Recapping Our Refit

[@laurenhansman3447]

Great video guys. Glad to see you more regularly again and really looking forward to your new cruising videos.

[@rssea814]

This summary combined with the videos through the process have been very informative. You've done great work updating the boat and this really helps newbies like me understand the level of effort required! Thank you!

[@OutChasingStars]

Glad we could help give a bit more insight! Boats can be a lot of work but the payoffs of the lifestyle is oh so satisfying!

[@carolkar5687]

Appreciate your honesty & humility when you go over boat projects.

[@monicapuccetti3310]

I’m sitting here 3 weeks deep into a new to us boat set up/fix and this is SO true (well 3 weeks this time around, we had a month and a half of full on buying/prep to get the boat to where we needed her prior to this boat work time). Thanks for your honesty too, it’s helping me feel better for struggling with living amidst the chaos of 17 million simultaneous projects on a 38ft cat. As for refit questions I’d be keen to here more about that 12 v aurcon (we are currently sweating our asses off doing work in the Brisbane summer 🥵)

[@OutChasingStars]

Being in the midst of the chaos is _super_ tough! We would remind ourselves of the little victories along the way and when the light at the end of the tunnel started to appear it was incredibly rewarding! We haven't actually used the new 12v air cons for air conditioning much yet. Winter in the Bahamas is generally quite comfortable. The few times we've used them here, the solar has managed to keep up just fine. As days get longer/hotter, I'm hoping increased usage will continue to be offset by more solar output. However, we did use them in Rhode Island quite a lot for heat given it was below 0C for a while before we left! They managed to keep the boat comfortable, but we had to be tied into shore power to handle the power needed since the days were so short and the sun quite low. But we don't plan on spending lots of time in cold places in the future!

[@womenadrift411]

Glad you are sailing again. Congratulations

[@wayneschmidt9620]

You two always put out such thoughtful interesting videos. Thank you

[@allynonderdonk7577]

If you two had gotten all the upgrades that you've done in the refit ordered on a new boat....it would have added 200k to 1000k for it at today's costs depending on the manufacturer. I might be wrong, but I see all these new boats with hybrid drives and extensive solar and the hybrid engines are 30-80k extra(for hybrid) on each engine in a Helia 44 size range. My average fuel cost yearly is like $200. So going to a hybrid marine engine doesn't make sense to me, even on a catamaran, but the solar upgrades certainly do. I've been in process refitting my Isuzu NPR boxtruck into an RV/Overlander and I'll be throwing 2300 watts of solar on it in the next couple of months. I've already outfitted it with a motorcycle rack that carries my Electric motorcycle and a gas motorcycle on the back. I can also plug the truck into EV charging stations and run the AC, charge the batteries, and charge the motorcycle. Talk about cheap places to stay, EV charging stations are the b-omb at 9pm to 6am. There is nobody to be found and you are generally paying for electricity, so it is like getting a $60 Rv spot for a dollar sometimes. Anyway..back to you..the video was very well produced, and I am highly impressed as always by the professional nature of your productions. That is why you are my favorite channel!! Keep up the good work and enjoy your new solar fed lifestyle!

[@OutChasingStars]

Figuring out which upgrades made lifestyle vs cost sense was close to the hardest part of the whole refit! Solar was a no-brainer and we're so thrilled with the result!

[@cestmoi1262]

Great to see Amy in this video. Love your honest assessment of personal challenges and experiences with suppliers --- good or not so good. Always in favor of comfort, like A/C, and getting it from Solar Panels; not cheap initiately, but in the long run the better choice.

[@OutChasingStars]

It will certainly take a long time for our lower diesel usage to make up for the cost of all our energy efficiency upgrades. 😆 But as you said, it's STILL the better choice. And we're so pleased so far!

[@juliazentner681]

I would love a tour showing all the work that was done

[@bill2292]

Another great video! Thank You 🙂

[@rodwaski]

Great recap , have learnt a lot by your upgrade choices , I have a new FP build next year and want to do it right with aftermarket options where they deliver a better long term option.

[@OutChasingStars]

New boats are always exciting and a nice "blank canvas" to start from! But it can be a bit challenging to get exactly what you want from the start when you have factory standard options you're already paying for. Batteries are a great example. We didn't have a lot of luck getting FP to deviate from their traditional way of doing things. But something like solar can definitely be done better aftermarket!

[@lisahardcastle8819]

I enjoyed the video! You guys are always very thoughtful and helpful with the information you share. Looking forward to seeing the “new” Starry Horizon at some point this year.

[@OutChasingStars]

She should still tick all the "Lisa and Bob approved" boxes! Can't wait to have you guys visit again!

[@douglasrobbie9998]

Great Video with lots of good info. Glad you like the summer/fall weather in RI. The Portsmouth/Newport area is Yachtie heaven. One comment from a section of this video- the Mabru AC units. Assume these are sturdy/reliable 12V AC units, however fellow Ytuber Sailing Nahoa had 3 installed about 1+ yr ago in SE Asia and from episode reports, all 3 failed/broke/had issues. Maybe bad installs or bad luck, but something to consider. I like the Victron stuff but it is expensive. For a cat solar install 3 yrs ago, I went with REC panels but a lower priced brand 60A MPPT solar charge controller and project came in just under $1/watt for whole system, excluding bats. The reg current LA house battery bank was used.

[@OutChasingStars]

Everything on a boat will break. Even things that aren't supposed to break. 😆 All new projects are undertaken with a bit of trepidation but the potential benefits make it worth trying at least. You're right that the Victron stuff can get expensive. But over the years we've added more and more Victron equipment and it's really amazing to me how well it all talks to each other and integrates. For example, during one previous iteration, we'd have one brand solar controllers 'fighting' against our other brand battery charger and it was tough to get proper charging from both. Now everything works seamlessly together.

[@elysiumsailing]

I agree with all of your assessments. Having things planned out and knowing what you are going to need, and having it before you get started is critical to keeping forward momentum going. Inevitably there will be some things that you miss, but if you can minimize that list of things the projects are a whole lot less frustrating. I think you have Starry Horizons in a great place now, and you can enjoy her once again in a whole new way!

[@OutChasingStars]

The "knowing what you are going to need part" sure takes an AMAZING amount of time and research beforehand. But I think it's partly why we were able to get as much done in the time we did. And you're definitely right. SH is in a great place and has almost been like a completely different boat for the last couple months!

[@FlyNineVictor]

Excellent video!

[@tlowe2502]

HEY GUYS, great to see y'all. Thanks for letting us know how everything is going, glad as heck that you're back on the boat. We really appreciate the work y'all put in to share your adventure's with us. Again we love y'all and hope y'all are having fun with all of the up grades. Stay safe and have fun.👍🏻👍🏻💕🐾

[@dougmarder]

This is one of those video series I have long been waiting for. Going to have to go back to the beginning of your refit and watch them all the way through again before I start asking my 8 million questions, but one does leap to the top: did you get references from any other cruisers on your choice of boatyards and contractors? As a contractor myself (in a completely different line of business), I can state definitively that estimating project completion time, labor and materials is as much art as science despite decades of research and entire schools devoted to the practice. However, being consistently off by 200-300% is not poor planning, that is robbery.

[@OutChasingStars]

We did ask around and got decent recommendations for the yard. And we knew going in that projects done there (based on their labor rates and initial estimates) would be more expensive than some of our other options. But the weather/location/etc would have outweighed that... if they'd been anywhere close to the original estimates.

[@dougmarder]

@@OutChasingStars next time (there’s always a “next time” until you sell) you should discuss other contract types with your vendors. Time and materials (T&M) may be the standard, but they might be open to other options like Cost Plus Fixed Fee or (better) a Fixed-Price Incentive contract. The vendor needs to assume part of the risk and be rewarded for on-time/on-budget delivery. EDIT: And, do not forget to include quality metrics as well as performance. Delivering shoddy or incomplete work on-time does not meet your needs any better than quality work delivered 3 months late.

[@OutChasingStars]

Yes, negotiating different types of contracts was our big take away from this refit!

[@bertsanford7943]

Too bad about not being able to do any sightseeing in RI. It's fun state. Very much enjoyed the video and the discussion about the projects.

[@OutChasingStars]

Fortunately, what we did see of RI we really enjoyed. So neither of us would mind going back someday!

[@dune_tech]

Really informative videos! Will you be doing a video to review some numbers on the 12v AC and solar setup?

[@theTimHernandez]

so impressive!

[@TPLeary]

Great wrap up Thanks again

[@OutChasingStars]

Thank YOU for all the help and getting us back on the water in better shape than we were before!

[@TPLeary]

@@OutChasingStars It was my pleasure.

[@tahliahere2362]

Thanks that was a great insight into the joys of a large refit. Couldn’t agree more with the sheer frustration with manufacturers installing electrics/plumbing etc into the boat then placing the deck down rendering something they know will need replacement now totally inaccessible 😞 I feel your pain

[@OutChasingStars]

I'll admit that I do try to console myself when I'm disappearing deep into the unaccessible parts of the boat that others have to face these same problems. It probably cuts down the expletives by half! 😂

[@howtodave1725]

On blue painter's tape, I write down how many ( 4 ea) then what it is (bolt with nut) and last what item it was for (water pump). Then put the tape on the inside of a ziplock bag, then put the items in the bag, and seal. Putting the tape on the inside of the bag helps keep your label clean so you can read it months later when you go to put it back together.

[@OutChasingStars]

This is pretty much exactly what we were doing by the end of the refit. And it made things so much easier!

[@rexanddonnaboyd]

Thanks for the great video and information! Ref: Cost Estimates vs Reality, though I've not done a major refit, all the estimates I've received over the years have been within 5% of the final cost. A couple of times the final bill was less....a little. Did you consider doing the refit in Kemah, TX? I understand that boat work in the summer would be miserable and the trip would be a big dogleg from your cruising ground but....?

[@OutChasingStars]

Having done plenty of boat work in the Texas heat, it was pretty easy to rule coming back out from our list of options!

[@tracyoliver550]

Presently anchored in Sint Maarten awaiting a proposal for new solar arch/lithium. Struggling with the need/desire for maximum solar and absurdly large arch that dominates appearance of boat. Looking at 5 ~400w panels which would be about 18’ x 6’. I guess we’ll get accustomed to it.

[@OutChasingStars]

I'll admit that changing the look of SH so radically was one of my major concerns of going the big solar arch route. But I've been pleasantly surprised at how much I like the change. It has ended up looking like an extension of the coach roof over the dinghy. And the increase in solar output has completely changed our energy independence.

[@johnnybarbar7435]

I get written quotes for land lubber projects with increases only when signed approval of changes or upgrades are provided. Is this unheard of for marine projects?

[@OutChasingStars]

We've yet to work through a marine project that offered that kind of quote. But after this experience, that's part of what we'll try going forward.

[@frankstich1248]

David and Amy, Mary Grace and I really enjoyed your recap. Great job with the MAJOR refit. Question: Did you consider painting SH hullsides and an antifouliing that is more evironmentally friendly and last longer such a Copper Coat? We always found that hull buffing and new AF were the primary reasons for haul out. Love you guys, you are wonderful teachers. Smooth sailing wishes from Ticket to Ride.

[@OutChasingStars]

Thanks Frank! We're super happy with how things have turned out. But there are still some days when I look longingly at the HHs in the anchorage. 😉 Copper Coat is something Amy and I have been talking about for quite a while. Proper prep sounds absolutely critical in a successful application and SH would have required a lot of work to get back to gelcoat after all our years of cruising. It wasn't something we wanted to do in expensive Rhode Island. But boats don't really care about those sort of things and when we had the yard do a light sanding in preparation for another anti-fouling coat, paint just started flaking off. So we ended up having to go all the way down to gel coat anyways but didn't have the time/conditions to properly do Copper Coat. So it remains in a "maybe someday" category!

[@danielcallinan5629]

Excellent recap. Love all your choices and improvements. Noticed that new props fell off the list. I like the low maintenance aspect of the Flexofolds but hesitant to go that route knowing the recurring problems you've had with the falling off. Any thoughts on alternatives?

[@OutChasingStars]

Every time I do research into alternative props for saildrives, I hear stories from other owners about how theirs have fallen off too. So it doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. What really sucks is that I do think the Flexofolds preform really well, when they manage to stay on! In the end, we decided to stick with the devil we know for now...

[@nahbrown]

Living on a boat in a yard is horrible. Never again. Congrats on your new solar upgrade, that was the single best upgrade we did to SV Sandy Bottoms

[@OutChasingStars]

I think Amy is already getting tired of me mentioning daily how much power we're producing and how much I love all the new solar! 😂

[@wow.sailor.]

Wow Sailor 👍

[@jackweston7530]

you could have visited oak island lol

[@stevesteel6066]

How do you afford to buy a boat and refit it? Do you both work? OMG, another sell out to TB!

[@stephensidaras7416]

You guys are looking very thin.

[@OutChasingStars]

It really is amazing how many calories you burn working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week in a boat yard!

[@stephensidaras7416]

How are the new sails fitting and how do you think the performance compares?

[@OutChasingStars]

Really pleased with the new sails so far. They fit quite well! However, it's tough to say for sure how the performance compares given no passage conditions are ever the same. I will say that on our most recent sail, we were sailing at 28 degrees apparent in light winds. We definitely couldn't have done that with the old sails!

[@tlowe2502]

I forgot to ask, did y'all put star link on the boat? Or have even considered it? I heard it was a good addition on other vlogs. Thanks again guys, stay safe we love y'all 🤔👍🏻👍🏻💕🐾

[@OutChasingStars]

We did get Starlink while we were in Rhode Island. I haven't done a permanent install yet as hardware/terms of service seem to be changing so fast. But so far it has been absolutely amazing!

[@rogerstroup7240]

What power do you use and what did you calculate for the tota) needed use? Why did these estates always go high, it was easy for them to go low and then sucker punch you into a commetment knowing that you would have to pay or loose. My advice for these types of people is add 50% more over the bid.

[@OutChasingStars]

We actually made another video on how to do a power audit for a boat: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoGplqxjq8qEpbM As for the estimates, it's definitely a problem in the marine industry especially. Next time we'll try negotiating more specific cost/performance/quality contracts...