OLD BOAT MADE NEW | Sailing Florence Refit Ep.178

[@tomsailor7265]

Without being over dramatic, you two have shown what diligence, love and respect can do to restore a family member to her youthful glory.

[@earthangel8730]

Not surprised at Florence's transformation. You both work vigilantly. Very inspiring . Cheers!

[@papajeff5486]

So, Matt, Amy, you took Florence around the world and along the way you, personally, took care of her maintenance. After this refit, you have demonstrated your love and care. Has this refit taught you more about her than you knew eight years ago? Thanks for sharing…from east Tennessee.

[@brianwhalen7783]

HahaHa, I just Kiwi Gripped our deck 2 weeks ago… my experience completely mirrors yours to include the test run not mirroring the deck surface and putting way to much on for the first real application. I’m also loving the kiwi grip, great stuff. We went with the same color. Florence is looking amazing, great work, you should be proud!

[@brianwhalen7783]

PS I filled 2 trash bags with used masking tape 😂😂😂

[@tomdunn1254]

Wow.... her deck is looking beautiful. Well done!!!

[@Stakman1]

I had every confidence in your abilities and that Florence was going to come out looking fantastic. Despite that, I found myself saying "wow"outloid more than once in this episode! Thanks for sharing.

[@davidbamford4721]

You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you could not have done a better job of preparing her for her next adventure, or made her look better. Congratulations on a job well done!

[@mattcaine7614]

Satin Varnish - is a finish coat, ie you should use gloss varnish for the base layers giving depth to the varnish then only use the satin for the last one or two layers.

[@markbuskens6070]

The decks look great and l like the color,you have worked so hard

[@JoeyDaytonaaa]

You can cover the satin varnish with a gloss coat and it will be glossy again. And even a little stronger of a finish with that extra coat.

[@suzannechance5876]

I have tremendous appreciation for Florence regardless of how she looks! She is my hero for taking care of you guys where ever you wanted to go. She is always going to be beautiful in my mind! As for now....she may need to take a few twirls on the dock before jumping back in the water!!! Magnificent job 😮for Florence! Be proud!!

[@SailingSteelSapphire]

In the big showdown between TreadMaster and KiwiGrip, there was only ever going to be one winner. But still brought a tear to the eye seeing the before and after pics. And that was without having done all the back breaking work! I know you've got lots of exciting electrical upgrades to come, but I reckon the deck is the one that's going to give the longest-lasting feeling of satisfaction, pride and even joy in Florence.

[@WillN2Go1]

Good work. Florence looks like a new boat. Please use a vacuum attachment for your sander and any tool that can be attached (Don't worry the exact connections/adapters, Duct tape.) Even if you wear a mask that dust gets into your lungs. (I always wear a full respirator in my shop.) KZbinr Dave Lee is the master of dust control and made really good videos on the topic. He fixed a Lagoon 450 cat next to Parlay Revival. I shared with him all my dust collection/abatement knowledge, he took up several levels. One immediate benefit to dust collecting from your ROS sander is instead of sliding around on top of the piles of dust, you'll be working the surface. I've used a similar coating product on my floors and bookcases, but not yet on my boat. Two part Bonaseal (Swedish). There's a catalyst to which you add a little water. It goes on with just a Shureline type foam pad. No brushing, just wipe it down - much quicker. Lays down flat, incredibly durable. And I can tell you it keeps just fine unused for 20 years because that's how long after I was still using my original purchase. Yeah that's the same stuff. Different brand. The thing about gloss is that it shows imperfections. But if you don't like the satin, get some synthetic 'steel' wool pads and buff the floor (with a pole sander). You can quickly make it as shiny as you want. You could also use floor wax. (Tip for KZbinrs DIY: use poles! I've seen too many videos where earnest Millennials are clearly doing something for the first time because they don't use extension poles! You should be able to buff all your floors in place in just a couple of hours. No power tool will be needed. ( In fact everyone should get some synthetic 'steel' wool and try it. You can take an uneven rippled varnish job to a near French Polish really quickly. ) And in a couple of years if you want to resurface, just cut the surface with 120 grit sandpaper (on a pole of course) and recoat. (If you have a shop vac, always use a bag, even if you have to tape it in the drum. And try to find one with an exhaust port that you can stick another hose on. I used to vacuum my photography darkroom with the exhaust going through a hose around the corner of the building. Vacs collect dust, but they also grind it into microscopic particles that stick deep inside your lungs.) Your companion way has two problems: Exposure so you'll be redoing the finish every couple of years no way around it. (All the south facing doors on houses have this issue. At least in the Northern Hemisphere.) The wearing though. Get something like furniture sliders so that's what rubs instead of the wood. These are sacrificial meaning that they are softer than the finish. They will wear instead of your varnish. If you had to DIY it, a Delrin block right at the end with a couple of screws can keep the leading edge from rubbing. Also beeswax. I've got hardwood drawer sliders that I waxed thirty years ago, they still slide really well. Beeswax is amazing and useful. Hope this helps. And it looks like your replacing your electronics next. I can learn from you. Lots of details please.

[@Mark-he3tl]

Florence is looking fabulous, so much lighter and fresher. You're going to have your own personal iceberg to sail north in. ;)

[@robertbenjamin7728]

You two are wonderful. I hope, as you're sailing into a sunset someday with cocktails in hand, that you reflect on all the hard work you've accomplished.

[@mikelowres4425]

Wow, Florence looks like new. You've both worked wonders on her.

[@marigoldbuckmaster1053]

What a lot of work….and to repeat it every couple of years 😮! However it is looking absolutely beautiful! Very well done!

[@humblestever24]

Spring in a 4 seasons climate is wondrous. The extravagant excesses of the tropics isn't for me. Never noticed that Florence had a skeg before. Well done Florence. Well done Amy, well done Matt.

[@cpjworrall]

Hej Amy & Matt. Such a great result on your refit. Great work. A little comment on your varnish project (hope you won't mind!!) I sort of sympathised with Amy on her slight disappointment with the result. If you ever do it again I can honestly recommend Epifanes. In my opinion the absolute best varnish you can buy. Comes in lots of different finishes. All of them from High gloss to Satin absolutely outstanding. (I use it on my Moody from '82) It needs a bit of extra prep with a 24 hour drying interval and sanding between coats. But the results are fantastic. All the very best for your new adventures. Best regards from Denmark. Chris

[@charliemcgrain]

In general, areas like your hatch way, clean the teak with oxalic acid before sanding. Sanding can drive the dirt deeper into the grain. Oxalic takes the dirt out, then sand then oil/stain or varnish. Your decks look great. Kiwi grip is great. Well done you guys, that's a ton of work but it is paying off, Florence looks beautiful.

[@ranger2316]

You two are an inspiration! My wife and I have undertaken some big DIY projects together, but this....this is taking it to a whole another level! Well done, the boat is starting to look fabulous!

[@artsmith103]

Stopped my little boat project to watch yours. Incredible how much progress you made. Enjoy all that you share.

[@AdrianLyons]

I am personally grateful to you both for the years of pleasure you have given my lovely wife and I and once again would like to thank you for a really great “show” 🎉

[@stevecoppin2557]

The smartest boat in the yard!

[@tomst9417]

Bravo Matt and Amy! Your tireless work refurbishing Florence has achieved great results. Her deck looks wonderful and should provide secure footing. Sailing will be even more enjoyable after months of repetitive sanding and scraping!

[@seafuryphil]

Great épisode guys . So much hard work , good thing it's a labor of love ❤⛵️

[@larssolem2507]

I think the satin look of the sole looks great, never been a fan of high gloss varnish in a sailboat, that belongs to the stink boats:) Also using the teak sealer is a great idea, when it's looks a bit tired just wipe it down with solvent and apply a new layer. Can't wait to see you on the water towards new adventures!

[@richardkeen1996]

After many different finishes, I've found Internationqal Woodskin to be a real winner. Overcoating isn't a problem and its durability is exceptional. Try it out on some of your brightwork and see what you think!

[@gneisenau89]

It's been a long time since I've put antifouling paint on the bottom of a boat. I enjoyed parts of it, hanging out in the boat shed with my dad, with the yachts swelling out above all around, like the columns of a cathedral. Thanks for the memory.

[@wrap-itsolutions2387]

She looks great! The big secret to varnishing that a lot of people miss is to thin the first 2-3 coats with about 70% thinners ... this allows the first few layers to soak deep into the teak so the rest of the layers have something to bond to and the varnish is not just sitting on the top ... then go to 50% and eventually to around 30% for your top coats. Amazing amount of work you have achieved in one refit!!

[@robjohnson2649]

Just beautiful. Wonderful work guys.

[@terenceacton5803]

Fantastic job. I appreciate the blood sweat and tears that you have shed over the last few months to achieve such a professional result.

[@annhysell6064]

Wow, what a transformation. Absolutely stunning. She is definitely breathing a sigh of relief for her new youthful look and will return the hard work by sailing well for you. 👍👍

[@bensens]

Very nice upgrade, looks amazing,- and love to see Amy smiling again 🙂

[@anitatroyer2066]

Wow! You 2 are such hard workers and the transformation of Florence is amazing!

[@nooneanybodyknows7912]

For future reference, check out Sailing Magic Carpet for varnish, stain, and paint. Alidino and Maya produce the prettiest, shiniest boat surfaces. It's a work of art. 🎨🖌 Florence looks beautiful. I think you'll be happy with your deck grip and her fresh bottom. Thanks for sharing and including the spring buds and ducks.

[@andrewmcgovan5866]

What you've done is fantastic. The jobs you are doing are difficult messy and grafting, requiring strong characters which you both obviously are. Hats off to you both launching your next leg.

[@EdToml]

Really like this way of presenting refurbishing.

[@music-man]

i think you did a bang up job on the Cabin sole and the teak over the hatch looks great.

[@carltontweedle5724]

Florence was looking more then a little rough but she did her job kept you safe. Looking good now that is all down to your hard work. So when you splash remember keep the stick up and you inside.

[@monomattock1]

I believe Kiwi grip applied with a grooved plastic scraper gives enough but not too much for the rolling after. I painter striped the floor on our boat - allowed for less sanding and complete removal, and as you say less risk of going through veneer. I used a gloss spar varnish which has great depth, but should have had a final 2 coats of satin for a bit of grip. It hasnt ben an issue really, but gloss also shows up imperfections.

[@hectorcyre7664]

Great job on the decks. Is it actually "paint", or did you go with KiwiGrip coating? It sure looked like KiwiBrip going on. We are 10 years on from our initial application of KiwiGrip on our decks, and it is still very good. It has been recoated twice in that time, directly over the initial coats without any sanding or prep other than a thorough cleaning. To add some heresy to my comment, I would suggest you consider Cetol for the exterior and high-wear teak. We lay on three coats of Cetol Marine Teak for color, followed by 9 to 12 coats of Cetol Gloss. It is a very hard finish and the gloss shines brilliantly. Our experience is that it lasts four to five years and is easy to touch up. We sand between every two coats, but not aggressively - only to knock down rough spots and assure adhesion. You can also lay Cetol Marine Gloss over conventional interior satin varnish with similar results - just be sure to sand before the first coat of Cetol. It is NOT slippery under foot, even when wet. We are certifiably crazy, but we have French polished all the (very) extensive teak in our interior, using Gilboy's proprietary wax and 0000 wire wool. We laid the wax over two coats of teak oil (also appllied with 0000 wire wool). For reference, 0000 wire wool is basically equivalent to 1200 to 1600 grit sand paper, i.e., an extremely fine grit equivalent. The advantage is the wire wool doesn't load up like fine sandpaper does. (Check out Gilboy's KZbin channel to learn about French polish on antique furniture and musical instruments.)

[@ScottS360]

Wow! That's a stunning transformation! Florence is looking beautiful now.

[@kbbarton1]

The KiwiGrip looks WAY better than the TreadMaster!

[@ingriddoorn1201]

Florence looks amazing with her new deck. Brilliant job👍

[@michaelvanwinkle7919]

Very nice paint job on the bottom and an interesting color for your non -skid deck paint.

[@ps4peace]

So proud of you guys, she's looking great and can't wait to see the journey ahead!!

[@209turtleboy]

One thing you didn't mention is if you're going to the northern latitudes you may be dealing with cleaning snow off the deck so I think you made a good choice.

[@rob3942]

Top job guys. She looks and will be functionally ace

[@derekwaudby5899]

You're doing a great job on Florence. Love your videos, excellent. I've followed you all around the world. I follow 4 other sailing channels, I look forward to yours the most.

[@rickjanicki3705]

Florence looks amazing. I've been watching your videos since the beginning, through out covid i looked forward to your updates, you made so much of an impression i decided i wanted a boat and i wanted to sail round the world! you made it look easy! Watching the refit videos has cured me of that, who'd have thought a boat would need so much hard work? I'm going to hold out for a lottery win, buy a new boat and hire a crew.🤣 Looking forward to the next bit of the adventure.

[@stephenburnage7687]

Must be nice to do your boatwork in a shed :). I am painting while trying to keep the birds off; watching the rain and trying to prevent dust build up.

[@markjennings2315]

Lovely varnished deck and he walked over it in work boots!! lol

[@humanafterall2076]

The top coat determines the sheen. Use a gloss over the top and it will be gloss. Use this technique in wood flooring. Use what you have until the top coat

[@MikeBanks2003]

I used to put on the first layer a hard red powerboat antifoul, followed by two coats of softer sailing boat blue antifoul. When I see red, I book the slip. I use two pack clear polyurethane finishes containing UV screening chemistry on timber where wear is likely. It is tough and easily re-finished. I use a semi-gloss, but many prefer the full gloss. It is good interior or exterior--just not cheap.

[@jaywellington9904]

I'm excited to see the upcoming adventures! I've said it before, but I'll say it again, your videography is superb!

[@william6526]

Florence,looks amazing and you two are doing a top notch job of refitting her. I know you have plans to sail north but maybe it would be better to take the time while you are in the boat yard to spend the time to finish the refit and delay sailing north for awhile until Florence is completely finished and ready to take on the weather and rough seas the northern latitudes are known for. We live an hour from the pacific ocean in oregon USA. And we know how bad the weather and ocean conditions are along our coast line. This bad conditions just get worse the farther north you go. A boat must be ready to handle these conditions because our ocean doesn't allow mistakes or boating with a boat that's not in tip top shape. I'm really looking forward to see all the adventures you guys will face once Florence is ready for the challenge. God bless we will still be here when you are ready to sail once more.

[@Tintenfinger]

In the olden days, teak was oiled and never painted. Being an extremely oily and rot-resistant wood - which was why teak was chosen for boatbuilding in the first place - conventional one-pot furniture varnish did not stick well on teak, no matter how much acetone was used to pull the natural oil from the teak grain before varnishing. Traditional oiling, however, gave teak a matte finish. So your choice of a matte- or satin-finish modern floor varnish returns the teak surfaces in your boat to the look they should always have had. The boatyard who in 1979 built the interior of my sailboat used a conventional heavy-duty one-pot floor varnish on all the teak surfaces. I stayed with their choice of matte-finish varnish to this day and have since had to renew the paint only in places of exteme wear.

[@njbaskipper]

Good morning.. I have been surprised by the positive change in Florence and in fact I congratulate them. P.S. I give you a Tip. There is a variant to the varnish, the use of CETOL, there are for exteriors, extreme durability and the classic, even different colors of teak wood Just take note of it and study it, they will go this time for much more severe conditions. Blessings and success. 💡⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@Somemaysayso]

She looks super. IMHO the thick blue free board stripe would look good in navy or very dark blue. A dark blue transom with Florence in gold italics? Maybe?

[@okaaki68]

Good job .. what we are seeing is transformational .. and looks absolutely great

[@lindsaygrams8373]

Well Matt and Amy you have done fantastic job on your boat you should be proud of each other job well done the new look looks great fantastic

[@AngelFish007]

Deck looks gorgeous

[@kajstorgaard1791]

The deck looks beautiful

[@Dobbo314]

Florence is looking glorious!

[@OutdoorTraveler]

The decking looks really nice.

[@SkylinersYeti]

Lots of work but Florence is looking great. Keep up the good work and great adventures ahead.

[@pmorph]

The deck looks amazing! the other way I did it on my boat was a coat of two pack paint, then sprinkle washed sand on the wet paint, let dry and then vacuum the loose sand off and then put another coat of two pack paint over top. The result is great but the sand can be a little harsh on one's bum when sitting too long...Phil

[@jimsargent7288]

Matt & Amy Florence looks amazing. I love the new deck and even though you didn't really love the floors I think they look outstanding. Thank you for taking us along on your adventures. (High five) from Montana

[@blahdiblah2169]

I think the floor looks amazing btw.

[@stevelambert7496]

Looking great what a transformation

[@ainord1]

Boats looking great. Florence has always had excellent bone's and has proven durability. Your hard work us really paying off both in the boats looks and should see it through another lap of earth. Looking forward to watching it.

[@markkrajcar3729]

Looking good. If the satin cabin soles really bother you, just put a couple of coats of of the varnish you'd like over the top.

[@zoidberg444]

That varnish you used is pretty good stuff considering its water based. I have used it on many a floor myself. It doesn't have the fumes the polyurethane varnishes tend to have and in my experience is as hard wearing. You know one thing you could do in the future is to do to your deck boards what people do to kitchen worktops and encase it in an epoxy resin which would probably hold up even better but its a lot of work and a pig of a job. Can't believe how spiffy Florence is looking. Its only when you get a lot of these jobs done that you realise that she was in need of some TLC to begin with.

[@robertnixon3816]

A new lease on life to a yacht that has done well for a lot of years (and miles)! Well done to you both!

[@kenc2707]

That new deck should be a lot cooler in the hot sun. Looks beautiful.

[@nevillesaunders1916]

Wow! What an awesome job you have done of the deck. Florence is looking very smart.

[@colinboniface194]

She's looking very sharp... Kiwi Grip is the business... I use Sikens for my outside teak... 5 coats and after a year, it looks like it was applied yesterday...

[@timallen6025]

Ya can’t beat a shiny shapely hull .. 40 years of glow👍

[@simonabunker]

She's looking great! And so she should with the amount of effort you are putting in!

[@andersnilsson6625]

She looks gorgeous! Yes, even the boat looks wonderful 😉 You have done a fantastic job!💕😀😄🇸🇪

[@svZia-Switch51]

We use a similar teak sealer for our cockpit teak flooring and it looks and works well when we reapply every six months, but for your companionway teak i think i would have chosen to use clear epoxy followed by a couple coats of varnish for UV protection. The decks came out beautifully! We are in the middle of that same project using Totalboat’s Totaltread.

[@annettemay5743]

Looking good team. Carn't wait for the finish.

[@cutaway7405]

Wow you guys did an Excellent job on everything on your job list! Well Done you 2!! Smart, talented, and hard workers!!🎉

[@stevelambert7496]

Yea a florence Friday

[@Bruin4Life]

Florence looks like a new boat instead of er 40 year old self! 😊 Great job.

[@westpacificmarketanalytics2384]

Florence is really one beautiful gal and will take good care of you on the seas ahead. God Bless that journey.

[@LisaBFIT4Life]

Very impressed! So much hard work. Well done

[@davidpearson8954]

Nice work. Balancing looks with function. I'd go with function. You guys are sailors not Boat builders, so good chioces. I'm with you. And she still looks great. :)

[@travelradiocoza]

Funny you should mention the satin varnish. I just sanded the teak on my own boat because I hated the dark high gloss and far prefer satin look. To me it is softer, classier with the off white cream interior, easier to maintain and does not show knocks or blemishes nearly as easy as the gloss does. Florence is starting to get back to ship shape. Well done crew!

[@robertc7640]

Wow, Florence is looking refreshed! You guys are doing a great job and seem focused on quality workmanship. BTW, it is hard to believe that it was a little more than a year ago that we were sailing around the BVI together! What a fun trip. I watched the video a few days ago and enjoyed the flood of memories. Cheers, Robert

[@michaeldallimore8590]

Great progress. Looking forward to seeing her back in the water.

[@davidmontgomery1016]

She's looking quite smart. Good job on the work done.

[@karllewis735]

She looks fantastic. What a lot of work that was.

[@paulmjolsness6482]

The decks look amazing! 👍👍

[@svwallen]

Thanks for another great video from a great sailing couple. Just an observation of a trend in society that you may be inadvertently falling into. Whenever possible Matt gives credit to Amy for her work, ideas, assistance, or even for just holding the camera while he works. Yet in similar circumstances when Amy completes a task, or discusses a proposed way forward, she solely takes the credit. For example, I did not recall hearing Matt saying “I” once in this video, whereas Amy said “I” over 30 times. Your both doing the work, your both living the dream, and credit where credit is due, but 30 to 0 is a bit much. You both might be happy with, or unaware of, this dynamic in your relationship for now, but it appears to in no way reflect equality or the reality. Best wishes for your journey’s ahead. 👍⛵️

[@DanielAlley]

Wow, just wow.

[@Coleen_West]

Wow.. that boat is coming together very nicely! The floors look great imo, but if it is important to you, could you not apply a glossy coat of varnish to the teak while it is in the boat? Maybe just a quick coat to give it that look that you are seeking??

[@jocko_]

Florence looks beautiful! So much hard work.

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

Always found large areas low/medium VOC /waterbased varnishes go on better with a roller. They do have a less warm tone than traditional varnishes and can look a wierd colour depending on the wood.