I know that you are heading north into the arctic regions when your yacht is ready. I am pretty sure that your vessel is ready for the challenge.and I applaud your decision to head this way. As one sailor who has spent many years on merchant vessels in this region, I must say that the weather conditions north can be pretty dreadful, even in the arctic summer. When I heard of your plans, I thought that you should rethink your route, I was on a 25000 ton tanker heading north up the coast of Norway and we were hit by the most dreadful storm which made us stop and turn into the wind. We spent days on low power dodging mighty waves. I felt safe in our big ship but I really think that your vessel would struggle in those conditions. Many years ago when I was in the Royal navy, We spent a couple of months touring around the Pacific islands, visiting magical clusters of enchanting islands, including Fiji, Kiribati and many others, this is where you should go. Most of the pacific islands are now tourist hot spots but there are still many that are untouched.
get an manual impact screwdriver impact to keep on your boat. They are amazing. You will wonder how you did without. Set direction and smack with a hammer. They are about $25 USD
Stainless into Aluminum ? Loctite (243 + others)... and Never-seize. (Nickel formulation.) I'd abandon any 'Phillips' head screws for Hex. Kinda late advice tho.
On my dad's boat, he drilled and put in neodynium magnets around the windows. He has shades made of sail cloth and also some made by cutting up those insulating/reflective shades that you put in cars, he just used snaps set with a grommet setter and they stick to the magnets. They've worked out great, he just pops them into place and they stay inside.
Your refit just shows again the wonderful bond you to have, there are no captains nor first mates on Florence just two wonderful people who love fully each other and what they do. You are an inspiration for many, thank you. Denis
Oh, to be able to bend down and work on my knees again. I am amazed at what you two get done together...and that you're still talking to each other! Congratulations on your progress!
A way to verify that none of the bolts are making contact with the toe rail and stanchions is to use an ohm meter to make sure there is no continuity between the toe rail and the stanchions. One lead on the stanchion the other on the toe rail! This will insure that that the insulator is in fact working. However with salt water making contact with both parts you may not be able to prevent the electrolysis. 😀🛫
I found removing silicone quite an easy and quick job with silicone remover. That is quite a strong solvent and will remove all rests of silicone even the bits adhering strongly to the surface of the gelcoat. Cleaning the gelcoat of most bedding compounds is also quite easy using petroleum after removing excess compound. Acrylic windows are NOT recommended as they tend to develop a craquelée in sunlight and/or cracks, as in your case. Macrolon is the right material for that job. It is MUCH stronger. The best solution in my view is an opening window/porthole with a proper outer metal frame well bonded and screwed to the hull, with the pane of glass. The cross ventilation you get in the cabin in hot climates is worth the extra cost IMHO. Bye the way, the plastic distance plates for the stanchions should leave a generous space to the toerail so as to allow water to drain away. You didn't address the way you intend to isolate the toerail bolts from the body of the rail itself, as the bolts are of ss steel.
Congrats to you both on the great progress! Amy, this episode gave me extra inspiration to see you in full work mode in the yard, and to be reminded what a capable, badass beautiful woman you are (meant as the highest compliment!) with your equal force of intelligence, quick initiative, and skillful physicality. Of course, that's visible whilst sailing, but in a different context. It's inspiring to see you in action on land too. What an awesome role model you are, just by being yourself. Lee
Maybe its a little bit to late, but to prevent galvanic corrosion you could use ceramic grease. The best is Staburag NBU 30. We used it in trains. Further you can use nylon flanged/shoulder isolation washers. Love your channel!
Love the channel and watching your adventures. Windows look great but for others thinking about changing out windows, you may want to consider not using any screws and using 3M VHB tape to hold the windows in with no holes. It's the stuff that holds windows on skyscrapers and is plenty strong. I did this on my refit and used a bead of Dow 795 or 295 (similar to Sikaflex) around the perimeter as well.. No leaks. I do actually like the look of your windows with the screws though.
I own a aluminum boat. When I use stainless bolts I put heat shrink tubing on the threads where they contact the aluminum. This has worked well isolating the two dissimilar metals.
A tip on dealing with stainless steel into aluminum is to install stainless steel threaded inserts into the aluminum first. Amazing job on the toe rail. The only thing I might have added to the process is that once the rail was preliminarily attached to the boat I may have used a heat gun to release the stress in the aluminum.
I was thinking people might want to purchase a small piece of the old toe rail to have a piece of florence to display or just own . Just an idea to maybe help you fund the refit.
The new Lewmar steering station is absolutely delightful, so convenient having the factory so close. This refit has taken on a whole new dimension, the ability of a team is quite apparently here as was your episodes around the world on Florence. We all are inspired with the attention to each detail, not cutting corners, and your ability to exhibit a product well done.
Funny you mention knee pads. I put those on first for any project on the boat because it seems I'm always on my knees 🙂. Also, very much enjoy your videos. Love the storytelling and the quality of them. Thanks so much for sharing.
Your attention to detail and not cutting any corners at all, is a testament to the integrity that you both bring to everything you do, and have done, on your sailing adventures. That takes a whole lot of discipline and determination indeed. Well done for all of that, cheers!
Hi Matt and Amy. The toe rail looks great 👍. Nice one, Kev, lol. Jesus thats alot of bolts 🔩 in and out Guys. My knees would be in bits. Anyway great progress and chat soon 😅🇨🇮👋👋👋
Nice job but surely thermal insulated blinds,impossible to make into a vapour barrier (unless inside double glazing?) will keep the acrylic colder and increase the condensation,out of sight .Our acrylic windows are certainly overthick at 10 and 12mm but don't seem to engender condensation.
The work you are both doing is fantastic. 😊 I do get squeamish though. Please stay safe while working. My partner had a fall of 3 metres a couple years ago, and he still has much pain. I love your videos, you are both really inspiring. ❤
I have found Duralac Anti Corrosive Jointing Compound good for creating a barrier between dissimilar metals. Particularly with spar fittings. I would recommend using it as preventative step for example on your new steering binacle, and renewing it during maintenance.
Great fun watching other people working on boats ! But hope silicone lasts, really shouldn't use on boats as salt eats it,,, better Butyl on windows or CT1 or OB1.
I can honestly say I have never seen such clean, shiny, pristine toerails, and the windows and steering pedestal look amazing. Hard graft, but what an amazing improvement, and they’ll be nothing you don’t know about Florence at the end of this 😊
I don't understand why you keep drilling new holes in the deck, can't reuse the ones there? I can see why for the toe-rail but for guard-rail supports. A little scary, having so many holes used and unused so close together? Anyhow, just wondering, nice videos.
You truly must take all your followers for idiots. Yes, it was work but to think we're believing the backstory? Please. However, your new hair colour looks fabulous! Love it.
I was hoping you would sell Florence,find a bigger boat and fix her up.but your rebuilding your home and knowing how you two are she’ll be better than new!! Fair winds
You may have already solved the curtain problem - but I would suggest neobdymium magnets drilled into the fibreglass, then either single magnets or magnet stripping or steel in the curtain fabric.
Where the bolts that held the base of the binnacle though the cockpit sole 316 stainless or a special material. I have a wheel system by Edson in my shed and I am hoping to buy the fixing for it. Thanks
Hi guys. I would suggest you can use some (not much)oil or lubricating grease to prevent the screws to stick into aluminium. Eventually it will but if it sealed it will last much longer time. Great job
When yo9u are bending tubing wrap a coil of wire around the tube (think of a spring) tightly, and then apply the pressure. Talk to some old fashioned machinist who might have vastly more knowledge than I do, I was but a wee apprentice when I saw this done. And we had access ro a lathe to make the winding easier and very accurate.
The toe rail is looking great! I think you will have an issue using PVC there as PVC gets brittle outdoors, granted under the stantion that process will take a lot longer. Personally I would have used UHMW as it is more UV resistant than PVC and does not get brittle over time.
Since, you already have the toe rail in place, this is just a fyi, a UK company that also supplies extrusions to outfits like BAe would also have been able to bend the toe rail. Your toe rail is just like an extrusion that is in a variety of places in an aircraft, except in an aircraft they can have any stresses bent into them(you did) because stress cause the extrusions to fail. They first pull the extrusion to yield and then bend them to shape. I would imagine that there are a variety of shops in your area that could have formed the rail for you. Just a FYI.
That looks a bit like the boatyard where GRP Versatility range of fishing boats used to be built. I did some windows like that on a GRP cabin and used two M6 stainless washers on each bolt to give me the clearance for the sealer to form a gasket and stop squeeze out and they were ok.
Did you consider using the 3M "VHB" tape to bond the acrylic windows to the coach roof and then run a bead of silicone around the perimeter of the windows? Did the supplier that patterned the windows also drill the holes based on the old windows?
When you drilled through the deck, did you drill into the core? are you worried about water getting into the core? Did you think about drill/fill/drill?
I know exactly how much work this refit is. In fact the things you are replacing were all easier to do the first time when the boat was built. However you are doing a great job and doing it right. I personally have a different sealant I like to use for some of the things but as you mentioned you use what you can get where you are at and I am sure it is just fine. Great work
If you were to sail the Great Lakes instead of the Artic it would ease corrosion problems. : ) Also please remember to check the keel bolts. Also cotton trousers are more comfortable to work in than jeans. Great work you two !
Whenever you are about to put glue or sealant somewhere, always brush it evenly so it is on every milimeter instead of making zig zag patterns. It will make the final results better.
Didn't see if you used Duralac or a similar isolation paste between your alloy toe rail and stainless bolts? If not, you may still be facing future corrosion issues unless your sealant is going to keep the two metals fully dry where they meet. A tube of Duralac will last a long time, and I use it everywhere I fit stainless bolts into aluminium fittings etc.
hey guys, thanks for sharing. interesting bit about the toerail and the stanchion -- but arent the screws for the toerail stainless steel as well? wouldnt you get galvanic corrosion with the stainless steel screws touching the aluminum toerail?. Cheers and again; thanks for sharing :)
Hello Florence already is looking better. Can't wait to witness the finished work. I said before 6 months is a tight timeline and hopefully you make it. Enjoying your travels and looking forward to your travels ahead of you .
you guys amaze me. is there anything you can't do? been watching you for years and am looking forward to years more. can't say i'm very excited to see you going north though. but it will certainly be an adventure.
You guys are good! I am hoping you are enjoying your fine progress as much as we all are just in viewing! Florence will be the finest 37 foot superyacht on the Earth's oceans!
It's already March - how time flies.! Everything takes longer than forseen. But I've given my usual thumbs-up to encourage you along through your hard work.
I’m excited to see the upcoming adventures. I even like watching all of the hard work it takes to keep Florence the beauty that she is. Great job, y’all!
Are there any funny British sailing specific slang words or terms. I do enjoy British people talking trash to eachother in the street vernacular. But y’all don’t need to trash to eachother.
