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.
Latest
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
EP55 – Sailors Maintaining Our Own Yanmar 4JH4-TE Diesel | Step-by-Step Reassembly
Step-by-step reassembly of our Yanmar 4JH4-TE diesel: cleaning, valve adjustment, seal replacement, cooling service, and the details that make an engine reliable offshore.
Ep54 - Epoxy Resin Countertops | Stunning White Counter Transformation
Turning a plain white galley counter into a custom epoxy resin surface—plus the prep, planning, and teamwork that make a clean pour possible.
Galley
Ep53 - We built a new lightweight countertop (From Scratch)
We remove a heavy Corian galley counter and build a lightweight replacement from Coosa board and fiberglass—learning carpentry lessons along the way.
Projects
EP52 – What If Your Teak Is Failing?
A closer look at our teak deck reveals it’s beyond saving—forcing us to strip it out and prepare for the deck work that follows in EP58.
Refit
EP51 - Installing our new DIY bowsprit
After losing our bowsprit offshore in EP14, we install a custom-designed replacement—closing the loop on a hard-earned lesson.
Refit
EP50 - Making Roam water-tight again.
We permanently patch unused thru-hulls and seal the hull—one of the most critical steps toward safely floating again.
Projects
Ep49 - Destructive testing our new epoxy countertop
We tested whether our custom epoxy composite countertop could safely support under-counter induction cooking — using thermal imaging and destructive heat testing to find out.
Refit
Ep48 - We created a new bowsprit. What could go wrong?
After losing our bowsprit on our first offshore passage, we designed and fabricated a stronger replacement. In this episode, we prep and refine the new aluminum bowsprit before installation aboard Roam.
Maintenance
EP47 - Trying to save the heat exchangers from our aging Yanmar engines | Part 1
Can we save the aging heat exchangers on our Yanmar engines — or are we risking catastrophic failure? In Part 1, we fight corrosion and weigh repair vs replacement.
EP46 - Installation of new Jabsco Quiet Flush e2 toilets & waste water system
We replace both marine toilets and rebuild our entire waste water system aboard Roam — new hoses, new routing, and stainless wire clamps throughout. A less glamorous but critical refit milestone.
Maintenance
EP45 - Replacing Our Thru-Hulls and Seacocks Using Custom 3D-Printed Tools
Replacing every thru-hull and seacock on Roam — and designing custom 3D-printed tools to do it right. Water-tight starts below the waterline.
Engines
Ep44 - Real time update! How much longer will this take?
Ten months into the refit, we've crossed a turning point. The prep is done, the leaks are sealed, and systems start going back in.
Engines
Ep43 - New starters cost $1600. Necessary expense? Yanmar engine maintenance Part 3.
New Yanmar starters can run $800 each. Before spending that, we tore ours down to find out what we actually had. Here's what we found.
Lithium Batteries
EP42 - Prepping the battery compartment to receive 55wh battery bank
Before we can install our new 55 watt hour LiFePo battery bank, the space needs some serious work. From ensuring a dry space, to sanding, fiberglass, and paint, this space has been transformed into a perfect home for our LiFePo batteries.