S1E31. Full DIY Refit. Living Aboard While Rebuilding EVERYTHING
Welcome back to another gritty, real-life chapter of this full DIY sailboat refit—long nights, busted tools, molding water tanks, delamination, mystery smells, and the constant battle to get this boat ready before the marina bill buries me.
This week, I'm deep in the guts of the boat:
🔧 Cleaning out absolutely disgusting freshwater tanks
🔧 Grinding, cutting, pulling walls apart
🔧 Fixing bad plumbing, messy fiberglass work, and old wiring
🔧 Rebuilding interior spaces the right way (not the way the factory did it in ‘96)
🔧 Trying to keep the boat balanced while adding weight back where it belongs
🔧 Living, eating, working, and sleeping in the middle of a construction zone
If you’ve ever wondered what a real sailboat rebuild looks like—no sponsors, no fancy studios, no perfect lighting—this is it. Long days grinding fiberglass, long nights doing quiet work, and lots of “heat… heat…” while I try to get this boat one step closer to launch.
The mission:
Turn this wrecked heavy duty blue water boat into a world-traveling, ocean-crossing home.
And yes… the GoPro dies constantly, everything is covered in bleach, I keep bumping my head into raw fiberglass, and somehow I still wake up every morning excited to get back at it. This is the dream — the messy part of it.
⛵ Support the Journey (Thank You ❤️)
Your support literally keeps this rebuild and this dream alive.
☕️ KOFI : https://ko-fi.com/sailinguv
CASH APP: $SailingUV
👉 Join the Patreon crew:
patreon.com/SailingUV
You'll get early videos, behind-the-scenes updates, project breakdowns, and direct Q&A access.
👉 Amazon Wishlist (Boat Parts + Camera Gear):
https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2GH0XK53U5WA1?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_ggr-subnav-share_K99M0SMN2RM151IPEFUY_1
https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1MP3RSITHWF8I?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_ggr-subnav-share_G5834SGWMX07TBCDZKNK_1
⚓ About This Build
I’m fully gutting and rebuilding this sailboat to sail around the world. Everything you see—tank repairs, interior redesign, plumbing replacements, electrical work, engine maintenance, fiberglass, carpentry, editing, all of it—is done solo, by hand, learning as I go, fueled by coffee, stubbornness, and a lifetime of mechanical experience.
If you're into:
DIY sailboat restoration
Liveaboard life
Refitting older fiberglass boats
Self-reliance, tool work, and gritty real progress
Bluewater cruising dreams
…you’re in the right place.
🔔 Subscribe & Join the Refit Crew
Every like, share, and comment helps more than you know.
More grinding, tearing out, rebuilding, and real-world boat life coming soon.
Let’s get this boat ready for blue water. 🌊⚓
This video dives deep into the real, unpolished world of DIY boat work. From tight spaces to unexpected problems, this project shows the behind-the-scenes reality of maintaining and rebuilding a sailboat while living aboard. If you’re into honest refits, hands-on repairs, sailing life, or learning how to fix your own boat, you’re in the right place.
#boatlife #sailboatrefit #DIYboat #boatprojects #offgridlife #marinadiaries
#sailinglife #boatrepair #boatyoutuber #grittyDIY #doberman #pets #sailing
Sailing UV ( UltraViolet )
Jonathan sold everything in Ohio to purchase a neglected 1996 Henry Morgan 57 in the Northern California. Operating under the channel Sailing UV, he and his 100lb Doberman, Violet, are currently executing a massive technical refit near Sausalito. As of 2026, the project focuses on heavy electrical diagnostics and advanced gyro stabilization before attempting a global circumnavigation.
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