We had to HAUL OUT Again 

I’m an American expat living in the Philippines and have a comment on your consumption of toilet paper. Here most houses and apartments don’t have plumbing adequate to dispose toilet paper without causing clogged pipes so the Asian method of clean up doesn’t require toilet paper. Asian CR’s (bathrooms) have a “Y” that allows one waterline to refill the toilet and a 2nd line that feeds a hose with a typical spray nozzle. It’s called a Bidet here or a Bum Gun. So clean up is done with a water spray. As an American I was slow to adopt this technique but now use their “Bidet” but then use liquid soap to ensure cleanliness and rinse off. My Filipina wife thinks it’s unclean to use toilet paper and just smear “it” as you wipe. I agree that especially my method is absolutely hygienic and doesn’t require storing bulky toilet paper. Boats are notorious for clogs in their temperamental plumbing systems. Additionally, an added benefit is for anyone suffering hemorrhoids this will eliminate the irritation caused by wiping. A few billion Asians can’t be wrong. Of course the Japanese have the high tech and expensive toilet seats but the $25 hose and sprayer from Amazon works just fine. You can thank me later.

Dehumidifying the boat on the hard. Yes those little dehumidifying buckets work for a bit but stop when they are full. I was recently on a catamaran with small non compressor dehumidifiers which use 12v DC 10-15 watts and can pull 1pt to 1 qt of moisture out of air per day and cost around $25. These would have hoses attached to their small tanks that drain into sinks. Combine this with a $10 DC to DC converter good for 5 amps and a small solar panel outside (angled to shed water and dust)- you have a low cost low power dehumidifying system that will run during the day and not be any drain on battery bank. Just a thought...

Glad you caught the oil now rather than later! Pretty complex weather systems! Winds look positive

Sail drives have always been a maintenance headache. In 29 years I never had to replace the cutlass bearing or repack the stuffing box in my 41 ft momohull. I tightened the stuffing box not about 3 times.

Great video. Love your channel. Here is my take as a surveyor, I would have refused the boat to be lifted with that crane. This puts an enormous amount of stress on the hulls/ama and pontoon beams. As a reference rule-of-thumb pass 4M you do not haul a boat on a 2 point crane. You want a 4 point or a square crane. And if you did I would have walked-away. A thing you do not mention about the bubbles is that they are in a confined, pressured environment and when the explode they create damage. There are books about what things are and tolerances and standards, ...instead of 'Advices'. Cheers, Trust my be is nowhere meeting all these standards but a good guess is to aim for them instead of for 'advices'. Cheers.

Integrity should always be recognized and appreciated. A rare thing in todays world. An honest mechanic is worth more then their weight in GOLD!

Another great episode, Ben and Ash. As a total non sailor, but follower of a few sailing RU-vid channels, I am always amazed by what appear to me to be the totally disproportionate size of the propellers compared to the size of the boat. They seem so, so small yet are extremely efficient. Good luck with the weather, and your eventual hop across the Atlantic. Greetings from South Wales.

There must be a way to have a pressure relief valve installed in the filling cap to prevent over pressure in the future

I use a vaccum pump to change the oil in all my various rigs - from dry sump, high performance engines to work truck engines and automatic transmissions to beta marine diesels and gear boxes, etc. - have you looked into that for your sail drives? A haulout is pretty pricey.... especially if you can do it all with a $150 pump.

@Ben Have you seen the guys who modified their SD-cap with a nipple and a small hose up to an expansion tank with SD-oil? It will decrese the pressure ont he seals, and, if you do get a leak, it should push the water (and oil) out the bottom seal, and you can see if the level of oil in the tank starts to sink, you have a seal leak. Some also fill up a little less in the SD, leaving more room for the air to compress etc.

Your commentary on boats stuck in marinas is so spot on. Millions of dollars around the world doing nothing.

Another great video. Always look forward to your next episode. What a wonderful family. Thank you for sharing. Travel safe

Nice to have the person responsible take knowledge of his mistake and correct the issue. Yes, loads of Ketchup! And I also prefer peanut butter with no sugar. you can sweeten up with jam or honey or banana. You said 6 weeks to sail across, right? Now wouldn't that put you right in Hurricane season in the Caribbean. I am only asking because I know on weather forecasts that a couple systems already making their way into southern part now. Have a safe sail hopefully catch your next video.

Cheers from San Juan Islands! Keep it up, kids grow fast. We are awesome memory builder parents!

Finding any mechanic who stands by their work is a good thing finding one in an unfamiliar port is rare. Good decision to get that issue looked at. Waiting for a weather window is understandable we never had that choice when I was going to sea but I worked in the commercial world and time was money.

I quit sailing because every time I went to go out, I found someone had stolen parts off my boat. So, I had to take inventory, go to the nearest marine hardware store (not cheap because it was in Newport Beach). Then back to the boat, install everything again, and by that time I was feeling too tired to go sailing. Boat was a NACRA 5.8 catamaran. That cat was so fast they were thinking of using it in the Olympic, maybe replacing the Tornado

That haul out guy was great. "We do feel guilty tho" 😂😂

We were working on ours in a marina next to a power trawler. The owner showed up carrying a replacement fuel tank (and a grim look on his face) and summed it up nicely: “Boats, boats, boats” he said. Hang in there.

My cheat hint for dryers at laundromats. If you come along and are using a dryer immediately after someone else. If they have just taken out their stuff. Put your stuff in and just leave it sit and absorb the residual heat from the previous cycle. I always did this to give my clothes some free drying especially if you have lots of clothes and it may save you having to pay for extra time. Often I leave my clothes in the dryer afterwards too so they can absorb all the heat you paid for.

You've got an honest and good mechanic Ben, hope his tribe grows more

Y'all are very humble and forgiving people. That's why you're so successful. Hats off tou you. Sean

Enjoyed your channel! Just Subscribed.I’m trying to convince my wife that a circumnavigation is a great retirement project and went so far as to even start a little channel (@NavalGazingatCampDavid) to sell her on the life style….desperate times and all that. Lol. Thanks again for the great content. I have a whoooole new appreciation for the time and care it takes to create these episodes!

The exhaust elbow should always have the cooling water coming in at an angle as it blows a hole in the otherside if its a T shape , always a 2 in the morning on a lee shore .

Glad I found your channel. Enjoying your content and realism. I never sailed on a boat at sea but sure give it a go when it fits with a great crew.

Some Guy On Another Channel, Had to Buy Some Diesel Parts From Cummings Diesel Inc. Marine Purposes. He Had a Little 12 In x 8 In Bag. Inside Was Two Filter Looking Things, That Looked Like Garden Hoses, Cut to About 6 Inches, and They Were Both Female Ends. It Looks Like They Were in Tank Fuel Filters, That Keep Tank Sediment/Gunk From Traveling the Fuel Lines....Not Sure. He Also Got Two O Rings, and Two Small Gaskets. The Bill Was $571.29 USD.

Always fun to come along on your adventures! Those 2 little ones get cuter all the time! ❤❤

Excited for this passage! Safe travels ❤️

Sounds like you should have a venting cap on sail drives.

Maybe i missed this part but how did you find this issue, i wouldnt think to look in there unless i need to check to refill

It has always amazed and frustrated me how many yachts seem to never go anywhere.

Bit concerned by the system. If it is sealed it can get pressurised and cause leaks. Car diffs and gearboxes and motors always have a breather system to stop this. Just change in temperature could cause pressure in the system. I would put a breather hose on and run it up high then down and up to make an s bend to put some oil in to stop condensation getting in.

There are some things to check for that: Water contamination Solids contamination Depleted defoamant (possibly due to the use of excessively fine filtration and electrostatic separation technologies) Mechanical issues (causing excessive aeration of the fluid) Overfilling of the sump with splash- and bath-lubricated compartments Cross contamination of the fluid with the wrong lubricant Contamination of the fluid with grease Too much defoamant additive, either by incorrect formulation or by incorrect reconstruction (sweetening) of the additive package My guess is from experience it is the oil itself or defoamant.

Good fix, glad to see it .hope alls well

I installed a vacuum pump to my gearboxes and it took care of the airiation,mine are direct drive inputs,but the process is the same.slight vacuum to it provides a way for the fluid to remain fluid,no bubbles.

As Rosanna Rosanna Danna said…if it ain’t one thing it’s another! Provisioned, maintained and waiting on weather for safe passage…the cruiser life. CYA when you get here.

In our house when we resupply for the month, refer to as kitchen tetris! I'm sure the term is familiar

Meh I just put cheap automotive gear oil in the yanmar sail drive , the bubbles doesn’t actually make pressure . There is a upgrade kit for the drives that you add a vent tube and a bottle . It’s a bit normal for them to build pressure when the drive warms up that quick silver lube is pretty expensive for nothing the biggest difference is the ability to absorb water if it gets in

Kids that age are special times. I remember thinking I can’t wait till they get older but as they got older I couldn’t help but think slow down.

I would be fitting breather tube to the sail drive filler caps to prevent pressure building up.

Ahhhh yes. 18 minutes of pure dreaming for me. Lol Love to live Thru you guys every upload

Wish more would have honor and integrity. Awesome for mechanic having these qualities.

Responsibility for what you do, dealing with facts, treating those around you with respect. Your mechanic has some essential qualities. Contrast that to the UK where this has been replaced in practice and in law with: 'It is whatever you say it is, and we will be cancelled, prosecuted, isolated if we point out that it's fanatasy, etc. It's seriously corrupt but the legislators and lawyers keep earning. Hope you find a good weather window for your crossing

I grew up on Fidalgo Island, just south from y’all on Vancouver Island where we spent years cruising around and up to Desolation Sound. British Columbia should be sponsoring y’all as you’re such Great Ambassadors for Canada 🇨🇦… #godblessu #godblessus #godblessusa🇺🇸

I see that your on the move again. Remember Ascension Island!! Smooth sailing!

Yes yanmar for life!! Good on y’all for staying understanding to human error!

With your new boat look into a V-Drive transmission. Thats what we do on the latest Balance 526 It will save living space and less maintenance.

your family is the best...love your videos

HI NAHOA.. Love your videos. I am from Cape Town. Wishing you a safe passage.

Thanks!

How do you learn where specific trades are good at something? i.e. diesel mechanics in South Africa, or canvas in Florida, etc...

You picked the road less traveled- not easy - but all yours! Kudos

Thankyou 👍

Are you all going to stop St.Helena? Safe travels

SD50’S? The manual for our SD60’s specify 15w-40. Great video as always

Hello guys been following you for a long time and have enjoyed every video that you have made. A great family. I am orginally from St. Helena Island but living in the UK ex merchant navy spent about 20 years at sea. Just wondering when you are going to be arriving in St, Helena. I am going to be there in 3 weeks would be great to meet you there. Fair winds. Mike

Ben. I know I’m going to be punched in the face here. But the oil change probably not necessary. As soon as the saildrive spins up with the engine, it introduces both air and expands with heat. For instance, go pull that dipstick after several hours of running and you’ll go “whoa!”. Critical points are don’t over fill to allow for the designed expansion and if after cooling it’s where you left it, then you’re good. It’s always milky under load from air entrapment. Bang! Ok there goes my nose. Ha! Sometime risky business to comment……lol. Love the vids… thanks for sharing..😎

Love you an your videos long time fan ‼️😎😘and jealous of what you are doing❣️❣️

Safe passage 😊

Question, why can you not suck the oil out from the top? lots of deciated oil pumps to do this. 100% understand need to lift if replacing seals but why haul out for just an oil change?

Hey guys, just so you know, I’m your biggest fan. You can use me when you make it to the Caribbean. 😂😂😂

I thought Yanmar had recommended changing to using engine oil in sail drives rather than gear ?oil

come to Morocco

Hehe contained space build pressure within it self???"¿ that is so funny, hence not possible

Was wondering if you have any thoughts on South Africa, did you feel safe there. Did you hear any issues while there?

The four of you shopping. 🧸

Anyone who says they haven’t made a mistake have either never done anything or are lying. You don’t want either ever working on your things

Damn those mugs of coffee looked huge in the lens to begin with…😮

good luck.......

Where do you guys intend to be begining of December?

Did I see the boat flex at lift?

Awesome

LOVE the kid interruptions. Keep 'em coming.

Are you going to have a work shop on your new boat ?

commenting for algorithms!

working below a suspended load not a good idea.

I am just feeling that everybody has problems with saildrives.

Cheers .....

Safe sailing ⛵️🇺🇸

Definitely your biggest fan! 😂

Thankyou

If you ever run across a dryer taking forever to dry just look at the air duct....no matter what anyone says or how clean it looks if there is a path in walls then it's probably clogged. If not then it is just old and not my experstise. Just want to save you valuable hours. Love ya'll.

From my experience only inboard i want is a yanmar

why didn't y'all show your time in Cape Town? doing a city walk and such? I enjoy your content beyond just the boat centric nature of the channel.

When using grinder, please wear safety glasses and mask. I had a blade break on me and if i wasn't wear safety glasses, i would have lost an eye.

It would be nice if you would take a page from Expedition Evans and have real time following for everyone to see.

How did you learn this knowledge?

Ben what did you do for a living before setting sail for good? You have a Fascinating/ Impressive set of skills, I have been learning more about diesel mechanics from you than I ever anticipated while watching a sailing channel haha, great video per usual!

Nothing containing sugar is good.!

The world sailors and their boats suffer a pounding. Things are bound to go wrong.

HI, HOW MUCH DOES STARLINK COST TO INSTALL?

Those kids look like they get eaten up by that tropical sunshine 🌞

THE NUMBER ONE reason to NOT HAVE A SAIL DRIVE, give me a straight shaft drive any day. What a WONDERFUL MECHANIC , you should REALLY MENTION HIM BY NAME AND BUSINESS. Everyone traveling thru and living there should know and give him their work. CHEERS AND FAIR WINDS Steve h.

Ha Ha decided that I will never buy a sailboat seems that they are not capable of long distances like a transport truck without constant problems and maintenance required. I guess a reliable version would be even more expensive than these fair weather island hoppers ?

What happened to the mutton chops

I am disappointed about the disappearing chops. 😕

When buying a boat, you need AT LEAST double the purchase price for refit, repairs and spares. Then a regular income for everyday living. Ain't a cheap lifestyle.

How many hours?

paint schools of squid on bottom of boat to attract mahi mahi

Guys i do sometimed wonder would life be much easier with a half million dollar new boat on finance be better than constantly spending on a 2005

Whaaat... You're skipping Europe?!