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Good morning!!💘💘💘 Hi......💕💕 You are good!!!💕💕 Thank you so much!!!.🤩😍 Today is a good day. 🤩😍 I will Fighting to you!!💕💕 Bravo your life !!! Have a nice day !!!!💘 Thank you, Your good!!!💕💕
I can't believe how calm you seem about these cracks! I'd be livid!!! You paid SO much for that vessel, it's unacceptable that it's falling apart! Hope everything works out.
It always surprises me when you find such a competent person so young. And not camera shy, too! What a gem you guys found in Jai. I cannot wait for the Japan episodes and hope you guys had a relaxing time back in AUS with family. 💜
"I want boat talking to me, but now boat is dead" That's a profound way for Lenny to express his connection to his life on the boat and the ocean - what a deep little fellow!
Dagger board cases in cats and tris experience MASSIVE side loads, the dagger boards on my cat were originally made of foam and glass, they broke under load to windward and were replaced in oregon core wrapped in S glass, they were about 15 ft long and weighed about 130kgs each, was talking to a designer years ago and for the size and weight of my old boat, his estimation was 6 tonns at 15 knots boat speed to windward. Most tris use the daggerboard case as part of the compression structure for the mast. Given the deck to DB case and hull to DB case joins are kinda key to the structure, I have to be honest here, I'd be looking for further analysis of the ENTIRE dagger board case. Ultrasound of the structure to make sure there were no further de-laminations is a quick non destructive test that can help ID areas of concern. When structures have failed as spectacularly as the deck to DB case have it is generally occurs in more than one specific area. Take care my dude, your decisions have consequences.
Hi ,we are building an 80ft cat out of carbon fibre with experienced racing professionals. During the composite build phase we had regular NDT tests at various stages and picked up one or two issues that could be fixed. If you have these type of problems having an NDT test of the entire boat will show you what is weak, not up to strength. This will give you peace of mind on also parts of the boat and especially the repair. The yard should have done this as standard. If you want some further details, happy to supply them. Regards John
Jai is a legend ! He really took good care of your boat while everyone was away . Definitely gut wrenching encountering these major issues , but thank goodness the family wasn't at sea in what could have been catastrophic .
@Rapido this is your moment to shine. Show that your team not only take issues like this seriously but also that you make sure that you have an appropriate team to understand and address the problem. The boat owners shouldn’t need to consult anyone - this sort of fault is squarely on your shoulders. It’s also clear they are not trusting your teams ability to understand or fix the issue. Pay attention - the way you respond to this is being broadcast to the world. The outcome of these repairs and your responses to them will reflect more on your company that the original build of the boat. The biggest fear anyone has when building a boat is how resolve issues after the build. Over to you - your time to shine. Make this a story of how, despite and early blunder, you’ve come through, Brough all the right people and with skill and confidence, fully resolved the issue to everyone’s satisfaction.
Fully agreed. It is unbelievable that Rapido didn't send a team for analysis and the repair. For Mr. Koch is time to intervene. PS Rapido sent 2 people that proved to be incompetent making a repair laminating the CB that felt off immediately.
Outstanding comment. My thoughts exactly. I’ve been thinking how much it would have cost to build a similar boat like this in a Europe country or Australia or USA?
I can totally understand the difficulties involved with resin, carbon fiber and associated materials in open-weather tropical conditions. I’d be surprised if the final board repairs AND the main repairs don’t involve some type of controlled environment enclosure for temperature, humidity and curing control. You can feel confident that the manufacturer fully understands the greater situation which involves millions of eyes and concerns for your continued success. Cheers and looking forward to the properly engineered solutions☺️
If the next episode doesn't show a thorough inspection of the boat by a team of at least three dozen Rapido experts and engineers, I'll lose all trust in the company. Paying a premium for a brand-new boat, only to encounter structural cracks after just a few months of use, raises serious concerns and sets off alarm bells.
Hey Guys, i work with carbon fibre in the aerospace industry, if i were you i would be handing that hull back to rapido. Anyone who works with carbon will tell you that you cant successfully patch Carbon Fiber parts, especially those that require as much structural integrity as the mast and centreboard. it looks like the entire hull is compromised. i know that being creators your cant really shitbag Rapido while youre living on one of their boats but there is no way i would be sailing to japan with my family onboard on that thing..... Good luck guys
@@evangatehouse5650 yeah most of it was wet layup by the looks so I’m thinking their cure times were probably off. The crack looks more like de lamination which could potentially be worse than just a crack as the whole area would need to be cut out and reformed
Hey. Don't sail that hull. The main structure is compromised 1. Unload all your personal effects 2. Store everything 3. Hire lawyers to demand a brand. new hull. It's your family that is in jeopardy.
I know you want the story to be different, and you want the issues with the boat to be just new boat growing pains. You are both getting STRONG messages, undeniable messages, that the boat is not up to snuff, nor the quality you contracted for. And your family is part of your life investment. Don't let sentiment, friendships within Rapido, your schedule to get to Japan, and especially not your TH-cam channel get in the way of your pure gut/heart decisions making. Elana trust your mama sensing, you have them for a reason. Adventure is great, however this is about WISDOM. Besides the boat absolutely not being the quality it should be , and that you paid for, there may be reasons yet unforeseen for you not to be in Japan at this particular time. There is much weather upheaval predicted on that part of the planet in the next few months. I wish you all the best as always.💚
Bro that is only a bandage, it will break again and I hopefully no in the middle of a strong wind. Bring that boat back to manufacture before the warranty is out.
Rapido, we are WATCHING. Riley and Elena are legends, hopefully you do everything you can to make this right for them and their boys. All the best to Riley and Elena🥂
Rapido, there are thousands of us in this world who follow the adventures of Elayna and Riley, their sons and their friends as they sail around the world. We understand the stresses and strains the ocean, and the winds can put on a sail boat. We also know how long and hard Riley studied and checked so many different designs before he settled on the Rapido. So many of us have been most impressed by your efforts so far to produce what Riley and Elayna require for them to continue their lifestyle and for us to be able to share it. Your good reputation will excel above all expectations if you can get La Vagabonde repaired, and back to the high standard required for their safety without them being out of pocket. Please look after them.
Your family is awesome. I can relate to getting something new and expensive that you live in. Your boat. Our motorhome. It was fix or repair daily. When we had problems it was treated like a hot potato…no one would take responsibility for the problem. I understand your stress and frustration. Your kids bring such joy to me. They are treasures. The boat is dead comment cracked me up. You are two brave and wildly adventurous people. God bless you all. ❤
Love the boat, love the family, love the channel.PLEASE Do your research on AG1, it’s all BS made from a business man that fled his home country. There’s no data specifically saying how much, of what specifically is in it. It’s just “Good for you because we said so!” “trust us bro!” It may be a sponsor that will be under heat soon and wouldn’t want to see you guys get wrapped up in the drama.
Hey Riley, I have been following SLV for a while now. I follow several sailboat channels, but you seem to be the most badass, hard core sailor out there. So I wish you success in all your ventures, but....... You sailed through some bad weather and gave your trimaran a stress test. I fear the Rapido 60 failed that stress test, miserably. The cracks you describe are at the point where major loads intersect. You have bending loads from the (single) centreboard. You have huge compression loads from the mast. You have bending loads from the forward cross beam. This is the strongest and most heavily loaded part of the structure. Carbon fibre construction is the stiffest, lightest form. But it fails by cracking, not tearing, like wood. The relative flexibility of wood allows miniscule movements, which share the loads throughout the fastenings, but carbon fibre is hard and stiff, with very limited opportunities to share out uneven loads. If one small region of the structure is overloaded, it cannot ask for help and a small crack starts. The cruel thing about cracks is that the longer they are, the quicker they grow. As things get stiffer, they become more brittle, like comparing a window pane with a similar sized piece of plywood. I worry that your cracked boat is like a porcelain teacup that has been dropped onto the floor. You can replace it but you cannot fix it. Please prove me wrong. I'll be genuinely happy if you do. Your boat was designed by a firm of Naval Architects with massive credentials. Could the builder have introduced some off-spec materials? Is it time to say, "Take back this unusable, broken boat and return my cheque?" Non-stop, round the world races are all won by trimarans, so the concept is proven and successful. Those racers are all carbon fibre, too. And they flog their boats through the worst weather to gain time. So a man should be able to cruise through bad weather and keep his family safe on a trimaran as big as yours. What is the key to this paradox? If your next boat is a trimaran, perhaps it should have centreboards and rudders in the outriggers. This would give redundancy and may distribute the loads better. As a side issue, it would give you more space inside the accommodation. Or you could follow the trend and get a Catamaran. Full disclosure: I am an electrical engineer with an interest in structures, but I have no professional training as a structural engineer. I have an interest in sailing, but have never sailed anything larger than a Hobie cat. I give all this advice free, but cannot accept any responsibility. Wiser men must guide you. Herb.
Cheap old person here. I have over 60 years of sailboat racing experience and thousands of cruising miles. I watch your show because you are competent and striving to learn. PPI. Perpetual process improvement. Secondary bonding is tricky, especially in tropical conditions of high heat and humidity, both enemies of epoxy. Clearly the resin in attempt #1 did not cure properly, maybe not the installers fault, provided they mixed the resin properly…I have laminated in the tropics. It is hard but not impossible. Consider laminating at night to avoid the heat. All the best to the family. Good luck. I mean that in a positive way.
Yes, epoxy and humidity+heat don't work great together and your advice is sound. Maybe even create some sort for controlled environment for the lamination process? But my disappointment is more to the design and structural calculation which are quite obviously fraught. Such a crack in such a vital part of the boat should not have appeared so early in the boat's life. I know these things happen in custom designs and calculation/design errors go unnoticed, but somebody dropped the ball and they should be bending over backwards to design a real fix (don't improvise or jerry-rig a solution before a sail of that difficulty).
@@SierraLimaOscar The entire boat was built in a high humidity high temp country in Vietnam. What does that say about being confident in Rapido's building and laminating process for the entire boat? I'd be a little concerned that as time passes and more rough water is faced, more laminating and bonding will fail resulting in more cracks and therefore more chance of catastrophic outcomes, potentially miles from any help.
@@stevebodalenko5286 You can have climate controlled facilities to do the laminating in. Which I would expect is the case for a boat builder in Vietnam...?
Wow it seems that the Old vagabond may have been slower but structurally it seems it was better. I pray that after these repairs that your boat won't have anymore major structural issues for a long time, since your boat is not a year old yet. It was great seeing Elaina, Lenny and Darwin again.
Hi Riley, I’m sure you’re getting loads of advice but I feel I should put in my ten cents worth. In particular regarding the crack in the dagger board. I believe that crack is the edge of a planar shear failure that extends well into the board and that superficial patching will not correct the problem. The two sides of the board need to be shear connected together perpendicular to the plane of the crack by something like a grid of dowels extending from one side of the board to the other. The lateral load on the board has exceeded the shear capacity of the core of the board. The board will now be weaker and it will deflect more under load. I’m a retired structural engineer and I’m drawing my conclusion from just the glimpse of the crack on the video but it’s likely to be the case. Good luck with the repairs and thanks for all the wonderful videos. Cheers Roger.
Um, that's not really how composite daggerboards are built. Sometimes a shear web of solid wood or C shaped glass/carbon bonded to the skins. The design could be fine; the build could have faults. Don't know yet.
I didn’t suggest how the board was built, there are a number of ways that shear connection can be designed between the skins. I’m relying on Riley’s intelligence to understand that there is a significant probability that the shear failure in the board could be more extensive than might be assumed by someone without structural analysis skills. If the board is to be repaired rather than replaced then a patch of the crack won’t be sufficient. Retrofitting some additional shear connectors should at least be considered.
Can’t imagine Rapido is getting many new orders after this episode! Hope the repairs go smoothly going forward! I would be asking for a warranty extension!
Actually the way Rapido are dealing with it gives me more confidence in them, first few hulls of any design have teething issues, it's how the vendor stands behind their product and honours the warranty that counts, they're not doing a Lagoon and denying that there's an issue....
Warranties are one thing, but quality and performance are another. The warranty means nothing if you end up dead because of shoddy workmanship. Disgraceful that a multimillion-dollar boat is having as many problems as this one has had. I would be thinking long and hard about setting off for Japan with cracks in such a foundational structure. Lives are in danger if it isn't repaired and stronger than the original build.
Real explorers , new cruising grounds ,new routes, new problems, resourceful , and steadfast, all with a hint of humour, keeps all on the edge of our seats!
This video perfectly illustrates the tradeoff between Performance vs Durability that does not get talked about much. You wonder how much safety margin has been designed into the boat to save weight. I guess also being one of the first boats, there will be a learning cycle and probably find later boats will need beefing up in high stress areas.
The fun part about bespoke boats, RVs, houses, etc is that they ALWAYS have tons of problems. That is the experience you sign up for when you order custom.
Unfortunately I agree, all saltwater sailboats/yachts require constant maintenance, but this has become a real headache for you guys, I mean some of these problems should not be even happening for a brand new boat, hope you got a hell of a good warranty...
Longtime sub and rarely comment but felt compelled to do so. At 3:32 I had to rewind and pause. I did this a few times and still can't believe what I saw. There isn't any excuse from the factory to justify this shoddy work. You and your family place your lives on this. It's high time to go over EVERY INCH of this boat before you find yourselves in a bad spot.
Hang in there, you guys! It will work out and you always figure it out! You are amazing travelers, sailors and parents and people! I love watching you and you bring joy to this old lady's life (74) So carry on figure it out and keep going! Blessings!
I'm one of those little old ladies! Have been watching for several years. I agree with some others... there is no way you need to take your family sailing until the boat is 100%. I know you know this. I see it in your face. We will still be here.
I would have kept the Cat! That boat went through very rough conditions and came through it with flying colors. I don't know if I would ever trust this boat after all this. I would put this mess back on the manufacturer and do not let him give you excuses this has been a nightmare for you guys. God Bless you and the boys!
Jai seems like a solid ally and knowledgeable. Rapido and M&M need to step up. If all else fails, bring in Colin and Jamie! Hopefully not a Lagoon type dilemma. Wonder if other Rapido 60s have issue.
@@stevebodalenko5286It would be best if they sent out teams and were ready to make repairs. Luxury products like this should have a level of exceptional quality and customer care. This boat cost nearly $2 million!
The more I watch videos like this, the more convinced I am that the advice to never buy an expensive new RV or boat is sound. Pay less for a good used boat that you have had inspected and has had all the bugs worked out of it. "Good Used" is the key.
Damn... I don't mean to catastrophize, but...that structural failure right underneath that huge mast is a fricken catastrophe! I mean, that's so utterly essential and foundational to the safety and seaworthiness of your boat. How can applying a few layers of carbon fiber patch over a crack of that magnitude and location possibly resolve this issue and hold that mast and the centerboard firm if it didn't hold up when everything was cast monolithically? That huge crack is in the foundation of the entire ship! Everything you hold the dearest in your life is on that boat. They sent their two "best guys" over to fix it and the first go just peeled off?! Honestly, I'm not a sailor or a boat builder, but I'm not sure I wouldn't demand a completely new boat over this one, or at least a complete rebuild of that whole section of the boat. Just sayin...
I always read the comments in any TH-cam video. I can’t add much more to the comments that are already there. Your boat is truly amazing. Hopefully you can go back to the manufacturer and be repaired properly. It may take you out of the boat world for a while, but you are so resourceful. I’m sure you can come up with a reinvention of yourself while the boat is being repaired. Best of luck and safe travels.
A friend of mine and I were contemplating making this exact same trip (Philippines to Southern Japan). Everyone we talked to said the best time to do such a trip is April to June, and worst time being July through October. I know this trip may be really exciting to take, but you may seriously want to consider postponing until next year, unless you've sailed those seas during this time of year before. Especially considering the issues you're having. I'm new to the channel, but it sounds like you all have tons of sailing experience, so maybe everything will be ok. Still, many of the local ship owners I spoke with would not charter trips during the coming months, because of weather.
Didn't the Wynns also have lots of problems with their brand new boat done in China? - maybe the cheap labor there isn't a good solution to a high quality boat.
@@JoeTheLion60Any boat builder has issues.. Lagoon in France, ORC in France, etc etc. This really has nothing to do with your pre-conceived Asian build issues…
The stress that you two are having to deal witb is no doubt unbelievable, however it seems to me that the builders should bring the vessel back to Vietnam and come up with a plan on the repair, design changes and or whatever is necessary. They should provide you with a replacement in the meantime. I will leave it at that!!
To see how big Lenny is now, is completely nuts. I've watched this kid grow up! What a life he gets the opportunity to live. I love Riley, love Elayna, and now Lenny and Darwin? Such an amazing channel. TY for everything.
If I were her I'd say "to heck with this boat". And not ever sail on it especially with 2 little kids on board too. Safety safety should come 1st no matter what!
I can’t believe the issues you’re having with this boat. I’m with you Riley I’d be extremely concerned with how the repairs are being handled. You got your family on it. I’m really sorry. This is so fkd up.
Composites are great for strenght and light weight. But they are fussy about curing depending on temperature and humidity. Even the most perfect mix and application will do nothing if the temperature, humidity and the cure time isn't right for the process. Most of my experience with them has been in clean rooms where temp, humidity and time was strickly controlled and a sample was always taken from the batch to be checked by inspection to make sure it set properly. The good news is that it peeled off so you could see that it didn't set hard and solid like it needed to be. Good plan to keep the boys away from the boat while all this is being done. The fumes from the primers and composites before they are fully cured is highly toxic. Neurotoxins. Nothing you want them to be exposed to or even yourselves. I hope you've been able to resolve these issues by now. Godspeed LaVagabonde wherever you are, you are loved. ♾
NA/mech eng/compsites designer here with actual experience using epoxy on board in tropical conditions doing repairs: (a) that rubbery result is typically a mix error in the resin/hardener NOT environmental conditions. Epoxy is actually quite tolerant of high heat; it just cures faster! High humidity does mean amine blush is more likely but would not cause cure problems unless it got rained on (b) Even still, it should have bonded SOMEWHAT and been hard to peel off. Very bad surface prep on the part of the guys doing the work? The good thing is just about every sort of composite structure is repairable if you have access. This isn't the end of the world but the damaged case should be investigated to determine if enough layers were used (even total thickness would give you a rough idea).
Yeah, I built a Long EZ aircraft in a non temp/humidity controlled garage with no problems at all. We didn't do any layups when it was pouring out, but did do a bunch at 95/95. At the beginning we built up some parts on a starter kit, one of which was tested to destruction. It more than passed. We never had a single delam on that entire plane. I don't know about standing water and epoxy layups, but I know that the boat layups I did were definitely hydroscopic, even when fully cured, and would 'milk up' for a whole bunch of hours after standing water was drained out of the hull (in corners and the like). It didn't seem to bother anything, but it was obvious that I needed to put some paint on those areas, and I did....when it was dry.
The one thing i though watching that... shouldn't they have taken the centre board out in its entirely and had it in the shop. Not sure what marina conditions are like but sat half in the case there will be a bellows effect pumping nice briney air every time the boat rocks. That doesn't sound like a good way to cure epoxy or whatever they used.
3m39s If the crack isn't enough... NEXT to that there are two missing nuts and washers (you can see the imprint from the missing washers)! Also a random screw into what looks like clear resin... and that resin looks like a patch made to an access hole to get to the nuts. I would not be surprised if whoever fitted those bolts (with missing nuts) compromised that structure when they cut and drilled that area. FYI, I'd also double check that the entire bulkhead from mast to beams is structural and not delaminated by tapping at it. This is where so many trimarans fail.
This seems like a situation where the Rapido principals need to be literally on deck. The materials experts below with their concerns about the environmental conditions for repairs should be heeded by the Rapido team starting from the top.
Ok Riley, as one of those “cute old people (78) I am aware of the subscribe button 😂. I absolutely love your an Alayna’s channel, one of my favourites, keep up the great content, good luck with the repairs and I hope you and your family and crew have a wonderful trip to Japan. Cheers from the west coast of Canada 🇨🇦
I am 83. Sadly, I probably ceased to be seen as "cute" some considerable time ago. Nevertheless, I have followed La Vagabonde from the very beginning, at a time I may unknowingly still have been just a little cute? As to the problems Riley and Elayna are having, LVIII is a rather more complex vessel than most other cruising boats afloat, I imagine. Maybe leading to more complex problems, too, although Rapido cannot be proud of this kind of structural damage becoming an issue this quickly.
Congratulations on 2 million subscribers! I still remember watching your videos back when I was in college and you were on La Vagabonde 1, wow time flys!
I'm 72 following your adventures for approx 7 years. I'm disappointed that Rapido hasn't matched your expectations. Prayers that this vessel is shipshape before heading to Japan. Perhaps the delays are the UNIVERSEs way of protecting you from unexpected challenges in Japanese waters.
I'm so sorry to hear / see the issues you are having and hope you find the right combination of people and materials to get these issues resolved. I can understand the stress and can honestly see it and hear it in your body language and discussions. Take care of yourselves.
Excuse me Riley I am an old male person from England. Some of us might not be the brightest bunch but I can assure you I have been a subscriber for yonks. Love you channel and always will. Watch every episode and love your family. This hassle with your mast securing base needs sorting to your 100% satisfaction I know, not just for Japan but all future sailings. If they sent two specialists to sort this and failed, what are rest of their workforce like. Hopefully it will get sorted for you all.
At 3:38 there are three threaded bolts shown. The top bolt appears to have a nyloc nut but no washer and the nut appears to have been over tightened to the point where it is digging in to the carbon fibre. The bottom two bolts have no nuts but look to have had washers on them. Is this correct or have they been removed post discovering the crack(s)?
Omg the stress is next level! I really hope the repairs get done to your satisfaction. The importance of these repairs could be life and death. Especially going into this weather system. I’m so sorry guys you are going through this
I retired from one of the major Defense contractors in the world and the last thing you want to do is take shortcuts on a major structural carbon part repair of the boat. YOU WILL regret it. They take time and the repair needs to be designed by an experienced structural engineer then fixed using sound techniques. Anything less and you will be putting your family and boat at great risk.
I agree and not something that can be done on the fly in a shipyard open to the elements. The boat needs to go back to the manufacturer for a full check over and a factory overseen repair that they will 100% warranty.
Thanks for sharing, definitely would not be easy pointing out such a massive issue to the world when you have made such a strong bond with everyone that built and designed the boat.
I trust you get the repairs completed with the best people helping. My prayers to you guys, and thanks to having found you guys. You are wonderful people. Great job on the video.
My boyfriend is a naval architect, and he's been watching these episodes with me. He mentioned that this is often a design flaw with catamaran boats. There's too much stress on the area under the mast, and the angles of the board under the mast are too sharp, which leads to cracking. The way to fix it is by adding an extra support base for the mast.
So who heard Lenny say, he wants the boat talking to him. But the boat is dead. Oh how sweet. So he hears and feels the boat. Such a sensitive and empathetic boy.
Yeah this is horrible guys… so sorry you are going thru this. In no way shape or form should you be having these kind of structural issues on a NEW and very expensive boat… even if fixed it would weigh heavy in the back of my mind. 😢😮😢
@@robm.4512 thanks for pointing that out the latest update on see people is there off to Japan, so thankfully, it was resolved. I probably didn’t have enough information, but personally, if a vital part of the boat was damaged to such a degree, I wouldn’t want to continue.
@@stephysat28 No problem at all. Despite the strident outbursts from the “you can’t repair/revise a pre-preg carbon structures effectively” doom merchants it is a commonly undertaken and very effective process that, providing the layup schedule has been engineered and performed correctly, creates a finished article that is as robust (or more robust if the design engineer requires it) as any correctly engineered original layup. My qualification for stating that is as a composite structures design and R&D engineer who has worked in both world championship motorsports and high performance yacht structures for well north of 30 years. Additionally, I’ve had the great good fortune to have completed the lion’s share of a circumnavigation, unfortunately curtailed by a family crisis that left me with little option other than to return to the UK permanently. I think that at this point the manufacturing team will have been tearing their collective hair out over the online hysteria that has followed this project. It must have been a nightmare for them to have had this occur so publicly. Obviously it’s not been an easy time for Riley and Elayna either, I just hope that they don’t take too much notice of the slings, arrows and prognostications of doom that have been hurled their way. The fact is that the cause and mode of failure is entirely unknown to any of the people commenting here. A few seconds of poorly lit video and a layman’s description of it to camera are simply insufficient information to base ANY meaningful conclusion upon. I’m glad to hear they’re underway again, I’m absolutely certain that neither Riley, Elayna, nor their very experienced professional sailor/crewman would have departed unless they were completely satisfied that both the cause and the solution were well understood and executed, so I think you can rest a little easier. Cheers! R.
So Riley, after reading all these comments, we can make some conclusions: 1 pre peg carbon can’t be fixed to make it stronger. 2 the whole structure is not strong enough. 3 in your mind this problem will stay and give an unpleasant feeling forever. 4 you can’t safely sail this to Japan. This means make plans to get a better boat. So the young kid said: this boat is dead. He was right immediately. I feel Sorry for you guys
Said the guy who’s never worked a second of his life with advanced composites. You’re incorrect on all counts, which is fairly typical of the effect of the scaremongering that unqualified keyboard warriors inflate in the uninformed. 😏
The carbon doesn't need to be made stronger, it just needs the tapes laid up properly and in the correct number of layers. But I agree that I would have that boat gone over by some top level experts with a fine toothed comb before moving on, after this fix is properly made. I would also have them increase the taping schedule to about twice what it was. And the rest of the design needs to be checked for proper design loading and maybe even some samples taken from some various portions of the boat, and tested to destruction, and the area repaired if such a radical mode is deemed necessary by experts. It would be awful if it were a 'jack up the radiator cap and replace the car' sort of scenario, but I doubt it would come to that. Rapido has been building boats for years that aren't self destructing, so I expect most of it is probably OK. Finding what parts aren't and fixing them, is critical, though. Contrary to popular opinion, a bunch of clueless, and some not so clueless 'experts' including myself, are of no consequence against who should be inspecting and making these calls, some highly trained composite design engineers and techs that work with and test composites. Everybody elses' opinion is just that, an opinion, at various levels of worth. I am an engineer, and this 'design, analysis, test, and inspection by layman or MBA committee' stuff is just plain crap.
bieng quite familiar with structural engineering, I agree 100% with @ivo1503 -- The manifestation of the crack points to severe stress, that cannot be mitigated with patching and gluing, regardless of whatever "advanced composites" are used, signiticant structural changes/additions are needed to dissipate the stress. Was any structural modeling (FEM) done to map the stress ? ...sorry if this is not a hopeful comment....
@@MrJdsenior I wholeheartedly agree with your conclusions, particularly the last section, so please don’t think I’m being combative or any of that sort of guff. Sometimes it’s difficult, as engineers, to remain truly neutral and professional with the opinions that we share in public, I have been guilty myself on occasion. In this case, as you perfectly correctly pointed out, we simply do not have enough detailed knowledge of the situation, so I’m not with your proposals regarding the possible repair schedule. I feel those para’s might have been better omitted. We don’t actually know anything, from design assumptions onwards, other than what we’ve been able to glean from a layman’s description of the issue and a few seconds of videography with far from ideal lighting. Not having had the opportunity to do a detailed inspection either in person or remotely we don’t even know the failure mode. What I am prepared to say, based upon experience and what little information is available, is that it is highly likely that an adequate repair to meet original spec is perfectly feasible and there appears to be opportunity to add to layup thickness or add structure, if analysis of the issue were to drive the design team in that direction. As you said, all of the opinion, however strident, is just that. For Riley, Elayna and Rapido it’s just crap, bs and fearmongering that benefits no-one and does nothing but harm. Cheers ol’buck. 😎🤝🍻
Well we shall see what has to be done to fix the major crack. In my mind there is something else moving that puts stress on this area which in my mind didn't have enough carbon laid up to take that stress. So if that wasn't supposed to happen then what else is moving under the mast that would put the stress that cracked the carbon. Will putting extra carbon really fix the issue or is there an underlying issue which is still hidden? If these were the 2 top guys at Rapido then were shortcuts made during construction of this critical area that management and engineering is not aware of? If I were you that question is paramount to be answered. It was awesome that JAI found the crack.
A 1000 times this. The boat is too new for a crack of that size to appear on a structurally critical part of the boat. Mistakes and errors can go unnoticed on custom 1 off designs, but now that they know they should be reviewing the design and structural calculation from scratch - applying strips of carbon over the old structure is not going to fix that.
You two are, I'm sure holding back your frustration. Rapido will be wanting to have these issues sorted as not a good look for them. Congratulations on nearly achieving 2 mill subscribers what an amazing goal. Love your work.
I can’t imagine how stressful this situation is for you guys. I hope things turn around quickly so you can gain confidence back in the repair. I love seeing your family grow up in this unique environment. Thanks for sharing.
Ahhh, the joys of boating. I’ve boated off and on for about 70 years and have concluded that the sea is a tough mistress. About every year I owned a boat I had to remove my captains hat and put on my general contractors hat. I met with the yard personnel at least twice a day or more. As the owner I’m responsible to understand the issues, personnel needed, items to be acquired, when things arrive or will be completed. And expedite the schedule through communication. It is stressful and taxing. But this two will pass. You are doing a hell of a good job and managing the project to make the boat safe. Best wishes. Looking forward to the next video. 🙏🏼👍
Now Lenny has me wondering if that tree is happy! I love how he sees things and then goes way beyond what most people would see. Lenny has a real caring and loving nature.
I’d be stressed too Riley. This is a new Boat and should never have had a crack like that. Is it a design flaw? Good luck be safe. Rapido need to step up I believe. Sending good vibes guys. ❤️❤️👍
WOW! A major structural crack in this expensive boat in such a short time…what a shame. Also very terrifying considering your family lives on that boat. I hope it is able to be repaired 🤞🏻
I’m so sorry you’re having so many problems with your beautiful new boat! We’ve just been getting ours sorted before we slowly circumnavigate 😊 You guys are an inspiration!! ❤
I wish you well with the structural repairs around the mast. Hopefully the structural integrity of this critical load bearing section of the yacht will be rebuilt successfully.
Wow. To be so skilled at something so young is impressive, and to travel the world using that skill is outstanding. Just 23, amazing. Jai has really found the trick to life. Good on ya, legend! So glad things are getting sorted. Super lucky you caught this before the voyage to Japan. That could've been a dangerous disaster! Ah stop growing SO quickly Lenny and Darwin!!! 😄 Darwin's pin ball machine energy cracks me up every time and Lenny, ohhh Lenny, the deep thinker and feeler has my heart melting every time. They really are such tremendously special kids and they are growing so fast. We love all of you guys too, thank you for bringing such beautiful and entertaining joy to our lives for all these years and the work you put in ❤
We are very worried for you. There are some who have pushed through when they knew better and have not made it. Thank you for allowing us to state our opinion and hopefully listening to those of us who have been with you since the beginning. P.S. We have been so looking forward to your time in Japan - we love Japan and we spend a lot of time with Family and Friends there.
Been around high tech boats all my life. 50 plus years. From the early composite structures in Newport RI. What you are experiencing should have been expected from an ultra fast carbon cursing boat. There is a reason why real adventure sailors opt for more tried and true, simple designs and construction techniques. If you desire this kind of design you will need to expect this kinda of experience. It will not end with these repairs.
It's sad to hear about your problem, but happy the issues were found before anything happened in middle of the ocean! Rapido should send their head engineer on the first flight to you to fix it properly, it's a huge issue. Structural damage is a serious builder's problem. Hopefully not a Lagoon type case. Take care!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 million subscribers will see how Rapido company will handle it-Rapido and M&M need to step up.!
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Good morning!!💘💘💘
Hi......💕💕
You are good!!!💕💕
Thank you so much!!!.🤩😍
Today is a good day. 🤩😍
I will Fighting to you!!💕💕
Bravo your life !!!
Have a nice day !!!!💘
Thank you, Your good!!!💕💕
Love the AG link, can’t seem to find it 😊
*That cheeky grin from Darwin at around the **2:34** mark has Riley written ALL over it!!! Way too cute!!* 💕😊💕
Love this channel, but you guys need to stop promoting AG-1 before you begin loosing subscribers.
Seriously Google what's wrong.
@@TPhillips-w9kMaybe Google "the truth about Scott Carney" (founder) beforehand.
I can't believe how calm you seem about these cracks! I'd be livid!!! You paid SO much for that vessel, it's unacceptable that it's falling apart! Hope everything works out.
Exactly. And I'm speaking from experience.
That is for the camera can you imagine off camera and he had a. Meltdown I would have
No way I'd trust it now.
@@bbakus8 we paid so much for the boat! They’ve not done a days work in years
I'm not surprised. I wasn't impressed with the build quality that I saw watching the build videos. Good luck with the rest of the boat. Yikes. 🤦♂️
It always surprises me when you find such a competent person so young. And not camera shy, too! What a gem you guys found in Jai. I cannot wait for the Japan episodes and hope you guys had a relaxing time back in AUS with family. 💜
I don't know, I'd be employing someone with a lot more experience for a structural fix like that.
@@d.Cog420I agree. They are clowns.
"I want boat talking to me, but now boat is dead" That's a profound way for Lenny to express his connection to his life on the boat and the ocean - what a deep little fellow!
From out the mouths of children. Sensible observation.
A sailing vessel does talk to you in a way. It sings to you when the sails are up.
Dagger board cases in cats and tris experience MASSIVE side loads, the dagger boards on my cat were originally made of foam and glass, they broke under load to windward and were replaced in oregon core wrapped in S glass, they were about 15 ft long and weighed about 130kgs each, was talking to a designer years ago and for the size and weight of my old boat, his estimation was 6 tonns at 15 knots boat speed to windward. Most tris use the daggerboard case as part of the compression structure for the mast. Given the deck to DB case and hull to DB case joins are kinda key to the structure, I have to be honest here, I'd be looking for further analysis of the ENTIRE dagger board case. Ultrasound of the structure to make sure there were no further de-laminations is a quick non destructive test that can help ID areas of concern. When structures have failed as spectacularly as the deck to DB case have it is generally occurs in more than one specific area. Take care my dude, your decisions have consequences.
I fully concur with this comment. I confined my comment to the board only assuming the damage to the case was more obvious.
ultra sound the structure is mandatory
Hi ,we are building an 80ft cat out of carbon fibre with experienced racing professionals. During the composite build phase we had regular NDT tests at various stages and picked up one or two issues that could be fixed. If you have these type of problems having an NDT test of the entire boat will show you what is weak, not up to strength. This will give you peace of mind on also parts of the boat and especially the repair. The yard should have done this as standard. If you want some further details, happy to supply them. Regards John
Jai is a legend ! He really took good care of your boat while everyone was away . Definitely gut wrenching encountering these major issues , but thank goodness the family wasn't at sea in what could have been catastrophic .
@Rapido this is your moment to shine. Show that your team not only take issues like this seriously but also that you make sure that you have an appropriate team to understand and address the problem. The boat owners shouldn’t need to consult anyone - this sort of fault is squarely on your shoulders. It’s also clear they are not trusting your teams ability to understand or fix the issue. Pay attention - the way you respond to this is being broadcast to the world. The outcome of these repairs and your responses to them will reflect more on your company that the original build of the boat. The biggest fear anyone has when building a boat is how resolve issues after the build. Over to you - your time to shine. Make this a story of how, despite and early blunder, you’ve come through, Brough all the right people and with skill and confidence, fully resolved the issue to everyone’s satisfaction.
Fully agreed. It is unbelievable that Rapido didn't send a team for analysis and the repair. For Mr. Koch is time to intervene. PS Rapido sent 2 people that proved to be incompetent making a repair laminating the CB that felt off immediately.
Perfectly said
Outstanding comment.
My thoughts exactly.
I’ve been thinking how much it would have cost to build a similar boat like this in a Europe country or Australia or USA?
If a highly visible customer is having issues getting resolution, imagine someone without a TH-cam channel
Absolutely 100% agree!!
I can totally understand the difficulties involved with resin, carbon fiber and associated materials in open-weather tropical conditions. I’d be surprised if the final board repairs AND the main repairs don’t involve some type of controlled environment enclosure for temperature, humidity and curing control. You can feel confident that the manufacturer fully understands the greater situation which involves millions of eyes and concerns for your continued success. Cheers and looking forward to the properly engineered solutions☺️
If the next episode doesn't show a thorough inspection of the boat by a team of at least three dozen Rapido experts and engineers, I'll lose all trust in the company. Paying a premium for a brand-new boat, only to encounter structural cracks after just a few months of use, raises serious concerns and sets off alarm bells.
100%!
Pretty sure the dont have one composites experts let alone three dozen.
Ahhh Lenny. “Is the tree really happy?” ❤ such a sweet gentle soul.
Hey Guys, i work with carbon fibre in the aerospace industry, if i were you i would be handing that hull back to rapido. Anyone who works with carbon will tell you that you cant successfully patch Carbon Fiber parts, especially those that require as much structural integrity as the mast and centreboard. it looks like the entire hull is compromised. i know that being creators your cant really shitbag Rapido while youre living on one of their boats but there is no way i would be sailing to japan with my family onboard on that thing..... Good luck guys
Yup
Was the boat built using Pre-preg? I didn't think so. Maybe the mast was?
@@evangatehouse5650 yeah most of it was wet layup by the looks so I’m thinking their cure times were probably off. The crack looks more like de lamination which could potentially be worse than just a crack as the whole area would need to be cut out and reformed
Repeat: "no way i would be sailing to japan with my family onboard on that thing"
Hey. Don't sail that hull.
The main structure is compromised
1. Unload all your personal effects
2. Store everything
3. Hire lawyers to demand a brand. new hull.
It's your family that is in jeopardy.
I know you want the story to be different, and you want the issues with the boat to be just new boat growing pains. You are both getting STRONG messages, undeniable messages, that the boat is not up to snuff, nor the quality you contracted for. And your family is part of your life investment. Don't let sentiment, friendships within Rapido, your schedule to get to Japan, and especially not your TH-cam channel get in the way of your pure gut/heart decisions making. Elana trust your mama sensing, you have them for a reason. Adventure is great, however this is about WISDOM. Besides the boat absolutely not being the quality it should be , and that you paid for, there may be reasons yet unforeseen for you not to be in Japan at this particular time. There is much weather upheaval predicted on that part of the planet in the next few months. I wish you all the best as always.💚
Glad the issues were found before anything happened! All the best!
Bro that is only a bandage, it will break again and I hopefully no in the middle of a strong wind. Bring that boat back to manufacture before the warranty is out.
NO - Make them collect it - by ship it is unsafe~!!
Rapido, we are WATCHING. Riley and Elena are legends, hopefully you do everything you can to make this right for them and their boys. All the best to Riley and Elena🥂
Rapido, there are thousands of us in this world who follow the adventures of Elayna and Riley, their sons and their friends as they sail around the world. We understand the stresses and strains the ocean, and the winds can put on a sail boat. We also know how long and hard Riley studied and checked so many different designs before he settled on the Rapido. So many of us have been most impressed by your efforts so far to produce what Riley and Elayna require for them to continue their lifestyle and for us to be able to share it. Your good reputation will excel above all expectations if you can get La Vagabonde repaired, and back to the high standard required for their safety without them being out of pocket. Please look after them.
pretty sure their reputation is sufficiently tanked at this point.
Millions of us, and it is a huge powerful network of ocean loving people. Take it or leave it.
Your family is awesome. I can relate to getting something new and expensive that you live in. Your boat. Our motorhome. It was fix or repair daily. When we had problems it was treated like a hot potato…no one would take responsibility for the problem. I understand your stress and frustration. Your kids bring such joy to me. They are treasures. The boat is dead comment cracked me up. You are two brave and wildly adventurous people. God bless you all. ❤
A 2 million new build should never have a crack it the foundation.
I never heard them discuss the cost of the boat, do you recall when that was?
2 million haha, what currency? I'd wager $200K - $300K. It's such a shit boat too.
Right? That cracks me up ...
Love the boat, love the family, love the channel.PLEASE Do your research on AG1, it’s all BS made from a business man that fled his home country. There’s no data specifically saying how much, of what specifically is in it. It’s just “Good for you because we said so!” “trust us bro!”
It may be a sponsor that will be under heat soon and wouldn’t want to see you guys get wrapped up in the drama.
I was thinking the same thing. Total scam. They should find another sponsor.
@@Picasso_Picante92 They are grifters/e-beggars themselves.
Hey Riley,
I have been following SLV for a while now. I follow several sailboat channels, but you seem to be the most badass, hard core sailor out there. So I wish you success in all your ventures, but.......
You sailed through some bad weather and gave your trimaran a stress test. I fear the Rapido 60 failed that stress test, miserably.
The cracks you describe are at the point where major loads intersect. You have bending loads from the (single) centreboard. You have huge compression loads from the mast. You have bending loads from the forward cross beam. This is the strongest and most heavily loaded part of the structure.
Carbon fibre construction is the stiffest, lightest form. But it fails by cracking, not tearing, like wood. The relative flexibility of wood allows miniscule movements, which share the loads throughout the fastenings, but carbon fibre is hard and stiff, with very limited opportunities to share out uneven loads. If one small region of the structure is overloaded, it cannot ask for help and a small crack starts. The cruel thing about cracks is that the longer they are, the quicker they grow. As things get stiffer, they become more brittle, like comparing a window pane with a similar sized piece of plywood. I worry that your cracked boat is like a porcelain teacup that has been dropped onto the floor. You can replace it but you cannot fix it. Please prove me wrong. I'll be genuinely happy if you do.
Your boat was designed by a firm of Naval Architects with massive credentials.
Could the builder have introduced some off-spec materials? Is it time to say, "Take back this unusable, broken boat and return my cheque?"
Non-stop, round the world races are all won by trimarans, so the concept is proven and successful. Those racers are all carbon fibre, too. And they flog their boats through the worst weather to gain time. So a man should be able to cruise through bad weather and keep his family safe on a trimaran as big as yours. What is the key to this paradox?
If your next boat is a trimaran, perhaps it should have centreboards and rudders in the outriggers. This would give redundancy and may distribute the loads better. As a side issue, it would give you more space inside the accommodation. Or you could follow the trend and get a Catamaran.
Full disclosure: I am an electrical engineer with an interest in structures, but I have no professional training as a structural engineer. I have an interest in sailing, but have never sailed anything larger than a Hobie cat. I give all this advice free, but cannot accept any responsibility. Wiser men must guide you.
Herb.
Cheap old person here. I have over 60 years of sailboat racing experience and thousands of cruising miles. I watch your show because you are competent and striving to learn. PPI. Perpetual process improvement. Secondary bonding is tricky, especially in tropical conditions of high heat and humidity, both enemies of epoxy. Clearly the resin in attempt #1 did not cure properly, maybe not the installers fault, provided they mixed the resin properly…I have laminated in the tropics. It is hard but not impossible. Consider laminating at night to avoid the heat. All the best to the family. Good luck. I mean that in a positive way.
Yes, epoxy and humidity+heat don't work great together and your advice is sound. Maybe even create some sort for controlled environment for the lamination process?
But my disappointment is more to the design and structural calculation which are quite obviously fraught. Such a crack in such a vital part of the boat should not have appeared so early in the boat's life. I know these things happen in custom designs and calculation/design errors go unnoticed, but somebody dropped the ball and they should be bending over backwards to design a real fix (don't improvise or jerry-rig a solution before a sail of that difficulty).
@@SierraLimaOscar The entire boat was built in a high humidity high temp country in Vietnam. What does that say about being confident in Rapido's building and laminating process for the entire boat? I'd be a little concerned that as time passes and more rough water is faced, more laminating and bonding will fail resulting in more cracks and therefore more chance of catastrophic outcomes, potentially miles from any help.
@@stevebodalenko5286 You can have climate controlled facilities to do the laminating in. Which I would expect is the case for a boat builder in Vietnam...?
@@SierraLimaOscar Exactly, thank you!
For someone whose almost 40 having a go at "old People" is a bit risky :-)
Thank God for Jai. Thank God for companies who care about their work.
Wow it seems that the Old vagabond may have been slower but structurally it seems it was better. I pray that after these repairs that your boat won't have anymore major structural issues for a long time, since your boat is not a year old yet. It was great seeing Elaina, Lenny and Darwin again.
Agreed. Newer and faster is not always better and they’re unfortunately learning this the hard and expensive way.
I really miss the cat. It was so visually stunning to look at. I loved everything about it.
No other words but this is scary. And legitimately makes me wish y’all had the old boat. Sorry for all this trouble you’re experiencing
Hi Riley, I’m sure you’re getting loads of advice but I feel I should put in my ten cents worth. In particular regarding the crack in the dagger board. I believe that crack is the edge of a planar shear failure that extends well into the board and that superficial patching will not correct the problem. The two sides of the board need to be shear connected together perpendicular to the plane of the crack by something like a grid of dowels extending from one side of the board to the other. The lateral load on the board has exceeded the shear capacity of the core of the board. The board will now be weaker and it will deflect more under load. I’m a retired structural engineer and I’m drawing my conclusion from just the glimpse of the crack on the video but it’s likely to be the case. Good luck with the repairs and thanks for all the wonderful videos. Cheers Roger.
Um, that's not really how composite daggerboards are built. Sometimes a shear web of solid wood or C shaped glass/carbon bonded to the skins. The design could be fine; the build could have faults. Don't know yet.
I didn’t suggest how the board was built, there are a number of ways that shear connection can be designed between the skins. I’m relying on Riley’s intelligence to understand that there is a significant probability that the shear failure in the board could be more extensive than might be assumed by someone without structural analysis skills. If the board is to be repaired rather than replaced then a patch of the crack won’t be sufficient. Retrofitting some additional shear connectors should at least be considered.
Can’t imagine Rapido is getting many new orders after this episode! Hope the repairs go smoothly going forward! I would be asking for a warranty extension!
That environment looks way to hot for resin work. Really needs to be in a controlled environment.
Actually the way Rapido are dealing with it gives me more confidence in them, first few hulls of any design have teething issues, it's how the vendor stands behind their product and honours the warranty that counts, they're not doing a Lagoon and denying that there's an issue....
@@daveamies5031or those mob over at Leen or Neel, stay away from the French.
@@daveamies5031 Thats very true
It’s a new semi-custom boat. Other than the crack, these are all very normal post-shakedown issues.
Warranties are one thing, but quality and performance are another. The warranty means nothing if you end up dead because of shoddy workmanship. Disgraceful that a multimillion-dollar boat is having as many problems as this one has had. I would be thinking long and hard about setting off for Japan with cracks in such a foundational structure. Lives are in danger if it isn't repaired and stronger than the original build.
Real explorers , new cruising grounds ,new routes, new problems, resourceful , and steadfast, all with a hint of humour, keeps all on the edge of our seats!
This video perfectly illustrates the tradeoff between Performance vs Durability that does not get talked about much. You wonder how much safety margin has been designed into the boat to save weight. I guess also being one of the first boats, there will be a learning cycle and probably find later boats will need beefing up in high stress areas.
That was so beautiful when Lenny asked if the tree is happy. He is a boy that is very intuitive. ❤
For a nearly £2 million pound boat only a few months old the amount of problems is a disgrace
The fun part about bespoke boats, RVs, houses, etc is that they ALWAYS have tons of problems. That is the experience you sign up for when you order custom.
Unfortunately I agree, all saltwater sailboats/yachts require constant maintenance, but this has become a real headache for you guys, I mean some of these problems should not be even happening for a brand new boat, hope you got a hell of a good warranty...
Longtime sub and rarely comment but felt compelled to do so.
At 3:32 I had to rewind and pause. I did this a few times and still can't believe what I saw. There isn't any excuse from the factory to justify this shoddy work. You and your family place your lives on this. It's high time to go over EVERY INCH of this boat before you find yourselves in a bad spot.
Not really, it’s custom built to handle conditions from 0-100 this is a normal scenario for these types of vessels.
2mil pounds holy shiy
Hang in there, you guys! It will work out and you always figure it out! You are amazing travelers, sailors and parents and people! I love watching you and you bring joy to this old lady's life (74) So carry on figure it out and keep going! Blessings!
Grace in the face of disappointment. We love you guys.
I'm one of those little old ladies! Have been watching for several years. I agree with some others... there is no way you need to take your family sailing until the boat is 100%. I know you know this. I see it in your face. We will still be here.
I would have kept the Cat! That boat went through very rough conditions and came through it with flying colors. I don't know if I would ever trust this boat after all this. I would put this mess back on the manufacturer and do not let him give you excuses this has been a nightmare for you guys. God Bless you and the boys!
Jai seems like a solid ally and knowledgeable. Rapido and M&M need to step up. If all else fails, bring in Colin and Jamie! Hopefully not a Lagoon type dilemma. Wonder if other Rapido 60s have issue.
I'm betting Rapido have already sent all owners emails describing what to look for..
@@stevebodalenko5286It would be best if they sent out teams and were ready to make repairs. Luxury products like this should have a level of exceptional quality and customer care. This boat cost nearly $2 million!
I thought of the Lagoon debacle too. That company showed exactly what not to do.
The more I watch videos like this, the more convinced I am that the advice to never buy an expensive new RV or boat is sound. Pay less for a good used boat that you have had inspected and has had all the bugs worked out of it. "Good Used" is the key.
Absolutely true with RVs
Damn... I don't mean to catastrophize, but...that structural failure right underneath that huge mast is a fricken catastrophe! I mean, that's so utterly essential and foundational to the safety and seaworthiness of your boat. How can applying a few layers of carbon fiber patch over a crack of that magnitude and location possibly resolve this issue and hold that mast and the centerboard firm if it didn't hold up when everything was cast monolithically? That huge crack is in the foundation of the entire ship! Everything you hold the dearest in your life is on that boat. They sent their two "best guys" over to fix it and the first go just peeled off?! Honestly, I'm not a sailor or a boat builder, but I'm not sure I wouldn't demand a completely new boat over this one, or at least a complete rebuild of that whole section of the boat. Just sayin...
Completely agree
Well said.
I agree as well. A structural failure that large and in the worst possible location looks like the boat would be written off as a total loss.
100%
Sh
I always read the comments in any TH-cam video. I can’t add much more to the comments that are already there. Your boat is truly amazing. Hopefully you can go back to the manufacturer and be repaired properly. It may take you out of the boat world for a while, but you are so resourceful. I’m sure you can come up with a reinvention of yourself while the boat is being repaired. Best of luck and safe travels.
A friend of mine and I were contemplating making this exact same trip (Philippines to Southern Japan). Everyone we talked to said the best time to do such a trip is April to June, and worst time being July through October. I know this trip may be really exciting to take, but you may seriously want to consider postponing until next year, unless you've sailed those seas during this time of year before. Especially considering the issues you're having. I'm new to the channel, but it sounds like you all have tons of sailing experience, so maybe everything will be ok. Still, many of the local ship owners I spoke with would not charter trips during the coming months, because of weather.
I'm sure the boat is under warranty. But this would be unexpected in a boat this new. Is this a reflection on Rapido quality?
Or did they void the warranty by Fing with it.
Can’t believe how calm you guys are. The issues you have had with a NEW boat is next level in my mind!!!!!
These two ; sometimes have a lot more patience then me.
the cutting room floor would of been piled high after the edit.
Didn't the Wynns also have lots of problems with their brand new boat done in China? - maybe the cheap labor there isn't a good solution to a high quality boat.
I suppose after having built one in France previously, dealing with third world warranties is communicatively less frustrating 🫣
@@JoeTheLion60Any boat builder has issues.. Lagoon in France, ORC in France, etc etc. This really has nothing to do with your pre-conceived Asian build issues…
The stress that you two are having to deal witb is no doubt unbelievable, however it seems to me that the builders should bring the vessel back to Vietnam and come up with a plan on the repair, design changes and or whatever is necessary. They should provide you with a replacement in the meantime. I will leave it at that!!
100%
To see how big Lenny is now, is completely nuts. I've watched this kid grow up! What a life he gets the opportunity to live. I love Riley, love Elayna, and now Lenny and Darwin? Such an amazing channel. TY for everything.
Let’s all appreciate Elayna’s attempt at keeping the spirits up. What a gift. Good luck guys, love you
If I were her I'd say "to heck with this boat". And not ever sail on it especially with 2 little kids on board too. Safety safety should come 1st no matter what!
I can’t believe the issues you’re having with this boat. I’m with you Riley I’d be extremely concerned with how the repairs are being handled. You got your family on it. I’m really sorry. This is so fkd up.
Composites are great for strenght and light weight. But they are fussy about curing depending on temperature and humidity. Even the most perfect mix and application will do nothing if the temperature, humidity and the cure time isn't right for the process. Most of my experience with them has been in clean rooms where temp, humidity and time was strickly controlled and a sample was always taken from the batch to be checked by inspection to make sure it set properly. The good news is that it peeled off so you could see that it didn't set hard and solid like it needed to be.
Good plan to keep the boys away from the boat while all this is being done. The fumes from the primers and composites before they are fully cured is highly toxic. Neurotoxins. Nothing you want them to be exposed to or even yourselves.
I hope you've been able to resolve these issues by now. Godspeed LaVagabonde wherever you are, you are loved. ♾
NA/mech eng/compsites designer here with actual experience using epoxy on board in tropical conditions doing repairs: (a) that rubbery result is typically a mix error in the resin/hardener NOT environmental conditions. Epoxy is actually quite tolerant of high heat; it just cures faster! High humidity does mean amine blush is more likely but would not cause cure problems unless it got rained on (b) Even still, it should have bonded SOMEWHAT and been hard to peel off. Very bad surface prep on the part of the guys doing the work? The good thing is just about every sort of composite structure is repairable if you have access. This isn't the end of the world but the damaged case should be investigated to determine if enough layers were used (even total thickness would give you a rough idea).
True @SailingLaVagabonde 26:41
Yeah, I built a Long EZ aircraft in a non temp/humidity controlled garage with no problems at all. We didn't do any layups when it was pouring out, but did do a bunch at 95/95. At the beginning we built up some parts on a starter kit, one of which was tested to destruction. It more than passed. We never had a single delam on that entire plane. I don't know about standing water and epoxy layups, but I know that the boat layups I did were definitely hydroscopic, even when fully cured, and would 'milk up' for a whole bunch of hours after standing water was drained out of the hull (in corners and the like). It didn't seem to bother anything, but it was obvious that I needed to put some paint on those areas, and I did....when it was dry.
The one thing i though watching that... shouldn't they have taken the centre board out in its entirely and had it in the shop. Not sure what marina conditions are like but sat half in the case there will be a bellows effect pumping nice briney air every time the boat rocks. That doesn't sound like a good way to cure epoxy or whatever they used.
3m39s If the crack isn't enough... NEXT to that there are two missing nuts and washers (you can see the imprint from the missing washers)! Also a random screw into what looks like clear resin... and that resin looks like a patch made to an access hole to get to the nuts. I would not be surprised if whoever fitted those bolts (with missing nuts) compromised that structure when they cut and drilled that area.
FYI, I'd also double check that the entire bulkhead from mast to beams is structural and not delaminated by tapping at it. This is where so many trimarans fail.
I'm a cute old person and I noticed that too. Looked kinda sloppy.
@@margaretocean322 I'm also old and not a sailor but I noticed those scews and missing bolts. So shoddy. Really worrying.
Don't think they accessed the bolts from that 'patch' as there is access to them from underneath...from the viewing point.
Yeah what are those bolts for? They also show them at 0:45 in the video.
Honestly, I can't believe you are fixing that boat alone on the go - return that thang to them to fix.
This seems like a situation where the Rapido principals need to be literally on deck. The materials experts below with their concerns about the environmental conditions for repairs should be heeded by the Rapido team starting from the top.
Ok Riley, as one of those “cute old people (78) I am aware of the subscribe button 😂. I absolutely love your an Alayna’s channel, one of my favourites, keep up the great content, good luck with the repairs and I hope you and your family and crew have a wonderful trip to Japan. Cheers from the west coast of Canada 🇨🇦
I am 83. Sadly, I probably ceased to be seen as "cute" some considerable time ago. Nevertheless, I have followed La Vagabonde from the very beginning, at a time I may unknowingly still have been just a little cute? As to the problems Riley and Elayna are having, LVIII is a rather more complex vessel than most other cruising boats afloat, I imagine. Maybe leading to more complex problems, too, although Rapido cannot be proud of this kind of structural damage becoming an issue this quickly.
Congratulations on 2 million subscribers! I still remember watching your videos back when I was in college and you were on La Vagabonde 1, wow time flys!
If you mention it, it(unbelievably)makes it more noticeable
.
Just an observation from an old man
I'm 72 following your adventures for approx 7 years. I'm disappointed that Rapido hasn't matched your expectations. Prayers that this vessel is shipshape before heading to Japan. Perhaps the delays are the UNIVERSEs way of protecting you from unexpected challenges in Japanese waters.
Nearly 2 million followers ❤🎉
@kishanpatel2331,
interesting that you see 2 million.
On my end it’s 1.92M as of Aug 17, 2024.
I'm so sorry to hear / see the issues you are having and hope you find the right combination of people and materials to get these issues resolved. I can understand the stress and can honestly see it and hear it in your body language and discussions. Take care of yourselves.
Excuse me Riley I am an old male person from England. Some of us might not be the brightest bunch but I can assure you I have been a subscriber for yonks. Love you channel and always will. Watch every episode and love your family. This hassle with your mast securing base needs sorting to your 100% satisfaction I know, not just for Japan but all future sailings. If they sent two specialists to sort this and failed, what are rest of their workforce like. Hopefully it will get sorted for you all.
At 3:38 there are three threaded bolts shown. The top bolt appears to have a nyloc nut but no washer and the nut appears to have been over tightened to the point where it is digging in to the carbon fibre. The bottom two bolts have no nuts but look to have had washers on them. Is this correct or have they been removed post discovering the crack(s)?
Omg the stress is next level! I really hope the repairs get done to your satisfaction. The importance of these repairs could be life and death. Especially going into this weather system. I’m so sorry guys you are going through this
I retired from one of the major Defense contractors in the world and the last thing you want to do is take shortcuts on a major structural carbon part repair of the boat. YOU WILL regret it. They take time and the repair needs to be designed by an experienced structural engineer then fixed using sound techniques. Anything less and you will be putting your family and boat at great risk.
I agree and not something that can be done on the fly in a shipyard open to the elements. The boat needs to go back to the manufacturer for a full check over and a factory overseen repair that they will 100% warranty.
@@stevebodalenko5286 better safe then sorry. It could turn into a tragedy
correct. Boeing?
@@jackie5522pretty sure you mean better safe than sorry. Big difference 😂
He's right! Please be sure to listen to him and respond accordingly.
Love seeing you again!!!
Be patient as you get to do the repairs. It'll all work out.
Looking forward to the passage to Japan.
CHEERS!
Thanks for sharing, definitely would not be easy pointing out such a massive issue to the world when you have made such a strong bond with everyone that built and designed the boat.
Your boys are so in touch with nature.So lovely to see.❤
Riley as a praying mantis is priceless!!! Thank you!
I trust you get the repairs completed with the best people helping. My prayers to you guys, and thanks to having found you guys. You are wonderful people. Great job on the video.
My boyfriend is a naval architect, and he's been watching these episodes with me. He mentioned that this is often a design flaw with catamaran boats. There's too much stress on the area under the mast, and the angles of the board under the mast are too sharp, which leads to cracking. The way to fix it is by adding an extra support base for the mast.
So who heard Lenny say, he wants the boat talking to him. But the boat is dead. Oh how sweet. So he hears and feels the boat. Such a sensitive and empathetic boy.
Maybe Lenny is right, perhaps the boat is dead!
Lenny is soooo sweet!
Out of the mouths of babes.
Yeah this is horrible guys… so sorry you are going thru this. In no way shape or form should you be having these kind of structural issues on a NEW and very expensive boat… even if fixed it would weigh heavy in the back of my mind. 😢😮😢
I agree.
Agreed. 100%
Your insurance company should total the boat and you should start over.
Agree completely. I am just floored at the damage to the boat.
@@coleenoliva291 Posted today on their app Sea People , they’re off to Japan. So it all worked out. 🙌🏼
@@stephysat28 It’s warranty work with the manufacturer picking up the cost.
It has nothing whatsoever to do with their insurers.
@@robm.4512 thanks for pointing that out the latest update on see people is there off to Japan, so thankfully, it was resolved. I probably didn’t have enough information, but personally, if a vital part of the boat was damaged to such a degree, I wouldn’t want to continue.
@@stephysat28 No problem at all.
Despite the strident outbursts from the “you can’t repair/revise a pre-preg carbon structures effectively” doom merchants it is a commonly undertaken and very effective process that, providing the layup schedule has been engineered and performed correctly, creates a finished article that is as robust (or more robust if the design engineer requires it) as any correctly engineered original layup.
My qualification for stating that is as a composite structures design and R&D engineer who has worked in both world championship motorsports and high performance yacht structures for well north of 30 years.
Additionally, I’ve had the great good fortune to have completed the lion’s share of a circumnavigation, unfortunately curtailed by a family crisis that left me with little option other than to return to the UK permanently.
I think that at this point the manufacturing team will have been tearing their collective hair out over the online hysteria that has followed this project.
It must have been a nightmare for them to have had this occur so publicly.
Obviously it’s not been an easy time for Riley and Elayna either, I just hope that they don’t take too much notice of the slings, arrows and prognostications of doom that have been hurled their way.
The fact is that the cause and mode of failure is entirely unknown to any of the people commenting here. A few seconds of poorly lit video and a layman’s description of it to camera are simply insufficient information to base ANY meaningful conclusion upon.
I’m glad to hear they’re underway again, I’m absolutely certain that neither Riley, Elayna, nor their very experienced professional sailor/crewman would have departed unless they were completely satisfied that both the cause and the solution were well understood and executed, so I think you can rest a little easier.
Cheers! R.
So stoked that Lenny and Darwin dig boat life ❤
So Riley, after reading all these comments, we can make some conclusions: 1 pre peg carbon can’t be fixed to make it stronger. 2 the whole structure is not strong enough. 3 in your mind this problem will stay and give an unpleasant feeling forever. 4 you can’t safely sail this to Japan. This means make plans to get a better boat. So the young kid said: this boat is dead. He was right immediately. I feel Sorry for you guys
Said the guy who’s never worked a second of his life with advanced composites.
You’re incorrect on all counts, which is fairly typical of the effect of the scaremongering that unqualified keyboard warriors inflate in the uninformed. 😏
The carbon doesn't need to be made stronger, it just needs the tapes laid up properly and in the correct number of layers. But I agree that I would have that boat gone over by some top level experts with a fine toothed comb before moving on, after this fix is properly made. I would also have them increase the taping schedule to about twice what it was. And the rest of the design needs to be checked for proper design loading and maybe even some samples taken from some various portions of the boat, and tested to destruction, and the area repaired if such a radical mode is deemed necessary by experts. It would be awful if it were a 'jack up the radiator cap and replace the car' sort of scenario, but I doubt it would come to that. Rapido has been building boats for years that aren't self destructing, so I expect most of it is probably OK. Finding what parts aren't and fixing them, is critical, though. Contrary to popular opinion, a bunch of clueless, and some not so clueless 'experts' including myself, are of no consequence against who should be inspecting and making these calls, some highly trained composite design engineers and techs that work with and test composites. Everybody elses' opinion is just that, an opinion, at various levels of worth. I am an engineer, and this 'design, analysis, test, and inspection by layman or MBA committee' stuff is just plain crap.
bieng quite familiar with structural engineering, I agree 100% with @ivo1503 -- The manifestation of the crack points to severe stress, that cannot be mitigated with patching and gluing, regardless of whatever "advanced composites" are used, signiticant structural changes/additions are needed to dissipate the stress. Was any structural modeling (FEM) done to map the stress ? ...sorry if this is not a hopeful comment....
@@mkpears It isn’t, speaking as a composite structures specialist engineer.
@@MrJdsenior I wholeheartedly agree with your conclusions, particularly the last section, so please don’t think I’m being combative or any of that sort of guff.
Sometimes it’s difficult, as engineers, to remain truly neutral and professional with the opinions that we share in public, I have been guilty myself on occasion.
In this case, as you perfectly correctly pointed out, we simply do not have enough detailed knowledge of the situation, so I’m not with your proposals regarding the possible repair schedule. I feel those para’s might have been better omitted.
We don’t actually know anything, from design assumptions onwards, other than what we’ve been able to glean from a layman’s description of the issue and a few seconds of videography with far from ideal lighting. Not having had the opportunity to do a detailed inspection either in person or remotely we don’t even know the failure mode.
What I am prepared to say, based upon experience and what little information is available, is that it is highly likely that an adequate repair to meet original spec is perfectly feasible and there appears to be opportunity to add to layup thickness or add structure, if analysis of the issue were to drive the design team in that direction.
As you said, all of the opinion, however strident, is just that.
For Riley, Elayna and Rapido it’s just crap, bs and fearmongering that benefits no-one and does nothing but harm.
Cheers ol’buck. 😎🤝🍻
Great video! Riley has a certain style and screen presence, rarely seen in people who are not professional actors. He is a natural.
So glad to see Elayna & the kids back on the boat & sorry for the problems you're experiencing. Safe travels. ❤
Well we shall see what has to be done to fix the major crack. In my mind there is something else moving that puts stress on this area which in my mind didn't have enough carbon laid up to take that stress. So if that wasn't supposed to happen then what else is moving under the mast that would put the stress that cracked the carbon. Will putting extra carbon really fix the issue or is there an underlying issue which is still hidden? If these were the 2 top guys at Rapido then were shortcuts made during construction of this critical area that management and engineering is not aware of? If I were you that question is paramount to be answered. It was awesome that JAI found the crack.
A 1000 times this. The boat is too new for a crack of that size to appear on a structurally critical part of the boat. Mistakes and errors can go unnoticed on custom 1 off designs, but now that they know they should be reviewing the design and structural calculation from scratch - applying strips of carbon over the old structure is not going to fix that.
You two are, I'm sure holding back your frustration. Rapido will be wanting to have these issues sorted as not a good look for them. Congratulations on nearly achieving 2 mill subscribers what an amazing goal. Love your work.
I can’t imagine how stressful this situation is for you guys. I hope things turn around quickly so you can gain confidence back in the repair. I love seeing your family grow up in this unique environment. Thanks for sharing.
Ahhh, the joys of boating. I’ve boated off and on for about 70 years and have concluded that the sea is a tough mistress. About every year I owned a boat I had to remove my captains hat and put on my general contractors hat. I met with the yard personnel at least twice a day or more. As the owner I’m responsible to understand the issues, personnel needed, items to be acquired, when things arrive or will be completed. And expedite the schedule through communication. It is stressful and taxing. But this two will pass. You are doing a hell of a good job and managing the project to make the boat safe. Best wishes. Looking forward to the next video. 🙏🏼👍
Sounds like Jai deserves his own youtube channel
"Is the tree really happy?" that was deep
Now Lenny has me wondering if that tree is happy! I love how he sees things and then goes way beyond what most people would see. Lenny has a real caring and loving nature.
Good luck with the repairs! I’ve been following you for a few years now, I enjoy your episodes. Thank you 🧡🇨🇦
Man We miss you guys so much. When y’all are down we are down!! Can’t believe how much them babies have grown 😮✌🏻much respect ❤
I’d be stressed too Riley. This is a new Boat and should never have had a crack like that. Is it a design flaw? Good luck be safe. Rapido need to step up I believe. Sending good vibes guys. ❤️❤️👍
Fast, light, durable: pick two
🤣That would be funny if it wasn't so unfortunately true.
WOW! A major structural crack in this expensive boat in such a short time…what a shame. Also very terrifying considering your family lives on that boat. I hope it is able to be repaired 🤞🏻
We absolutely LOVE you guys, your family, friends, Elli, your boat stories and your fun and quirky comments!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Hey Riley us oldies know how to subscribe...its the young impatient ones who dont bother 😉 Luv watching you guys. Good luck with the repairs xxx
I’m a cute old person, and I’ve been subscribed for years! 😂❤
Love how you guys ride over the rough edges of life. ✅✅
Just binging om the last 3 to 4 videos as I haven't had time. Keep the faith guys, all will be well!!
I’m so sorry you’re having so many problems with your beautiful new boat!
We’ve just been getting ours sorted before we slowly circumnavigate 😊
You guys are an inspiration!! ❤
Some comments here are way too generous toward Rapido. I'm with the poster who suggests handing the hull back to them.
I wish you well with the structural repairs around the mast. Hopefully the structural integrity of this critical load bearing section of the yacht will be rebuilt successfully.
THANK God for Warranty and THANK GOD it did not Break in the Middle of the Ocean with the Kids!!😱😱
Wow. To be so skilled at something so young is impressive, and to travel the world using that skill is outstanding. Just 23, amazing. Jai has really found the trick to life. Good on ya, legend!
So glad things are getting sorted. Super lucky you caught this before the voyage to Japan. That could've been a dangerous disaster!
Ah stop growing SO quickly Lenny and Darwin!!! 😄 Darwin's pin ball machine energy cracks me up every time and Lenny, ohhh Lenny, the deep thinker and feeler has my heart melting every time. They really are such tremendously special kids and they are growing so fast.
We love all of you guys too, thank you for bringing such beautiful and entertaining joy to our lives for all these years and the work you put in ❤
We are very worried for you. There are some who have pushed through when they knew better and have not made it. Thank you for allowing us to state our opinion and hopefully listening to those of us who have been with you since the beginning.
P.S. We have been so looking forward to your time in Japan - we love Japan and we spend a lot of time with Family and Friends there.
wow, this crack is a major "black eye" for rapido's trimaran design/engineering. If I was getting one built at this moment, I might pull out.
Been around high tech boats all my life. 50 plus years. From the early composite structures in Newport RI. What you are experiencing should have been expected from an ultra fast carbon cursing boat. There is a reason why real adventure sailors opt for more tried and true, simple designs and construction techniques. If you desire this kind of design you will need to expect this kinda of experience. It will not end with these repairs.
If this is what its like after 6 months, I don't even want to imagine what it will be like in a few years.
Have you guys been examining the Scam that is AG1? Might want to look into it if you want to attach your name to it.
Probably a major source of income so they won't be too critical.
@@margaretocean322 that is how all the scams work…. And they are a part of the scam.
Ever since watching these YT vids that push this, assumed it was made by the Soylent Corporation since 1973 (see movie).
Hang in there guys, enjoy the journey, the good and the bad❤
Thank you guys for showing a more beautiful and free way of life. You guys are so courageous to take on the oceans. Love 🌞
It's sad to hear about your problem, but happy the issues were found before anything happened in middle of the ocean! Rapido should send their head engineer on the first flight to you to fix it properly, it's a huge issue. Structural damage is a serious builder's problem. Hopefully not a Lagoon type case. Take care!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 million subscribers will see how Rapido company will handle it-Rapido and M&M need to step up.!