quickly becomes obvious just how important the rolling is to squeeze out air bubbles and excess epoxy resin. Thanks for your comment.
Finally, useful information!!!! Outstanding
Thanks for watching. Nothing like a sailing video on blisters :)
That's an absolute amazing deal for that repair.
What helped to hold the cost down was all the very long hours and days and weeks I put into the project and not just going off on a safari while others worked on the boat. But the same sort of deal could have been done in Fiji, the Philippines, Malaysia or Colombia. We did work in all those places, fixing up this old boat as we sail around the world. We had some work done in New Zealand but it is expensive there if you hire the locals. Thanks for your comment.
Great job, great message! The way i see it, scraping your old boat and buying a new boat to avoid some maintenance is the cheap way-out. By far it does not bring the same joy as fixing up your old boat. I have the same experience, sometimes it is not about money and a business-case-driven decision. Before you know it, your behind your desk calculating your ROI, TCO, MTBF and other stuff like that. Sometimes it is simply about passion and personal accomplishment by doing the work yourself, with you own hands. Again, great couple, keep going guys!!
Thanks Rover. Yes we agree..fixing up and old sturdy boat is the way to go.
Looking very nice, thanks for sharing...
Thanks so much...she really does look beautiful. The blister repair and new paint really has risen our spirits! -Rebecca
Hearty applause on a job well done! Worth every penny!
Thank you very much, Jock.
An amazing account of your method and process.. Very well explained to which I learned a lot.. Thank you from NZ
Patrick always did such a great job with the diy sailboat videos!!!
WOW great Video Thanks So much for Making it , so good to see a honest sail boat vidio , Yeah big job but verry well done Nice boat Gods speed on your travells
Thanks you
I am amazed how hard your sanders were working. This is a fantastic job dealing with the blisters. I sure as hell hope you do not develop any more blisters. EPIC hull refinishing ! Be happy, be safe.
Thanks Larry! Blisters aren’t much fun to deal with, but having these guys was key to doing such a thorough job. Yes I hope these nasty hull blisters stay away too! -Rebecca
Like I mentioned in last episode- it was worth it. You are out sailing. Brick House looks fantastic! It would have cost 10 times that much back in North America. This is your home. $4000 spent on your home is not even a bathroom remodel. No brainer.
In Colombia, we had all the plastic laminate galley counter tops and back splashes replaced with a Corian like material, all for $1,000. That is a fraction of what it would have cost in the U.S.. We have been able to get a lot of good work done on this boat as we sail to other countries. Thanks for your comment, Marcel.
Wow, your "shore-crew" did an AMAZING job.
StonyRC We agree. Patrick could not have done this blister repair job all by himself. We would still be there...and it may have just killed him! It was great to have reliable eager helpers to do in one day what would take him 10 by himself. It would be a very bad idea to do this job in an expensive country and run out of steam halfway through. That’s probably where old rotten sailboats that pile up in boatyards around the world come from...-Rebecca
I have paint boats for years in my family boat yard. The only way to get a true correct waterline / boot top is to make sure the boat is level at the start with a good level both side to side and fore and aft. Once this is completed both bow and stern either make a cut into the glass with a hacksaw blade at the WL or measure down from a fix point to the water line. Setting up the new WL either use a transit or a new modern laser.
A laser can be bought a Home Depo. For between 175.00 - 200.00 dollars. The laser will give you a complete continuous level line which would represent the new water line. Good luck !
Nice! I WISH there was a Home Depot here 🤥I’m just glad to have no blisters, and a waterline, a nice old boat, and to be back in the water, and now...around Cape Aghullas and Cape of Good a Hope :) Thanks for the comment...truly...a good idea! -Rebecca
@@RVLifeNOW 3 light bulbs and a string to provide a shadow
Brickhouse looks lovely Patrick and Rebecca !!
I’m missing the company and your help here in the yard Patrick 😉 but seeing you guys down in Hout Bay makes me realize my time is running short to get my work done here as well. Enjoy Cape Town guys don’t just do boat work there as well. Thanks for the inspiration guys.
Thanks Mike...miss you too! We are getting close to done with old sailboat work...and will soon be in play mode again. We are on the last big chore...and it’s a doozy...but getting there! -Rebecca
Hi Mike, Great to hear from you and I have been wondering how your projects are coming along. It is a lot colder here in Hout Bay, and windy, very windy, at times. But this another great S.African place to be. With Gary gone, it must be quiet in your corner of the yard. I hope the helpers are showing up and doing what they need to do. Is Talente still around?
Patrick Childress Sailing well Patrick I have decided to go the whole “hog” so I am repowering and fitting 2 x new yanmar engines and sail drives and then the gen set. Got a lot of the small projects out the way. Talente I have not seen as he is not working for Debbie at the moment. Mainsail is back from Durban and still waiting for my stainless David system to arrive....
Mike Ferguson Good luck finishing it all up ;) At least you didn’t have to do a blister repair job too :) Stay healthy..quarantine yourself to the boat ;) -Rebecca
waterlines
my old man used to tile swimming pools back when they were concrete and plaster. To set up the line for his tiles he used a clear 3/4" (or 19mm for heathens) hose with both ends suspended and filled with colour water. Of course the level is always the same. If it isnt the planet moved.
So I figure if you can find a datum to make the hull level assuming the boats well trimmed in the water you can make a datum ie where the boat is level in 2 planes. For instance i know Zaya is level beamwise across the hatch. When you get on hard standing level the boat up using the datum/s. Must not forget also keeping a reference point for the waterline and use that to mark the waterline everywhere on the new surface. Otherwise make a new reference from the depth of the boat measuring up, and use the hose to make a bunch of reference marks on the new surface.
So how do you level a boat, you could use bottle jacks and wedges.
We used to level bridge sections in a workshop testing with a theodolite and adjusting with wedges and giant jacks, boats arent as heavy as a bridge. Just FWIW we had to heat the bottoms of the beams with large propane blow torches then hit the bottom of the beams with fire hoses to quench and therefore shrink them, giving the bridge its camber.
cheers
The clear hose does sound like a good idea. If I ever have to do this again, like on someone else's boat, before hauling out, while still in the water, measurements could be taken down to the water line at the stem, stern and two sides. The ground is sandy in the Richards Bay haul out facility so it would be easy to dig away the blocking to level the boat according to those 4 points. That would give a much more professional waterline than what we got. Thanks for the idea.
After 44 years talk that Valiant has problem factory is comic. How many boats live for this time floating?
All the videos that I see about DIY in boats, at any moment, talk about blisters and show it.
11 years sailing with you and others 33 with old owners is enough to confirm its name Valiant.
Congratulation Patrick and Rebeca, you made a great job.
Obs. Maybe is time to change, for one the biggest and latest.
Thanks for the comments. Yes this old sailboat has its challenges and always will..but it’s out home, and we will keep fixing this old sailboat up. There are so many more places to travel to! Yes, we often think a bigger, newer boat would be nice...of course we do. And we look at them from time to time. But usually what we see is bigger, newer boats with big price tags, and problems that the owners do not even comprehend.Nobody takes care of an old sailboat like Patrick does (yes I’m biased) , and every other used sailboat out there represents a ton more work..if not blisters than something else major. So why not just stick with the old sailboat that is all paid for, still floats and is so strong from all the I’m reprove mentos we have done to her over the years, and is layed out well, and is near perfect, besides being a bit old, and a bit smaller than we would sometimes like her to be?!
Glad you enjoyed this diy video! -Rebecca
Patrick, you appeared back in my feed.
I really miss you though you didn't know me. Bex misses you more.
Thanks again for everything Pat.
Bill
Thanks Bull.. appreciate your sentiments. Yep I miss him the most Id say :)
@@RVLifeNOW I miss you too Bex and you can call me anything you want to.
WOW!!! $4K for all that work!!! Will have to stop at that yard when we do a go around!!!
Yes...granted they didn’t work every day, and rarely all of them at once...but yes, no matter if it takes 2 weeks or 2 years, 4k we feel was a great price to pay. The guys were quite happy to be employed too, so morale was always very high on this blister repair job, which is saying a lot for a miserable task at hand! -Rebecca
Patrick Childress Sailing Outstanding price to pay for all that work. We have been to SA a few times and with any luck one day it will be aboard out sailboat. We are always amazed at how far our dollar goes when we visit SA.
ATX SAILOR Yes and no and depends what part you go to as well. I wouldn’t want to haul out a sailboat and do this same blister repair here in Cape Town. It seems to be a whole different economy here!! Restaurants more expensive, plumbers more expensive...and stainless steel polishers more expensive! So blister repairs here would have been much more expensive. Richards Bay is the place to do it!!! -Rebecca
Really enjoyed the first few minutes....the two of you look great together. Swan 68....can’t help. Great episode, thanks. Andrew
Thank you Andrew. I have sailed Swan 53s, which are a bit big for our needs. A 48' is my upper usable limit for the cruising we do.....if you know of anyone who has a spare one laying around!
The Valiants have a tremendous history of blisters. I remember reading an article years ago concerning the layup in the factory- resin quality, resin depleted layups (no vacuum bagging) and inadequate mixing - have been incriminated. The Valiants are a nice cruising boat design. I use Formica for the big screeds. Also, punching into a blister using a Dremel works, using a grinder tip for metal. Lastly, all epoxies off-gas and the organic vapors are hepatotoxic, there is more than dust and particles to worry about.
The run of resin blisters started in 1976 and went to 1981. The blisters make these boats very affordable for a lot of people.
Fantastic Pat and Becca! Looks better than new! It will serve you well on the ocean.
Thank you, Matt. With all the repairs during this haul out, we will feel more confident with this boat as we cross the Atlantic to Uruguay and around the south regions of S. America.
AHA!!! Thanks for the fin roller tip!!!!! They have been such a pain to clean.
We used to use a screw driver and other scrapers, and wire brushes and everything else to clean those fin rollers. Then one day, I thought, what the hell, we can nearly set the roller on fire with the heat gun, paint stripper, and just melt it clean. Randy, thanks for your comment.
I hope you have glorious smooth winds at your back now Captain. RIP
Yes…
Looks fantastic! Well done!
Thank you, white. We are happy with the results and now ready to cross the Atlantic to S.America.
Great work Patrick.Just learned from"Uma Sailing" that you are not well.Wish you everything of the best and speedy recovery.Hang in there mate.
Thanks. Yeah these blisters are nothing compared to the storm we are fighting now.
Wow! I am amazed at how it came up. You guys got a great crew of workers. In the US i would think it would have cost 10x what you guys spent. Beautiful boat and great job!
Thanks for commenting on the second part of our blister repair video. Yes...we had great workers there at Zululand Yacht Club, and we will always remember them! Yes, I think 10x is probably right...we could never afford to take care of our boat there, or at least not do a major boat repair like this hull blister repair! -Rebecca
Great timely vid. I am on the sanding and fairing tread-wheel too.Also weather not warm enough this time of year. I am replacing the rotten wood in a small fiberglass fishboat and not fussing too much with the cosmetics. Cheers again from western Canada!
“Sanding puttying and faring, sanding puttying and faring”... (is it in that order?) What a maintenance treadmill that was! We had cool weather...a little hot at the end. Sounds like it is way too cold for you!!! How old of a boat is that you are working on? WhT are your plans for it? -Rebecca
@@RVLifeNOW It is a 18.5 ft 40yr old Hourston and I hope to use it a little for crab and salmon fishing on southwest Vancouver Island.Right now it gives me something to do but ENOUGH on the sanding!!! Certainly not as big a project as the one you have just completed.Great vids.Happy sailing!!!
I used to live on an old metal lifeboat in a boat yard. Near me a man was digging out all the bubbles in a fiberglass boat and finding it very hard to locate all the little hidden ones. He was very frustrated . At the time I was shot blasting with black oxide grit. The stuff you generally use only once. I jokingly suggested we blast some grit at it. Not close up, as this would have gone straight through the fiberglass. Instead we did the blasting from about 3 feet away. This gave a wide spread and covered the whole side of the 30 foot boat in about 5 minutes. Very quick. He had already done all the bits he could find and there were allot. When we looked at the result of shot blasting it from 3 feet away (Give or take some) The grit had burst hundreds of small bubbles . I mean loads of very well hidden spots of porosity. And Just lightly abraded the good and sound jell. He was very happy with the result. And very surprised at the result.
Wow...wish we had that here...sounds like it was a really fast way to get at a lot of blisters fast! Where were you when we needed you ;) -Rebecca
@@RVLifeNOW That was in 1997 ish. Now Im in Scotland and thinking about boats again. :-)
I think the kind of damage you have needs the extra elbow grease that you have. You have done a great job.
Great work :) just great in such a short time frame especially.
Felt like the blister repair part went on for eternity! But this old sailboat cleaned up pretty darn well. She is back to really being the prettiest boat in the anchorage. -Rebecca
.Hard work is its own best reward.
Thanks you Eric. We are happy with the way the boat turned out after this and all the other issues we took care of on this haul out.
Only discovered your channel a few weeks ago and have seen just 3 or 4 videos. The blister repairs fascinated me, esp your determination to get it all done right, amazing stuff!
I was also very glad & proud to see that my home countrymen did you well with their dedication to a quality job done right! (Durban was my home town where I was born (1956) & raised). Those guys worked their butts off on that job! What was the name of the marina, I didn't hear you mention it? They deserve a big shoutout I'd say 😄
Anyway great video and very informative for anyone who might have this problem. And I love restoring old homes, boats, RV's & planes - the quality of the underlying build usually makes it all worthwhile to restore, and way more financially efficient as you said. Thanks for sharing, not sure where you are located now but hope you enjoy the rest of your cruising along the beautiful & wild coast of Southern Africa, including the SW Cape and even up to Namibia, amazing things to see there too 👍🏼😄🙏🏻
Thanks for the nice compliment on the blister video. Actually, we had no idea there would prove to be this much interest in it. Happy there is though. Zululand Yacht Club in Richards Bay is where we were hauled out. The area became our home. What a great place to linger and do boat work. On some weekends we did a good number of trips up to the game parks and I finally got the close up, head on, rhinoceros pictures I wanted to get. We had a good time working with and getting to know the people who helped on the blister repair job. Now we are in Hout Bay for a while. There is no rush to leave here either. Another beautiful spot in S.Africa.
Patrick Childress Sailing Excellent! Thanks for the reply. Very glad you’re enjoying the country. Two suggested wine farm visits if you haven’t seen them already - Fairview & Backsberg. Plus hiking in the area, just be safe & enjoy ☺️👍🏼🙏🏻
Thanks for those ideas! We are almost at the point where we can start enjoying the area more. We did enjoy 2 days of sightseeing here so far, and hope for another one this coming week. You live in one of the most gorgeous countries we have seen 3/4 of the way around the world now! You can hear some bad things about South Africa, but so far we have met nothing but the best specimens of humankind here! And those guys that worked on our blister repair...wow..so much respect! -Rebecca
My father was a boat builder and his definition of a boat is "A hole in the water you pour money into." He worked for Stephens Marine in Stockton Ca from 1955-1967
That’s exactly right. And what a joy to do so ;)
Wow 4K is ridiculously cheap! Another awesome video. Thanks for posting. My wife has her eyes on a cat, I’m trying hard to sell her on a mono and a valiant is high on the list. Awesome boats! Fair winds safe travels.
Every boat has its advantages. There is never a perfect one but overall, we have little to complain about with our Valiant 40....but I would like this same boat but 3 feet longer.
Yup I’m with ya, if I can only get her to see it the same way lol. I’ve owned enough boats to know there’s always something bigger and better. Your smart to stick with a great design and keep improving it!
Before buying our current boat we shopped around new boats. What we like on new boats is the space utilization. Well we ended up buying a 22 years old boat. No way Id pay 350K for a new boat, rather spend money living experience on my sailboat than doing payments. Your bottom job reminds me of my house renovations, after priming my new drywalls I patched all the little imperfections that were visible. My wife was telling me not to bother because at one feet away from the wall they couldn’t be seen 😂, arg, gotta work to learn to let go of my perfectionism.
The patching of these blisters is much like smoothing sheetrock with several coats of compound. And once the sheetrock is primed, those little imperfections jump right out at the eye and become worse when the paint goes on. Yes, I agree, making payments does not always make sense when a used boat can be a much better deal. Thanks for your comment.
Rebecca: my deep condolencies to you. Your videos are super cool to watch, precise. I have a 1986 Beneteau 350 in the yard for the last 5 yrs, sanded all and glassed a bunch of small blisters, and stopped due to other priorities on the way... It's so interesting to read people's answer to the question if it is worth it. Like some had said, wao, what is not to love once done, regardless!!! Take care and pray for me so that I finish sometime before next summer... :) I just want to sell it for the market value... 28k I hope...
Good luck...thanks for watching.
Very interesting and educational. Thanks for sharing :)
Thank you
thank you for sharing, and teaching some of us ...whish I've seen this a couple of years ago...
Why...did you have some blisters back then...or did you buy a new boat, and have been fixing her ever since? -Rebecca
@@RVLifeNOW I did repair the blisters, less than 50, but filled them with putty, and far, very far from your kind of job. May be in a couple of years will use your techniques.
Everything made by man works on finding its way back into the ground. Kinda defeating right? Beautiful job! I enjoy your ingenuity in fabricating the sanding boards and recreating the water line.
That is really the way I see it. One day continental subduction will mix it all together again and all will be one with the earth. Sounds sort of Zen, Hippie....
Looks a treat
We are happy how the blister and other projects came out on this haul out. We feel the boat is stronger and better than when new and ready to cross more oceans. Thanks, Tom, for your comment.
whether or not some one takes on an old boat is personal preference, personally i would, and am, when you have something you like, that works for you of coarse fix it up, there are to many who live in a throw away world, you have a wonderful working sail boat which suits your purpose, and serves your needs, why not give it the love and attention it deserves, brick house is looking well sexy, and the work being done is of great standard, shell serve you well for long miles of fun,
i love the saying, its not a show pony, but is a work horse,
even a work horse can scrub up with a bit of attention, brick is looking awesome, well done, :)
Thank you, Owen.
I would have been tempted to try a laser pointer on a tripod with a swivel. You would need two reference points; one near the bow and one near the stern. The height of the laser pointer would also need to be on the plane being traced for the water line. Setup may be a bit finicky, but it should give a very good waterline. I have not tried this technique, but might be worth considering. Of course, your boat is now good for a lifetime.
That does sound like a good idea. Before hauling out, while still in the water, measurements could be taken down to the water line at the 4 important points. The ground is sandy in this haul out facility so it would be easy to dig away the blocking to level the boat according to those 4 points. Next time!
@@RVLifeNOW Yes, the four points would be really good to have. I don't think it is necessary to have the boat level however. The rotating plane on the tripod would need to be adjusted so the laser was on the desired plane, however, this plane does not need to be level with the ground. It could be skewed to follow whatever orientation the boat was secured on.
Yes, that i saw that being used in another YT video.
@@airgead5391 Would you remember where? I would be interested in seeing how it worked our for them.
@@projects7752 th-cam.com/video/k28LJPP785U/w-d-xo.html
I don't sail (or any kind of boating for that matter) but these videos are so interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Ryan, just maybe, one day, you will start sailing boats....and possibly these videos will help you pick out a boat that does not need so much work! Thanks much for your comment.
AMAZING work, love your videos, so well made :)
Thank you, Tino. Coming from you, that means a lot to us.
Looking fantastic ya'll.
Thanks..nice to have all the blisters gone and have a nice new sailboat! -Rebecca
Great video. Question on the $4K price: does that include haul-out and storage for 8 months? Did material cost a lot more than in the US, especially paint, anti fouling, epoxy and other marine supplies? Did you pay them for the job or per hour worked? Sounds like per hour since you had time sheets. What percentage of the $4K was for labor, materials, etc.
Sounds very cheap no matter what. Location matters a lot. Did you travel around the country to take advantage or had to stick around to supervise every day? Thanks!
Frank, no one worked on this boat unless I was there. We had no contract with anyone. We hired people on a day to day basis, as needed. I was my own contractor. There were a lot of other projects going on at the same time which are presented in other videos in this series or are in the making and will be released over the next several months. The $4,000 is a guestimate and does not include the $3 per day on land fee as that can be apportioned to the other projects. All materials cost more than in the U.S. as most boat repair materials are imported from the U.S. and Europe. Minimum labor rate in many countries is around $1.50 an hour or less. Fiji is a good example of this, where we did boat work, so too Malaysia and Colombia. Thailand is terrible as the national labor rate is very low but they charge boat owners, California union wages or more. Maybe one day, when out in the middle of an ocean I will dig out all the documentation and do a detailed accounting. This project would not have been worth doing in the U.S. or many other countries because of the high labor cost. Just an hours drive north of Richards Bay are some great game parks. Some times, when the work on the boat allowed, we would take Sunday and Monday off to do safaris. There are times too, we had to leave the country to renew our viisas, at which time we would visit game parks in countries to the north. Victoria Falls was a good visa run.
You are one incredible couple. From my viewpoint repairing all those blisters was the equivalent of building a pyramid. But you seem to have a history of turning ashes into gold. Congratulations.
Thanks for that nice compliment Dan. We have been very lucky...though they say you make your own luck. Repairing the blisters on this boat certainly WAS like building a pyramid, and Patrick and his crew worked like a well oiled machine on those pesky blisters, and made it better than gold! -Rebecca
this video is pure gold.
Thanks..it was a good one hah?
Outstanding job.
Thank you, Dmac.
I'd have had the work done as well. Sure, you could get a brand new boat but as you mentioned, depreciation is a killer for resale value. Getting another old second hand one would also come with its own issues as many do unless it's been in storage the entire time. Those guys are dedicated for sure. Good work ethic from them in that near enough is not good enough so hats off to them. I enjoyed seeing part 1 and 2. 👍 😉
Chucky, Thanks for watching, and your comment.
Great job !! And welcome to Cape Town 🙂
Thanks for the welcome Bryan! This is a great place to come on an old sailboat...We are still finishing up repairs (a constant treadmill like nay boat) but soon we need to figure out a way to see your beautiful home! -Rebecca
Fair winds and smooth seas Patrick. 😔
Nice work, she is absolutely gorgeous. From a fellow Rhode Islander.
Thanks, she is looking pretty nice without all the blisters, that’s for sure ;) -Rebecca
Beautiful!
Thanks! It’s nice to have those big ugly blisters gone now...and a fresh coat of paint. It won’t last forever...so gonna enjoy it until she looks like my nice old sailboat again! -Rebecca
Adorable video of both of you on the opening segment. Boat a perpetual maintenance machine "Bust Out Another Thousand" Woot! Great tip on using water with the dust collection system. I had a contractor many years ago doing some work and his Shop Vac did a poor job vacuuming up the debris because it spewed dust all over the house. I told him put a couple of gallons of water in the bottom of the vacuum and like magic the majority of the dust got collected by the liquid at the bottom. The contactor was like - this is amazing... Duh.... Looks like you had a great crew to help with all your boat projects as well. Nicely done Patrick. One of your best videos to date! Brick house looks amazing!
Wow...thanks so much David. I refuse to get all dolled up for the camera, on principal, and then always regret how bad I look. Ah well! Considering you have watched them all David...”your best video yet” really means something. What made it the best...certainly boat blister repair is a bit boring to me :) -Rebecca
@@RVLifeNOW What makes "the best yet" for me are the improvements on videography, editing, and you both are more comfortable in front of the camera. I enjoy watch boat repairs as much as watching sailing adventures and Patrick did a great job chronicling the refit of Brick House. Well done!
Ya..I don’t think I will ever be that comfortable in front of the camera. It’s so permanent and unforgiving. But yes...Patrick’s editing and filming and all of that really has gotten a much better...to think two years ago, he wasn’t even aware a camera could take a video ;)
I don’t know how he can keep on this roll though...it’s so much work, and pretty soon, Internet is going to become dearer. St Helena...for example..Internet is $50 per GB. One upload will be $100 !!! And that’s if it goes right on the first try.
And how could he ever make a video so rare as this detailed chronicle of his 10 month blister repair job. I mean..hull blisters and the repair of hull blisters are not a topic of great interest to me...but where else can you see such a detailed account of this, with tips and everything mixed in. It’s gonna be a tough act to follow ;)
As usual David..thanks for watching and for your feedback...we are so glad to have you aboard! -Rebecca
$4000 ! Wow! I have about $12k in rebuilding our 25 ft Daysailer... I am impressed. By the way . Your boat looks great!
I know of a person who spent well over $200,000.00 fixing up an old 40 foot sailboat.....then one day the mast fell down!!
FIXUP THAT OLD SAILBOAT :)
Why? because this boat has a soul and deserves all your love ..
great video and work.
RIP Patrick, I can tell a life well lived. My dad and I are fixing up a 1976 Ranger 33 sloop. We put out a new diesel in and replaced all the rigging. The bottom job was more of a band aide fix as we discovered some delamination and many many blisters! We have spent way too much money on everything so far and fear the next haul out. I think we’ll need to get scrappy by sailing south to Mexico or Central America to complete the work, or buy/lease land here in California(also insanely expensive) to complete the project. We’re in Monterey, CA. Any place down south you’d recommend doing the work? I could probably spend a 3-4 months, Nov-March on the project. Or sail it down there in November, grind everything down and then let dry out in the yard for a year.. definitely need to be scrappy or else we’re gonna sink into boatyard debt and have all the fun sucked out of sailing.. any advice you may have to offer I am all ears! Looking forward to watching your other videos. We have a similar ethos in seeing the value of restoring a piece of history. Thank you.
Michael
Ah Michael… Good luck with the boat restoration. Yea get somewhere foreign. Perhaps Trinidad…. Or further. Everything close to the US has picked up on US pricing ripoffs and you will sink so much money in to her that yea if your joy isn’t sucked out the money will be! Good luck!!!
Wonderful work, Patrick!
Great luck you guys had finding those contractors, sometime we are so tired of the work, the we go tolerant on the less hen perfect job.
Happy those boys put on the extra effort and delivered you that beauty!
I am very happy for you!
Maybe you can give me a call when you and Rebecca make up your minds on selling that boat.....
Just asking...😋😋😋
Haha. At least 10 years til we sell our blister free sailboat...and by then...maybe those rotten blisters will be back and you won’t want her after seeing how much work a blister repair job is ;)
Yes...those guys really pushed for perfection at the end, when probably we were tired of boat work, and being in the boatyard, and just wanted to be done already with blisters, and painting, and all that horrible stuff!! -Rebecca
@@RVLifeNOW no worries dude, you can enjoy the boat for the next decade, I still have 3 kids to raise and drop them in the university...
😂😂😂😂
I really appreciate you posting your videos, in some way I am also poking the blisters and laying the itchy fiberglass with you.
Maybe you touch base whenever you come to Brazil.
Best wishes!
Andre...where in Brazil are you...if you are near Rio or south...most definitely! This year! . We love that comment..that you are poking blisters and rolling in the itchy fiberglass right alongside of us! We wish you were...the more the merrier! We hear you about the kids... it’s the only reason we could retire so soon and young...no children...that is such a big responsibility...such a commitment. If you can have kids AND sail in your life, you are a very fortunate man! -Rebecca
Wonderful job !
Thank you, Peter.
I went through a similar process on a Cascade 36 - another NW built boat. The propeller shaft strut looks rather small for your boat. Do you experience shaft vibration? I would like a video on drivetrain and alignment. :)
It isn't that hard to align the prop shaft with the output coupling but it is tedious work and takes time. Because of the very confined space, it would be impossible to video the alignment process on our boat. Much of it is done by feel. I hope you had help doing your Cascade 36. Without help, it would have taken me years to complete our blister repairs and I don't think my ambition would have held out that long.
very well done looking great i hope you gave your contractors a surprise bonus they deserved :-)
Waiting till the end to give a bonus is not the way to do it. Those who did well got surprise bonuses all during the job to keep the motivation high. But also, working along side with them, getting just as dirty and working just as hard, was far better motivation than just sitting on a chair watching them work. Someone had to set the pace and keep it going. Thanks for your comment.
To answer your question of an easier way for the waterline, use a WATER LEVEL - You can use a small diameter, clear hose with water within to create a level of any length that you can now use at any location to which you stretch the end of the hose. In your case, a single measurement from the waterline to your blue tape to start to preserve your old line. Then, when ready to put the water line back on, measure down from the blue tape to your desired new water line and mark. From here on, use the water filled hose keeping the water level at your newly marked waterline position. Wherever you take the far end of the hose, the water level will be the same at both ends due to equal air pressure at both ends.
That presupposes the boat is perfectly set in the stands. Also some boats ride a little bow up which would also have to be figured in adjusting the stands.
Travis, that is a very good idea. I am just thinking, while the boat was still in the water, I could have measured down the stem to the waterline for a waterline reference and done the same at the stern, plus measured down at a mid point, port and starboard. When hauled out, the soil was sandy and easy to move so it would be easy, but time consuming, to level out the boat using the clear water level and the 4 reference points.....then continue to mark more points along the waterline. It could be tedious but should give a better result than what I did. Thanks...
Yeah sitting in the stands would never work. We were tilted just a little stern heavy...because the golf ball for the cat always rolled back to me...Coati misses that! -Rebecca
Then I would have to go to a laser line where you only need to determine 2 points and then use the laser to "connect the dots" and it would extrapolate the rest.
@@RVLifeNOW this is how I did my mobile home. it worked pretty well, but it works best with a larger diameter hose. I added clear (drinking water hose) ends to my 3/4" garden hose, but the small diameter of the hose made it sluggish. To do this with Brick House, the boat would have to be first leveled precisely in all directions, which isn't easy to do. Marking the boat while in the water would need leveling first as well, with nobody walking around the boat, zero wind or surge, then you would proceed with what you just did anyway. In other words, your method was a good choice.
Beautiful, great job. Money well spent.
Thank you Mike
"Even worth it?"
- My answer before watching the vid. - "Of course!"
- My answer after watching the vid. - "Definitely!"
Good job to all involved!
Thanks Roy! We think so too. It’s such a pretty boat now without all the resin blisters! -Rebecca
Great job, so much work. It freshens up the tired appearance. Much cheaper than a new boat. Changed the shape of a racing yacht years back. Near the end of fairing the hull using long boards, a friend suggested using a pneumatic speed file with 50mm x 400mm long base and used this for the long flat areas. Wish I had of discovered the tool earlier, would have cut 40 hours sanding by hand to 10 hours. For those interested, I used 3M micro glass spheres which can also be used as an adhesive for foam cores. Remember, Epoxy will stick to Polyester laminates but not the other way around. I used Acetone to soften the surface to get better adhesion to the old hull, which was probably one of the biggest concerns for me.
A pneumatic speed file. That sounds like a great idea. Thanks.
Looks great! Better than new!
Thanks Josh! It’s really nice to have all those blisters gone, and some nice bright paint in its place (not to mention a lot of fiberglass and epoxy to make everything nice and strong where the rotten blisters once were!)-Rebecca
$4000.00 for all that work over 8 months? That's amazing! It would cost me double that just to moor a boat for that period.
Wow...that’s a lot of money for moorage...where do you live? Yes, we felt it was a good price for repairing the blisters, for sure! -Rebecca
@@RVLifeNOW use the savings and buy extra respirators for everyone
Thanks for the numbers, without them it was a head scratcher on whether you were crazy or crazy like a fox!
The only foxy thing here is not to hire a contractor on a bid basis and to hire and train your own people, thus, becoming a contractor yourself. Of course at times, when the work load or expertise level required it, we did hire experienced people from a local contractor and paid 3 times the price for them but they were well worth it. Still far cheaper than in the U.S. or Australia.
Hi Patrick, another great video, thanks. Saw you guys knocking round Royal Cape Yacht Club a few days ago. Where is your boat? Hout Bay? I also would like to know how much propspeed you used. I am about to do the same on my boat and would like to know. Hope you are enjoying Cape Town regards Andrew
Yes...we had lunch there! Yes..our new beautiful blister free boat is now in Hout Bay! Patrick said he used one small kit of the Propspeed and he had lots left over. Maybe you can find another boat who wants to use it to and split he cost of the propspeed. Our propellor is on the smaller side...couldn’t tell you exactly the size...but you will for sure only need the smallest size even if your propellor is big. Thanks for watching...stop by anytime. How long are you at the RCYC...we hope to get up there within the next month...-Rebecca