Post Refit BOAT TOUR | Sailing Florence Refit – Ep.181

Sailing Yacht Florence recently embarked on a significant refit period over the winter, working towards their new adventure set for higher latitudes. In Episode 181, Matt and Amy provide an in-depth look at the major improvements made to their Oyster Heritage 37 yacht named ‘Florence’, which they’ve circumnavigated with.

Sailing Florence’s Post Refit Tour – The Overview

Starting their journey back in the UK, Matt and Amy had an extensive list of improvements they wished to make on board Florence. After eight months of dedicated work spent mainly during a major refit from Boatyard, they launched 1 month prior in Port Salent Marina where final preparations took place to move their lives back aboard.

New Upgrades and Changes on Florence

• Replacement of the galvanized Spade anchor with a shiny new stainless steel version
• Changed switches controlling the anchor windlass to Lumar CHS X, sealed switches
• Added Furlex for their staysail without having to come onto deck (safer and easier to use)
• Nesting dinghy had some TLC including fresh paint and varnish as well as a new bumper strip
• Painted the decks with Kiwipower Deck Paint, greatly improving grip while maintaining aesthetics
• Replaced a heavily corroded tow rail with an aluminum version that doesn’t leak anymore
• Upgraded all windows due to UV damage on the old acrylic ones, drastically enhancing clarity and overall view from inside Florence.

Bringing ‘Florence’ Up-to-date with Modern Features

• Installed a brand-new suite of navigation instruments including a touchscreen chart plotter, fancy radar (previously not working), and forward scan sonar.
• Moved over to a complete Mastervolt Lithium battery and charging system for their electrical power management, ensuring efficient use of energy onboard similar to high-spec new build yachts.

Rainy-Day Projects Left Unaddressed

• Re-varnishing and finishing off interior touches
• Replacing the existing table in the saloon with a more practical one
• Replacement of the toilet pipes in the heads, which had not yet been completed at the time.

The Challenges Faced During Refit

Matt and Amy discuss their busy schedule during this refit period. They’ve put in many long hours, often working 5 days a week on Florence while also spending time seeing family and friends after having been away for 7 years. Their parents have helped immensely by providing home-cooked meals at the end of each hard-working day. This allowed them to continue their work, ordering parts and editing videos on their laptops late into the night.

Conclusion

The couple acknowledges the challenges they faced during this refit and the hard work it took to make their vessel ready for new adventures. Their advice to those planning similar projects is to ‘keep it simple’, doing just enough work to get back out on the water as quickly as possible.

Staying grounded and enjoying sailing, as intended in this voyage, was a common theme. They remind their audience of the importance of balancing health with such projects – ensuring viewers do not get overly ambitious or set unrealistic expectations like they sometimes did.

With ongoing updates via Patreon for their supporters, Sailing Yacht Florence now sets off to sail North. Do check out the next video to find them on their journey, only on YouTube.