I Finally Put The Mast On My Ocean-Going Catamaran! 

⛵️Ooooooooooh.....So very happy for you Sparks...Sooo happy....8 sleeps 💤....& hopefully we'll be Crew this time!!!....See you soon...Love As always...🌻🌿Mum🌿🌻

I know you like that cool steering wheel, but watching you constantly hunch over it, it seems like as large a wheel as possible will make boat handling a lot easier. Congrats on getting the mast rigged and up.

Mother duck exploiting her cute duckling for handouts. Shameful and disappointing, fowl behavior. 😂 🐥 Mark, the hard work is paying off! Also your Wharram buddy is spot on about the effort required restoring anything, especially exotics.

Hey now it looks like a sailing vessel……. Congrats Dude and “Happy Sailing”……anchors away⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️

A dedicated specific AIS antenna and a separate vhf antenna is the preferred way to go. NO SPLITTING

⛵🎸🎶👍😎 That masted catamaran looks superb!! She's really gonna fly!!!

Big moment, well done . Not sure if you have shared this previousely but really like to see your long term plans for the deck area. Cockpit etc ?BTW none of the content is boring, we are all along for the journey 🙂

Leave the standing rigging louse like a hobie cat. The fore stay will tighten when you harden the main sheet for up wind and belly when you ease off down wind. She is looking good Mark!

Congratulations Mark! You've accomplished SO MUCH. Less than 1% of people have done what you have.

Self vulcanizing rubber tape over that wire connection and then electrical tape ... is how we did them in the marine electronics installs here in Florida

You need to wrap a piece of white tape around the rim of your steering wheel so you can see instantly when your outboards are straight ahead. this REALLY simplifies piloting the boat.

When soldering wires that will be bundled together, it's best to 'stagger' the joins. It makes for a more streamlined finished cable as well as reducing the risk of wear shorting out the connections... Plus, you should be sanding and painting areas before covering them with new attachments since you won't have access later to apply anti-corrosion coatings. Just my personal observation, but, if she's going to be Ocean going, I'd build a 'T' shaped tunnel between the hull hatches, with it's own safety hatches and port lights, and a connected cockpit enclosure with dodger. It can get nasty on the open seas. And, if you don't have 'Balanced' rudders, that nice looking wheel is going to tire you out fairly quickly. There's a good reason all sailboats have large diameter wheels. Nice 'Beefy' work though! 👍🏼

Terrific milestone, well done 👍🏼 Helm looks low, watching you manoeuvre the boat. For me (personally) that would get old quickly.

The taped up tricolor light wires will fail. But when they do you’ll know why. 😊 congrats on the mast!!! Love your channel.

Mark. ⛵ I have loved every video you've posted, thus far (boring stuff aside). I have been keeping up with your channel for a couple of years now. I look forward to each new video that comes along. (Especially the ones that include your parents. Mary is an awesome mom! 😊) The mast looks amazing! I can see your imagination at play. Keep up the great work, and good sailing! 💪👏⛵

Leave a drip loop on external wiring to stop water running toward mast grommet etc

i suggest making a "drip loop" on the cable going down the mast to prevent water following the antenna onto the wire and down the mast

Awesome, mast up for the very first time that is totally amazing. I bet you are feeling so pumped. Next milestone is to see the sails up, it's going to look magnificent.

Congrats Mark. Very significant progress. Well done! (I think you need a bigger steering wheel too).

Yes, can't get enough seeing the mast up! One hell of a fine achievement, congrats. Wanna see those sails playing with the summer breeze. What deck lighting did you plan to tie up to the mast if any? Keep on rocking!

First Tally Ho launches and now Windling is on the verge as well. This has been a great couple weeks for the RU-vid sailing community. Keep up the great work dude!

I recently watched a video on the aftermath of hurricane Beryl in Carriacou and one of the few boats that survived in the mangroves was a wharram! Amazing.

From a geriatric never sailed Scot in Oz congratulations on all the mast stuff. Not long now before you can set sail into the sunset.

Significant milestone in this video. She’s looking a far cry from her old self, just as your skills and confidence have improved. Half a world away and I feel like I’m right there with you (ok but with better weather!). I had to watch the mast stepping twice! Best to you!

You need to get self-Amalgamating rubber tape for any wiring joins or double-walled heatshrink it has glue on the inside! In the Navy we would use glue lined heat shrink then self amalgamating tape then a layer of grease tape & a finale layer of self amalgamating tape for connections above deck.

I think the engines need to bounce up and down, big waves will be slamming them through the tunnel. I would imagine if they don't have any give they could get ripped off or the mounts damaged. Outboard engines are supposed to be mounted behind hulls to be protected.

Holly cow Mark, you've done it. Congratulations!!!

A true milestone having the mast up, congrats! I'll be 'one of those posts' that recommends a way to lock those engines down when in use. No one ever really plans on hard power forward or reverse, but when you need to, you don't want to clobber around those pulpits and engines. Continued success to you!! Great job!

Holy shit!!!!!! You have come such a long way❤

Mark, you have done wonders. She looks brilliant. You should be so proud of everything you have done. Your attention to detail is legendary. Many happy miles of sailing surely await. Fair winds and following seas be with you.

Well done Mark! I say lock the engines down. Cheers mate!

On the high tension electrical masts we used to hit the thread that is poking out on both sides with a stone chisel, so they are well destroyed and that was our locking mechanism 😂

Great work Mark, she is really taking shape now!

Congratulations Mark, such a huge landmark on the project. So very happy for you. 👌💪🍻

Excellent Mark. You can see in ur face how pleased and releived you are. Hard work paying off.

So much advice.... ignore it. Just relish your achievements. You are getting there. Looking foward to your travels. Take it slow. Love your life ❤

Such a major step to crossing oceans. Well done

Wish ya could paint your mast while it's down.... but also congrats mate you've done so well to get here...... can't wait to see Mahi, surfing waves

Congratulations Mark. All the hard work is finally paying off. I think you are doing the right thing. I have been told many times that I only see the negative and worry too much but I think if you see the problems and worry you will be more successful. The good stuff will take care of it self.

I cannot believe the work you've done refitting your boat! I realize the last few years have ones of change, but from this, rest assured you have conquered so much in such a fairly short time span. I look forward to each of your posting and am so very happy for your successes so far!

Need a galley Mark. Around the mast and back at the helm. Looks like sailing will begin soon and you will need some shade and shelter on those long commutes.

Congratulations, Mark. Well done, your determination has been rewarded. I'm a non sailor, but I have watched your vlogs from the very beginning with Nadiyana on barges and then sailing around Europe. Every episode has been so great to watch. 👍

Beautiful, Mark! Good on you, mate!

Well done Mark! A major milestone .

Thanks for posting and sharing. Great to hear that you’re feeling confident.

WOW!! Now it's a proper sail boat! You've come a long way Mark. I am so impressed with all the skills you have developed and mastered. Congratulations on manifesting your dreams.

Congratulations...the look of relief on your face was priceless....stay happy.

Excellent milestone Mark. Take a bow... Did you mouse those shackles at the top of the mast? The pins can rotate out even although they're 'nipped' up so I'd recommend some twisted wire or even cable ties to prevent this.

Mark I've been watching your channel for a loooong time now & to see the changes and the skills you are developing is amazing to say the least ,the quality of content is excellent while watching you working is not only encouraging but inspirational! keep up the great work ! I / we look forward to every episode and cant wait to see you sailing this awesome craft around the world or wherever you choose!😀⛵⚓

Fix the “ reverse tilt locking mechanism“. This is the gizmo that allows your engines to tilt up when in forward or neutral in case you hit something, but hold it in place when backing down. You should also be able to lock your engine pods in place somehow when maneuvering inshore areas. I have always preferred engine brackets, which slide up and down vertically, as opposed to tilting pods.

She coming along great.Good work Mark.👍

It's a good idea to have the main halliard the same diameter as the topping lift so that if the main halliard gives way then the topping lift can be subtituted.

You are a must watch every week! Sitting here at my horrible desk job watching you live the dream gives me inspiration. Keep on brother!

This makes me happy to watch...and having said that...we all can agree that we are all on this journey together with this young man with 100% support.

Amazing achievement to getting the mast up! I’m so happy for you!

BIG step in the right direction, can se the relief and pleasure you have on your face. Love the way a community has formed to help each other with the bigger tasks. Actually looks like a sailing boat proper for the first time, it is as if you are breathing a soul into all the tasks you have achieved so far. When you first see the wind in the sails it will be alive.

What a difference putting up the mast made. Feels like a sailboat now. Well done Mark. Keep the dream alive

You could perhaps make a support post for each motor that rotates down from above to stop them bucking. Very rad progress 👊

Commenting as a Patreon I am proud of what you have done. Did have a feeling goodness whilst watching the video

You have come a long way proving that education is not all classroom based but learned through experience and taking on challenges. Who will stay when you are going to be just another seafarer we are yet to see but your legacy to this point will certainly to inspire others to take on life and learn skill along the way. With that attitude, anything is possible.

I most definitely haven't been bored. Interesting to see the aerial shots comparing the sizes of the boats. Hard to believe that a Tiki 21 has circumnavigated.

your floating deck became a proper sailing vessel! grats!

Watching you proceeded success along your journey, watching that motor take a jump, was good news, just a suggestion to put a web camera on top of the mast, for a lot of reason, also for your own security, so if your away from your catamaran you can keep an eye on it if your away from it. Although that's unlikely in the interim might be worth considering. Happy Sails Captain!

Nice work. at 9:57 I suggest running a nut up the threaded rod past where you are going to cut so you can wind it back down and clean up the cut thread end. Apologies if you already know this, cheers and thank you, Doi

Amazing…. Your determination and follow through is inspiring 🙏. And the mast is up!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats - Huge achievement. Your time at anchor is so well deserved. And Mahi looks so good - almost like it's a sailing vessel. A real joy to watch you work, strive and learn, with Mahi really taking shape along the way. Cheers from Vancouver, BC, Canada

YOOOOOOO YOU DID IT MARK!!! I know there's more to go but what a momentous day! Way to be bro!

Stop saying "boring", your episodes and storytelling are top notch!! 😀💪 Major milestone!! Great work!! Enjoy your mini hollyday 🥳

Hey Mark I came passed this marina last week on the way to Amsterdam, noticed the bridles on the crane and wondered if this was where you were fitting out. All the best with the restoration looks a heck of a load of work completed, filming all at the same time is not easy, great efforts 👌

Holy smokes what a moment. Haven't even started the video yet and I could not be more excited for you. What you have done here is truly inspiring.

So happy for you mate massive achievement 🎉

Congrats Mark looks awesome. Cheers Mate Gerard.

Well done Mark keep up the good Mahi been hanging out for my Saturday morning up date !

Whouu. Nice job, amazing indeed. You and your parents are so inspiring team.

Good to see a smile of self achievement fella excellent work per usual looking good mum and chief engineer must be proud of you lad :)

I’m also happy for you. It’s really a huge and nice job you did. Hope you can sail. Bravo

That metal bender is fancy. I could've used that to make my bicycle's center stay but I just used the curb and a hammer.

I tend to make my copper ends into hooks, hook them together and then twist the braids back on themselves, them solder them up. Nice and secure. I also stagger my joints, such that they will not touch if they happen to pull out.

Mark always has the very best Bumper Music anywhere on RU-vid! What a momentous day! You certainly deserve a break now! I'm just so very happy for you!

Watching you work on this boat has never been boring, dude. Well done, this looks amazing, can't wait to see you sail! 😁

Do you remember what you were doing when Mark installed the mast on his Wharram? I was back in from my workshop after an evening shift routing new cavities on a customer's guitar, a Morisson's Lasagna on my lap and enjoying some down-time. Mahi was born when you put that mast in place. I get that feeling when I fit a neck to a guitar I'm building (only a LOT less time goes into that than your boat!). Well done, superb achievement.

Classic! Cheers mate! She's looking solid!

You're actually a sailboat now! Congratulations! I don't see a spreader, but perhaps this cat doesn't require one. Good luck with the project.

Watch that the end of the self tappers are not rubbing on the halyard. I would use heat shrink over soldiered wire connections & a double or triple layer of heatshrink where wires pass through the holes if I do not have proper neoprene bushes.

happy playing with wind

Incredible Mark, just for play brilliant job. Think you need to find a nice big wheel will loose your back after a few thousand miles!

WOOHOOO. THE MAST IS UP. And the paint job is still looking great.

Never boring. Great content ! So happy for you. You have worked so very hard to get to where you are. 🤗💖⛵🇺🇸

Both you and Mahi have certainly come a long way, thanks to your hard work, persistence, tenacity, and dedication. I do, however, agree with the comments regarding securing the engine boxes and the size of the steering wheel. As they are, both would become very tiresome, very quickly in any kind of weather. Thanks for sharing your amazing journey with us, and I'm sure that we all are looking forward to seeing you out on the ocean under sail. 😊

Congrats, Mark! So excited for you to have the wind at your back, finally!

for your external electronic connections put Butyl Sealant Tape on them... but do it in an odd way. Take electrical tape and wrap it around the connectors for your antenna, BUT you put the tape on inside out (sticky side out) then go over with the butyl tape. This way the connection is water proof .. but if you ever have to work on the connections you cut into it and the butyl comes off clean and your connectors are all clean. If you dont use butyl this way it makes the connectors very hard to work with. This is an armature radio trick (ham radio). Looking good, keep up the good work. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

That’s great news. As someone who is also in (a much smaller) refit, I’m taking inspiration from your long slog to get to this stage. I’m in awe of some of the back to basics stuff you’ve done: making bespoke plates bends in sheet metal, dyneema standing rigging etc. To a small extent I have done some of this but it’s taken me a huge time to do not a lot. The weather has been a pain as has doing stuff on a mooring- seriously harder access than in a berth or hardstand. Anyway I just wanted to wish you well in the remainder of the journey and congrats for what you’ve accomplished so far. Music: I have quite enjoyed listening to the selection as you’ve worked away. I need to remember to plug in the ear pods as I do my boat work to hopefully make it go faster.

Well done Mark. Enjoy your break. super well deserved after meeting your first deadline of getting out of the boat yard.

Congrats for putting up the basis of the running rig👏👏👏

Congrats the hard work is paying off, you know you’re not far from the beautiful cruising around Guernsey, Herm, Sark, Alderney, oh yea and Jersey - warm blue seas friendly people great scenery, white sandy beaches.

I love seeing you tackle all it takes to get underway so you will be confident maintaining her as you understand her thoroughly. Highest Blessings

Loving the progress Mark. So many helpful commenters also. We are learning a lot alongside you. Great work!

I have a Tiki 38 with same engines in pods, after some critical experiences like manouvering in tight spots with sudden wind gusts, I locked them in position. I really recommend you to this as well and as quickly as possible.

I am so excited for you finally🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Here we go ppl! One of tha moments we have all been waiting for! Ah'm so readeh fer this fer ye Mark!