Major Failure At Sea

[@gonewiththewynns]

All things considered, we were sooo incredibly fortunate it all happened on a calm morning, in a protected bay, during normal business hours, and just hours from our planned port of call. Had it been the middle of the night with rough seas and mid-ocean, this all could have been much, much worse. 🦈Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter code WYNNS for an extra 4 months free at surfshark.com/wynns

[@janerogers2395]

Music?

[@jamesbuckley8917]

I am a chemical engineer in the lithium battery industry for over 30 years. The 2 things you should have on board are ORGANIC VAPOR RESIPRATORS(half mask). They are not that expensive and use cartridges, no air tank. The electrolyte in the lithium ion cells use organic carbonates and they can be carcinogenic when inhaled. If you are smelling plastic burning, that is the battery case and not the cells. Secondly, the electrolyte can develop HF when overheated or if the cells leak. HF is a very strong acid, always use eye protection and rubber gloves if you see liquid escaping the cells. Do not touch the liquid electrolyte. If you do get it on you, use baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), ammonia (found in window cleaners), toothpaste (contains some basic salts), antacids (like magnesium hydroxide) to cleanse the area. Then wash with liberal amounts of water. If you get it in your eyes, flush with water for 10-15 minutes. The same acid protocol applies to AGM(lead acid chemistry), which uses sulfuric acid electrolyte.

[@stargazer7644]

These are not lithium batteries.

[@nullzero]

​@stargazer7644 the house batteries are and having masks that cover you well enough for the Li Ion will still help for lead acid fumes.

[@stargazer7644]

@@nullzero Granted, but you can't carry one of everything on a small boat. If you get to the point where you need a gas mask to deal with your propulsion battery bank melting down it'll just be to get in the life raft.

[@PsyTechnical]

Was the lead acid AGM which need to be replaced with LiFePO4 batteries

[@IEnigIMa]

Excellent James. I work around HF (hydrofluoric acid) in semiconductor industry for 30 yrs. Heed this warning from James. HF is particularly nasty, a calcium seeking acid that is not necessarily painful sometimes for hours after exposure. The potential exposure after handling those batteries could transfer to the surfaces of your boat and you may not know. I wish them the best and appreciate the caring nature of such informed viewers. Thank you to the viewers for such informative advice.❤

[@engineeringconsulting5534]

Jason and Nikki, I am a physicist with a degree in inorganic chemistry. I am an electrochemist as an expert in electrolytic water treatment. The wet cell batteries that are used to turn the starters for your engines are made up of lead plates/electrodes in a concrtrated sufuric acid solution. What you smelt was hydrogen sulfide gas H2S (g) which is toxic if inhaled in high concentrations. Since, you both are alive and were not vomiting with burning eyes or a server burning troat then your are fine. With high concentration the lining in your lungs will produce enough liquid to drown you. The smell is similar to that of a rotten egg, which is also hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is released in solutions with a pH below 7. You probably had a mixture of some off gas from the plastic as well, since it was hot enough to expand the battery case. Since, you opened the engine compartment doors the concentration inside the engine compartment was well ventilated. That's why Jason wasn't completely overcome by the gas. I'm sure that you had the ventilation fans on, as well, while running the engines. You should try wipping any exposed metals in the compartment with water soaked clothes as hydrogen sulfide is highly corrosive. It would be a good idea to check electrical connectors, also, and coat them with a electrical grease. If you did suffer any tissue damage to your lungs it is probably minor and will/would heal relatively fast. A carbon monoxide alarm will not detect hydrogen sulfide. The best sensor is your nose. However, if you smell it as a strong concentration and then the smell goes away, go to an area where you can breathe fresh air; as hydrogen sulfide will mask your olfactory sensors and you want be able to smell it. Bedt always to open engine compartment doors, turn off all electrical draw are charging to the batteries and let the batteries cool before proceeding with any inspection of the area. I apologize for the lon winded comments. Great video. Cheers! Faithfully, James

[@crowcrow1032]

Thanks for caring so much James to write such an informative post - we all have learnt a lot from your kind words - cheers Crow (in Australia)

[@rmkep]

@@garymason8191 This is FUD talk. Tesla's have driven millions of miles and are well established as safe, reliable and high performing vehicles. Having owned several I can attest to those statements. BTW, Tesla is a Corporation made of thousands of people, not just Elon Musk who currently is not heavily involved in it's operation. The sooner he gets to Mars, the better IMHO.

[@engineeringconsulting5534]

@@crowcrow1032 Thank you for the kind words. The batteries that Jason and Nikki had problems with are a modified lead acid battery; where glass matts are placed between the plates/electrodes. They have a longer life and faster recharge (due to lower resistance between plates).. Jason and Nikki will need to find out why the batteries overcharged before replacing with new batteries; most probably the voltage regulator, which is probably electronic on their system. Have a great day. Cheers! Blue Skies.. Faithfully, James

[@russmarkham2197]

great response. Only to add that hydrogen sulphide is extremely toxic. Luckily it smells so bad that it can't be ignored. It is actually more toxic than hydrogen cyanide.

[@MonikaMatis]

thanks - I just noticed you comment after adding my comment correcting some mistakenly developing on"lithium" battery type event.

[@nooneanybodyknows7912]

No advice, no suggestions, no commentary about what's right or wrong or how to fix it. I'm simply glad you are docked safely. Thanks for sharing.

[@BillJohnston-y7o]

Really stupid to charge starting batteries that way. There should not be any load on those batteries, one solar panel and charge controller and you'd never have that problem again.

[@keithreams8921]

Great job guys! I didn't read all of the comments so apologies if this is redundant. Electrical Engineer here. Having redundant diesel setups and NOT having battery isolators in the system is a major design failure! As you just learned. Secondly, not having an over-volt or under-volt alarm on the start batteries considering the plethora of systems you have on that vessel with the ability to monitor voltage is another design failure. You should have received an overvolt or over-temp alarm. Both of these parameters are regularly monitored items and there are plenty of simple off-the-shelf items that would provide the notification and safety. I would talk to H&H and make them rectify. No sense having redundant systems if they overlooked a critical portion of the system by not isolating it.

[@julesmoto9022]

@@keithreams8921 so true

[@todddunn945]

@@stargazer7644 Actually any significant charging system has temperature monitors which, among other things, are used to adjust charging voltage. I know my inverter charger definitely has temperature sensors on the batteries as do my Victron solar charge controllers and temperature is displayed on the Victron system. Incidentally, they used switches to turn the batteries off. Switches and battery isolators are not the same thing.

[@realulli]

@@stargazer7644 maybe not a temp sensor but at least a voltage sensor. These batteries got WAY too much voltage, resulting in WAY too much current. This in turn destroyed the battery, causing it to heat up and release fumes.

[@jpe1]

@@stargazer7644internet know-it-alls are _so_ *tedious* Based on your comments on this thread, you don’t have a good understanding of how voltage relates to SOC (state of charge) in batteries, and how AGM differs from regular flooded cell batteries. AGM (absorbent glass mat) batteries use the same chemistry as flooded lead acid batteries, but in an AGM there are two fiberglass mats that hold the electrolyte, and thus the battery can be sealed. AGM batteries have lower resistance, which means more amps at a given voltage, either when charging or discharging. Regular flooded cell batteries can see charging voltages as high as 17v with out problems, due to their higher internal resistance they won’t overheat, but AGM batteries should never see voltage above 14.5 volts, due to lower internal resistance there will be too much current at those higher voltages and the battery will overheat. Having said that, I’m confident that the designers at HH are well aware of how AGM batteries differ from regular flooded cell batteries, and the charging equipment was designed appropriately, but the voltage regulator on the alternator is a weak link, and (based on what I saw in the video) I wouldn’t be surprised if the failure mode turns out to be a bad voltage regulator that allowed 17 or even 18v on the battery bus, combined with an isolator that didn’t recognize that voltage as being dangerously high (probably due to a software configuration error).

[@ssn608]

I'm thinking another spare 12v battery might be nice, so can start second diesel. Or a long jumper cable.

[@susiesmith9957]

Two intelligent people tackling the issues head on while maintaining their composure during a very stressful situation. Kudos to you both.

[@PeterPanbe]

indeed!

[@ThePricipleOfParsimony]

Totally. 🙌🙏

[@moltderenou]

We only saw the edited bits

[@camdensimon1935]

So true. The Wynns are troopers and so inspirational!!!! And……I would never touch an HH…..talk about massive problem boat

[@elaineevans7126]

Seriously! Relationship goals💓💓💓

[@fluffywarhampster]

Honestly I would Never put those batteries in the shower. Put them on the back steps so they are well ventilated and can be kicked into the ocean if necessary. I get that it's not a pleasant idea from an environmental perspective but human life and protecting the boat comes first in this case.

[@dianemilligan7370]

I admire how Nikki always finds the positives in any situation and how calmly you both focus on solving any problems.

[@wallykramer7566]

Nikki is a glittering angel! And is a great source of knowledge and experience.

[@philipwatkins632]

Both amazing young couple ❤🎉❤

[@dwk5234]

Very well done, both of you deserve a lot of praise and respect. There’s an old directive for pilots who are experiencing distracting, maybe even dangerous ancillary things during flight-“just fly the plane!” You guys did exactly that with the boat, and the result was a successful passage. Professional, heartfelt, entertaining and engaging storytelling…Wynn’s for the win!

[@stargazer7644]

The preferred order of operations for a pilot is "1. Aviate 2. Navigate 3. Communicate"

[@red_ben3487]

Assuming your fridge was on the 12v system, there's probably a major issue somewhere in the 12v system. 2 fridges had blown circuit boards, possibly from over voltage and now over charged batteries. There's probably also a non zero chance this has to do with the ground issues you've been having too. (Galvanic corrosion issues )

[@theafricabug2529]

This!

[@jongmans38]

Yes, could be linked.

[@fallinginthed33p]

Should get electrical diagnostics tools onboard. Fixing electrical system gremlins is hard enough on a car or motorbike, it sounds like a total pain on a boat.

[@ibrahimx28]

thats a good point. The fridge could be sensitive enough that it was one of the first things to be fried.

[@CarryOnRTW]

I'd be shocked if they didn't have diagnostic gauges and warnings for the electrical system on another screen somewhere on that boat.

[@Eyagsf]

You guys are so brave to be sailing a revolutionary experiment. You are the guinea pigs for environmentally minded sailor. Please don’t venture far until you get the kinks worked out. We all wish the best for you guys and your experiment.

[@toddhodges9991]

They need to not venture further than 100 NM.

[@michellereynolds6290]

I seriously hope HH can get all of the issues you're having sorted out sooner than later so that you can fully enjoy that beautiful cat! You guys definitely must be frustrated (heck, I'm frustrated for you watching from the comfort of my home!), but you're doing a great job of keeping a positive demeanor. Love my Sundays with the Wynns 💙

[@chrislaf89]

Certainly making use of the warranties

[@Robin-c2c4v]

@michellereynolds6290 issues? Did you see the temperature of those swelling toxic batteries? How do you 'work out' a problem for your client That potentially could have been life threatening for them? New yacht No problems Is mandatory for the Wynns They can not say they have made a wise investment Dealing with trauma like this. AND THEY SHOULD BE SAYING THEY MADE A WISE INVESTMENT. NEW YACHT NO PROBLEMS IS PROTOCOL AT THIS POINT

[@RiverWoods111]

The Fridge is not HH, the Batteries could very well not be HH. Most of their other problems that were HH are solved. There might be a few because they did have to get the heckers out of Typhoon territory where their insurance will cover them. Their issues are minor compared to some new boats, but all new boats have them. They knew going into this new boat there would be a lot of warranty work to get done once they sailed a few miles.

[@michellereynolds6290]

@@Robin-c2c4v Why are you yelling at me? Calm the F*** down. I'm just a loyal subscriber who sees that the Wynn's have had a slew of issues with their brand new cat and wants them to get the resolution that they deserve. I'm not a boat owner, I don't know anything about boats or batteries, but I get this was a serious problem. Chill. My god....

[@Robin-c2c4v]

@michellereynolds6290 sorry

[@paulines5112]

I don't know guys, Hubby and I are retired novice sailors. For us, it was ALL ABOUT being on the water.... enjoying nature in a peaceful and carefree place. I realize this is a new boat with new systems designed to enhance the experience but I feel, and it's just my old school opinion, that all the gadgetry has lept far beyond the true, nautical experience and has brought all the frustrations and complications of a land life out to sea with you. Having said that, I do admire how you two are able to navigate the unknowns while staying positive!

[@davidsier4047]

very much agree, way way to much technology.

[@missychan63]

​@@davidsier4047yep! It's a beautiful boat and I understand most of the decisions they made but for me personally, take me back to the old days. I would never argue the safety technology and I'm not sure I want to be shimmying up any poles anytime soon- I'm 61 and not in the best shape thanks to a badly broken ankle, LOL- Pat the more bells and whistles you have, the more bells and whistles you have to break. In the middle of nowhere. In water. No thank you.😅 I feel the same way about my cars- My newest car is 14 years old simply because I don't want all the bells and whistles that all the new ones come with. Give me my GPS and I'm good to go... And I can do without that if I have to. I still know how to read and fold a real paper map! Almost unheard of nowadays... But I'm a girl, which means I was usually the co-pilot, which means I better know how to read and fold a map. 😉

[@DaDude999]

You see that it still functions as an analog sailboat when tech is down. You don't lose that. You just gain more features.

[@toolkit71]

No matter how many problems you have on your passages, your team works together to resolve the solution, bringing in outside help when required like HH, but the core of your team are you two. I love how you always end your videos on a positive note. Look forward to this video every Sunday you post.

[@glenhale8234]

In addition to all of the warranted commendations expressed in Jason and Nikki’s favor, I will add that Nikki has a natural gift of “operation”. She brought the CAT into the marina, made three right angle turns, and gently moved a huge moving home into a slip without incident and off boat help. Nikki and Jason are TEAM!

[@catherineanderson77]

Yes! This team stayed calm through the whole situation! I was very proud of Nikki seeing how she sailed the boat into the marina! Well done team Wynn's!!!

[@davidsier4047]

@@catherineanderson77 true, but even Nikki would admit that with almost zero windspeed it shouldnt be to difficult, especially considering how long they have been at sea.

[@jaytroxel3495]

Bravo you two..Honestly, this content put out by the Wynns for all of us to view on KZbin is better than TV. Its 'reality' TV at its finest. Thank you both for all the work you put in with planning, filming, editing and posting your content. It really is top notch.

[@LillianHenegar]

Totally agree. They are the gold standard when it comes to KZbin content creation.

[@davidmather7905]

Thank goodness you are both safe. Thermal runaway in a battery is an extremely serious issue, but you both handled it incredibly well. Kudos to you both for such a fantastic job in very stressful circumstances. Well done!

[@olebloom1641]

Great job handling an emergency. you two are great at being self sufficient when it matters.

[@amylouise9853]

HH I am sure you must be watching these videos. It’s time for you to step in and sort out this mess. The boat is beautiful and such an innovative concept but the most important thing for any vessel is safety, you are trusting it with the lives of everyone aboard. Seeing all these problems I would not personally feel safe leaving the dock on an HH vessel. I am not a sailor with the Wynns level of experience but I have been sailing since I was literally a babe in my mother’s arms. My grandfather used to fit out many of our families yachts himself. I have never seen or heard of issues like this on any yachts our friends or family have owned whether they are home fit outs or luxury new builds. What the Wynns have experienced is mind blowing and scary. Some issues are absolutely to be expected in any boat especially an innovative one but this is at the point where I am very concerned for the safety of anyone travelling on this boat.

[@kimthomas652]

What a crazy passage. You guys work so well together. You keep calm and take care of business. Hope your warranty issues are solved and you're back under way quickly!

[@rmkep]

Who knew your fridge would be your 12V over charge indicator? First, "stray current" throughout the boat led to excessive corrosion on critical boat fittings. If Curiosity was just a marina queen and used for day sailing these problems would not have reared their ugly head so quickly. Your boat has wonderful bleeding edge tech but it's apparent to me that as a liveaboard, cruising vessel, the KISS principle should be applied. As many have expressed, you are a very charming, talented, interesting couple who produce great content and we all want you to succeed. More important is that you survive. As I am sure you are aware, you are experiencing "never events" that could threaten your lives. You should not take that boat out again until you are certain she is safe.

[@jasonschneider7896]

Thank goodness it's a 12v system and not a 24v with only one good battery left! Glad you made it through that situation okay! Hope everything is okay health-wise!

[@jackwickman2403]

You said that the 12 volt start batteries are linked together port and starboard and also linked to the buffer battery. This is OK if you only run one diesel engine at a time. The standard 12 volt alternator on the front of the engine will charge all 3 batteries. If the batteries are not defective, then the lowest charge battery will absorb the charge first until it all have equal charge. Then they will all absorb charge together until they are full. A problem occurs if you run both engines at the same time and still have the batteries linked together. The problem is that now the 2 alternators are also linked together. While it is technically possible to create an alternator control system that can deal with this, it is usually not the case. The alternator controllers, aka "voltage regulators", are confused by having 2 sources (alternators) feeding the same load (battery). They may interact with each other and deliver incorrect charging voltages or even suffer damage to the controllers or the rectifier diodes in the alternators. When you run both diesels at the same time separate the port and starboard sides. The buffer battery can be linked to either side, but not both. It may be that you just got a batch of defective batteries and nothing is wrong with the charging system, but a thorough check of the system is certainly required. I saw a DC voltmeter reading of 14.5 volts in the video. The normal "float" voltage for AGM batteries is 13.8 volts. This is the maximum voltage that can safely be applied to the batteries as they approach full charge. The alternator controllers can be adjusted to different voltages to suit different battery types. 14.5 voles can overheat AGM batteries and boil the electrolyte (sulfuric acid). This would explain the fumes and swollen battery cases that you observed. I would ask all the "doom and gloom" Luddites out there to understand that this failure had nothing to do with the lithium batteries, solar panels, or hybrid drive systems on this boat. This same failure could happen to your gas or diesel pickup truck or car, and it does happen. It is a glaring weakness in the electric drive system that it requires the 12 volts from the diesel start batteries for the throttle controls to function. A 48 to 12 volt converter fed by the lithium batteries could power the throttles. Maybe a selector switch to allow the throttles to have multiple power source options like start, lithium, or buffer battery would be a good idea. Some kind of redundancy in this system should be provided as you have 2 of almost everything else. Eliminate this single point of failure. Love you guys and wish you many years of happy sailing. I want to be you.

[@adamgoldberg]

@@stargazer7644 See 16:41. There are alternators.

[@adamgoldberg]

@jackwickman2403 . This. This. This. This. Exactly this. Every bit of this.

[@georgehineniania2683]

Aloha Nikki & Jason, Wow, U 2 r awesome. Hope HH fix dat boat good. Love y'alls patience & calmness in all dat pilikia. Y'alls work gr8t under pressure, mean boat skills 2. Much Aloha nui loa

[@B4LightProductions]

Centerfielder is an example of Regulator that will handle the dual alternators and manage both alternators. Personally, I would start with extensive diagnosis. Finding out exactly what is going on before installing or doing anything. Something as simple as voltage sensing could be to blame. If the voltage sense is placed on the buffer battery and the breaker was turned off that could cause the overcharging.... So could many other things. Probably time for HH to send out their best tech on an plane with a bag of gear. Or....I am available if they can't. :)

[@51marshmellow]

Even though I knew you were going to be ok the problems you had and the stress you were feeling had my anxiety level rising. I now fully understand your wish to ‘get out of Dodge’ while Curiosity’s issues are sorted out. You have come so far from your first days of sailing, so glad something like this didn’t hit you early on. May the future aboard you home be much smoother ahead. Love you two❤❤❤❤

[@rdholmes2007]

So glad you are both ok. You might not (yet) have the most robust and technically stable catamaran but you have something far more important than that… an ability to stay calm, find gratitude and always look on the bright side of life. With a positive outlook on life you can weather any storm or any electrical problem the HH factory throw at you. That is more valuable than any warranty. ❤️🙏

[@ZombieKiller1965]

Im not as concerned about the battery as i am about the electrical system. Youve blown 2 fridges and now a battery. First of all obviously something is wrong with the entire 12v system. Secondly your fancy dancy control center hasnt detected the problem. You have to stop and seriously consider parking this thing. If the system is screwed up (which it obviously is) next time it could be one of your lithium batteries. If one of those goes up your screwed. Seriously guys, sit down and have a serious discussion about this boat. Its gone from being a warranty fiasco to being dangerous.

[@bustermante8719]

Is there a bms system for those AGM batteries that shuts down when there is an issue ? There should be..there are also 12 V starter batteries from battleborn ,relion,and lithium pros that are probably a better bet than those AGM batteries ..and that may more easily be integrated into the BMS system you have for the balance of system ....and may be a good idea to have a foam based fire suppression system ...

[@ZombieKiller1965]

@bustermante8719 they have so many lithium batteries that it would have to be one hell of a fire suppression system and likely frightfully expensive. I was never comfortable with this setup but this situation now has me concerned about their safety.

[@kregwhiteside8641]

Is there a "lemon law" in the marine yachting world? Let HH know the fun and game is over and y'all want your money back and they can have the boat back.

[@redpecker12]

@@ZombieKiller1965 the batteries and motors are in confined spaces, one could put a self-actuated suppression system in for relatively less than a few hundred dollars US. Just having a Dry-chem or a foam extinguisher outside the area could also do the trick. Only installation of suppression systems is expensive, the upkeep and recharge/maintenance are minimal. It doesn't have to be that big, 5 nozzles total, a shutoff for the electrical, a gas shutoff. I don't see it costing any more than a grand, that's with all materials and labor. I've certainly put them in restaurants for a heck of a lot less, and although not exactly the same, very similar systems.

[@dianegriffith3006]

Why is it that both your boat and La Vagabond had so many issues? Glad you’re close to land -you need the help! I agree with this first commenter suggestion. Do some deep thinking about this boat stuff. 🙏

[@mitchsmolow6268]

If those starter batteries are catastrophic failure points, wouldn't it make sense to have each protected by its own dedicated charge controller? Relatively speaking, charge controllers are low cost. One of the things I enjoy about your videos is your approach to problems. No whining, just problem solving.

[@moltderenou]

Which shouldn’t be occurring, full stop.

[@mitchsmolow6268]

​@@moltderenou You can wish for a world you want or deal with the world that is. You may not like the boat they have, but they must deal with its flaws. Which they are doing admirably.

[@moltderenou]

@@mitchsmolow6268 Mitch, with all due respect, if they want to be guinea pigs and risk their lives by sea trialing a new build, then so be it. I wouldn’t, even if they had given it to me free of charge, and definitely not with all those batteries onboard. The very fact that they haven’t moved for going on two months must mean something and not bad weather.

[@hockeynutt9434]

Same, came back from dog walk, grabbed a coffee, saw the vlog notification, feet up watching. Cheers from Ontario, Canada

[@0502Rob]

You both work so well together in a "crisis", no arguing no obvious stress with each other. Hopefully that's just how you are. Very inspiring people.

[@NotAsTraceable]

If my wife and I had been confined to the space of a sailboat for 8 years one of us would have been fish food by now. You two seem like pretty easy going mature people which is kinda rare these days. Love you guys. Best wishes.

[@AndyJHahn]

Y'all are handling the challenges of this boat like champs. Both of you are great inspiration on how to handle things when things go south unexpectedly. Keep plucking along. As for the boat, you probably need to leave it in the marina and get an independent thorough survey/inspection of every inch of every system; and HH should reimburse you for those inspections. These issues seem to go well beyond typical "new boat" things. Also, given that these huge issues keep poping up, it would be difficult to trust that the prior issues were properly fixed - especially the stray current issue that was allegedly fixed during the last warranty work - or to trust any future fixes.

[@karenpolansky9097]

It was only when I saw Jason on the dock that I realized I was holding my breath. WOW… You two certainly have your share! Please stay safe. ❤❤

[@justincase5272]

Year ago I bought a P-100 respirator with a couple of different filters. After Covid, I upgraded to a full-face respirator, which I've used to detoxify low-level chlorine gas environments, as well as while painting, and other toxic projects. Very strong suggestion: Get one. Proper battery management involves isolation. This keeps one battery failure from causing another.

[@sandyj342]

Man, this is stressful watching! Jason changing those batteries and Nikki steering into the Marina, you guys are made for each other. Hope things get sorted out and back on with cruising ✨

[@prestonfortin9419]

This was like watching a suspense movie. I was so glad when you reached the marina safely.

[@Globalbloke]

Probably the scariest moment ever, potential fire hazard on either side plus toxic fumes. Blooming lucky for the extra battery, maybe have 2 in the future! Glad you both made it 🙏🏻

[@stargazer7644]

There isn't much of a fire hazard. Lead acid batteries don't really burn. Any flammable gasses (hydrogen) is being taken care of by the ventilation system.

[@stargazer7644]

Lead acid batteries are not "potential fire hazards"

[@peterstgeorge7542]

Love, support, communication, patience, humor mixed with some courage and positive energy makes for the most fantastic relationship learning videos. Pretty damn awesome for a couple that started out years ago showing us how to life and work from a tiny rv while traveling the USA. Thanks for always keeping it real !!

[@ddmmalibu]

Grace under pressure. You’re both rockstars. Loving your channel more all the time. And no kids! Hang in there. Hope you can afford all the fridges and repairs. We’re with ya! Cheers!

[@fredbear2648]

I would have the bulging batteries on the stern step, ready to push them off the boat, in case of fire. We had the same thing happen on our Catalina 42.

[@judd_s5643]

I agree, wasn’t a good idea putting them deeper in the boat. If it had runaway they would be no way to offload it from the boat.

[@stargazer7644]

Lead acid batteries don't really catch fire. But I agree, I would have put them on the deck just to keep the fumes out of the living space.

[@lotusdolphin]

Nikki, I can’t believe how positive you guys stay in so much stress. Glad you made it back to Port safely. Sounds like you got some really good advice on your comments. It was an excellent Vlog. Thank you. Sending love from LIZ in California.♥️⛵️😎🐬🥰🇺🇸

[@leemiller2811]

The two of you manage repairs so well. Genius might be a word. So. So complex! God bless you two. 🌺

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

Also worth crediting having a cool head under crisis. I recall taking scuba lessons where this was the main point of the training. It applies well to all things in life.

[@fredbrooks8347]

I appreciate you show us your emergency. Your calmness, in the face of possible panic, shows what kind of people you are. Just a good lesson whether you are a sailor or not. I guess one of the reasons why you didn’t panic was because you both are professional. I hope you share the reasons why you had the problems. I wonder how long you are going to get…..” See you should have gone to normal engines” because we all know gasoline and diesel are not dangerous he says sarcastically. Be safe please let us know.

[@MicheIIePucca]

A large UPS in our three story building at work had similar issues with their lead acid batteries (SLA) where they swelled and spewed toxic fumes.. The fire department was called and they evacuated 1000 employees from all three floors for a day. Serious stuff.

[@maryvancompernolle9544]

That is a little scarry! Hopefully the airflow kept them from anything toxic!

[@memphalino]

You Wynns are amazing super heroes on so many levels. Entropy is so high in the world right now and you're surfing the entropy waves valiantly ... yet ... Safety First you two!

[@summerann]

So proud of you! You fill my heart with inspiration. Love the way you handle these sail life challenges while pushing the boundaries trying to improve the status quo.

[@patrickkenny2077]

Temperature sensors for the AGM batteries are really needed for charge management and alarm. You might also want to consider a 48:12V buck converter to run whatever is needed for electric-only propulsion; they aren't expensive and should be an easy retrofit.

[@PN_48]

Sunday morning with coffee and the Wynns! Awesome👍

[@lyfandeth]

I've spoken to the USCG several times. Once, to explain some friends were on a 7-10 day float plan, and at 9 days with no news, I wanted to know what paperwork they needed IF we had to report them overdue. The USCG faxed me (pre internet!) all the forms, and transferred my call from the local station to district hw then to the Caribbean hq, all very professionally, who said they would put out a BOLO and start asking the marinas when or if the boat had been seen. Another time, it was a carefully worded explanation that we needed to know wx at an inlet because of multiple mechanical failures, nightfall, and degenerating wx with only one shot at a safe inlet. Again, they clearly understood we felt "damned inconvenienced" but trying to avoid danger, not in it yet. They actually insisted on having a patrol boat tie alongside and bring us through the inlet. The USCG are MUCH happier to get a call saying you are not in immediate trouble, and you're trying to avoid it. If you expect to lose all power and possibly catch fire, they'll be quite happy to set up a check-in schedule with you, to make sure they don't get a SAR call if things degenerate. Professionals of the highest caliber.

[@eliwilliamson7849]

That was difficult to watch. My anxiety was spiking. Y’all are safe and Incredibly resilient! Thank goodness.

[@carolinebeck807]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has anxiety watching these videos. I watch to support them, but i'm not sure how much more I can take.

[@stargazer7644]

Take a deep breath, and breathe. This is a lead acid battery being overcharged. It isn't going to catch fire. The ventilation system is taking care of the hazard.

[@fuzzyjax]

I respect you guys. I hope that H H recognizes the work you are doing for them and will compensate you fairly. Keep the faith.

[@marcellacruser951]

Okay, so no fires and no explosion, everyones okay, you're safely docked and nothing is unrepairable. Coulda been a whole lot worse. I remember when the life boat locker came off the old gal mid passage while you were getting knocked around, and half the ocean was trying to get into the cockpit with every wave slap and it felt like she was coming apart at the seams. I just kept thinking, "At least this time, they have the life boat if it goes to poop." Here's to speedy repairs and new safeguards.

[@keatonbyfield1873]

Your positivity is beyond refreshing. You both have such great qualities that keep you grounded and positive in situations most people would hone in on the negatives. I love your channel and how peaceful your content is!🩵

[@mecalis]

Can't imagine spending over a million dollars and having so many problems so soon. It's a boat, I get that, but I feel like there were some checks missed in the process.

[@stargazer7644]

It's only hull number 3 of a brand new line. How exactly do you think the manufacturer gets the kinks worked out of a new boat? If you don't like it, don't buy hull number 3.

[@jimmyrants4342]

@@stargazer7644 Then let the CEOs sail hull #'s 1, 2 and 3, and put their lives on the line, not the paying customers. Work ALL of the kinks out before you sell any boat.

[@highlight9014]

I’m with you. I wouldn’t trust this boat offshore in its current state of readiness. I’m amazed at the comments here saying ‘oh it’s only hull no3’ and ‘HH didn’t make these items it’s not their fault’. The yachting world seems to accept this poor quality with a shrug. Maybe in future HH CEO should sail his new yachts or 6 to 12 months before inflicting ‘Guinea pig’ status on it’s paying customers, especially customers that post weekly on KZbin with a large following. This video could never have been made if they had been sleeping above those batteries breathing those fumes. At what point does HH say ‘this is killing our reputation bring the boat back’

[@paulsmith9868]

The videos that I watch on this boat I am amazed at how matter of fact they are by all of the "warranty problems " they have had. If this was a car I would turned it in under a lemon law that most states have.

[@samiam8114]

Sailing La Vagabonde probably spent a lot more and they have had lots of problems too. I don't think theirs was hull #1 either.

[@ruthdavidson-schaller2245]

Glad you are safe and that HH is working to get all these issues resolved❤

[@kathleenchild]

You two are great sailors. I’m very impressed how you handled a scary event with a well planned out solution. Hope you have smoother sailing going forward.

[@Chef66]

What a great shot! Lightning and wind with Niki at the helm taking care of business. Seriously bad ass. It’s moments like these, albeit stressful, you will remember forever. Great job on completing another adventure and thank you so much for bringing us along ❤

[@mauriceryton]

Purchasing a respirator might be an essential item now to protect yourselves. I use a high quality respirator in my workshop when using solvents and finishing products. Safety is paramount.

[@gonewiththewynns]

Nikki mentions in the blog post that they usually have some aboard, but they haven't been able to find any since they purchased the boat. Curious Minion

[@chartphred1]

Might have to order online from EU or US ​@@gonewiththewynns

[@mauriceryton]

@@gonewiththewynns paint stores.

[@stargazer7644]

The only purpose for a respirator is getting into the life raft,

[@captainmother1268]

Thanks for the video! I know it's a new boat with new tech and all, but I bet some days you want to call her "Lemonosity" after a passage like that. She'll get all sorted out though. I'm an electrical engineer and I know how cranky batteries can get - you can't go wrong with having plenty of ventilation around any battery space. With lead -acid / AGM (Advanced Glass Mat) lead acid batteries you want to be aware of hydrogen buildup - which is highly explosive and will look for any opportunity to start combustion. The fun thing about a hydrogen fire is you can't really see it. So NO SPARK if you have a battery charger failure like that...number one rule.

[@Nancelot13]

Nikki is a boss at driving that boat!!!

[@glenfield9199]

It’s not a boat, it’s a lemon 🍋

[@smokindauberdoo4208]

​@@glenfield9199it's a ship

[@Nancelot13]

@@glenfield9199 I don't think it's a lemon at all. For only being hull #3 of the line and #1 of their particular model, there will always be issues to sort out. That boat sails fantastic and HH will get them sorted. Perhaps better, forced ventilation may be in order for battery compartments and engine rooms.

[@62Deepblue]

Appreciate your honesty - full disclosure !! I feel you have been sacrificial, lambs!! In spite of it all, you both remain so positive ❤

[@BobFirth]

Never been so happy to see you at a marina. Time for a well deserved beer.

[@jimrowan946]

My God, you two are amazing. You always overcome. Whether it's emotional, physical, or mental you two are champions. With everything I've seen you go through with this new boat, and all the other videos that I pay attention to with new boats, I am seriously reconsidering buying a new boat. Keep up the adventures, only let's just stay with fun

[@HeidiandFranny]

We are re-electrically powering our boat and all this is very helpful! Great diagnostics work and way to stay calm and keep thinking creatively. Oh, thanks for the tip on the fenders! We have had them fly up and I don't want to fill them with water ;) You two are amazing!

[@SailingAquarius]

What a passage! So happy you made it safely dodging all problems and all the wood logs and a bonus - out of taiphon zone! Yay!

[@johnmiddleton6252]

A very interesting episode, you guy's are incredibly good at what you do. You are so even tempered and cool under pressure, no panic you just get the task at hand done. I have been watching you from the very beginning and really live you to.

[@robertfirth9431]

First, we commend both of Jason & Nikki for handling such a stressful situation in your ocean passage. Second all great comments from your viewers especially James and Kieth. I too work with all kinds of batteries for over 37 years in the telecommunication industry, their advice is right on point. Hopefully HH will come through again and fix these issues. Our Prayers & Thoughts are with you.

[@surfinghouston]

Get some fire proof blankets and bags to cover the batteries to minimize blast/splash radius or fire. Don’t forget a fire extinguisher for batteries, respirators

[@itsnotme07]

Well I don't want to even think about all the lessons learned during this video....WOW! Glad you made it! Glad HH is "doing their job" going all out to figure out (as well as learning about) your issues. Lots of thoughts in my head from this video. Thanks for sharing these events....some people would just sugar coat every thing and not show the "what's going on now" issues. 8 years on boats....wow! Such an interesting journey since I stumbled across that video of "Nikki going solo" with the RV and the smart car in Jan 2016. Until the next video! Good luck with the repairs/redesign (engineer in my head saying that)!

[@nicclark9791]

3:30 am was always when it would do get not so good, I started calling it the witching hour. LOL

[@brigittecrawley1872]

How you stay sane with all the issues you have encountered on this journey is amazing. Get some rest until the next adventure!

[@vince2837]

Great job guys, not panicking, take it slow and thoughtful and you can get though anything 🤗

[@kennethwheeler9520]

"We've done way crazier things.... Have we?" lol. You sailed what felt like half way across the Pacific with a giant hole stuffed with a mattress in the deck of your boat. That was pretty crazy.

[@joulemine]

Yall helped by inspire me to RV back in 2017. I did that for ~6 years, and I'm currently anchored watching this video in my powerboat on the 200 mile maiden voyage 🛥. Epoch battery makes a 12v cranking lithium with Victron communication built in. I'd be happy to send them to yall if possible. I own a small business that specializes in RV Solar. A trade I learned to be able to go travel back in 2017 after seeing your flex panels on the Class A. I'd be happy to pay you back for the inspiration! Oh and I'm a ABYC Marine Electrical Tech and been through Victrons training as well. Watching yall conquer the off gassing and overcharging situation and saying, we can do it! Made me think of how my attitude has also changed like that from my travels! Just let me know if I can help 🍻✌️ -Tom

[@paulas_lens]

I wish more people could experience your two demeaners coping with stress, instead of the crap they consume watching drama-stoked "reality tv". Our world would be a better place for sure; more resilient, flexible, understanding, patient, and clear-headed. Thank you for putting your life out there - it helps us all.

[@stephengreen2898]

“Demeaners?????”. what is a demeaner?

[@nooneanybodyknows7912]

​@stephengreen2898 The plural of demeanor is demeanors. Demeanor is a noun that refers to someone's outward behavior, including how they talk, stand, and make facial expressions. It can also indicate someone's attitude towards others. For example, you might describe someone as having a cheerful, cold, or confident demeanor. Here are some synonyms for demeanor: bearing, carriage, deportment, manner, and mien. In the United States, the preferred spelling is "demeanor", while in British English, the preferred spelling is "demeanour".

[@firstlast1047]

​@@stephengreen2898Hmmm! Doesn't even appear you attempted to look up the word. I think that is a skill developed in late elementary school. "God Bless" the person that so succinctly, without criticism, provided a coherent definition.

[@carltontweedle5724]

The docking and coming into a tight harbour the boat control was perfect.

[@carltontweedle5724]

@@stephengreen2898 Question what's a numpty. American spell check.

[@robertshinazy3055]

So glad you made it there safely. This is Robert from Henderson Nevada. I think in the future you should carry an extra buffer battery as an emergency backup. I know you're limited on space but after this it's not a bad idea. Safe travels my friends.

[@stargazer7644]

Unless you have a way to keep it charged and ready, this is less than useless.

[@debbiem7834]

So glad you two made it safely there!!! I'm sure you are aware that other sailing channels that have purchased new catamarans lately have had some major issues with their vessels as well. So it's not just HH. We have been RVers and we know that many people have warranty work on their new RVs but it seems the new catamarans seems to have tons more issues than most other "forms of transportation" (Motorhomes, Campers, trucks, cars, all boats) of any kind. I guess I'm thinking outloud and wondering why? Maybe the more technology you have the more chance of something going wrong? I don't know. Anyways, glad you are safely in port. I hope breathing all those toxic fumes that neither one of you have any bad health reactions. Hopefully Nikki's one hive went away with no other reactions.

[@PaulaCleveland-u1g]

You guys are soooo positive! It’s a pleasure to watch you, even during hard times for you. Best of luck!

[@SM-ke6jq]

You should invest in a set of night vision goggles. They might come in handy when navigating at night close to land.

[@stargazer7644]

The boat has IR cameras built in

[@joanhall3718]

My heart was pounding, even though I knew if I was watching you, then you were alright. Amazing job staying calm and focused on what needed to be done. I hope you’ve both had some time to decompress after that stressful passage,

[@flyinggyros9745]

You guys are so good at problem solving. Way to go. Alan

[@uwe_reiher]

Hi there, so glad that you are ok and nobody got seriously hurt. First thing that came to my mind while watching this was "You need at least one proper full face respirator and one half mask." The filters should be at least ABEKHg-P3, better is A2B2E2K2Hg P3. They ain't cheap but in the worst case your life depends on it. There are also filters for carbon monoxide in case of a fire or smoke (A1B2E2K1HgNOCOP3). Dont use those fancy masks from paintshops, in your case they are not only useless but life-threatening, use some industry standard masks from 3M or Dräger. As for the problems in the 12V-System: I think this accident has clearly shown that you don't have two independent drive systems, they are somewhat interconnected and this problem should be solved.

[@cjg6364]

Not a well thought out system if there are no overcharge warning messages or lights on a boat with that much electric storage capacity. Our boats all have a voltmeter at every helm station - something we habitually check on while under way as often as we check engine temperatures and oil pressure. Battery overcharging, as you all know, can produce explosive and toxic gas - serious stuff.

[@stargazer7644]

These are not the house batteries. These are the lead acid starting batteries. Just like on your car.

[@marioreali5925]

​@stargazer7644 that just emphasizes the point. Cars all have voltage monitoring on the 12 Volt systems. Ideally, a voltmeter or these days the computer.

[@stargazer7644]

@@marioreali5925 It really isn't quite that simple. The system has a charger, so it has monitoring. If the monitoring was on the disconnected buffer battery, that would explain why the bus batteries overcharged. And in that case the voltmeter on the display would have shown the 12V system voltage was low, not high.

[@cjg6364]

@@stargazer7644 I'm well aware of that - I actually watched the video before commenting. Every engine should have a working temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, and voltage gauge as a minimum. Most marine systems going back 50 years have this. And if an alternator is overcharging, this should be evident by the gauge and possibly a separate warning light if the system is modern and well made. Modern cars have dash warnings if voltage falls outside of an acceptable range 13-15 V. This is done to warn drivers of potential damage to expensive electronics - not just battery overheating. Voltages significantly higher than 15V can easily damage engine and transmission computers that in some cars cost more than $2000.

[@stargazer7644]

@@cjg6364 What makes you think the voltage was significantly out of range? There's been no evidence presented that the 12V bus was over voltage. The batteries just overcharged. These are diesel engines on a hybrid system. They don't use 12V for anything but the starter motor. They don't need 12V to run. The 12V bus (and batteries) is supplied from a 12V charger on the 48V hybrid power system.

[@johnt9105]

I really enjoyed the audio quality, particularly this episode. I love the gently working of the water around the hulls while sailing whuch you captured

[@AshleyMarks-]

I think HH is doing a good job. They are people in a system and one can’t control every aspect of systems like that. Cutting edge IS this way. If it was tried and tested and worked EVERY time it wouldn’t be cutting edge. The Wynns don’t have an easy job either. They make their content and live as honestly as they can in the world of sailing. Things break, there’s no wind, and things aren’t always as good as we thought. It takes time for a boat and it’s people to gel. They do a great job of describing problems while keeping it honest with respect to “this is sailing life”. The problems with this boat will take longer to fix than just a couple videos. Stick it out with HH and this great little boat. I think Nikki and Jason understand this.

[@fallinginthed33p]

HH is acting as the system integrator and the Wynns are... paying beta testers 😅 It's nice to get a finished product when you're dealing with cutting edge tech but sometimes that isn't possible, like with these hybrid boats.

[@davecisneros5285]

I agree, they are dealing with theoretical and actual installation in a dynamic environment.

[@lc285]

The problems with this HH boat has been more than a couple of videos. The problems since they received the boat have been almost every video since.

[@ZombieKiller1965]

"Great little boat"? This thing is a disaster and now it's getting dangerous!

[@AshleyMarks-]

@@lc285 agreed. I think the timeline for resolution for a product like this is about a year. Best guess.

[@raywite6665]

You should never have had all this grief with a new boat. poor guys, stay safe.

[@stargazer7644]

They're having this grief BECAUSE it is a new boat. How do you think the manufacturer works the kinks out of a new model boat?

[@allanfifield8256]

​@@stargazer7644I am glad that doctors don't learn surgery this way.

[@stargazer7644]

@@allanfifield8256 I guess you've never heard of malpractice insurance? Surgeons do make mistakes.

[@NatTate-f7e]

I sent your video to a sailing KZbin electrical engineer. His response, "Looks like an alternator regulator issue. Often caused by the sense wire getting disconnected. ", "Maybe they should add a high voltage alarm." And ".. would have seen their voltage going way up, likely."

[@OurJourneyInMyles]

You guys are amazing to watch on so many different levels. Glad you are safe, and am sending good vibes to you getting things sorted out on the new boat.

[@jeanefraserCEO]

😢. Sending love and prayers. You have another day and story to tell. You have each other 💗

[@w9awx1]

Congratulations on a safe passage. First thing that came to mind when you finally docked was wow, look at that gorgeous, beautiful, old wood sailboat at 35:00.

[@alfvanderkwaak5751]

Time for some serious conversation with HH. Fried fridges, Batteries goring up the spout. Looks like an electrical system issue…..

[@pbjsilverstudio4882]

OMG, my husband and I JUST watched a video last night about lipo batteries ‘exploding’ or the cells bursting, not really explosions. The smoke and fumes that came out of them was so terrible and the guys doing the video were doing it for safety training for RC hobby people who love drones and RC planes, boats, helicopters and such. But they were talking about all of the important safety protocols to follow and what to do and the dangers of not following them and then this morning I see YOUR video and the smells you were smelling and Jason climbing in there and then reading some of the comments from chemical/electrical/physicists here and that was a really REALLY scary situation! I hope that there are no lasting health problems for both of you and that it would have only happened with longer exposure. Glad to see your Belgium video and see you okay and healthy and hoping HH gets all of this sorted out. Thank gawd for warranties!!!!

[@michiganengineer8621]

It sounded like you said the throttle controls (even for the electrics) will only work if you have at least one of the start batteries enabled? That sounds like a serious design flaw on the part of H&H. The "yards birds" leaving the buffer battery disconnected after your time in Cebu was probably the start of the AGM failure. Hopefully you can take that as a (relatively) cheap lesson, ALWAYS double check the things yard workers do!

[@williamdykes2750]

The most dangerous flights I ever flew was picking up A-6 Intruders (because that the aircraft I flew) from Naval Aviation Depot Level maintenance periods. Your comment about double checking maintenance work is right on target.

[@rainman7992]

despite the bumps you folks have encountered so far, I want to say, you two look the happiest I have seen you a while. I hope you get all the kinks worked out.

[@leadman50]

8 years ago you left the land behind I almost can't believe it.

[@bdavy92960]

Enjoyed watching how you calmly and systematically dealt with the problem, and there is a lot of good advice in the comments. A half-face respirator with an acid gas cartridge is probably one of those inexpensive items you should keep on your boat, particularly with the amount of batteries you have. Jason wrapping his face in that environment gave him no protection at all. Also hopefully HH is considering redesigning the DC distribution to allow you to redirect electricity to essential components and not leave you limping because of a single-point failure. I agree with the commentors that there seems to be a significant design flaw. For example, why does each engine have its own starting battery? Having a single battery for both engines, with a selector switch so only one engine is charging the battery, and another switch to choose which battery is online (rotate weekly between the batteries for maximal life). Wishing you continued luck in your voyages - Fair winds and following seas!

[@LaszloBagi]

Wow..... this boat has never ending issues

[@gulfstream-tvstudios9546]

and thats only the beginning... but every boat has this ... I am on one since 50 years ...not one day !!!!! of no problem

[@LaszloBagi]

@@gulfstream-tvstudios9546 Not ever boat has issues like this one. I have three with minor issues.

[@captainmike808]

My 40 year old Cheoy lee has less issues.

[@G.Orwell1984-q8i]

@@captainmike808 That’s because it’s old and the bugs have been worked out, which is good.

[@G.Orwell1984-q8i]

@@LaszloBagi This boat is not just new, it’s one of the first builds. They expected more problems than if this was the 30’th build of the same boat. I’m watching another channel in a similar new boat situation and they’ve had even worse problems.

[@OurLadyDefiant]

I'm so sorry to say it, but this makes me love having a truly simply wired boat. We're not particularly lacking in amenities, and easy to figure out and not easy to mess up (for instance with a breaker). Great job though in how you responded, and good job problem solving! You two have become quite the skilled couple of cruisers!

[@laurieashley4306]

Glad you made it safely!

[@vincentcummings6737]

Sorry to hear about those challenges you had with this passage. Your story has help me get over my seller remorse today anyways, I had been cruising for 8 years, 4 of which where in a custom build brand new boat, and as you know brand new doesn't mean never having boat issues. For me I needed a break from working on my boat in exotic places so recently I sold the boat. I sometimes miss the boat like an old girlfriend, but then when I see a video like your latest one I remember how much maintenance they are. You two are doing great, love the work you are doing.

[@bwise7739]

Stray currents and now overcharging batteries. Not to mention shoddy warranty work. I wonder what boats 1 and 2 are experiencing?

[@amylouise9853]

Can you imagine having one of these boats currently in production and watching these videos - it would be horrifying. Maybe it will help them be extremely vigorous in their sea trials before the boat is handed over.

[@jackdbur]

This is Not a HH issue it is a problem with an alternator.

[@vleavy]

I was wondering the same thing.