Fixing a Leaky Boat Deck & More Boat Maintenance Fun
May 30, 2025 by Acorn To Arabella | Language: EN Play Time: 00:20:58 | SAILING YOUTUBERS
After our offshore run, I promised Robin that I would wait for her in Beaufort so she could see the wild horses on Carrot Island, explore the shops in downtown Beaufort, and visit the Outer Banks before our run back North. While waiting, I tackle some boat maintenance projects, namely fixing our leaky deck. But more on that later…
Beaufort was an interesting place to anchor. Because of the wind and tides, the boats in the anchorage all sit differently. We came pretty close to playing bumper boats with our neighbor. But I enjoyed a surprise wooden boat show by the harbor, and a pretty impressive farmer’s market! The Beaufort experience was really a 10 out of 10!
Beaufort was also a great place for me to tackle some boat work. First task: fixing our leaky boat deck. We’ve been getting some drips in the forepeak, and I think it all boils down to an issue with the way we pitched and waterproofed the deck in the first place. Basically, I think the pitch didn’t make it deep enough into the grooves between our deck planks, which created a pocket of air. As we’ve migrated to warmer weather, my thought is that the air warmed up, ultimately expanding and causing the pitch to bubble, rupture…and leak.
Pitch is an interesting substance. It’s mostly solid at room temperature, and liquifies when heated (though, even in its liquid state, it’s still 1,000x more viscous than water).
I spent a few long, tedious days just hammering the pitch as deep as I could, identifying where more pitch was needed to fill the gaps. And then the rain came. And the forepeak stayed dry. What can I say: good deck work works 😉
Next up on the to-do list is fixing our windlass. We lost a set screw, and fortunately the local hardware store had just the key stock we needed for the job (and I had just the vice to finish the job).
Now it’s time to go play. Robin wanted to go explore Beaufort’s downtown area, which is filled with shops and coffee…two of her favorite things. But, along the way, we found where the wooden boats get built…and we had to pop in to check it out.
After exploring the town (and procuring coffee, of course), we set sail for Okracoke Island…and a beautiful sail it was.
Join us next week in the Outer Banks, and stay tuned for our passage back to Massachusetts.
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Acorn to Arabella started as a wooden boat building project in Granby, Massachusetts. Steve began the journey as an amateur wooden boat builder crafting a 38′ wooden sailboat in his backyard: designer William Atkin’s Ingrid with a Stormy Petrel’s gaff rig. These videos follow the journey from tree felling, to lumber milling, to lofting, to the lead keel pour and now sailing the boat—sharing details of the woodworking, carpentry, metal smithing, tool building, and tool maintenance that traditional wooden boats command. This ultimate DIY project continues beyond the boat shop, as Steve and crew travel and learn to cruise aboard the handmade wooden boat that they’ve built. Just kidding about all that, this channel is about a Siberian Laika named Akiva.
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If you are interested in supporting/helping here are a few ways:
https://www.acorntoarabella.com/how-to-help
Acorn to Arabella’s wishlist:
https://www.acorntoarabella.com/wishlistpriority
TotalBoat supports A2A! Please consider using our Total Boat referral code. Click here, then shop: https://www.totalboat.com/acorntoarabella They’ll kick 10% our way!
To offer recurring support via Patreon, CLICK BELOW. Just $5 a month gets you an invite to our monthly patron-only livestream Q&A sessions!
https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella
Original Soundtrack available at benfundis.bandcamp.com
FOLLOW US:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acorntoarabella/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acorntoarabella
Website: http://www.acorntoarabella.com
After our offshore run, I promised Robin that I would wait for her in Beaufort so she could see the wild horses on Carrot Island, explore the shops in downtown Beaufort, and visit the Outer Banks before our run back North. While waiting, I tackle some boat maintenance projects, namely fixing our leaky deck. But more on that later…
Beaufort was an interesting place to anchor. Because of the wind and tides, the boats in the anchorage all sit differently. We came pretty close to playing bumper boats with our neighbor. But I enjoyed a surprise wooden boat show by the harbor, and a pretty impressive farmer’s market! The Beaufort experience was really a 10 out of 10!
Beaufort was also a great place for me to tackle some boat work. First task: fixing our leaky boat deck. We’ve been getting some drips in the forepeak, and I think it all boils down to an issue with the way we pitched and waterproofed the deck in the first place. Basically, I think the pitch didn’t make it deep enough into the grooves between our deck planks, which created a pocket of air. As we’ve migrated to warmer weather, my thought is that the air warmed up, ultimately expanding and causing the pitch to bubble, rupture…and leak.
Pitch is an interesting substance. It’s mostly solid at room temperature, and liquifies when heated (though, even in its liquid state, it’s still 1,000x more viscous than water).
I spent a few long, tedious days just hammering the pitch as deep as I could, identifying where more pitch was needed to fill the gaps. And then the rain came. And the forepeak stayed dry. What can I say: good deck work works ;-)
Next up on the to-do list is fixing our windlass. We lost a set screw, and fortunately the local hardware store had just the key stock we needed for the job (and I had just the vice to finish the job).
Now it’s time to go play. Robin wanted to go explore Beaufort’s downtown area, which is filled with shops and coffee…two of her favorite things. But, along the way, we found where the wooden boats get built…and we had to pop in to check it out.
After exploring the town (and procuring coffee, of course), we set sail for Okracoke Island…and a beautiful sail it was.
Join us next week in the Outer Banks, and stay tuned for our passage back to Massachusetts.
--------------------------
Sign up for our email newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hn3Qyv
Acorn to Arabella started as a wooden boat building project in Granby, Massachusetts. Steve began the journey as an amateur wooden boat builder crafting a 38' wooden sailboat in his backyard: designer William Atkin's Ingrid with a Stormy Petrel's gaff rig. These videos follow the journey from tree felling, to lumber milling, to lofting, to the lead keel pour and now sailing the boat—sharing details of the woodworking, carpentry, metal smithing, tool building, and tool maintenance that traditional wooden boats command. This ultimate DIY project continues beyond the boat shop, as Steve and crew travel and learn to cruise aboard the handmade wooden boat that they've built. Just kidding about all that, this channel is about a Siberian Laika named Akiva.
--------------------------
If you are interested in supporting/helping here are a few ways:
https://www.acorntoarabella.com/how-to-help
Acorn to Arabella's wishlist:
https://www.acorntoarabella.com/wishlistpriority
TotalBoat supports A2A! Please consider using our Total Boat referral code. Click here, then shop: https://www.totalboat.com/acorntoarabella They'll kick 10% our way!
To offer recurring support via Patreon, CLICK BELOW. Just $5 a month gets you an invite to our monthly patron-only livestream Q&A sessions!
https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella
Original Soundtrack available at benfundis.bandcamp.com
FOLLOW US:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acorntoarabella
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acorntoarabella/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acorntoarabella
Website: http://www.acorntoarabella.com
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Acorn To Arabella
We are building a 38’ sailboat from stump to ship, once complete she will take us around the world. We hope to inspire and educate as many people as possible along the way. Join us on our journey and let us show you that with a bit of dedication, good company and some old school smarts even the wildest of dreams can be made to come true! For inquiries about collaborating or integrations, please email acorntoarabella@lighthouseagents.com.
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