Biggest Fears of Buying an Old Boat IGNITED🔥Shocked to find this on our 44yo sailboat | A&J Sailing

This might spark you to tear apart your own sailboat...
VOTE FOR US HERE!👇
zealous.co/youngcruisersassoc...
We’ve thrown our hat into the ring for BEST Emerging KZbin channel at the International Cruisers Awards 🫣These awards are the biggest in the boating/cruising community & we are up against some pretty amazing folks/channels!🔥 It would mean so much if you could take a moment to vote for us 🗳️🙏🏽 #allisonandjamessailing
Ya’ll are legends, thank you community!
~We acknowledge the Kwakwaka'wakw people as the original caretakers and stewards of the lands and waterways on which this film was created, on the unceded territory of the Namgis First Nations~
WHO WE ARE
We're a Canadian Aussie duo documenting the joys & challenges of life off-grid on our small 'no-frills' sailboat. Currently exploring the Inside Passage heading North to Alaska, continually chasing our dreams of adventuring off the beaten path & living a more sustainable, self-sufficient life..
We'd love for you to join us!
SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss the next episode! / allisonjames
What You can Expect This Season👉 • Sailing the North! Sai...
🔔If you're into outdoor adventures (sailing, skiing, hiking), tiny homes, off-grid living and DIY projects then you'll want to click that notification bell so you don't miss an episode!
THANK YOU for considering supporting our film making so that we can continue to produce videos for you each week, your support really matters
►Become a Patreon / allisonandjames
►Interested to send a one-time donation directly? Here is our Paypal link www.paypal.com/paypalme/james...
Want MORE sailing content? Binge watch from the beginning!
• The Start of Life at S...
Follow us on Facebook! / allisonandjames.youtube
Connect with us on socials and follow along for real time updates!
A Instagram / allisonmcisaac
J Instagram / james_stce
Music from Epidemic Sound
#sailingadventures #sailing #boatlife

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you for voting for us! We really appreciate your support! Don't forget to pop your vote# in the comments below 👇

[@bertsanford7943]

Know the feeling. In process of tearing out all the old wiring (which was a maze of electrical tape and butt splices) for the cabin lighting. It was all old and undersized. I had already changed out all the other wiring earlier. It seems that when you buy an old boat, you should just replace the wiring as a matter of course.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Good on ya mate! It comes with the territory of buying an older boat, they all need a rewire. Best of luck with your projects mate!

[@mikeh4245]

The electrical rework looks great! Messy wiring is one of my pet peeves, I can relate to the satisfaction of making it tidy and safe 🙂

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Cheers Mike! It’s very satisfying to make it safe and tidy! Thanks for check out our video!!

[@stephenburnage7687]

I had a small fire on my 1975 boat (more of a smoldering than a fire actually), which led me to take a close look at all the wiring. What a rats nest the previous owners had made of it. Personally rewired everything. Started with the 110V system, then the heavy duty 12V system etc, etc until every last wire was replaced. Sleep much better knowing that.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

It’s pretty wild the mess of wires that accumulate over the life of a boat! Well done on making your boat a safer and more reliable vessel!

[@stephenburnage7687]

@@AllisonandJamesSailing Nearly 50% of my old wires went nowhere (although some were still live). Past owners had simply added new wires without removing the old ones. Astonishing, really.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Similar story! May current boat owners of the world make their electrical better than they found it☝🏽Cheers mate!

[@adrianlanglois2093]

Nice work on the electrical. I do this for a living and my OCD approves lol.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thanks mate! I'm glad that we met your standards of OCD!

[@Skagitrover]

Nice work! Don’t forget some chafing protection where you pass the fiberglass edges. Voter 236! We just got back from 3 weeks of boating in the Gulf Islands.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Hope you had a fantastic trip around the gulf islands! We've done a bit more work to the electrical since filming this, chafe protections was amongst that :) Thank you for voting, cheers!!!

[@rodneyallen5003]

Tackling the electrical system is a daunting task. Well maybe in my mind at least as I feel that electrical systems are intimidating. You did a great job ( as always of course 👍🏼 ) on cleaning the wiring up and making the system work better and of course safer. Hope you have the opportunity to be able to afford upgrading your battery bank to lithium as you upgrade your system with solar energy. Side note : at this point I’ve literally watched every single episode you’ve created and would like to thank you for the amazing content, valuable information about sailing in the PNW & the inland passage as well as helping me keep my sanity as I wait to go back to work once things thaw out again. Very much looking forward to your next episode next week. You guys are Rock’n-it 🤙🏼 As always, fair winds and following seas ⛵️

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Daunting for most folks minus the professionals! Feels super having that all cleaned up. We’re looking into solar and lithium options as we speak - exciting stuff! Thank you so much for watching, and for chatting and sharing your kind sentiments with us throughout! We’re really feeling so grateful to have gathered a community of awesome folks like you. So happy to hear the information we’ve shared has been helpful and stoked we could help sustain your sanity for the time being! Hope to bring you more goodies soon. Cheers friend!

[@stephenburnage7687]

I rewired my boat (mostly out of necessity). My approach was to tackle it one circuit at a time. It's not quite so daunting, that way.

[@ColleenBee]

Vote 217 Love watching the 'fixing the electrical' segment. I have a fiberglass trailer and went through some similar "how many splices can I find" games. I completely understand the desire to know exactly what wire goes where. I speak from experience when I say that it is well worth the effort, it's saved us many frustrations to be able to quickly troubleshoot (especially in some of those 40 degree days! All the best with the contest! Keep it up!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Awesome! It can be an intimidating project to start but ends up feeling pretty empowering as you go along with the added bonus of confidence in knowing what you're dealing with! Thank you so much for your support Colleen, always so nice hearing from you!

[@johnross440]

Really enjoy your Ozzie Humour… John and Penny… Ontario….

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Awe thanks guys, cheers!

[@meestahwah]

I have a C34 from 1991 and it had those trailer plugs wired in. Mine had deformed from too high amps traveling through the connection. The C34 owners forum had a TON of great info on must do upgrades, some of which are applicable to your C30. If you still have the amp meter at the panel, that is a BIG one to rewire and switch to a volt meter. Edit: oops... just hit play after writing the above where you talked about deleting the Amp meter.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Those things are a hazard! The C30 owners forum has been very informative. Still lots to do but feels good to have removed those things and cleaned up some of the mess!

[@peterstace9006]

Looks like a lot of fun, ripping out the old and in with the new, with upgrades. Got to love the new tech.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Always a good feeling improving and modernizing a system!

[@84Rabbitz]

That shore power breaker switch almost started a fire on my boat. . . Scary. I have rewired both systems now. Apparently the 120 breaker should be less than 10 feet from the shore power plug. I've put in all blue sea systems panels. So much better.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Stoked you got that shore power breaker switch sorted out! Fire's are not so hot on a boat! The blue sea system stuff is amazing, I think ill start integrating more of their products in the future.

[@84Rabbitz]

Wish I could post pics of our set-up. Might have to start making vids of our own. Lol

[@camsail]

Vote 209 ! Great to see you in that list! Thanks for taking us along on your journeys!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Awe thank you so much! We really appreciate it

[@stephenburnage7687]

People do not understand that while the principle danger of 110V systems is shock, the principle danger of 12V systems is fire. Fire on a small boat is no small concern.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Fire is a huge concern! Gotta be safe out there on the water!

[@mikemcauliffe4786]

Thank you for walking through the refit 204 was my number

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you so much for taking the time to vote!! We have you locked in at #204

[@mikes8686]

Great work. So satisfying fixing legacy work. I redid the house lights on our Catalina 30 last year. So great. vote 208

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

So satisfying! That’s awesome, we’ve been wanting to do that for a long time! 💡 so far we’ve been making the most of candlelight ambiance haha Thank you so much for your vote, we really appreciate it! 🙏🏽

[@kirbyfroese2013]

211. Love your channel. Nice sense of freedom. We just returned from Alert Bay about three weeks ago. Hope to go back relying on the wind someday. Fair winds!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you so much!! And that's awesome! We may have crossed paths, or just missed you.. hope to catch you around someday soon!

[@kirbymcd1]

I'm getting ready to do some electrical cleanup and a few upgrades on my 26x. Not excited about the work but the results will be well worth it.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Awesome mate! It's a daunting project but the piece of mind once it's all complete is worth the work ten fold. Best of luck with it all, you've got this!

[@francinegolbeck3116]

Very informative video, you did an amazing job upgrading the El. System, the 6 or 8 pole plug you call "trailer plug" is an actual Catalina part and designed so the engine can be pulled out without removing any wires from it. Just that the plug gets old fast and this is a "known" Catalina issue.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thanks Francine golbeck! There a a bunch of catalina 30 issues that we’re slowly addressing, the 70’s we’re a learning curve for boat building!!

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

​@@AllisonandJamesSailing The same connection plug block was on every ford Europe car of the same period. .. Escorts Cortinas the lot millions of them building kit cars decades later they cause problems corrosion usually.. out of sight. Your engine runs then cuts again when it over heats. Worst ever were the German VW parts of the period they used plated steel blade and spade connections even on the fuse box 😬

[@kjslavin]

Vote number 237. I like your balance of sailing, wildlife and projects. I like wiring projects but they can be frustrating. We bought a Carter 30 in Sydney, Australia nearly a year ago. It had a couple of issues that we knew about (delaminated rudder skeg) which is fixed but old engine has failed and we a looking at replacing it with a Beta 20. Then we will actually be able to use the boat again.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you for voting! It sounds like you've got your work cut out for ya! Bummer about the old engine failing, a Beta 20 seems like a super reliable way to go. Stoked for you to get back out there and thank you for check out our videos!

[@tubeyerself2]

Wires should never be bundled but rather laid side by side. 1 overheating wire will take the whole works with it. Warm wires carry less current. & S by S wires are much easier to trace.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

In a ideal world. Good tips, thanks for watching. Cheers!

[@jasonsweeney9005]

I love watching your simple way of living and it is high on my list to come sail in the PNW. Good luck! 213

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you so much!! We hope to see you out here one day

[@FlyingConey]

Just found your channel and immediately subscribed. Great camera work 📷! All the best from Flying Coney ⛵

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Awesome, thanks for sub'ing! Stoked to have you aboard!

[@johnrumbles3068]

Vote 210 now registered, absolutely love all the wildlife shots , keep them coming. I have also worked on boat electrics in my time, and its is always a pig of a job. What you have achieved is superb!!!!!!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Amazing, thank you so much for your support! Thanks for mentioning the wildlife shots, Allison really enjoys getting those. The amount of eagles around this Spring was insane. Feels good to have tackled the bulk of the electrical, thanks again!

[@pjc222955]

Voted for you when it first came out, didn't get the no but enjoy what you do. Keep up the good work

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you so much! We will add you into the draw with an earlier number. We really appreciate your support, cheers!

[@Coyotehello]

How did I miss that episode??? Anyway, Toronto and Texas area codes, interesting... Those 'wing nuts' I call them marettes and wingnuts are well wingnuts. L Yeah, no trailer hitch connectors are not marine grade and that one had some heating and corrosion issue and the corrosion was likely creating more heating issues, vicious circle! Nice project, well done! I am just collecting the pieces to tackle similar project on our boat as soon as the weather becomes more bearable. Also some nav stuff. Signal K and Open CPN, I am starting putting this nav software's together on a Rasberry Pi5, not as a primary system but more for fun and redundancy. Cheers, s/v Laysan

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

haha! Sneaky first episode of the season that didn't make it to the new season playlist! Agreed wingnuts are def wingnuts! So glad that trailer hitch connector is outta there! Glad you enjoyed the episode, thanks so much! Best of luck with your beastly electrical/navigation projects, you got this!!

[@Coyotehello]

@@AllisonandJamesSailing I actually had to pause the video when I first saw the trailer hitch connector! LOL

[@itsmedaveh5516]

Hi, I’m vote number 225 ! I really enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you so much! We really appreciate your support! 🙏🏽

[@paullaviolette2610]

Turns out we are going to be in Alert Bay in a week or two. I would love to meet up with you two then. Just so happens my brother lives on a sailboat and doesn’t have an inverter. Your old one might work out as his new one. I have a few stories about Alert Bay you might find interesting. PS - I was waiting for this video with worms on my tongue (bated breath).

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Awe, We’re you anxiously anticipating a big electrical refit, or just stoked about the new season?!! Would love to meetup and hear stories. We’re heading to a wedding in the interior but we’ll be back on Sept 27th and will be around after that! We’d love to pass on the inverter to your brother!

[@Constantine-yp1dl]

I really enjoyed this video. I am curious to know if you had this boat surveyed before you bought it. If not, do you think the survey report would reflect all of this inconsistent wiring mess?

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Really glad you enjoyed it! We had just surveyed an identical boat, and this one had none of the same issues, so it was the one! We new the wiring was a disaster, as it is on most old boats with many owners over the years! What mattered was that the structure and all the other big ticket items checked out!

[@markcanterbury4847]

You placed the new battery bank in the quarter berth, will you show a photo of the install of please. I would like to open up the area under your the nav station too.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

We trialed it this season and glad we made the changes we did, it worked really well for us! Would recommend. We showed a few quick snaps of the temporary setup around 16:39. Still need to build & glass in the battery box. Can't add a photo here which is a pain, but if you message us on Facebook or email us we'd be happy to share more of those details with you. Cheers!

[@sylvialindgren6676]

Vote 235. Loving seeing sailing in our own back yard. We are sailing summers in the Salish Sea and have been following your adventures for a few months now. Keep up the great work. How hard was it to find a place to leave your boat in Alert Bay. Its occurred to me that we could spend a summer sailing north and then come south the following year with a trip around the west coast of Vancouver Island to prepare us for a trip south....way south.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

That sounds like a great way to prep for a trip into the 'far' south! Steven at the Harbor Authority is a guy to talk to, super awesome bloke. Please let us know when you make it up, we'd love to share an anchorage with you! Thanks for following and voting!!

[@erikalaurentz1521]

Wishing you the best! We are refitting a 1980 Cooper 416, in Puget Sound and enjoy watching you both sail to places that we plan on visiting in the near future. Even more, we love the energy that you both bring to your videos! 201 VOTES

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Awe, thank you so much you guys! It's so nice to hear from folks cruising in the same corner of the globe. Beautiful boat! Best of luck with the refit and thank you for the support! We've got you locked in at #201

[@itscarolinemary]

Those heritage buildings are so pretty! 😍 I voted back on Sept 2nd, I tried to find my number but couldn't, anyhow I clicked the link again and it says 196. 😜

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

So much character, all the colors remind me so much of my hometown St. Johns, NL! Yess you were one of the first voters, a real OG. We have you locked in! Thank you for your continued support Caroline!

[@markroth9827]

Well done on that wiring.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thanks so much Mark, cheers!

[@gillianmills5400]

Vote 227. Good luck you two!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you so much Gillian!

[@stevewoodyear-smith8173]

Hey guys great to see you back with videos. Really enjoyed your electrical revamp, must be sooo satisfying. Is voting still open? I can’t find the link can you guide me to it?

[@stevewoodyear-smith8173]

All good mate, surprised myself and actually tracked down the link and voted #229. Hope you win 🤞

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you so much Steve!!

[@southernpaths2986]

If I’m reading the number right I’m 183, but (don’t tell anyone!!) I think I may have voted at least three times, lol!!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

haha thanks so much!!! We're locking you in at #183

[@brownnoise357]

Anything to do with Boat wiring, to get it right and Safe, watch the Pacific Yacht Systems Videos on KZbin. and definitely Tin every wire, and buy the correct Boating standard Cable - Just using red and black cables shows that you can't be doing things right. This is humble Pie from me by the way, as a qualified Skilled electrical installation engineer, it's been embarrassing to admit to myself that everything Boating I have done, has been following on with the mistakes that have been made by all of the previous owners of every single boat I have owned in the past. Believe me, that is Really sobering, that I had no idea that Boat wiring is so different, for really good Safety Reasons. ❤ and Best Wishes from Bob in Wales - the original not the New South One. 👍⛵️✨️✨️✨️

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

This is the beginning of our electrical journey, certainly not the end, cheers!

[@Quincy65]

Great video, you guys are great. Voted for you. My vote number is 233

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you for watching, voting and enjoying our video's! Cheers Quincy!

[@willeaton9270]

Enjoy the videos. Vote #206

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Amazing, thank you so much!

[@brownnoise357]

Further to my post, you need a proper wiring Diagram to follow withbthe right equipment to make sure you arent leaking lethal levels of electricity into the water around your Boat. Sorry mate but before going any further, you need to be sure you are doing everything Right, with adequate and correct Marine wiring Standards. Even Jeff Cote of Pacific Yacht Systems can accidentally getbthings wrong, but spend some time watching their videos, and you'll be off to a great Start AND you will create a Correct wiring Diagram which will be invaluable to have with your Boat. Good Luck. Bob in Wales. 👍⛵️✨️✨️✨️

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

This isn't a how-to video and we'll be the first to admit we don't know it all. We're not here to make videos to show us doing everything right, we're learning just like everyone else. Cheers!

[@brownnoise357]

@@AllisonandJamesSailing But you have made a how to Video, and so far, apart from doing some Shelves it is a How to do everything electrical WRONG, and that can backfire disastrously on you and others, including Fatally. Stop caring about rap like bloody awards from Shitheads like Google. Sail Properly by doing things right, or DO NOT SAIL. because right now, sorry to burst your bubble, but you just aren't fit to be on a boat as you are clearly a Hazard to other Boaters. However, Thinking Cap On, and you are young enough to still Learn, unless of course this is the usual Result of people twatting around after doing ridiculous Media Studies Courses. Simple Choice, Learn to do things right and Safely, or get off the Boat and Stay on Land (which can be just as dangerous if Clueless unskilled idiots get hold of you. Pick One ! Hint : Once you become genuinely skilled in One Thing. Getting Genuinely Skilled in Other Things becomes easier and easier, as you get smart enough to Study the ins and outs of every Skill, before you even Start, such as looking into the Ins and outs Of Boat wiring Standards. So what does you Not Even Looking prior to charging around like a bull in a China Shop tell the entire world about Your Skill Level Chum ? You Clearly don't have even One Genuine Skill under your belt do you. Change That, and You Change Your World. Best of Luck. If you find Electrical Stuff Really Confusing, it Can help to think of it in Terms of Plumbing, But that doesn't ecessarily help if you are unskilled at Plumbing as well of course. 🤔👍✨️✨️✨️❤️

[@brownnoise357]

@@AllisonandJamesSailing PS. Like everyone else, I came into this Life with a Blank Sheet. One of the Best insights I was given, was by the Father of a girl I almost married - I really dodged a bullet with her - he said, there is no limit on the number of Skills it is possible for us to learn . A former Mining engineer, he switched to Teaching, Maths, Physics, Metalwork, and woodwork and the engineering Workshop he had behind the house he had built himself, was phenomenal, the only thing it lacked was a forge, and I built that with him. He grew all of the tobacco he used every year himself, and knew how to cure it. As an aside, the Best Advice I was ever given was - If You Want To Change Your Life Change Your Friends. So Skills , what sort of Skills do I have Qualified Civil and Structural Engineer, Quantity Surveyor / Surveyor- Thorn EMI Trained Skilled Electrical Installation Engineer. early Microsoft Registered Developer. Mainframe Computer Service Engineer. After Sussex University switched AI Research and development into online Computer Gaming, I followed as a Software Tester to keep a very close eye on this hazard to Life and Liberty. Qualified Welder. I got Grandfathered in to every Sailing qualification, including Yachtmaster Offshore, but as I do not professionally use those qualifications, if needed, I only have to log another Transatlantic Crossing. Really though, if not doing such things Professuonally, all anyone needs is the International Certificate of Competence, and if you log your trips, renewal is a minor formality. I've been a Roofer , had an apprentice, specialising in Natural Slate Roofing. Been an Architect and designed a Timber Frame House, with 95% of the benefits of Canadian R2000 standards, for 5% of the Cost, am a qualified Wildlife Manager and have an Advanced Marksman qualification. Whilst mostly a multidisciplined engineer, I am also a Published Scientist after writing a Paper for the British Parliament's Science and Technology Committee, that they were on the receiving end of a Scam attempting to fund the Fraud that was Ocean Acidification. the Chairman was so impressed, he asked for, and received my Permission to Publish it. The Words Ocean Acidification haven't been heard in Parliament since. Unfortunately, as the data provided also Debunked Anthropogenic Global warming and that Our Atmosphere has a pretty Serious Shortage of CO2 Content, we are still on the receiving end of a Stupid War against a critical Life and Biodiversity Gas, but that Criminal Agenda does seem to now be dying as the words - it's The Sun Stupid ! - are starting to sink in, even in Germany, where they are dismantling useless Bird and Bat Chomping Wind Farms and are switching back to Coal for a reliable Source of Energy. So things look up. I have acquired a fair number of other skills that haven't needed qualifications, plus afterbover 30 years studying Constitutional Philosophy, there isn't actually anywhere in the World where anyone can actually acquire a qualification - which is pretty Disastrous for Humanity as a whole tbh, as it has been replaced with the Unscientific Nonsense called Political Science. So how many Skills do you think you can acquire if you put your mind to it? A Sailboat an be a huge help Look atvthe Skills Mads and Ava on the Channel Sail Life have already achieved with their Sailboat Athena. Some other Channels are really good too with ni e people spreading their knowledge, like Sailing Impavidus, Millenium Falcon Sailing Sisu, etc. Once you start, it's fun, but remember this, if you aren't Sweating, you aren't learning, and trouble shooting is a great way to start sweating. Best of Luck. Bob. 👍⛵️✨️✨️✨️❤️

[@minuetmcvaymirage2433]

vote 266 .

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you so much!! 🙏🏽💙

[@jmunozar]

hey guys! I got number uhh 187? anyways; wish you all the best and good luck! :D

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Awesome! Thank you so much, we really appreciate it!

[@valsrventures]

I voted, but don't see a voting number after I confirmed my vote...

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Hi Val, when you go to your email and click the link that says confirm your vote, it takes you back to the awards page and updates the number of votes. Just pop that number down in the comments. i.e. if you did that now you would be #185!

[@valsrventures]

@@AllisonandJamesSailing Thanks so much!! I'm #183. You're awesome!!