Living on a old sailboat and fixing all it’s problems Ep 416

Living on an Old Sailboat and Fixing Its Rigging Issues

The Sailing Catalpa family shares their experience of living on an old sailboat and addressing various rigging problems in the latest episode. This adventurous family aims to inspire others to pursue their dreams, offering valuable insights into Blue Water sailing and the importance of maintaining a vessel’s integrity.

Assessing the Rigging Problems

During this episode, the Catalpa family highlights the extensive work they undertake to inspect and repair their sailboat’s rigging. Key concerns include mismatched and corroded cables, cracked chain plates, and the need for precise measurements and pin sizes for a new standing rigging setup. Their professional rigger, Memo from Australia, assists in assessing the condition of the existing rigging components.

Removing and Inspecting Chain Plates

A crucial step in their refit is removing and inspecting all chain plates, which support the rigging and are critical for securing the mast. Upon removal, the family discovers significant cracking, corrosion, and structural weakness in most of the chain plates. Recognizing these as potential disaster points, especially during an ocean crossing, they decide to replace them with new ones from Schaer Marine.

Assessing the Mast

The Catalpa family also scrutinizes their mast for signs of wear and tear, including bubbling paint caused by corrosion beneath the surface. They discuss options ranging from patch repair to complete sandblasting and repainting to restore the mast’s integrity.

Mechanical Inspections and Future Plans

In addition to the visual inspections, they delve into the mechanical aspects of their rigging, ensuring that every fitting, nut, bolt, and toggle is checked and where necessary, replaced. Their meticulous approach aims to prevent any failure that could endanger their global sailing adventure.

Lifestyle Adjustments: Using Electric Bikes for Land Travel

The episode also touches on the Sailing Catalpa family’s lifestyle adjustments, specifically their use of electric bikes for navigating land. These versatile bikes have become an integral part of their adventuring toolkit, facilitating exploration and provisioning runs with ease and efficiency.

Conclusion

In this enlightening episode, the Sailing Catalpa family demonstrates the importance of vigilance and thoroughness in maintaining a sailboat’s rigging system. Their dedication to ensuring safety on the water reflects their passion for Blue Water sailing and adventure travel. As they continue their refit journey, viewers are given an insight into the complexities and joys of living aboard an old sailboat.

For more inspiring stories and tips, don’t forget to subscribe to the Sailing Catalpa YouTube channel and join them in chasing your dreams. Explore how you too can turn your love for water adventures into a reality with the right tools, knowledge, and determination.

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