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Shawn Hammer

Custom wire harnesses for LED light installation during sailing catamaran electrical system refit

Electrical

Installing New LED Lights on Our Sailboat | Wiring & Hole Cutting

New LED lights required enlarged holes, custom wire harnesses, and a lot of fishing wires through tight spaces. Then the real test: polarity.

By Shawn Hammer Mar 22, 2026
Shawn tooled up to make repairs to the fresh water plumbing system aboard sailing catamaran during extensive boat refit.

Freshwater

We Replumbed Our Entire Boat… And It Leaked Everywhere

We rebuilt the entire fresh water system with PEX. Then we pressure tested it. Seven days and ten hardware store trips later, here's what we learned.

By Shawn Hammer Mar 8, 2026
AC electrical panel with breakers and waterproof cable glands installed during catamaran refit in cold weather.

Refit

Sub-Freezing Refit Life | Boat Work When Winter Hits Hard Ep. 65 #refit

Sub-zero temperatures hit the refit. Shawn heated small spaces to keep working. Geri stayed warm and recharged. Different strategies, same goal.

By Shawn Hammer Feb 22, 2026
Geri sanding the chain locker and preparing for paint on her cruising catamaran.

Repair

EP64: Anchor Chain Prep Turns Into a Full Windlass Refit

A simple plan to prep the anchor chain uncovers corrosion, rot, and a windlass that needs replacing. Real refit work aboard Roam.

By Shawn Hammer Feb 8, 2026
Ongoing refit work aboard a cruising catamaran as systems installation continues during winter.

Mast

EP63: Ready to Re-Step Our Mast… Then It All Fell Apart

After over a year of mast work, we’re finally ready to re-step — only to have it all derail at the last moment when the wrong turnbuckles arrive.

By Shawn Hammer Jan 25, 2026
Electrical system components being laid out and installed inside a cruising catamaran during a major refit.

Electrical

EP62: Rebuilding the Electrical System on Roam Begins

After months of planning, we begin building the core of Roam’s electrical system—relocating equipment, building a power wall, and mounting major Victron components.

By Shawn Hammer Jan 11, 2026
Multiple in-progress refit projects aboard a cruising catamaran during a long winter waiting on parts and weather.

Davits

EP61: The In-Between Projects That Keep Refit Life Moving

While waiting on weather and parts, we tackle the in-between projects that quietly move our refit forward — restoring systems and livability one job at a time.

By Shawn Hammer Dec 28, 2025
Bare mast laid out for refit work as winter weather complicates preparation for restepping.

Mast

EP60 – Racing the Clock to Restepping Our Mast | Winter Refit Setbacks

Racing winter weather and refit deadlines, we push to prepare our mast for re-stepping — only to be slowed by cold, snow, and parts delays.

By Shawn Hammer Dec 14, 2025
Engines being lifted into place on a cruising catamaran using a DIY bridge crane during a major refit milestone.

paint

EP59 – DIY Bridge Crane Success! Lifting Engines, Installing Sail Drives

Engines go back in, sail drives are installed, and a DIY bridge crane helps us hit one of the biggest refit milestones yet.

By Shawn Hammer Nov 30, 2025
Geri and Shawn priming the aft deck of their cruising catamaran during a winter refit paused by cold weather.

painting

EP58 - Refit Reality Check | Cold Weather Ends Our Deck Painting Progress

Episode Overview This week, we made real progress on the deck refit — and then hit a hard stop thanks to winter weather. The plan was straightforward: prep and paint the aft deck, including the sugar scoops, helm stations, and transom alley. We put in the work up front, spending days

By Shawn Hammer Nov 16, 2025
Shawn working on fiberglass and plumbing repairs inside tight compartments aboard their cruising catamaran during a refit.

Projects

Ep57 - Boat Projects Galore! | Rigging, Fiberglass & Plumbing Refit Progress

A week of real refit progress: rigging prep, fiberglass repairs, plumbing work, and the small projects that keep a big rebuild moving forward.

By Shawn Hammer Nov 2, 2025
Restored aluminum mast and spars laid out in a boatyard after refinishing during a major refit.

Refit

EP56 – Restoring Our Sailboat’s Aluminum | Nyalic Finish & a Scary Boatyard Accident

Restoring every aluminum spar aboard Roam takes an unexpected turn when a boatyard accident sends us to the hospital — and the job still has to get finished.

By Shawn Hammer Oct 19, 2025
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