Paradise Isn’t Perfect😩 Sailing French Polynesia

Our adventure in French Polynesia takes an unexpected turn when we discover severe damage to our sail drive shaft during what we thought would be a quick and simple seal change. 😩 It took two trips to the USA and thousands of dollars to get the parts we needed and make the repair- a consequence of sailing the remote islands of the South Pacific. Just as we began to think we were back on track, 40-knot winds, and an uncomfortable anchorage made it clear that the challenges are far from over. 😅
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Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure!
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[@meganokelly]

Well done Sabado crew, you guys are an inspiration! Cannot believe how much you've been through and also how much you got done on that haul out woot woot! I cannot believe you had the entire economy section to yourself!

[@HollyandRay]

We’re doing our best to keep our chins up out here! Miss you guys tons!

[@DanielTiffany-o8i]

Good video guys. Sailing life isn’t easy is it all the flying and stuff. Great you could figure it out. Thanks for sharing with us. 👍

[@HollyandRay]

Thank you! Yes, it can be challenging at times, but it’s usually worth it😉

[@obieandlaurie]

I think you two do a great job of telling your stories.....always a fun watch, a solid mix of content which helps in watching the video's entirety.....Take good care and HNY to you both. Cheers, 🤗🍻

[@HollyandRay]

Thank you, that’s so nice to hear! We’re glad you enjoyed this one. Happy New Year! ❤️

[@angelomazzone7939]

Wow that was a roller coaster ride of a video. Always interesting and I always learn something but I must say wow. You make it look so easy when I know that is not the case. Nicely done

[@HollyandRay]

Thank you, Angelo! It most definitely is not easy, this season has really challenged us, but we are learning and getting better every day!

[@dennisaston3551]

And FYI, as long as you guys don't mind answering, I'll keep asking because between the two of you, you are very responsive halfway around the world. Living in Alabama right now with overnight low expected to be 25F

[@HollyandRay]

We ❤️ answering comments! Our family in Texas is freezing right now too, stay warm!

[@douglasmontgomery6315]

Hey, been in the automotive business for over 30 years. That shaft did not look that bad and there are alternatives for small grooves then replacing the shaft. Also, that may be why it was so hard to find a shaft in stock (think about it...parts that are in stock..and in quantity are those that typically fail - supply and demand). Here are some commonly used options: 1. Speedi-Sleeve (Shaft Repair Sleeve) • A Speedi-Sleeve is a thin, cylindrical metal sleeve that fits over the damaged area of the shaft. It provides a smooth new sealing surface for the oil seal to ride on. • Advantages: • Quick and easy to install. • Avoids the need for shaft replacement or extensive machining. • Relatively inexpensive. • Steps: • Clean the shaft and remove any burrs. • Slide the sleeve over the worn area and press it into place. • Replace the oil seal with one that matches the sleeve’s dimensions. 2. Offsetting the Seal Position • If the groove is shallow, you can move the oil seal slightly along the shaft to an unworn section. • Advantages: • Simple and cost-effective. • Requires minimal modification. • Steps: • Use a spacer behind the seal or reposition the housing (if adjustable) to shift the seal. 3. Welding and Re-Machining • The worn area of the shaft can be filled with weld material and then machined back to the original dimensions. • Advantages: • Restores the shaft to like-new condition. • Suitable for severe wear or high-load applications. • Disadvantages: • Time-consuming and requires specialized equipment. • More expensive than some alternatives. 4. Metal Spraying (Thermal Spraying) • This involves spraying a layer of metal onto the damaged surface of the shaft, followed by machining to restore the original size. • Advantages: • Ideal for shafts that can’t be replaced or welded. • Creates a hard, durable surface. • Disadvantages: • Requires specialized equipment and expertise. 5. Epoxy Repair Compounds • Epoxy-based metal repair compounds can fill the groove, creating a smooth surface for the seal. • Advantages: • Inexpensive and easy to apply. • Suitable for low-stress applications. • Disadvantages: • May not be durable in high-pressure or high-speed applications. 6. Custom-Built Seal • Have a custom oil seal made with an adjusted lip position to ride on an undamaged section of the shaft. • Advantages: • Avoids shaft modifications. • Disadvantages: • Costlier than standard seals. • Requires precise measurements and custom manufacturing. 7. Polishing or Grinding the Shaft • For very shallow grooves, polishing or lightly grinding the shaft to remove rough edges may be sufficient. Pair this with a new seal that fits the slightly reduced diameter. • Advantages: • Quick and inexpensive for minor damage. • Disadvantages: • Not suitable for deep grooves. Which Option to Choose? • For minor wear, a Speedi-Sleeve or repositioning the seal is often the simplest and most cost-effective solution. • For severe wear, welding and re-machining or metal spraying may be necessary. • For emergency or temporary fixes, epoxy compounds can work in low-demand situations. Glad it all worked out and thanks for sharing !

[@HollyandRay]

The shaft already had two sleeves on it. We would have liked to find a machine shop to build the metal up over the groove then grind back down to spec, but no one was willing to do it in as short of a turnaround time as getting a new one, and we were racking up quite the bill sitting in that yard🤑 We kept the old shaft and hope to revive it when time/resources allow!

[@desertchild3550]

@@HollyandRay Find a shop that does spray welding and machining. Its not as expensive as many think.

[@HollyandRay]

@desertchild3550we couldn’t find anyone in Tahiti to do it, and the 10+ shops we spoke to in the USA told us they’d put our job at the end of their queue and it would take 2 or more weeks! With the amount per day we were paying to sit in that yard, replacing it was cheaper. We kept the old one and are hoping to revive it when time/resources allow!

[@dennisaston3551]

@@HollyandRay Ugh. The dreaded CB (Cost/Benefit).

[@jw228w]

I am just a part time boater and fisher in Louisiana. I follow your YT with great interest. I admire greatly both of your resilience and strength and positive attitude in the face of these constant unforeseen problems. John

[@HollyandRay]

This year has certainly put our resillienve to the test… thanks for watching, John! What kind of fish you catching in LA?

[@KayKayA.K]

I think we are all jealous of that Texas bbq... sure made my tummy rumble.

[@HollyandRay]

That’s one thing we can’t replicate on the boat😵‍💫

[@janisparr8592]

So sorry we missed getting to meet up with y’all while we were there. Glad you got everything repaired and are back in the water. Apparently, you had the right flight option!! Our flight back to the US was canceled just before we headed to FP and cost us a day. Then a couple with us had their flight canceled 24 hours before leaving and they had to stay a couple more days. Both of us left in PACKED cabins! Parr4thecourse

[@HollyandRay]

Wow, I guess I got lucky!! The flight attendants said they would have cancelled the flight but the plane was needed at the destination. So glad to hear you guys had a lovely time here, may we meet again somewhere else!

[@dennisaston3551]

Love hate relationship with the like button. Like the video and appreciate the content, hate your struggles. Thanks as always for sharing.

[@HollyandRay]

Thank you for the kind words and for watching! We’re keeping our chins up over here😅

[@dennisaston3551]

@ just curious, did you have any hiccups with the parts on the way back with customs?

[@HollyandRay]

Nope! 🙏🏼

[@davidhowie1329]

I've been in a similar situation. Chose to sail to NZ and deal with it there.

[@HollyandRay]

If this didn’t happen during cyclone season, that would’ve been our plan, too🥲

[@lindavaughan5703]

Had lunch with your grandmother & Jack and she was telling me the problems you were having and had to fly to the states to get a part and you were able to visit your Mom & Dad and brother.

[@HollyandRay]

Hello! Yes, it has been a wild ride… love and miss Gladys and Jack! ❤️

[@mattmeiners985]

Love your show.... Mahalo....

[@HollyandRay]

Thank you! We’re so glad you’re enjoying the journey! 🙂

[@Ghost_Recon_Actual]

Ray, you don't need a smaller boat, you need a much larger buffing wheel.

[@HollyandRay]

I like the way you think, my friend.

[@MOTORVESSELFREEDOM]

I think Holly got the better deal….wax in heat or fly private jet….lol

[@HollyandRay]

Haha, you are SO right! 👸🏼

[@bennyasa826]

Saya berharap anda berdua bisa berlayar ke Indonesia 😁

[@HollyandRay]

We hope to, one day! :)

[@bennyasa826]

@@HollyandRay thankyou God Bless You 👋

[@stephennolan1909]

Do you ever post the cost of your boat insurance in your monthly "Behind the Scenes" reports? I understand that somewhere around 1.5% to 2% of hull value is a typical annual cost, but man that seem expensive to me. Aircraft insurance is a lot cheaper.

[@HollyandRay]

Good thought! We pay once yearly, and it is expensive. We are renewing soon so we’ll include it in that month’s report!

[@alexvanderleen2275]

How long did it take you to fly back to Texas and then fly back to Tahiti? I imagine you probably had to make some connecting flights.

[@HollyandRay]

9hr overnight flight to San Francisco, 2hr layover, 4hrs to San Antonio😴

[@FrankMackey-nu6bz]

Was that marina gouging the " rich American " or is that normal for something to be 4+ times more expensive than it would be in the states ? .

[@HollyandRay]

Hard to say, in our experience most things here are 2-3 times as expensive as they are in the states.

[@geofflewis8599]

..It's French Polynesia..try New Calidonia!

[@dennisaston3551]

So, looking back at this and not knowing anything myself, what would you do differently? IE how do you avoid missing your weather windows?

[@dennisaston3551]

TBH there's probably an episode here for those of us that don't know. Weather will never be predictible but any hints are golden nuggets for us.

[@HollyandRay]

Decide to leave FP sooner! We arrived in May 2024 and had originally planned to leave May 2025. Cyclone season is December to April-ish. We decided in October that we wanted to leave early and it takes around 20 days to get to New Zealand (the closest place outside of FP our insurance would allow us to spend cyclone season)- IF you don’t have to stop partway and wait for another weather window, so we had an incredibly tight timeline. Had we had more time to wait and take the next weather window or island hop our way there, we would’ve been fine, we just decided too late in the season and didn’t want to risk sailing uninsured. The weather patterns this year have been incredibly variable, so we knew our chances of making it work so last minute were slim to begin with.

[@HollyandRay]

Yes, good point! Insurance restrictions/sailing seasons are probably a foreign concept to most. Unfortunately we cannot give much insight regarding the weather patterns in the South Pacific because 90% of our time here the forecasts have been dead wrong or have changed dramatically in an instant😅

[@dennisaston3551]

@@HollyandRay Leave FP "earlier"? Trying to comprehend leaving FP at all let alone earlier, but it looks like thats the necessary bit. 4 weeks a good buffer? IE what is earlier in your view? What is "early enough"?

[@HollyandRay]

That's hard to say. If the window we were looking at had worked out we’d have done 10 days to Tonga then waited for weather to do the next 10 days to NZ. We were nervous because there was a group of boats in Tonga who had been waiting for weather to go to NZ for two weeks already! The best bet is to spend the bulk of cruising season heading that way. So this year we’ll leave in April/May and sail to Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, etc. ending up in NZ Oct/Nov. Most people spend less than 90 days in FP!

[@paulgilliland2992]

I think people carry too many maintenance parts and things you’ll not need . The randomness of breaking down means you likely never carry a high pressure diesel pump or spare bearings for your rotating devices. I’ll bet you have at least 3 water pump impellers.

[@HollyandRay]

Well, we use plenty of our maintenance parts as well. 😂 And we’re glad we carry them because they don't have them here, but you can't prepare for everything!

[@douglasmontgomery6315]

Updated my comment with options

[@HollyandRay]

Thank you for the input! We love hearing from pros. All things we considered, but as you can imagine time, price and resources were incredibly limited. We kept the old shaft and are hoping to restore it one day! 🤞🏼 We’ll document the process when we do, and then we’ll carry it as a spare for the future😅

[@kirk9671]

What depths are you anchoring in?

[@HollyandRay]

Many of the anchorages here are around 25 meters deep.

[@kirk9671]

@HollyandRay thanks. Your experience makes me wonder if the Pacific is worth it or not. Although I did get lightning damage while on the hard in Grenada . I guess adversity can happen anywhere.

[@HollyandRay]

If we were to do it all again, we’d still come but we wouldn’t have done the long stay visa!

[@geniksonthego8963]

So, in other words, haul a second boat if headed to FP. Loo

[@HollyandRay]

Or have guests fly out to visit every other week with a suitcase full of parts for ya🤷🏼‍♀️

[@southernfriedkiwi7726]

Why couldn't Just Catamarans post the part to you? It should be duty free, as you are in transit.

[@HollyandRay]

In our experience, even if the package arrives in Tahiti quickly, it takes weeks to clear customs. Plus, there is a $200 fee per package regardless of if it is duty free. We were paying too much money per day to sit in that yard and wait, air fare was cheaper! You’d be shocked how many boaters I met at the airport who were also doing a parts run🤪

[@southernfriedkiwi7726]

@@HollyandRay One of the many reasons, that I wouldn't bother with Tahiti. It wasn't our best experience when we flew in.

[@HollyandRay]

Agreed. If we weren't spending so long in FP we would've avoided it. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@JosePedroEspinosa]

It is not a bad idea to have a spare catamaran in tow.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@HollyandRay]

For real! Or have friends/family visit every week with an extra suitcase of boat parts🤣

[@dennisaston3551]

They need a spare crew for the spare sailboat (sailing it is more efficient). I call shotgun!

[@johngrant7696]

I love watching other boat owners spend money in the yard….

[@HollyandRay]

Thanks for rubbing it in, John!

[@johngrant7696]

@ sorry. Just got my boat out of yard. Topsides paint, bottom paint, etc, etc, etc. Bill was huge. Boat looks fantastic but it’s in SD no French Polynesia. Enjoy watching you guys. Especially the updates, fixes, etc. SAIL on.

[@HollyandRay]

We feel for you, the invoices always hurt😅 Thanks for the encouragement! Enjoy the land of convenience.