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nikki wynn inspecting bulkheads

HEADS, HOLES & LEAKS (oh my)

Remember that giant hole in our boat?  Ya know, the one we got on our wild and crazy sail crossing the Pacific from Tonga to New Zealand?  Well, today we dive into the how, why (was it a design flaw?), and patching of it all.

Plus, we make some more holes and patch those up too.  It’s been a whole lotta boat projects and boat banter. We’ve learned a lot, had some fun and we’re soooo much closer to being seaworthy again!

 

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Hello there! I honestly don’t know what to say, so I am going to tell you a bunch of random facts instead. I'm a fish eating vegetarian who hates spiders and loves snakes. I almost never took vacations growing up. I wanted to be Pippi Longstocking (still do). I misspell about every other word I write and still struggle with grammar. I love splurging on a good high tea (which is really hard to find these days). And whatever you do, don’t tell me I can’t do something, because then I'll HAVE to do it!

Comments (26)

  • DaveBobo

    Hello again Nikki & Jason!
    We are now the new owners of a 2005 Leopard 43, and are wondering, did you keep your life raft in the same locker as before? Or did you move it elsewhere? If so, where? We’ve seen almost all your videos but we can’t remember if you showed it or mentioned it! Yes, we’re watching a bunch of your videos again!

    Thanks for “paving the way” for newbies like us!

    reply
  • sandra strickland

    So kewl to see more of the boat “innards”….love, love, loved it!

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  • Janine

    Did you get your new fridge??! It looks like you have something in place in this video.

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  • Alan Solomon

    Thank you for this video. Terrific as usual.
    I cannot rightly remember the name of the boat works company in New Zealand that Dave and Joe are from but they are really taking good care of Curiosity and both of you too. They remind me of the New Zealand equivalent of Just Catamarans. The end of repair is near..
    Happy Day. 😊

    reply
  • Steve G

    I saw you baking cookies, which reminded me. Thank you for the recommendation on the Breville oven. We are using it in our 5th wheel, along with the induction cook-top. The Breville oven is a HUGE improvement to the stock oven. And the induction cook-top doesn’t get hot, just the pots and pans. Be well.

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  • Michael

    Why didn’t you reuse the window? There appeared to be nothing wrong with the frame and fastening trim ring except for some missing caulk/sealant.

    Nice catch on that nut behind the trim. Sloppy assembly long ago.

    Nice glass-up job on the bottom. Looks really strong. Will it offer some storage area still?

    Thanks again for all the good videos. Keep it up.

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      • Rud Merriam

        Use the locker as a bathtub.

        reply
  • Ian Wood

    Thanks for another great video showing the many sides of boat life! And thanks this week for the drone footage you used in your segue, as it gives a broader view of the harbour entrance and nearby Marsden Point shipping terminal. My father, who passed in June, worked earlier in his engineering career on design and project management of some of the development for the shipping berths there. Over the years he traveled several times to NZ from here in Vancouver BC to oversee the work. He made many great and lasting friendships in NZ, and in particular enjoyed some side trips up to the Poor Knights Islands, fishing and diving there. You had to scoot right past them on your way to Marsden Cove Marina, but perhaps you’ll get there at some point, too! Anyway, thanks for the glimpse that brought a smile… 🙂 <3

    reply
  • VALERIE LYNN WILLIAMS

    Thank you for your updates…❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏✝️🛐✝️❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤💓💓

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  • Kit Griffin (yes the fellow with the boat “stuck” in Tahtiti)

    Super story and edit, thank you. One question – what’s latest on the fuel tanks?

    reply
  • Jeanette Brennan

    Wow! You guys are getting closer and closer to getting back out to sea. Great videos – Wearing safety glasses and masks around the sanding of fiberglass would be safer… Thx for sharing your adventures! It’s a great way to start a Sunday! Take care! 🥸😷⛵️💖🙏

    reply
  • Ian Wood

    Thanks for another great video showing the many sides of boat life! And thanks this week for the drone footage you used in your segue, as it gives a broader view of the harbour entrance and nearby Marsden Point shipping terminal. My father, who passed in June, worked earlier in his engineering career on design and project management of some of the development for the shipping berths there. Over the years he traveled several times to NZ from here in Vancouver BC to oversee the work. He made many great and lasting friendships in NZ, and in particular enjoyed some side trips up to the Poor Knights Islands, fishing and diving there. You had to scoot right past them on your way to Marsden Point Marina, but perhaps you’ll get there at some point, too! Anyway, thanks for the glimpse that brought a smile… 🙂 <3

    reply
  • Michael Wodzinski

    As always, I find your videos entertaining and educational. Nikki made the comment that the boat yard workers used a drill and she caught a lot of flack for that. I would point out that workers in a manufacturing facility or boat yard remove and install tens of thousands of screws. They get pretty good after a while. Just like people who make wood sculptures with a chain saw, humans are amazing at learning to use a tool to do incredible things. I’m sure Michelangelo did not create his great sculpture of David as his first work of art. Also notice how the “expert” boat yard worker pulsed the drill to sneak up on the proper screw tightness. He obviously has installed a lot of hatch screws in his lifetime.

    I’m sure Nikki could use a power drill to install hatch screws after she has installed 10,000 screws. Please don’t get upset by the comments. There is a difference in techniques an “amateur” uses versus what a “professional” can get away with. In manufacturing and boat repair, “time is money” so there are tools and techniques experienced manufacturing and boat repair staff can do that non-experienced people cannot get away with. It’s just like the difference between an amateur and professional musician. Great skill comes from practice, practice, practice.

    I hope you have been able to fix your stripped hatch cover screws. As posted preciously, I would recommend to use stainless screw inserts or T-nuts and switch to stainless recessed head screws. Here’s a video on installing T-nuts: https://youtu.be/HVfkxJiqLkA. T-nuts need to installed from the back (inside your cabin). Do not use a hammer to pound in the T-nut since you could fracture the fiberglass. The video uses a bolt to drive in the T-nut. Alternatively, you can use a C-clamp to drive in the T-nut but make sure you use a piece of would between the clamp and the fiberglass deck so you don’t crack the deck.

    Here’s another video showing both T-nuts and wood inserts: https://youtu.be/60wr60_MG5c. Again, BE CAREFUL NOT TO CRACK THE DECK, if you use a bolt to drive in a T-nut, It would be best to distribute the force from the head of the bolt across a piece of metal bar stock (with a hole drilled for the bolt) or washers with a piece of wood against the fiberglass. The boat yard guys should be able to help since stripped hatch screws are probably a common problem.

    Happy sailing 🙂

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  • Sheila

    I feel like we know you

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  • Sandra & the 2 Spaniels

    Okay, I loved watching this video, but for the love of all things soft and fluffy; please put some safety glasses on! Sheesh! One accident and you just sent 3 opthalmologist’s children to college! Can’t wait to see the new freezer/refrig install!

    reply
  • Randall Husmann

    Curious as to why new life raft locker was installed at recessed bottom of frame instead of at the very bottom thereby increasing overall volume of the locker. But progress is made! Best from Houston. Hus

    reply
  • AlainCh2

    Well, that’s was a nice spot for a Freezer !!

    Big and easy access 😀

    reply
  • Gene Jones

    Love your videos’…..in this one it shows a fire extinguisher. I wonder if that is the same defective/recalled one I gave you a heads up about 2.5 years ago. Be safe, Gene

    reply
  • Dennis Kohler

    I hope you’re able to get things patched up so you can continue the journey, so looking forward to it!!

    reply
  • Sandra Behler

    Looks like you’re making real progress on fixing the boat! When do you get to the fix Nicki part of the NZ adventure?

    reply

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