Sail Life - Removing the my Volvo Penta d2-40 engine and the diesel tank - DIY sailboat repair 

LOL! “My boat”. Perfect response. Some years ago someone was giving me crap about something on my boat and my response was “This is Mike’s Island. I’m Mike” Loving your style and the way you attack each of these issue sans emotion. I tend to agonize over all of these decisions. So this is very good for me.

Your boat, your decisions, your rules (other than maritime and insurance rules). We're just enjoying the show.

You are not the first nor will you be the last guy to cut tanks in half to get them out. Keep up the good work and ignore the people that have nothing better to do than comment on something they know nothing about.

Hello Mads, I'm watching your playlist "Project Athena (DIY sailboat restoration)" and this video is missing. You should insert it in 73th position, between "Sail Life - Preparing the engine compartment for paint & Bosch GEX 150 turbo + GAS 35 - DIY boat" and "Sail Life - Removing the rudder from my sailboat - DIY sailboat repair". Thanks a lot for all your sharing about your boat restoration, it's amazing! Hope the best for the next!

19:00 "don't get upset, it is my boat, it is my tank" perfect response ! You made me laugh with that !! You are a master of detail so they deserved that !

Mads, it IS your boat, and you are a grown man, you do what you want! Cutting the tanks IS really the easiest way to get them out and handle them. Hope you're back's feeling alright!

HI Mads, just a word of caution. I noticed that there is a lock and hasp on the lid to your cockpit lockers. It is a good idea to tie the lid in the open position whenever you crawl into the locker. If the wind or boat movement should cause the lid to slam shut while you are down in the locker, the lock and hasp can join together and trap you in the locker. This has happened and the guy was trapped in the locker for hours until someone hear him yelling for help. He was pretty bruised when he finally got free. Keep up the great work! Love your videos!

If someone wants to recycle the cut tanks just let them reweled the seam. No big deal. Glad to see there were no nasty surprises waiting in the aft compartment. Replacing all the old lines, cables, exhaust and bilge hose will insure trouble free future sailing. All the best.

Wish I could meet you Mads but I am disabled and can't travel out of my home . I live vicariously through your adventures and its great to see your boat progress , and happy that you found a nice girl like I always teased you about finding ! Thumbs up !

Shoutout from TAT Express out of Hutchins, TX

Too late now but if you had taken just a few inches off one end of the tank then it still would have been able to be removed. Then you could have got someone to weld the lid back on, minus the few inches, then it would have fitted back in through the front opening. Mind you i think you may have had problems getting it out of the boats main door (not sure what that door is called). Very entertaining and probably even more enjoyable the way you did it. Especially if you were thinking of the reaction of the critics of the water tank downsizing at the time you were cutting the fuel tank. :) Absolutely love your channel, it is even child friendly so i can watch it with the kids. You are a fantastic example of time + effort = reward. Well done.

Cheers to you Mads. When you finish all your projects you are going to know your boat literally from top to bottom. You are doing a proper refit! When you start cruising you can set sail with confidence in your boat and knowledge of all her systems. Now to get your GF up to speed, or is she a experienced cruiser..... I think I can speak for many fans we are eager to learn more about her :-)

anyone who complains on your channel probably does not even own a boat let alone do the work them selves.. great job man :) look forward to my sundays

On the question of the SSB power cable, the typical 100 watt SSB transceiver will draw about 25 amps @ 13.8 volts DC. See the transceiver manufacturer for their specific power requirements. In general the power cable should be a size rated to carry the amps needed. Usually that is a #10 size here is the US. The cable should be short as possible to the power source. Longer runs could cause some power drop due to wire resistance, but generally, the power source is close enough to not be a issue on most sailboats. You may want to provide enough power cable at the radio end to put a RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) choke at the SSB. The RFI choke is a ferrite device that usually clips to the cable or allows a cable to loop through the choke. The intent is to help block electric noise the is generated on the boat from entering the SSB radio. This is common on many electronics, for instance, your laptop power cord may have a round RFI choke about the size of you thumb at the end that plugs into your PC. Also, there are quite a few amateur radio operators in your area, and most would be able to help with any questions. Most amateur supply firms will offer a selection of RFI chokes.

I've been waiting all week for this! Cheers!

Awesome job Mads !!!!

thanks for the videos Mads

Now that you started getting in there I can't wait till next weeks video!!

Thanks...you make my weekend complete!

love the videos Mads! You are an inspiration!

I was certain you were gonna prank everyone with a mushroom cloud when you cut the propane line. 😂 great videos. I can’t stay away.

You made that look easy. Good job!!!!!!

Great episode 👍

I admire the hard work

so nice now Sunday is fully complete

Mr Mads you are an inspiration. looking forward to next sunday already!

Ahh bliss Sunday is now complete. Absolutely love your vids. Looking forward to seeing the end result mads

I’ll be there Mads!!! Looking forward to meeting you

Quite right it's your boat thanks for the videos

i will definitely show up to the meetup in LA Can't Waittttttt

Keep up the great, work you are a lot of fun to watch. Thank you for all of your great camera work.

I will see you at the meet up. Looking forward to it

Excellent video!

Your the best! Great work ethic and video's.👍👍

Great progress! The days are getting longer and spring closing in... happy days👍😃

love your work mate

That's the new watchword, Spiffy. Thanks for sharing.

one heck of a job with a bad back as well, I love all the work you do on the boat and with the videos, as allways thanks for shareing..

Cutting old tanks in half...works for me. Looks like fun. Getting a compartment cleared out must leave one with a sense of satisfaction.,

Aww, it was so cute seeing the engine tucked away for the night with blankets.

Meet and greet - two of us!! Can't wait...

Definitely going to visit! Located in San Diego so that's pretty easy.

Great job as allways!

Another awesome video. Keep up the great work. Athena is going to be pretty dang spiffy all around!

Thank you for all the work in documenting your efforts. I'm learning a lot about what I want in my own boat when I get one in a few years, so this is very useful. You're really reinforcing my desire to have a power pack focus engine bay with lots of big easy access points.

Hurray! I agree with your choices of cutting up the tanks. 🙂

Well... That's all I've got to say about that. I love watching you do what you do.

Another productive weekend dude. Count me in for the meetup in LA, I'll be there!

I no longer have a sailboat . . . haven't had one in years! Odd how much I enjoy your videos and look forward to the next one!! Big fan!!

I can't imagine anyone getting snotty with you, you're such a nice easy going person. It's ashame that people just can't be nice. You taking your valueable time to share this rebuild with us so we all can learn something and someone gets rude. I hope you didn't take to much offense, thank goodness there's more people like you then people with dumb attitudes out there! I want you to know how much I enjoy and look forward to your videos. I wait every Sunday night eagerly for the next installment!!! I hope to meet you in person some day too! Unfortunately, I just gave up on my sailboat when I just finished it, (well 98%) due to health reasons. I bought a Grand Banks trawler in hopes of continuing my boating adventures next year, but I'll always be a sailor at heart. God Bless you for what you do and I can't wait to meet Ava! Thanks again! Bill

Hi Mads, I’m a keen ham radio operator and electronics engineer and I can tell you there is nothing special about a power cable for an SSB other than it must be thick enough to handle all the amps with minimal voltage drop. An SSB will draw from 20 to 30 amps peak when transmitting so you need to size that cable apropriately considering how long the cables will be. Other than that, plain cooper cable will do, tinned will be better in a boat. Good terminals and you’re good to go. Kudos for cutting those tanks, I did the same on my boat. You’re right, it’s your boat, so no one should be telling you what you should and should not do. When in doubt, just cut it and trash it! Cheers, Luis.

Mats Du gör ett toppen jobb !! I love how you purchase a really good sound built boat and then actually take your time and go through the whole ship and restore it to probably better than new. Keep up the good job. Peter

I've always been a fan of small cell fuel storage over monolith tanks. - if there is an issue with a given tank there is a natural limit to its impact. But I'm also a geek and love tinkering with sensors, control systems, and safety interlocks, so I'm possibly biased.

It's so nice to see that engine compartment decluttered. All of those hoses and wires were crazy in there. And it's a good thing you did decide to take the engine out, what with all of the grime and what not. I can't wait to see it spiffed up and ready for the motor.

nicely done dude.

Hi, the cable you had running to your SSb is called ship wire, very high grade marine cable, rubber type outer and the inner cores are normally marked 1 & 2, strip the outer core of the cable and have a look. The cable conductors are normally quite stiff as there not a fine strand cable.

I think that your best bet right now with the companionway stairs is to just take them out for the duration of this project, and build yourself a lightweight ladder that is easy to remove and set up again. You are super handy and I'm sure you could be able to fabricate something clever for the couple of weeks/month or so that you are working in the engine room. You will be climbing in and out of the boat a lot and having to replace the permanent companionway steps each time and move it back away soon after will waste a lot of time, plus there is no place to store the steps out of the way. You might as well take them home and refinish them as a homework project when you are not at the boat. If you want to get REALLY fancy you can make a semi-permanent alternative ladder out of a lightweight folding or telescoping stainless steel swim ladder maybe, which you can install quickly for whenever you need to do a lot of work in the engine compartment in the future. Build in a quick-release snap-in mounting bracket so it pops in and out in an instant, but then stows away when you don't need it and you can re-install the big heavy permanent stairs again after the project is done. The hole in the cockpit sole looks like it could have been where a manual bilge pump was mounted in the past. Whale makes a whole line of these that bolt right through a sole or bulkhead and can be operated from above with a removable lever directly from the cockpit, even while at the helm in the case of total electric bilge pump failure in an emergency. Without the handle attached it is just a flat plate in the sole you can walk on. It may have been built into the boat when new or soon thereafter but when the new engine was installed it could have been in the way of that, or the last owner had so much trouble with it that they figured it wasn't worth messing around with and eliminated. We have one in our boat and it gets "stuck" inside when the little flapper within the pump flips the wrong way and it stops pumping water. It needs to be totally disassembled and put back together again before it will pump water again. Fail. This has happened about 3-4 times to us just pumping the nuisance water that accumulates in the bilge from our stuffing box. The electric bilge pump is too big to get out that last 2 inches of water in the deep but narrow wet bilge. This doesn't inspire confidence in a piece of emergency equipment so I can see how it might be removed and not replaced. The way they patched the hole is a little janky. I'm sure you will make it all spiffy again. Hopefully the core of the cockpit sole isn't totally ruined because of that. The nice thing about DIY is that you can just rip it all out and fix it. You know how to do that now. :D Let's hope your new re-coring skills are not required here.

Looks great! Your going to have a brand new used boat when your done. Can't wait to see the final photos and vids when she's complete.

I'm looking forward to seeing how well you reorganize the engine compartment. I'm sure it will look great.

I'd love to attend your March meetup in LA, Mads. Please keep us posted!

Love your videos !

If love to come and meet you and visit in March, I'm in Salt Lake City, Utah. I've learned so many things about repairing your boat that is helping me on my boat. Thanks very much! Kim

Hi Mads tenacity and perseverance you have them both in abundance. Always enjoy what you have to say. I’m looking forward to meeting you in LA, my home town. Keep me posted.

I’ll be sailing from Washington to the Sea of Cortez starting feb 7th. If I’m in the LA area around the 18th I’ll see you there!

Great video as usual!!! I am amazed at how this has become a part of my Sunday activity. Keep up the great work, and thank you!!! You are correct... it is your boat, and I am so happy that you allow us to come along as you make these decisions and do these things with your stuff on your boat on your time for your own enjoyment!!! I would love to be in LA, but will be on the other side of the US unfortunately. By the way, I sure would like for you to come help me refit my boat... you would have no negative comments from me!!! Thanks again for the level of detail and care you put into each one of these videos. I hope your back feels better.

GREAT ENTERTAINMENT. I’m so fond of Sail Life videos! My Sunday just wouldn’t be complete without your episodes.Thank you for sharing the refit!

Thanks. Enjoyed the video. As always I learned something I can use in my own ongoing refit. Looking forward to the next episode. Fair Winds. S/V Sea Dragon 🐉

Nice work! Your tank, your boat-> your rules! As far as I know you, following your adventures for a long time, that engine room will look like a clean op-room, when it`s done! Have fun&thx for the vid! :-)

The ssb power cables should have some shielding on them to prevent humming from the alternator and other spinning parts of the engine.

always nice to see your videos Mads. and those who care about what you do with your old tanks (in danish) op i Rø... med dem ;-) Great work as allways

Hi Mads - I am impressed by the special cold air breath effects!! Not sure how you did it but it was good - ha ha! Another great video and amazing progress.

Automatic thumbs up from me. Haven't even watched first 30 seconds. Love your videos Mads.

Chop chop away! LOL Lots of work/fun for you and us. Stay strong!

I really like to watch your clips

Well one way to make sure you don't get a bunch of surprises out in the ocean is to see all the parts of the boat. Looks like you are well on the way to that.

Nice progress Mads! It is your boat and you get to cut up whatever you want to. You may already have one nearby, but keep a fire extinguisher handy. Paul D. S.V. Surprise Londonderry NH USA

I should be able to make it to the meet-up! Looking forward to it.

I am glad that someone has the time, effort and energy to take on such a project. it is very educational to me to watch your work. I am still shopping for my boat and have a few that I want to go see as soon as the weather cooperates. just be careful pulling and tugging on those very heavy items you don't want to re-injure that back.

Oh My God he cut another stainless tank! Just kidding bro ... keep it coming your patience is an inspiration to us all.

Mads, given the construction of most of Athena, I wouldn't trust anything you haven't been able to thoroughly inspect. Replacing the tanks is a sound decision, don't worry about the nay sayers - keep cutting away. Thanks for another great video :)

I'm a life long sailor. Love your videos! Im in South Orange County, count me in for the meet up!

I hope you will paint the engine bay white. This improves the early identifications of any issues

Mads, I live in Southern California so count me in for the Meet-Up in March!

Great video! I am sure that you have it on your list but make sure to look over the cables to the autopilot. Looking forward to the next video!

And yeah, people thinking they've got some sort of say, or are entitled to criticize your decisions about your own boat...they can go to hell. You're the authority on all things Athena. Don't sweat the trolls.

Mads, your videos are wonderful and I look forward to seeing them each week. One of my most usefull tools is a Multi Cutter made by Craftsman (other companies make similar tools) and it is great for cutting through ropes and hoses. It is not very expensive and might be a good addition to your toolkit.

You are not being rude ...your boat your choices and for me am loving our journey together

Looks great! Can’t wait to see the next video.

Another great video. As far as some that may post a negative comment it's just part of it I suppose, and as you said it's your boat you can do as you please. I enjoy Sunday watching the progress and look forward to each one so a big thumbs up from me!

Good call with the tank, it makes no sense to build around a thing like that so they aren’t removable in the future . Go slightly narrower an the soundproofing can run down the sides of the tank which will stop it resonating with the engine when the fuels low. Also look into getting a decent fire system both detection and suppression.

I'm about an hour from LA so I'm definitely planning on attending the meet up. Love your videos Mads, keep up the great work!

You’ve taken on a massive task of refitting your yacht from bow to stern and your knowledge and craftsmanship is pretty dam good. Regarding some of the negative responses ...your absolutely right it’s your yacht and you do what you want

Great Job in the Engine room overhaul. Your right your tank, your boat. On other You Tube channel those people think they are working on something they own, not something you own. Again Great Job as others have sad your work is attention to detail. So will be watching for your next video in a very clean brand new engine compartment.

Hello Mads. I am going to try and come out to see you. I have watched your videos and I would like to meet the man behind the videos. Thank you for sharing your adventures.

Fantastic video mads 😀⛵ and those walkway steps ,you should think of a hydrolic or gas lifters like a car boot door or hatchback door ,would lift it up and create more space for working and even hinge the steps halfway so they fold a bit while lifting 😀

Amazing progress for one weekend. I was expecting (hoping...) for some animated explosion renderings just as you cut the propane line and later when you cut the diesel tank (boooommm). Keep up the good work!!

good vibes from Sailing Norma

Jeez, man any boat would be happy to have you as its owner. I don't know too many people who would clean up their engine compartment just because it looks nice to do so. Good work again! Also I've been wearing my Sail Life t-shirt and I've go to say that the shirt material is very nice.

Great video. Hope you'll be able to reassembling it back together again. :-)

Hey Mads.. another Awesome Vid... as for cutting up stainless tanks, well lets just say you could make an awful lot of 'Sail Life' Dog tags, beer/cup mats key rings, bottle openers from them!... but i also like the other suggestion of saving some for repairs & backing plates too.