Ask Us Anything! Building an Aluminum Sailboat | EP 243

[@JohnSmith-cx7zt]

Do not rush them, let them check and recheck all systems. Very innovated boat building construction.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Words of wisdom.

[@VegardSkipnes]

Welcome to Oslo! Would be great to have a look at the ship. My suggestion: Skip the Panama canal and go Northwest Passage instead.😀

[@DistantShoresTV]

😊 We are looking forward to sailing to Oslo and to cruising Norway's western coast and Svalbard in summer 2024.

[@GPSJayDog22]

WOW! It's getting closer. We have watched all of your boats over the years on TV and online come together with much anticipation each time and this new boat is the same. Beautiful design and what a build. 30+ years. I can look back and see the progression each time you build another. Show us pictures of the first boat you guys built by hand as shown in our DVD set through the new almost ready boat in one of your new episodes. I think folks would like to see the progression. Again, thank you 4 sharing. Cheers 🙂

[@DistantShoresTV]

Great suggestion! Thanks!

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

Consider putting walkable solar panels on the coachroof and maybe part of the foredeck as on Bestevaers. Yes, they don't perform as well as rigid panels, but the extra solar will be useful towards the daily energy budget. It's far better to have too much solar than too little. If you have excess energy you can run the watermaker more often, do laundry a bit more often, etc.

[@GudieveNing]

Having just installed a 430watt panel on our (home) balcony that is generating more than I need to power my CAD workstation for 8 hours a day, I can testify that you cannot have too much free solar energy! Put as many panels as you can everywhere. For seafaring, the light flexible ones are best. Mine is a very heavy rigid 1m x 1.7m panel, so not suitable for a boat.

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

@@GudieveNing Lots of folks use rigid solar panels on boats, but it tends to limit where they can be placed. Typically those get placed horizontally above the back of the boat. In contrast walkable solar panels can be put on most horizontal surfaces on a boat. The rigid panels tend to perform better because they get better cooling airflow over them. But you can't walk on them, which is inconvenient in many places on a boat.

[@nooneanybodyknows7912]

Good morning, I love the conduit encased in foam. 👍 I'm looking forward to your northern exploration. Thanks for sharing.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Glad you enjoyed it. We also are looking forward to the northern trip 🥶

[@michaelwhiteley6493]

Also love the foam ... what type is it, and why preferred over foam boards please?

[@SailingSisu]

Wow, your aluminum sailboat is turning out absolutely fantastic! It's amazing to see the progress you've made, and you definitely deserve all the praise. Keep up the fantastic work!

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks so much!

[@RichardLimpens]

I love your story about the origins of your fifth sailing yacht. I'm enjoying. I wish you all the best and that this beautiful yacht will be launched under a good star, probably at the end of February 2024!

[@priit47]

Very impressive and inspirational. Kindly please comment about two topics that I wish would never happen to anyone. Aluminum boats and fire accidents and fire fighting and what happens in case of lightning strikes the aluminum boat. I do wish all the best to you and such an inspiration you are. I am considering a aluminum catamaran for living on a boat full time with my family and sailing the world seas.

[@thelastpirate]

Looking great! Cool process, cool experience. We can't wait to see you out sailing her. Much love, you guys!

[@windsweptfilms]

Going to be cool seeing you guys sailing this interesting expedition boat soonish

[@Murray_SPb]

Thank you for your boat news update!

[@DistantShoresTV]

You're welcome!

[@larsholst6216]

Your boat turns out absolutely fantastic. You deserve it. We have followed your videos/TV shows since last millenium!!!! Would you know if your shipyard also buil catamarans in Alu?

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks for your support :-) Regarding catamarans, I don't this the builders have the space for such wide boats in build...

[@sailingkulali]

Thanks so much for your videos. They are very engaging and importantly educational. I wonder if you could explain how the cabinetry will fasten to the hull frames. Are these just bolted through holes? Or are there additional tabs welded on the frames to suit the cabinets. How will the cabinets interact with the painted floor? Will there be a membrane between the cabinets and the paint? Ie to prevent abrasion then corrosion? Thank you !

[@bobsails9750]

Thanks very much

[@richardwylie07]

It really is an impressive process. Such smart design / boat building.

[@geofftt7925]

Amazing ship, and plans. It's interesting following your progress after my dad and I built a yellow cedar planked and corked gaff rig schooner! Ya, very cool evolution.

[@celineblais5806]

That will be a beautiful boat! ❤

[@gdholmfirth]

Thank you for the fantastic update!

[@georgeburns7251]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@josephjedynak508]

Does the inner hull spray foam insulation provide any water ingress if the aluminum skin is breached?

[@markvandell]

I love this construction method. How does the interior get attached to the hull?

[@DistantShoresTV]

Pieces of wood are attached to the ribs and stringers. Then the interior modules attach to the wood pieces. We will see if we can get images or movies of the attachment.

[@manonboyer3718]

We can't Wait too see your nice sailboat on the wather.

[@webheadusa9377]

MJ Sailing was also cruising Norway. The mock-up also gives you, the owners, an opportunity to see the actual physical layout to see how you fit in, and to consider any minor changes. Time to write your christening ceremony, and buy a nice champagne - I prefer Valentine's Day to be a date to splash. Best, :¬) Webhead USA

[@DistantShoresTV]

Valentines Day would be a great day to launch! 🤞❤️

[@dieterwenner9533]

It is getting closer and closer to be ready in the water, and there is good progress. And a lot of your kW mentioned are in fact kWh, but many struggle With that.🫣😂

[@CodeCubitt]

I'm thinking about adding a Combi hybrid to our new bluewater build as well. Are you able to use it in place of a generator? ie: Use the engine shaft as a PTO to drive the Combi and recharge the batteries?

[@DistantShoresTV]

Yes, this is the plan. We will not be installing a generator.

[@scyz2807]

It's wonderful to hear the latest news on the build progress of D S IV. It won't mean much to you but Distant Shores IV may splash near my birthday in late February! : - ) It was fun hearing the answers to those most popular questions.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Happy Birthday at the end of February! 🥳 Our fingers are crossed that our boat will be launching at that time too!

[@darrynmeadows]

Once again see you both in new Zealand in 6 months

[@DistantShoresTV]

Sailing to New Zealand is definitely in our plans, Darryn! It will probably be in 2026 after we do some high latitude sailing with the new boat. ❤️ 🇳🇿

[@mikeatfreo2112]

It looks like the yard is taking great care to ensure that DS IV is a great boat. Has the yard been able to start another one?

[@DistantShoresTV]

Yes, a contract for hull #2 has been signed and work will begin shortly.

[@DangerClose13E]

Great video. But, I have to ask what the final cost will be.

[@DistantShoresTV]

1.2 M Euros

[@johnnylawson69]

@@DistantShoresTV Thank you for answering this question.

[@johnq.public2621]

🥳🥳🥳WhoooooHoooooo! Getting closer!

[@DistantShoresTV]

Exactly!! We're very excited!

[@scyz2807]

Well, the Launch Party was yesterday and today ( April 20-21) but no live stream? I'm sooo sad. : - ( Are you going to put up an episode about the Slash? I wish I was a patron because I think maybe, as such, I could have seen some live stuff from the Splash!

[@billygraham3120]

How did you generate the build fund?

[@Blueybob]

I’m considering MG Energy lithium batteries. I note that you’ve changed from MG Energy to Super B lithium. Why the change? Please be specific. Thanks.

[@johndeveaux7670]

I want to see you do the Northwest Passage.

[@srupp9271]

there was one question I had about your electrical system. Are you going with 115V 60 HZ or are you going with 230 V 50 HZ. Or are you putting in a shore power converter. As far as I know that's a real problem with no very good solutions ?

[@matthewbaynham6286]

I have a question about the batteries, if you look at lithium batteries on paper they will out perform sodium-ion batteries, but all the specification for batteries are calculated at a temperature which compliments the battery (I think 20c). However I've heard that sodium-ion batteries have less of a drop off in colder temperatures. I'm guessing the bilge of your boat is not going to be the warmest place, so if your batteries are siting in 5-10c temperature would to drop off of lithium batteries mean that the sodium-ion batteries are better or is the drop off of the batteries in the cold at much lower temperatures and not that much of a big factor at the normal temperature of your bilge?

[@WillN2Go1]

Good video. Excited you're almost back on the water. About batteries and keel boats. I'm sure I'm not the first person to have the idea of a battery - keel. All that weight, where it's needed and doing something useful. Of course this requires some pretty good engineering. Swing keel? Probably not enough room in it for the bother.l I also wonder, compared with the state of the art electric motors Tesla is now making, how do yours and the current industry standard motors compare with the Tesla motors? (My gut says 15 - 20 miles on a charge, with the next generation motor 17 - 23 miles. )

[@hansh8071]

The boat has a swing keel

[@jpmesa]

I am jealous!! I don't know if I missed it but which autopilot are you going to use?

[@DistantShoresTV]

We’re going with Raymarine 😊

[@simonhantler8062]

love dutch aluminium build quality, they are the best with aluminium. my budget wont stretch for a new Orion but maybe a used one. im currently looking at a Kanter 58 sv Cantelina, do you know her?

[@DistantShoresTV]

I am familiar with Kanter… built in our home province of Ontario ❤️ nice Dieter Empacher pilothouse

[@darrynmeadows]

Go for a march splash date it'll be warmer

[@andrewjames7616]

Thankyou 👍

[@DistantShoresTV]

You’re welcome 😊

[@koomaj]

30 kWh pack is nice size. It always confuses me a little when people speak about kilowatts as a battery size.

[@АнатолийГусев-у4ж]

Finally my favorites KZbinrs😍

[@sailingjano]

What with the damping coming out of the used foam? Sush as the combination off polyol and isocyanate? Wich are very poisoning the environment in the boat even after month's.

[@Psychobilly]

FEBRUARY!!!! Whooooo I can taste 👅 it!!!!

[@waltervanderboor]

May I add something quit imprtant to consider......about going to Norway? UNLESS you are willing to pay vat/ gst (BTW in the Netherlands 21%) over the full value of the boat you need to leave the eu schengen area (Netherkands and Norway=y are both part of that) within 22 days after you receive the boat. You can stop in the UK and then go to Norway, because when you go back from UK you have 183 days again... Just be aware (this was in our concept documents from SUNREEF) .

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks, Walter. We have handled this with 3 previous boats and the timing is important as you point out.

[@johnmayer3433]

You need to spend a summer cruising the Baltic Sea!

[@DistantShoresTV]

We have done that in the past, John, and had a wonderful summer of sailing and exploring. We filmed several episodes for the Distant Shores sailing TV series for Season 7 distantshores.ca/sailingdvds/downloads/

[@thesailingdutchman8133]

Instead of å agm startbattery why not use supercapasitors to start.

[@waynemckee9170]

Thank you for building a monohull…..been a monohull sailer for 45 years ( Lake Ontario & Georgian Bay). Did the Med. on a cat and I’d not find the sailing/ handling at all enjoyable.

[@imageislandmarine4988]

Are you going to have heated floors? Hydronic heat looped from the engine or a little TSL17 are good options for in floor heating. Avoid the common problem of cold feet and hot heads, You might also look into a Wallas 87d they use little fuel and power. How about plumbing a diverter valve from your engine raw water intake to pull water from the bilge in case of flooding.

[@mentonish]

I would probably go for a mixed cooking systeme gas plus electric

[@DistantShoresTV]

We did think about this since we’ve always enjoyed cooking on our propane stove and it would reduce the power requirement on the new boat but often we’ve had trouble getting propane in countries we visit. Also it’s nice not to have to carry the fuel.

[@Manatee-Sailing]

CU @ Lofoten ;-) Greetings from Germany, Birgit + Christoph, from manatee-sailing point de.

[@vriesvakkie1]

Electric cooking. Way less fumes and moisture. Much more healthy, latest TNO research proves.

[@dannotte7289]

Seems like you’re building plus disassembling the interior twice which does not appear to save any time in the long run.

[@DistantShoresTV]

It does because while the hull is being constructed, painted and wired, the cabinetry can happen in parallel rather than not started until the hull work is completed. Also, changes can be made more easily in the workshop mock-up. Disassembly and assembly is very quick. So far, so good!

[@stevenr8606]

Every positive (in spray foam) has a negative. If unluckily you have a meted wire. Just pulling it out and 'fishing' a replacement IS NOT POSSIBLE.

[@DistantShoresTV]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@iainlyall6475]

why bother with an agm bat. why not just go with the higher end bat. and just be done with it?

[@william6526]

One thing I've always wondered is how people who cruise for thier lives ,How can they afford to have a boat worth hundreds of thousands built or they buy a boat that's already built like a couple of the young people on u tube just bought new catamarans worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. I just can't understand how they can live a very expensive lifestyle compared to the average person who works a regular job and then be able to buy these very expensive boats and pay for the upkeep and all the expense with sailing one of these boats.

[@DistantShoresTV]

They have large followings which make them appealing to sponsors and advertisers which provides a good income.

[@william6526]

@DistantShoresTV thankyou I could never figure out how they were able to live the life style they do without working a regular job.

[@simonhantler8062]

@@william6526they are a lot smarter than us too. although its their financial priority and ours may be owning a house that goes up instead of down and could be sold to buy one of the new boats. its all relative to lifestyle. i couldnt put all my eggs in one basket, but i wish i could 🤞

[@johnmayer3433]

They kind of do have a regular job since making the videos takes at least 40 hours a week.

[@harrycash8713]

With all of your knowledge and all of the people that manufacture boats why did you choose this one?

[@goph999]

what are you living of? 34 years and you have done nothing.

[@stevenr8606]

@goph999, on other people's dimes 💸 😮

[@DistantShoresTV]

For 40 years Paul and I have been award winning television and video producers, speakers and bestselling authors. We haven’t been doing nothing. 😊

[@william6526]

@DistantShoresTV why do people have to make such cruel statements when it's obvious they don't understand like I did how cruisers fund thier life styles. It's much kinder to ask if you really want to know something rather then spouting mean cruel remarks about people you don't know. I'm sure you work very hard at what you do and bravo to you for finding a way to live a life most of us if we are honest are envious of. God bless and I wish you all the best the good lord provides.

[@Enduro-Life]

Better to have at least 1.2kw of solar