Cruising: repairing one's boat in exotic ports of call 

If you are hunting gas leaks, just spray (even with your hands) some soapy water on the line or the regulator. Where bubbles come the leak is.

Respect! For picking up that mooring ball with no motor in the conditions you were in.

Some things to add to your supplies when you get time. JB weld works much better than epoxy for that kind of repair - you can get metal dust/shavings to add to it for added strength from any shop that cuts car brake rotors, copper or brass dust and shavings would be nice, but you will have to special order those, sheet aluminum and copper, band/worm/automotive style hose clamps, a wheel barrow inner tube - cant hardly find car inner tubes but the biggest that you can find is best, cork - old bottle corks - gasket sheet cork - etc, fiberglass repair kit, decent wire connectors - I like the electrician wire nuts as the easiest to get a good tight connection. Self tapping screws, RTV gasket glue, a good cordless drill with high quality bit holder and screw driver bits - don't ever cheap out on tools - get the expensive lithium battery model, and same for the drill bits, and screw driver attachments - cheap bits use soft metal that will FK up a screw at just the wrong time. (Murphy's law at work) The good 25 year silicone bathroom sealant in the tube is invaluable - tough as tires once it cures all the way - doesn't shrink - sticks to anything - and will last longer than you ad I will be alive. Yellow 3M weather seal adhesive - clean this up before it cures because it will stick to anything clean of grease and you will never get it off - be especially careful of cloth and painted surfaces. Seriously, you will have to scrape the paint off to remove it. Several tubes of liquid nails - see above warning regarding 3M adhesive. Expanding foam insulation in the spray can. Only do 1/3rd of large spaces at a time and let it cure completely - it will expand to over 3 times the volume of what comes out of the can, so practice figuring out how much to use and give it room to expand - the gas bubbles are what give it insulation and buoyancy properties so don't over fill. For the holed pipe: cork gasket material (or inner-tube) with JB weld on both sides over the hole, slather more JB weld on cut copper sheet patch, put a few band clamps on snug and let the JB weld cure a bit , then cinch it down tight... almost a permanent cure. Valve: use the metal shavings mixed with the JB weld, do any shaping or sizing before it cures because once it cures it will take a metal file and a vice to work it. Probably a good long term cure, but get a new through hull - don't trust your life to Michael Mouse fixes. lol Wire connections: Put some grease on both wires and wire nut them together, then fill the wire nut with RTV gasket glue to permanently seal it. Those butt and barrel connectors are the worst thing to use on a boat - the metal sleeve is usually aluminum, and the only way to keep out corrosion is to solder and seal every connection with shrink tube. Lightly sand and clean your bare wire ends before you grease and connect them for the best possible connection. This connection will be trouble free for decades if done properly.. plus it is quick and easy with no tools. Sand the ends, clean, grease, twist together, wire nut, and seal the wire nut... Probably tape or shrink wrap the connection to keep anything from hanging on it and to give additional weather protection. Always remember that you are living the dream, and that we all hate you as we shuffle off to the daily grind... just kidding. lol Keep the great vids coming, brother. GOD Bless you - Fair Winds and Following Seas.

Good to see you are all shipshape again. Just a suggestion. Make sure you have a rubber grommet where the flexi gas pipe goes through the fibreglass to the regulator. Rubber pipes can chafe quite quickly with vibration and movement where they pass over thin material just like the bulkhead (firewall) in cars grommets are used to prevent abrasion. On another note, having lived in the African bush for a number of years, a supply of old tyre inner-tubes cut into strips have fixed many a leaky pipe on water systems and vehicle coolant leaks. Some guys use this method for all their plumbing requirements in simple joints. They are also useful as emergency bungees. Happy sailing.

I hope you pour a nice rum punch after you tidy up your lines. I need a drink just WATCHING you sail into that packed mooring field under sail alone lol .

Love your channel. Came to it through Patrick Laine. I'm only am armchair sailor but much appreciate the effort you put in and information you impart in these videos. Very enjoyable. Am working my way through your back catalogue. Sailing without an engine is a great skill to have, especially when sailing into a harbour, and I hope that you inspire many people to try it, even if they do have an engine in their boat! Fair winds, peace and all power to your sculling oar.

👍👍 Good camera work showing the repairs !! Do a whole series of sailboat repair videos !! 👍

Your sailing skills are awesome!! This would make a great “Hold my beer.....” commercial!😎

Wow! Loved watching you sail up to that mooring!! So smooth... Makes me glad I don't have to do that single-handed! Thanks for showing us how u do it!

You are a true Inspiration Kevin. I would just like to know all the stuff you forgot about sailing. I love how you keep things simple. You was sailing the ocean before it was cool on RU-vid and you stay humble. Plus you have a gift doing the how-to videos. 👍👍👍

I have used valve grinding compound to mate the spindle to the through hull valve body. Just apply it to the spindle and work the spindle in the valve body. This will lap the two parts together.

Great video as usual! It is a good idea to carry a new seacock in your spares including the elbow as they are a common source of problems in boats and aren’t expensive!

just found your channel. Really enjoyed this one. Sailing up on a mooring in a crowded anchorage. U da man.

Love all the videos. Looking into purchasing a Gaff rigged cutter Ingrid/Orca 38. Thanks for all the knowledge. Hope to see you on the water! ALOHA!

I looks as though the thru hole fitting needs replacing. Now that you have had it apart to get a good look at it. It may be wise to get one on order while your down in the keys. You may be able to change the elbow out right away and then wait till haul out to change the fitting. Good idea to replace the defunct propane equipment. Liked how you picked up the mooring ball. Nice work. I hope you enjoyed the Keys. Happy sailing.

You are a good sailor. Just a few can do what you just did, all by yourself. Cheers, Richard

very good work...🎉

I wanted to drive a big rig and some smart trucker told me to go find a farmer who would let me practice driving around cones and backing up, he said there's no better way than to practice on a farm. So with a enginless sailboat, we could learn it if we got out in the ocean or a large body of water and just play around doing maneuvers until you get confidence. It's know thy boat. Everyone was green when they started. But how easy is it to buy a great boat and not have a clue as to doing these difficult moves. ............ Guess I like to watch 1000 videos. I want to build a replica sailing model of my exact boat with weight and dimensions the same and with remote controls, sail it on a lake. Then turn my aluminum rowboat into a junk rig and practice with that. Then sail as a mate on another sailboat to get yelled at a lot and learn to see the big picture. THEN take out my boat so I don't crash it. Using it as a tiny home till then. Living on the boat and dealing with the stress of that minus the water and waves. We are seeing here the culmination of years at sea and a survivor. Imagine how many guys gave up after one season. ..............One small splash for man yet a giant splash for mankind.

Another great, informative post - keep 'em coming. Nice display of boat handling under sail, as well as ingenuity and tenacity when it comes to problem solving. I realize you are a pretty hardcore traditionalist regarding fittings, but you miiiiight want to consider a Marlon (glass reinforced nylon) replacement for that bronze relic of a seacock. I know it's a little sacrilegious, but I've had both on my boats and the Marleon have been trouble-free - bronze, not so much.....

Kevin you're too damn cool you do that damn well anyway keep up the good work can't wait to see you out there.

My uncle was a plumber and he would even use bubblegum and string, wrapping the string over the bubblegum till the leak stopped, and everyone laughed at him and he brushed them off. He could fix it right but he tried that first.

Love your channel. Sailing engineless is a skill I desire. I learn through all that you share. Keep up the good work!

Definitely 2 thumbs up for that maneuver! Thanks for sharing your adventures

Thanks Kevin, another great passage video, your sailing skills never cease to impress. Well done 👍

I guess one really has to have a LOT of mechanical and various device repair knowledge else one is doomed. You have tremendous know how. Impressive how you got the mooring 1 st try. Wow. Wind and no help and no motor. Great

Cool Move Dude! I'm always impressed with your sailing skills. Learn by doing...

This is amazing content. Thank you so much

You might want to consider putting a rubber gromit on the hole you are now running that gas line through into the propane locker for better chafe protection.

A nice final approach in a crowded anchorage! That leaky, old seacock would worry the heck outta me... I'd have changed that before the propane regulator anytime, even dzr brass for $100 if not a Blake's. Thanks for another enjoyable vid.

You certainly have a connection with that boat. She responds kindly to you. Boat repairs are similar to renovating old houses, you're always chasing something, chasing something, chasing something and so it goes. Great video K. Im very envious of you being in Key West. Always wanted to go, had a chance in 2017 got as far as Miami, but had to fly to Puerto Vallarta to check out a yacht. As it turned out, should've went to Key West. lol

G'day, thanks for a realistic view of day to day cruising issues, the detection of impending repairs and the possible "side effects" to consider. That propane leak was a worry. Wasn't the smell of the propane noticeable in the small locker space? Even allowing for a locker drain to let out the leaked gas the propane odour would be fairly strong. Made me consider whether a hand held gas detector to pinpoint the gas leak, or a fixed propane alarm in the locker could be worthwhile. Cost is probably comparable to the regulator - a lot less than an explosion on board and offers some insurance against sparks from faulty wiring becoming a lot worse! Fair winds, Gary

Nice work Capt.

Great parking job! Tenacity is the best tool for repairs. 🙂 Thanks for posting!

Thanks Kevin! Really like the sailing music Spindrift!

Kevin , I do enjoy your video's so very much , I always seem to learn something valuable on your Chanel so thanks for the insight and lessons... Yes my boat has a very good iron Genny , but I do think I may want to try retrieving a mooring ball without the aid of the engine... like you , I sail single handed and is a bit more work ... Fair Winds and Safe Sea's . Robert North Star

You should use gas approved pipe dope on those NTP threads. It provides lubrication and makes a better seal and never gets real hard. Cheers

Kevin, I like the way you sling those bowlines together on the headsail. I would reconsider putting to sea with that seacock in its condition. My damage control training says to fix it now because it can only get worse no part of a boat self repairs. Take care,

Great episode again. I keep a gaffer here in the southwest of Ireland. But the sad reality is I have to sell her for family reasons. I hope to continue sailing with friends whenever I can and tuning into your channel and a few others should help. Your a lucky man. Envious in Ireland!!

Killer episode. Nice musical interlude too. Thanks.

For leaking pipe you could cut a piece tin or aluminum can out to wrap the pipe take some 4200, 5200 or epoxy and glue it in place then wrap in hose clamps or lash it in place. You can also use denim or some other not too stretchy cloth as a substitute for fiber glass. Also I have seem but not used an epoxy tape/wrap that I am going to put in my kit.

I think you're on the right track cut that pipe off straight and then get you a hose that has a 90 in it cut that hole right out, as for your electrical problem you should have a multimeter so you can do a continuity check to help you run down that grounding problem, which propane leak your spot on.

You sure make it look easy Captain!!! Love yr vids!

Picking up a mooring under sail is in most basic sailing courses. I did it in Glenanes in 2004.

Soapy water could help find propane leaks

Nice demo on the mooring ball Kevin. As usual. :-) If you think of it one day, could you show how you tie off on the mooring ball? Sometimes when the sea is roough and my bow is bouncing up and down, the line hangs up on the anchor. I'm wondering if there is a better way. Fair winds

You can’t just wait till your next scheduled haul out to replace that thru hull. You really need to get somewhere and fix it.

Grabbin thar mooring. A true sailin’ stud! 👍👍

Your stuff gets better and better

Mooring balls at Garrison bight are about $350, that includes shower facilities and parking,,20min walk to key West village,,,looking east,towards the condos and power lines,there’s an opening where you can dingy in for groceries,Winn Dixy,Publics,dollar store and Home Depot,,you’ll go under a bridge,and find a few openings in the mangroves,,looking to your west ,that’s Fleming island,,when you’re sailing in and around the cruise ship docks,pass the coast guard station,,to your starboard side is Fleming,,if you anchor there,just remember the currents are running 3to4knots,,anchor well,,it’s well protected from the easterlies,,but beware of the northwesterlies,,they bring the rollers and wandering boats that weren’t anchored well,,you can dingy in to Key West bight in 15 to20 minutes, day dingy dock is $7.15 ,,,all good food and drink,

whew, just one spot left? that was lucky. Nice job mooring, I trust you didnt edit out any other approaches : ) . Just a fun place to wander .. enjoy.

Excellent video i love how you do stressful things and remain so calm you are on a level all by yourself. The repairs were good under anchor very hard to do. Patrick Laine mentioned you on jis channel. Thought i let you know it was very nice of him . We are thawing out here in Canada launch date soon i hooe cheers.

Another excellent video Kev ! Thanks, !

Nicely done Kevin!

As always you continue to impress and inspire!

Another great video captain. I've always felt cruising is just repairing the boat on another harbor. And I'll second the valve grinding compound tip. Has worked for me in the past Which reminds me I have a couple to address this spring Fair winds.

Just a tiny, thin, coat of silicon di-electric grease will ensure a non-conductive safe seal for all of the threads and gaskets for years to come.... You are welcome.

Fabulous episode! I learned a lot! Keep them coming!

I didn’t see a shutoff solenoid while you were replacing the gas line. You do have a shutoff solenoid somewhere don’t you Mr. Boothby?

Another good one, but I would have a hard time sleeping knowing the condition of that valve and the thru Hull. Hope you get it properly repaired soon. Best to you !

Nice work skipper...as always!

Love your channel. Just wondering why you don't just let the mooring buoy come along side you in the cockpit and pick it up there. That way you are at the helm and can accurately steer the boat to the buoy. And, with a line already lead aft from your bow roller, (outside of your safety lines) you can just tie right on. Saves all of that scurrying forward and wondering what side of the boat the buoy has now found it's self on.

Impressive!!!! You are the man.

great job how needs a engine when you have a sailing boat. thanks for you video's

Great video. Thanks for sharing

I absolutely love your channel and this was yet another fantastic video,thanks for sharing! Warren s/y Legend

Hope you got to enjoy paradise a bit. Gotta take a break and enjoy life once in awhile.

Well done

Good stuff thanks for sharing 👍👍

A little soapy water may have helped you find the leak and saved you from changing out that copper line needlessly. Next Amazon order have them add a tube of dielectric grease to coat your wire connections before you tape them up.

would it make sense to put a propane shutoff close to the stove? So, if the stove does have an issue in the future, you could isolate it? Not sure if it's worth the effort with the shutoff at the tank so close to hand, anyway.

excellent video! Thanks!

Glad to see how you handle all these stuff Impressed by your sailing skills as always. That tune could be something! 🎶 Maybe needs some refinement? (16th’s on hi-hat is it your style?) Anyway, a great and informative episode m8! Keep it coming! 🎸 I really appreciate your way of showing motor isn’t needed, even when mooring. 👍🏽

STUD!

Nice sailin

Thank you

Always put the Blade on backwards,so it cuts on the PULL you will never Break the Blade!

I forgot to ask this question when you went to the Pacific how did you get to the Panama Canal did you higher Personnel to get through and aren't you supposed to have an engine to get through the Panama.

JB Weld!

Fun video.....repairing boats in exot.....er.....not so exotic places! Key West is fun for a short stay. Hope you enjoyed it! Andrew

If I may ask: How do you have your tiller rigged that v you can drop it to go forward and it stays midships?

Awesome video and awesome pick up.....do you usually depart with one reef tucked then shake it.....Thanks.....Stott

Hello Kevin, great work as usual. OpenCPN 5.0.0 has been released, have you upgraded?

How did you get through that cut to the GB that's a nasty current. You don't show that part I would have liked to see that.

Great vid as always. We will be sailing from Marathon to Key West and onto the Dry Tortugas in a few weeks. How were the crab pots between Marathon and Key Key West?

Thanks for sharing, always of great value. Have to ask, what's the "ticking" sound in the background?

What does it go to?

If your gauge ain't holding still you still got a leek, if you didn't have a leak it would never leak off, and it wouldn't matter if you left it on for 24 hours or turned it off for 24 hours it wouldn't have a change.

That’s the way to do it🎩🐇

Flange fitting that threads on

Kevin what exactly does " come up on the wind" mean?

Gotta do something about that sea cock. I wouldn’t be comfortable with it in that poor condition. Hate to see you loose your boat. Get a roll of silicone tape, it will temporarily repair holes like the one in the pipe elbow.

Your seaman ship skills are second to none sir!!!! The only reason you 100k+ subs is because you don't have a woman on board that barely wears any clothes. 😒

Do you get your internet for you laptop via wifi in port? Or do you have a phone hookup, or satellite? Just wondering what works in remote ports of call, and in the Caribbean. Thanks for the great content!

So the gas leak may have had nothing to do with the copper pipe at all.😳 A bit of soapy water around all the connections in the propane locker may have revealed the culprit. Not sure if US coding requirements but not sure if the full gas run in flexible pipe meets code. Otherwise love your vids.👍

What does that thru-hull supply?

How did you get amazon to deliver to your boat?

Yeah but it takes a real sailor to sail up and tie off to the ball drunker 'na skunk. hahaha Just joking. Very nice. Like this channel.

your camera make a funny fast clicking sound... probably microphonics of some sort.

Hey Kevin, why are your sails red?

#RockStar