141: TWELVE Boat Hacks learned by new sailors

[@CollegemomLynn]

Great video, thanks for sharing❣ Loved all of these helpful tips including leaving your contact info, the bung rings, and attaching a line to your hatch for quickly closing in case of 🌧❣🥳

[@SailingBlownAway]

We are so glad our video was helpful!! Thanks for your comment. It means so much to us!! ❤️

[@johnchandler2419]

As others have said - there should be an appropriate sized bung tied to each peacock as standard practice. Using the forward motion of the boat is how all anchor retrievals should be accomplished. The windlass is for pulling the ground tackle back on board - not breaking out the anchor.

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thanks for your feedback. Let me give you context. When we made this video we had only sailed for 7 months. We had never owned a boat and knew nothing about being on the water. We were eager to share with others anything we found to be slightly helpful! The fact that this is one of our most popular videos says that it has resonated with others in the sailing world. I am so thankful you are so much more experienced that you know all of the tips we talked about. We hope to learn from you as we continue to grow in our sailing journey!

[@ThePetejb]

Couple of points, 1. You should have a bung for each through hull of the correct size attached to the pipe, better than a bunch tried together. 2. A diving friend of mine said never use plastic clothes clips. Actually asked me to only use wooden clips at least that way if so do lose one you aren't adding to plastic pollution in the ocean

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thanks for your comments and for watching.

[@Coyotehello]

Really nice ideas in there, thanks. I actually have a bong of proper size teetered to each seacock on the boat.

[@SailingBlownAway]

Oh good! I am so glad it was helpful. Good for you to fit the bong to the seacock. We are not quite sure which one goes where hence our system! ;)

[@obiwanfisher537]

Some of these are really good ideas, especially love the foli system for the berths.

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thank you so much for your comment. We are glad to help with some ideas. The Foli system is amazing. We love it!!

[@obiwanfisher537]

@@SailingBlownAway I always have issues with damp under the vberth due to condensation and horrible UK climate. This looks like a decent solution!

[@SailingBlownAway]

@obiwanfisher537 It def works. It keeps the air circulating and we have no mold on our mattress. Let’s us know how it works for you!!

[@obiwanfisher537]

@@SailingBlownAway I will soon buy some, but I am in the UK so it might take a while for them to arrive.

[@sailingforeverautumn]

I love the bung bouquet. I'm gonna make one this weekend.

[@SailingBlownAway]

It works really well!! We are glad our vid helped you!

[@RT-np5ws]

Guest box excellent will use at home for the wife!!!

[@SailingBlownAway]

lol. Lots of uses not just for a boat but to save a marriage! I do the same for the Captain 😂😂😂

[@moonraker814]

You guys are inspiring to watch. Thank you for your advice.

[@SailingBlownAway]

Hey!! Thank you so much! We are so thankful for your consistent viewership and comments!! Thanks!

[@irenekanowitz944]

Great ideas!!! Thank you for sharing!!!

[@SailingBlownAway]

Aw, thank you!!! :)

[@chadkurszewski1967]

Simple, but really great ideas!

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thank you so much for your comment. We are so happy to share what we have learned!

[@chrisr819]

Good tips. Regarding no.12 mast halyard, I highly recommend to put a bunny cord in between or at the end of the cord otherwise you will rip your lazy bag straps over time. The bunny cord takes of the dynamic peak loads of your halyard which already create significant forces in 20kn when that rope starts to swing around and can be very violent in 35kn of wind…

[@chrisr819]

Bungy cord…lovely autocorrection.

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thank you! Yes, we now use a bungy to hold the main halyard but secure it to the sail bag. Where else would you secure the bungy to? Thank you!

[@peteradams9389]

@@SailingBlownAway You could secure the bungy cord to your lazy jack lines on either side of the sail bag - that way the force is shared between two contact points and it would be less likely to rip the lazy bag.

[@SailingBlownAway]

Perfecto. That’s what we did!!!

[@jeffreynanney9184]

Good advice. Thanks for sharing!

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I hope some of the hacks helped!

[@jvjoe4376]

Great post!! Thanks for sharing.

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thank you so much!

[@SailingBlownAway]

Part 2 hacks is almost ready!!

[@LITTLEDANCERSADHU993]

well made video with super steady footage and slow clear advice, plastic pegs are on my list now, may want yto think about a hammer with your bungs, plastic!! mine rusted aweay!

[@SailingBlownAway]

Oh wow. Thank you so much! We are glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful!! Ah. Yes. A plastic hammer with the bungalow is key!! Thank you.

[@martinmccullough5788]

Excellent tips .. thank you

[@SailingBlownAway]

We are so glad they helped. We did another video with more hacks if you are interested!!

[@franklinnorth7708]

Good tip for halyard snaps.(1988 Catalina 30, Gibsons BC Canada)

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thank you so much!! We are glad it helped!

[@BillWalters77]

Nice ideas. Thanks

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thank you!! We appreciate your comment!

[@jeffcurrent5593]

Really practical tips! Amazing, thank you!

[@SailingBlownAway]

Sooo glad it helped you!! Thanks for letting us know!

[@jamesbaldwin7676]

A line trailing off the stern of my sailboat through a noodle at it's end, doubles as a life-line and life preserver and with very little drag, in the event of a "man overboard" (and that's a hack that could save lives.)

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thank you for this idea! We will def use this here in the San Blas only at anchor and where the currents are really strong! We always have to have a line out for swimmers, but never thought about a noodle on the end to keep it floating!

[@jamesbaldwin7676]

@@SailingBlownAway I actually considered producing such a product with an orange, floating line and attached light and whistle etc (another product West Marine would sell for an exorbitant price) but decided it might be better to just share it now. Of course you do have to be conscience to grasp the line and not the noodle and remember to retrieve the line before getting into the marina. Still I think it's a good idea and apparently, so do you. Thanks.

[@SailingBlownAway]

I think you may have misread my response. I cant think of a reason we would ever run a line behind our boat under way. Among other things, if it fouled a prop it could be a disaster. Secondly, the likelihood of someone falling off the boat around the line (we have a cat) and/or having the ability to grab the line and not the noodle and hold on to it would be low. I like the idea at anchor for someone swimming in current off the back of the boat. The noodle makes the line float and will be more visible for a passing dinghy or vessel.

[@jamesbaldwin7676]

@@SailingBlownAway I did...My suggestion is geared more toward a man overboard while underway and especially for single-handed sailing. I like your idea too (a floating, life-preserving, non prop-fouling line, while at anchor.) Hope I got it right ?

[@SailingBlownAway]

Yes!! You got it!! For a single handler, wouldn’t it be easier to clip in and avoid falling overboard?

[@stuartstillman2313]

Best Clothes Clips Ever!

[@SailingBlownAway]

Right? ha - the best! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@WillN2Go1]

Brilliant list. The Froli system looks good. Normally boats (like mine) uses mesh called HyperVent. Like the baskets. On my last crew my stuff would be moved all over the place. Very passive aggressive. I'd do a night watch, forget something and then spend two days looking for it. Blank walls in berths? Aren't they just begging for hanging organizers? Bungs. If you join a new boat in Asia bring a few sets of bungs. As far as I can tell, they don't use them. We couldn't find any in four countries. (we did find a baby bung set in the Philippines) The holes and string is a great idea. After all they're wood so in a flood they are going to float. Clips are great. We preferred the wooden ones but they can get mildewy and moldy. Ratchet straps -- always. My friend James said he almost died for lack of ratchet straps. For protection and padding I brought on board a 1/2" (12mm) yoga mat. I've use them for everything. The cockpits of my kayaks look like a yoga class exploded. They protect your knees, your boat, dampen banging life rings, keep your feet from freezing numb on the deck. I wrapped my bottle of olive oil in it. While I was sailing for three months on a firends' boat my boat back in California had a dehumidifier running on automatic the entire time. Set to 45% (to have some residual impact on the furthest corners.) 45' center cockpit (so a lot of room below) $39/month. It came with the boat. Sits on and drains into the galley sink. Live aboard dock mates keeping an eye on things, so open thru hull not too much of a risk.

[@SailingBlownAway]

Wow. Thanks for all of your suggestions and your comment!! We appreciate it and are so glad you seem to really love to be on the water…just like us?

[@sharonbradley9011]

Love this video. Hope you do more like it. Maybe a list recommending Christmas presents?

[@SailingBlownAway]

Ha ha. Love that idea!! I have another one in the works now!! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@nqumthemba]

You should write your next of keen contact numbers at the HELM😊

[@SailingBlownAway]

Ah yes. Thats a good idea too!! Thank you!!

[@gisellepuchiorta8783]

Great hacks! Thanks for sharing!

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting. We appreciate your feedback and hope the hacks make a difference for you!

[@ivanramadani3611]

Thank you 👍

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thanks for watching and commenting! I hope it helped!

[@abdulmateen2205]

Great video

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thanks! We appreciate it so much!

[@grahamwheelock7497]

Eye hooks on end of bungs better idea then drilling side to side rest of the tips are 👍

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thanks for watching and your feedback!!

[@vittoriogentile7655]

Guys, boat diapers are a big nono, they are flamable

[@SailingBlownAway]

How do you suggest soaking up fuel and oil?

[@jojo-mi6sz]

@@SailingBlownAway Fix leaks immediately upon discovery during pre-trip inspection/checklist. The big 'no-no' I saw was the absorb pads on/touching the engine. Definitely nothing wrong with having some under the engine to use as tattle tales, and yes......they are what you use. Your engine room is immaculate along with every bilge you showed, and sets the standard. Beautiful boat!

[@GeoffreyMansell]

Bungs for skin fittings should be sized and be at the location attached to the pipe.

[@SailingBlownAway]

Ideally but at this point I am not going to pull seacocks out of the hull while we are in the water to figure out which bung works!

[@ianprice9005]

Great tips thank

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thank you so much for watching, Ian and commenting! I hope the tips helped!

[@ninehundreddollarluxuryyac5958]

Is a dehumidifier also a water-maker? Because its a lot cheaper than the other kind.

[@SailingBlownAway]

It does make water but you would die of thirst before it made enough to drink. Also, I am not sure I would drink the water it would produce BUT it is a lot cheaper than a water maker.

[@pietrodrew6123]

Great tips. I found the anchor "picker -up" interesting. Did your boat come outfitted with a anchor lock or chain stopper? If not, it might be good to look into having the folks in Deltaville install one so long as there is adequate backing in the deck surface where the stopper/lock would be mounted.

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Great question. We do have a chain stopper but we had to move it back to accommodate the bigger anchor so it’s less effective. For some reason, I don’t like putting the stress on that chain lock. It does have a solid backing so I am sure it would be ok. It would do the job, but I don’t always trust that there won’t be stress on the windlass which doesn’t have enough power to pick up the anchor when under mud. Thanks!!

[@carmensmith4681]

What is the brand of the clothes pins. Those look awesome.

[@SailingBlownAway]

They are AMAZING. Bought them on Amazon. Search 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 4,296 24 Plastic Multi-Purpose Pant Hangers Clips - Heavy-Duty Kids/Baby Clip Hangers - Non-Slip Plastic Baby Pants Hangers Clips - Closet Skirt, Shorts, Bottom

[@TonySparksNZ]

Love those clothes clips, where did you get them from?

[@SailingBlownAway]

Hey!! Thanks for watching and your question. The link is in the show notes!! They are from Amazon. They are the best!!

[@ianclarke8821]

Number 12, halyard… it won’t work in all wind strength and it will damage the stack pack. A much better solution is to disconnect from the sail and just lead the halyard aft to the boom end (both lines if open halyard) it will never ever slap, it won’t chafe but you have an extra 30 seconds work to reattach to the sail when required. Everyone thinks a bit of bungee a few feet up the mast on their lines will work, but a small blow and tang tang tang! I live aboard and hate that noise… all visitors are educated to lead their halyards away from the mast completely or I do it for them!

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thanks for your comment. We have been doing this for 4 years now with a bungee in all kinds of wind and we have never slapped. Moving the main every time we anchor is not viable. For long term yes of course.

[@victorjcano]

In number one those diapers only absorb Diesel and Oil. They do not absorb water. I’m not supposed to, so I don’t know what you’re getting at about absorbing anything.

[@SailingBlownAway]

Yes, that's true. They only absorb fuel and oil. You are right. We learned that they do not absorb water so well.

[@stureellingsen7789]

100% plastic clothes clips? is that ok these days?:) I suggest you stick with your old wooden rusty clothe clips, much better for the sea:)

[@SailingBlownAway]

Ha. No way. I never drop these in the ocean and they never go bad. They last forever. The stupid wooden ones with rusty springs break in the wind and fall into the ocean!! Horrible. 🤣

[@stureellingsen7789]

If wood fall in the water its not horrible:) but plastic? thought everyone in 2023 agreed, its horrible:)@@SailingBlownAway

[@ozskipper]

Aint nothing about a bung that is a "hack". Bungs are MANDATORY safety gear on all boats. You shouldnt pass any yachtclub safety check without them. Not having bungs is as stupid as not having lifejackets.

[@SailingBlownAway]

Agreed. The bung hack is not to make sure you have them, but where you keep them. In a emergency, you need to have them immediately available. Ours were not easy to get to when we bought the boat so we figured out a way to make sure they could be found by drilling a hole through them and hanging them in the bilge where they will be used.

[@ozskipper]

@@SailingBlownAway Oh yes, I know its where you keep them.. Even the old ISF rules required that as far back as in the eighties,,eeer,,, or was it the 90s.. that part is a blur lol.. . .. They should be on lanyards attached to each skin fitting/sea cock/gate valve etc. .

[@SailingBlownAway]

Thank you!! We appreciate your information!!

[@johnchandler2419]

Nothing new here.....

[@SailingBlownAway]

Well, thankfully it was for the 32k who have watched this before you! I hope you have a great day!