Out of My Depth, But Doing it Anyway | Abandoned Catamaran Restoration 

As an engineer I'm impressed. It doesn't look ugly it looks like it will do the job. A broken mast lying across the deck in a storm looks a damn sight uglier

Brilliant video Mark! 👍 Chainplates are looking solid and your filming skills are top notch. Nothing like an exciting dinghy ride to add some spice to your day... Keep up the great work mate, Chris 🙂 P.s. Everyone accidentally puts the drill in reverse occasionally [at least that's what it looked like at 0.25 speed]... P.p.s. The above comment might further increase your watch time if other people go back to the 4 minute mark and do the same investigation... 😂😉👍

Mark, I think I'm 50 years older than you. I really enjoy your style. You're doing a great job - both on the boat, and the filming. I would have used many more 4 letter words, but you've got a lot more class than me. Keep up the good work!.

As a metalworker and fellow project boat owner, I have to say you're doing great. And about the chainplates you called ugly sometimes things just need to be done, it's a tough choice but it's strong enough and will do the job perfectly fine. Keep up the good work!

Ive been a wood worker for years. You’re doing a much better job than you’re giving yourself credit. Keep up the good work!

I wouldn't worry about the backing plates looking "ugly". The important thing about a boat is that it works. It's coming on great!

If Hanneke approves that's more than good enough.

That welded chainplate with all those crazy angles looks like a nifty piece of industrial art to me.

Haha like watching real life frogger dodging those big boats

I finally just bought myself a little boat ! I am excited for my own little adventure 😅

You're doin' it skipper. Putting your energy into your windship has a lot of meaning Highest blessings

Solid work as usual. You have a much more exciting and dangerous trip to Aldi than I do! Great content, thanks.

Looking really good, Mark! Your dream has become reality, and you have made it happen. 😎🥰😎🥰😎

The up side about undertaking such a project is this : you will know your boat better than most people know theirs who buy a boat ready to go.

You can beautify chain plates by buffing them up with a buffing wheel so that they shine like a mirror. Normally done in the workshop before fitting but could be done with an electric drill and buffing attachment.

Your character, talents, perseverance, temperament, respect, kindness, and appreciation all warrants the attention you are getting! Beers on me when you get to Florida.

Wonderful work and looks really strong enough to firmly hold up a strong “stick” to drive the boat with confidence!

There is something deliciously honest about the chain plates. Sometimes function trumps form, however the engineering looks pleasing for its angles and it speaks of its integrity.

Well done. You have taken on an enormous challenge with limited skills. Your skills have improved tremendously and the challenge is getting easier. I know you’ve had help but your determination and tenacity are really what has brought this boat back to life. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to the progress.

I don't think your interior chainplates look ugly... they look functional. Perhaps they can be a reflector to a kerosene lamp although nobody uses those anymore (I'm an old fart!). Keep on keeping on, Mark. You're making progress.

Keep pushing forward! Keep pushing forward forward! Quitting isn't an option! Improvise, adapt, and overcome! Your boat is beautiful! It is because you are making so!! God speed!

Don't be so hard on yourself the plates look good be proud off yourself People Will always have there own opinion.

I just figured out another reason I love your videos; your sound work is excellent. Both the production side and your post work and final mixes are really well done. Excellent job, especially, considering how nice your camera work is already --even when over exposed and out of focus, the story is coming through emotionally and draws us into your journey... Love it!

What you have to keep thinking. This boat was sat abandoned with holes and water inside it. You've done a great job so far repairing it just keep persevering. You might not get things right first time but that life. Great work so far

My friend!!, donot fasten them bolts to the fullest with sikaflex......first fasten them semi tight, let the flex dry and next day fasten to the fullest. this way it is absolutely waterproof...the sikaflex will block every little hole in tghis way,, so in its solid form if you know what i mean. GG on the progress, big up!

Please remember to use locking nuts on the chain plates so that vibration doesn't loosen the nuts and you could put quarter round edging on the sides of the plates so that it looks finished off keep up the good work

Mark the inside angled chainplate supports you said look ugly, will give you heaps of peace-of-mind sailing in storm and they won't look ugly when you paint them the same colour as the cabin and the backing plate nuts could be swapped for nice dome nuts - much nicer.

Looking good….. should be “Happy Sailing” soon congrats and kudos……..⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️

Just a little hint concerning screw holes: Instead of just "waterproofing" them with the cotton tips, it would be better to drill them a little bit oversized, then completely filling them with expoxy by help of a syringe, and when it's hardened, you drill the "real" size holes. So you make sure that the wooden core is never coming into contact with water. 😉

Good to see those chain plates so well engineered. No such thing as ugly. Just functional !

At this point, it looks like you are a professional showing how things need to be done. Your father must be proud of you...mom as well of course. C u next week...friday here is your day on my list. Ciao.

Brilliant work Mark. As per previous comment regarding the chain plates strength over aesthetics , when your out in a blow you'll have confidence your mast won't fall down, and if you like you can always paint them white. Drilling holes heart in mouth hoping all goes well...I know the feeling I'm a retired maintenance fitter they can only teach you so much in tech school and experience tells you that you measure and plan as best you can but then you just have to drill that hole 😁.. You've got good reason to be proud of what you've achieved thus far 👍👍👍

Dont worry you are doing a great job with everything, you should be proud of what you have done so far, can't wait until shes sailing!😂

Hi Mark. Having originally followed you almost since the beginning, I have only bren dropping in every few weeks of late. I just wanted to say that you have made some brilliant progress wince I was here last. Getting the chain plates done is a huge step. You should feel greatly encouraged and excited to be able to reach this milestone. Great work.

A Maintenace man of 20+ years, I am proud of where you have come. You may not have noticed, but I have. Continue on this path and you will look back to see how great you are doing. Good job young man!

crossing the canal in the dingy is like playing the old video game FROGGER.

I admire your tenacity at sticking to the job.

Mark your content is never boring fella these 24 minutes of your vlog are the best 24 minutes of every fortnight love it when my phone tells me you’ve posted your content sorry your brilliant content get a brew on with some choccy digestives and get comfortable too see what amazing progress you’ve made each time…apparently lipstick is good for dabbing on the end of u clamps if you ever need too mark up where you need too drill the holes…keep going mate your doing fantastic glad the weather is good aswell thats half the battle mate🦾🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Approaching 110,000 subs! Week after week, best channel on the Tube.

Nice work! You definitely have an eye for the details. This suggestion may be overkill but I am mentioning it because I have just done something relatively similar: first off, I would suggest butyl tape on the topside outside upper part of the hull) tang threads @ 7:25. Most people are using a 45deg bit to slightly enlarge the outermost portion of the hole - then putting butyl tape around the thread and pushing it in. I would personally also consider creating a small tapered backing plate out of metal or hardwood, for those two nuts/bolts again, 7:25 - both on the inside and the outside. When you install that type of U-bolt, you have kind of a push pull type of situation where one of the bolts will be pushing whilst the other is pulling. So the lower bolt of the tang will be pulling from the hull whilst the top most part of the tang will be pushing into the hull (from the outside) The more taper you have from the bolt to the hull the more of the load is distributed through the backing plates. Right now I see the nuts and washers creating a bit of a pinch point. The backing plate looks good enough, but it’s just something I would consider as it’s easy to drill out a piece of mild steel, treat it well, and place it underneath those washers. I do things a little bit more than necessary though, perhaps? 🤷🏻 Anyways, great work thanks for the videos. We are engaged in the same process at the moment, so I appreciate the inspiration… Wish I had some videos to inspire you as well. Keep well.

Mark your skills have improved so much over the years. You’ll doing great

I don't think the chainplate backing plates are ugly at all ... I like 'em! Nice and solid.

Dude, that looks great. I've been a carpenter for a long time and have done many things. Boats included.

a few steps closer to that first sail ! Sail, did you get it😄 Your getting there, well done Mark.

I do not think the chain plates are ugly. When you are at sea in a blow they will provide reassurance.

Pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. I remember when you were starting on this huge undertaking. Didn't think the boat was worth it.........and look at her now!.......and over 100K subscribers!! Congratulations!!!

Yes Mark this does feel like a big turning point you’re doing a great job Love & kindness

Whenever you drill a thru hole, you must over drill it, fill the larger hole with epoxy, then re-drill the hole the correct size thru the epoxy. Otherwise you will be repairing the rotten hull later on.

So the old rock song goes Once, Twice, Three Times a "chainplate"?? You cannot measure enough. Looking good, keep it up!!!

Wow, video footage of your canal crossing as well as the view of Mahi on your return was spectacular! I admire your courage and tenacity, and I'm really glad you rescued her and are restoring her for the sea. Surely, sunny days await you both. Cheers, Mark❣

Its nice to see your confidence increase as you tackle the scary stuff. Just remember there isnt anything you break that you cant fix so just dig in and give it a go.

bro your chainplates are good-looking, and sturdy af. You're getting better and better.

Great job! Keep going strong. The weather is improving, its gonna be more comfortable for you.

There you go, drilling holes in your boat again 😂

Hi Mark. Great job, never mind it looking ugly. As long as it's 💯 safe, it's looks really good, I think. Good news about the chain plates. Keep it up, Mark. Brilliant video again, bro 💯👌🙏🇨🇮

Every other minute I’m like “ oh dear, I hope he’s going to…” and before I could complete the thought you did. Great work and thanks for sharing it.

truly amazing chainplate's Mark, a bit scarry!

🎉 you'll know every inch of her, and she knows what love is!

And the pleasure just keeps coming. I love your approach to your project, the soundtrack, your patience and your humility. Personally I think that it looks amazing and is a credit to you, you’re the modern equivalent of “giving it a lash” and make the picture in your head become a reality. Fair play to you.

Those chain plates look awesome industrial to me. I like the mix of metal and wood. You should invite Anika for a sail when the whole boat is done.

You’re going so well Mark. Sadly I missed a couple of episodes but so much progress is happening. You can see the overall changes and steps along the way as the sailing machine takes shape. Brilliant!

You’re doing a grand job!

Your sheer determination guts and ability will see you through.You are not alone your fine family backup and helpful people along the way are with you to help.Well done.

Personally, I like to see the solid looking backing plates. Having looked at some sailing yachts before buying my own, I saw some shockingly flimsey set-ups using thin steel bands. Your plates will give yourself and any passengers more confidence.

You are doing the right thing, so many people don't like asking for help. Which I understand but when your doing something outside your comfort zone then go to someone who knows. It's going to get easyer as time goes on so stick at it, the boat looks awesome. 👍

So cool you have Hanneke on speed dial so you can get advice at anytime. You should just move her in with you until youre ready to sail. 😎

You're doing a great job. We have a place for you to keep your boat here in Florida. We really enjoy observing your progress. Just keep the faith.

Looks all solid enough to me, and remember it' not just about how well fitted and engineered your rigging is, that's only part of the story, it's how hard you will sail her (in your control) and what kind of weather you encounter, (not in your control), that will ultimately test your work.

Always an inspiration! It has to be an awesome feeling when you sit back and realize how much you've accomplished and what youre capable of now.

Good lad Mark, keep her lit :)

The sound of the brushless makita drill is pure pleasure for me

It will be solid when you are done and you will have the know how and experience to deal with most things that will come up. Props for sticking with it and following your dream. Cheers

You are so clever the way you work out the difficult problems. Your skills are progressing wonderfully. Keep going. You will be sailing soon.

Awesome work, shipmate! 🎉

great job. Measure a million times, build it in your head 300 times, then do that all over. Sweat it out while making the first cut/drill. I am impressed.

Nice work! You are becoming an impressive owner, making your boat your own -in a real sense.

just my 2 cents - drilling stainless steel is a pain in the behind. It sounds counter productive but I always use some kind of lubrication, like simple wd40. It reduces friction, the drill doesnt burn, and it reduces the drilling time. please dont mind my rumbling if you employ this already. wishing you enjoy your project and your goal of going sailing

You have probably heard this already, but anywhere you have a nut, you need a Lock Washer to keep the nut from vibrating loose. Love the work you do!

Nice to see you working under blue sky at long last, great progress and great filming.

The first one is always the hardest. The others will go faster as your confidence improves. Wharram's are forgiving boats. Functional and the goal to sail this summer/fall.

Seen your doggy the other day absolutely loving his walk

You’re doing a great job never give up I know you won’t good work ❤

shes comming together great that man . chainplates are function over beauty, as papa dar would say from the fabrats " Hammer it to fit and paint it to match " . shes looking good man .

Thanks for posting and sharing. Great workmanship 👍

Solid engineering mate!

Well done Mark, Out of My Depth, is a humble place to be, there's lots on the line, so attention to details is critical.

Nice work!! I bet your departure date feels a lot closer every day.

You got this.

Job well done Mark

I must admit that one chain plate looks damn good .

Mark I love the music you play in your videos. Keep up the good work Mate!

Awesome! The chain plates are ready to take on the world!

You could always hang charms off the ugly plates to make them look 👀 pretty cool 😎 Great work and super progress ❤

Its the fuzz! Quick, look innocent.

_QUALITY!_ Real extra sense of achievement when you've bitten the bullet and gunned through a major obstacle. Rock solid installations and the editing of this episode was top notch!

Congrats Mark to this good job

Mark the man, Mark the legend

Not only are those custom made chainplates overkill and over engineered... They should hold up for many decades and give you not only peace of mind but fond memories of learning to weld with your uncle and Dad. Priceless!

Backing plates always look somewhat incongruous- best thing to do is to highly polish them & make ‘em a feature. When you’re in warmer climes you can set to with some wet & dry followed by some polishing paste. Believe it or not, it’s actually quite a therapeutic process! Great episode & keep at it! 😊

👍👌👏 Looks and obviously is quite sturdy! Congratulations ! 🎉 If Lady Hanneke approves your work/constructions, you can definitely be proud. I really wish that Scotty could beam you and Mahi to her place for finishing the cat there. 😁 ;-) 2) It's quite a ride to the marine shop and sharing discounter with your lil dinghy. 😱 Congrats for having such good nerves. As always: Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health in particular.