Sailing Roam (Page 2)

Sailing catamaran Roam anchored in Annapolis Harbor, Maryland during Chesapeake Bay cruising.

Everything You Need to Know About Cruising Annapolis

Anchoring rules, dinghy docks, provisioning, and getting around without a car — here's everything we learned cruising into Annapolis.

Imported marine equipment including batteries, lighting, and rigging hardware for sailing catamaran refit.

We Bought $150,000 of Boat Gear for $50,000

We spent about $50,000 importing major equipment directly from China instead of $150,000 through U.S. suppliers. Here's exactly what we bought and saved.

Portable water bladder in dinghy used to refill catamaran freshwater tanks in Annapolis anchorage.

The Realities of Living at Anchor | Solving Everyday Boat Problems

Muddy anchor chain, no dock water, and mosquitoes at dusk. Here's how we solved three everyday problems at anchor in Annapolis.

A failed marine engine oil cooler removed for inspection during sailboat shakedown cruise repairs.

Everything Started Breaking... Welcome to Our Shakedown Cruise

A month after leaving the boatyard, we're anchored in Cambridge working through a failed oil cooler, a dead bilge pump, and a broken washing machine.

Sailing catamaran Roam leaving the dock after completing a two-year refit.

We Finally Left the Boatyard… Here's What 2 Years Taught Us

Two years after hauling out, ROAM finally left the boatyard. Here are the biggest lessons from rebuilding a 54-foot catamaran from the keel up.

Sailing catamaran backing toward the launch next to a building

2 Years Later... ROAM Is Finally Back in the Water

Two years after haulout, ROAM is finally back in the water. A missing rudder bearing, a rushed launch, and one nerve-wracking lift later, she's floating.

Shawn sits in the battery box surrounded by bus bars and wiring

We Built Our Own Lithium Battery Bank (And It Was Way Harder Than Expected)

We built our own lithium battery bank from individual cells, saving about $40,000. Here's everything that went into making it safe and functional.

High in the air, two of the four 570 watt solar panels on the arch and shawn on a sketchy ladder.

3450W of Solar Power on Our Off-Grid Catamaran

After three failed welders and two years of work, the new solar arch is finally up. 3,450 watts and the batteries are full by noon.

After nearly two years we're finally moving back aboard our sailing catamaran

Moving Back on Board

After two years, the drawers went back in. Then we made the call: move back aboard even though the boat wasn't finished. No water, no power, no comfort. Just progress.

New stainless steel turnbuckles being tested against rigging terminals during sailboat mast preparation.

Mast Stepped, Boom Installed | We're So Close to Launch

The turnbuckles arrived. They fit. The crane lifted. The mast went up. After two years and a two-month delay, the rig is back together.

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

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.

Shawn tooled up to make repairs to the fresh water plumbing system aboard sailing catamaran during extensive boat refit.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.