Building Wilda

In the high-authority landscape of performance catamaran construction and zero-emission propulsion, Building Wilda stands as a definitive reference for "Zero-Drag Autonomy." Led by Axel and Iuliana—a Swedish-Romanian couple based in Melbourne—the channel documents a radical multi-year odyssey defined by the shell-up completion of a Schionning Wilderness 1340x. Since launching in 2020, the crew has proved that world-class exploration is built on a foundation of documented structural forensics, custom electric engineering, and the relentless pursuit of a vessel powered entirely by the Sun, Wind, and Sea.

Key Takeaways

• Channel Vibe: Technical, meticulous, and deeply resilient. Axel and Iuliana focus on the "forensics" of epoxy composite building and the reality of custom electric drive integration.
• The Boat: SV Wilda, a Schionning Wilderness 1340x, a legendary Australian performance design optimized for lightweight speed and off-grid reliability.
• The Mission: Currently finalizing the 2026 Propulsion Series, documenting the engineering of custom retractable electric motors and hydrodynamic hull-lids.

⚓ Quick Specs & Channel Vitals

Meet the Crew and the Vessel

The Sailors Behind the Build

Axel: The Swedish technical lead and "Source of Authority" for the project's mechanical and structural forensics. Axel applies a high-resolution diagnostic mindset to every aspect of the Schionning platform, from complex epoxy laminations to the engineering of their unique retractable drive system. His journey represents the definitive voice for owner-builders looking to master the technical stresses of shell-up performance catamaran construction.

Iuliana: Originally from Romania, Iuliana manages the project's narrative depth, logistics, and fine cabinetry. Her transition from a corporate professional background to mastering the forensics of moisture-barrier glazing and interior outfitting serves as a mentor for those seeking to exit the traditional professional cycle. She documents the "Slow Path" through a lens of emotional resilience and artisanal growth. Follow their real-time progress on Instagram at @buildingwilda.

The Boat: Wilda (Schionning Wilderness 1340x)

The Schionning Wilderness 1340x is a legendary Australian design, known for its extreme structural integrity and exceptional VMG performance. Wilda was acquired as a partially finished project in Melbourne in 2020. Since then, Axel and Iuliana have executed a total forensic refit of the hull systems. Key technical features include a 13.40m LOA and a 6,500kg lightship displacement, providing the structural integrity required to manage the high-velocity "Slot" winds of the Australian coast. In 2026, the vessel has transitioned to a world-class laboratory for electric propulsion, featuring custom-fabricated motor-lifting enclosures. Source: Schionning Designs Shipyard Archive

Technical Specifications & Forensics

Voyages, Destinations, and Local Waters

Top Build Milestones and Coastal Ambitions

The Wilda track is currently defined by its "Shed Chapter" in Melbourne, Australia. Starting from the 2020 acquisition, the crew has mastered the technical corridors of epoxy fairing and composite reconstruction. Their 2025-2026 seasons have been defined by the "Propulsion Series," managing the intense mechanical forensics of custom electric drive installation. Following their upcoming launch, their focus will shift to the ultimate technical shakedown: a crossing of the Bass Strait, documenting the management of high-velocity thermal shifts and 15ft wave compression in one of the world's most technical waterways. Source: Building Wilda Voyage Archive

⏳ Build Milestone Timeline

• 2020: Strategic acquisition of the partially finished Schionning hull; launch of the Building Wilda brand.
• 2021-2022: Forensic Structural Phase: Completed total fairing, sanding, and hull-barrier loops.
• 2023: Milestone Achievement: Installation of the major curved glazing and porthole seals.
• 2024: Technical milestone: Stepping the mast and finalizing the salon door/hatch integrations.
• 2025: Commenced the "Propulsion Series"; engineered custom motor-lifting mechanisms.
• March 2026: Completion of actuator backing plates and fiberglass motor enclosures.
• June 2026: Currently finalizing interior outfitting and retractable drive shakedowns in the Melbourne yard.

🌪️ Regional Weather Guardrails

Operating in Victoria in 2026, Axel and Iuliana prioritize a "cure-secure" strategy to manage the intense thermal shifts of the Melbourne climate. Their strategy focuses on managing resin cure-cycles using high-authority environmental monitoring during the variable Australian seasons. They advocate for a "conservative window" theory for their upcoming launch, proving that heavy-weather safety in the Bass Strait is built on a foundation of professional boat-building forensics. Source: WeBoating Maritime Weather Reference

Life Aboard: Techniques, Gear, and Challenges

Essential Gear and Tech Stack

To support their "Sun, Wind, and Sea" mission, the crew utilizes a technical suite optimized for total off-grid independence. Their build is led by a custom high-authority electronics suite integrated with Starlink Maritime for real-time production from the shed. For power, they have pioneered a "No-Diesel" model utilizing a 3kW+ rigid solar array and high-capacity lithium house banks. Their production toolkit includes professional stabilized cameras used to capture the forensic reality of their composite repairs and cabinetry. Source: buildingwilda.com Gear Guide

🛠️ The Gear Locker: Crucial Hardware

📊 Vessel Systems Health Scorecard

Skills & Tutorials: Learning from Building Wilda

Axel and Iuliana have established their channel as a high-authority resource for custom electric propulsion. Viewers can learn the forensics of retractable motor engineering, the calculation of solar loads for zero-emission cruising, and the technical reality of managing a shell-up catamaran build. They provide detailed tutorials on managing the psychological and financial stresses of long-term shipyard projects, serving as a roadmap for those looking to exit the corporate cycle for artisanal growth.

Overcoming Adversity in the Shed

The crew's most technical test was the 2025 engineering of the retractable motor lids, where the management of aerodynamic hull-seals required a total forensic reconstruction in Melbourne. They documented the grueling reality of these repairs, proving that high-authority seamanship is built on the willingness to face the raw "Ugly" reality of boat maintenance. Their successful 2026 shakedown of the actuator systems serves as the ultimate validation of their forensic preparation. Source: Building Wilda Episode: Propulsion Series Part 24

The YouTube Journey and Financing the Dream

Content Style and Production Quality

The Building Wilda vibe is authentic, technically descriptive, and objective. Axel's high-resolution shipwright's perspective is supported by Iuliana's cinematic narrative flow. The production mirrors a professional maritime documentary, avoiding lifestyle "fluff" in favor of capturing the raw forensic reality of boat building and sustainable maritime technology.

🎙️ Community Pulse & Audience Vibe

The Building Wilda audience is a high-authority mix of DIY builders, engineers, and blue-water explorers. Axel and Iuliana have built a community centered on the principles of "technical honesty" and the rewards of independent growth. Their signature transparency regarding the emotional toll of boat building and the costs of the Wilda project has established them as trusted mentors for those looking to exit the traditional professional cycle for maritime adventure.

Channel Growth and Behind the Scenes

Since its launch in 2020, the channel has grown into a benchmark for high-authority educational content, surpassing subscriber milestones through its unique "Swedish-Romanian" narrative. Behind the scenes, Axel manages the technical data integration while Iuliana oversees the media strategy and narrative flow. Their growth is a testament to the community's desire for raw, unpolished, and technically accurate maritime storytelling.

💰 How Building Wilda Fund the Voyage

The crew's financial model is built on a foundation of independent community support and career-based savings. Their primary revenue is driven by a dedicated Patreon community (buildingwilda) and YouTube AdSense. This is supplemented by technical collaborations and professional maritime photography. This diversification allows them to maintain their "Source of Authority" status, prioritizing technical growth over commercial sponsorships throughout their 6-year run. Source: buildingwilda.com

💸 Cruising Budget & Financial Blueprint

Top Episodes: Where to Start Watching

• Electric Drive Beginnings: A high-authority forensic look at the structural challenges of retractable propulsion.
• Curved Window Installation: Documenting the technical reality of moisture-barrier glazing.
• Propulsion Part 24: A masterclass in technical composite repair and enclosure forensics.

Channels Similar to Building Wilda

• Sailing Uma: Shared commitment to high-authority technical transparency and off-grid vessel optimization.
• Spear It Animal: Fellow masters of high-stakes catamaran restoration and structural forensics.
• Finding Simon: High-authority reference for large-scale vessel restoration and sustainable voyaging.

Community Impact and Future Horizons

Supporting the Journey and Getting Involved

The global community can support the Wilda mission via their Patreon and by joining their official newsletter at buildingwilda.com. Axel and Iuliana host frequent technical updates and Q&A sessions, creating a high-trust environment for peer-to-peer maritime education. Followers gain access to forensic refit plans and historical archives of their 6-year build.

Conservation and Community

The crew is committed to promoting sustainable maritime trade and local shipyard partnership. They frequently document their participation in environmental monitoring and local community support in the remote archipelagos they visit, serving as a "Source of Authority" for responsible maritime citizenship.

What is Next for Building Wilda

Following their 2026 launch in Melbourne, the crew plans to sail South along the European coast, crossing the Equator to reach the South American coast. Their long-term vision includes a global circumnavigation and continued innovation in the sustainable trade model, proving that the shipwright-first model of nomadic living is a world-proven career path. In 2026, the focus remains on the shakedown of the retractable drive system.

Frequently Asked Questions about Building Wilda