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Deciding the ideal way to steer our boat was a big step in our sailboat restoration project, which started off on the wrong foot. But after some trial and error, we landed back on using a tiller steering system, so now we will be crafting our own custom tiller and extension arm that will be one of the most important parts of our boat. Watch our full video of how we built our very own handcrafted tiller: What to consider when choosing the size of your sailboat tiller: The length of your sailboat tiller is crucial for a few key reasons: Control and Maneuverability: When your tiller is longer, you have more leverage. This means you can steer your boat more easily, even in tricky conditions like strong winds or choppy waters. Comfort and Ergonomics: If your tiller is too short, you might find yourself hunching over or straining to reach it, especially during long sails. But with the right length tiller, you'll stay comfortable and relaxed, even on extended journeys. Clearance: It's important that your tiller gives you plenty of room to move without bumping into anything else on your boat, like the boom or rigging. That way, you can steer confidently without worrying about accidents or injuries. Choosing the perfect length for your tiller is all about ensuring you have the best possible experience on the water—smooth, comfortable, and safe sailing every time! The shape of your sailboat tiller matters! When it comes to sailing, the shape of your tiller is pretty important. Here's why: Comfortable Grip: You want a tiller that feels just right in your hand, making it easy and comfy to steer. Think about those long days out on the water – a well-shaped tiller means less strain on your hands and more enjoyment of your time sailing. Good Visibility: Picture yourself at the helm, scanning the horizon for the next adventure. A tiller that's shaped just so won't block your view of what's ahead. That means smoother sailing and fewer surprises along the way. No Obstructions: You don't want your tiller getting in the way of things like your mainsheet or other gear on deck. A well-designed shape ensures that you've got plenty of space to move around and handle your boat without any awkward bumps or snags. Better Performance: Believe it or not, the shape of your tiller can even affect how your boat handles. A good shape means smoother steering and more responsive control, so you can sail with confidence and precision. So, when you're thinking about your tiller, remember – it's not just a stick, it's your connection to the water. It plays a significant role in the comfort, safety, and performance of the sailboat. Choose wisely for happy sailing! How to make a custom wood tiller for your sailboat: First off, its important to know that for this easy woodworking project, big machinery is not necessary. You will need to be able to cut strips of hardwood and having Minimum Tools Required: Table saw Hand drill Jigsaw Sandpaper Serrated Putty Knife Optional Tools: Angle grinder with sanding flap disc (for curved surfaces) Sander (for flat surfaces) Bandsaw (instead of jigsaw) Clamps Other Materials 4mm strips of wood Block of wood for base Epoxy Glue Screws To start, Sergio created the mold based on the desired shape of the tiller. Ours was a simple over aching curve in which the extension rod would be resting on top of it. This was simple enough to make with 6mm plywood arching over a base of vertical scrap pieces. Note: this was also firmly attached to our table to make it even more stable. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP: We took our time to apply packing tape to all the surfaces that would be in contact with the glue. That goes for the top of the mold as well as all surfaces of the braces. This creates a surface that the glue will not adhere too, making it easy to remove from your mold after the glue dries. This glue is NO JOKE and will stick forever if you let it. Since we were creating our tiller and extension in the same tight mold, we also applied tape between the both pieces. This however did not work out well and since they were pushing up against each other in the mold. The glue ended up adhering to the tape as well and we had to cut them apart. We recommend making a mold that has a better separation to avoid this step. Or making your pieces separately. Though it was simple enough to separate them with our multi-tool. He then took our strips of 4mm teak hardwood cut to size. Together we mixed the epoxy glue together and applied it to both sides of the strips that would be in contact using a serrated putty knife. Less is more in this instance. It might seem like a little quantity of glue, but when pressed together it will run out the sides and not only be wasted, but it will add added work later when you have to sand it off. Since we did not have many clamps, Sergio used this clever technique using hand cut wood braces from scrap wood that drill down into the mold. He then inserted small wedges of wood under each braces to apply the maximum amount of pressure on each section. Then we left it for 24 hours to cure entirely. The next day he removed the dried laminated wood, separated the tiller from the extension rod and then cleaned up the pieces trying not to remove any wood necessary since we had cut ours very close to size already. This next step really depends on your taste, shaping the laminated wood into your desired handle is a bit of an art form that you should take your time doing. You should consider the handle, and making it comfortable and easy to grip for long periods of time. Also consider the ascetics and how it looks as it is also the centerpiece of the cockpit and if you spent all this time making it already, it should look good so that everyone who enters your boat can see what a great job you did! If you had extra wood, you could laminate the butt end of the tiller handle in one go. For us, we were working with scrap wood and our strips were already very narrow. Because of this we made our handle separate and added a solid wood end using dowels to complete the length and width we wanted on our tiller. Check out the full video to see the fun technique Sergio used to create our own dowels and insert them in seconds using a driller! Finishing Touches and Fittings A wood piece that will get so much wear and tear from the sun and sea water will need to be varnished then sanded, then varnished and then sanded again several times. This is to get the varnish to penetrate completely and give the wood the maximum amount of protection possible. At this point we just varnished ours once to see the color and now we are on to trying to find the fittings for not only the tiller head but also the extension arm. This turns out to be a bigger challenge than we thought since they are so specialized and specific – that means there are fewer options and suppliers out there. We are unable to reuse the original tiller head fitting because it functioned differently from our new tiller. The base was attached direly to the long end of the rudder and operated directly off the transome of the boat. Our new tiller will be attached to the rudder stock which will pass though the lazarette. Because of this we are in need of new fittings. We are in search of these two items below to complete our project, So if you have any suggestions on how we can create them or where we can purchase them, let us know! TILLER EXTENSION SWIVEL: Tiller Head Fitting:

Is an electric motor right for your boat? When we decided to change our lives and live-aboard a sailboat, we knew we wanted to make it off grid. The allure of sailboat life is its intrinsic connection with nature and the freedom of having your home where ever you are. But it's not as peaceful and luxurious as people make yacht owning out to be. First off, you might assume that because a sailboat uses wind and sails to get around, that it is automatically off grid. On the contrary, sailboats are filled with a plethora of things that keep it dependent on docking on a regular basis. The typical diesel engine that most boats have is just the tip of the iceberg. So that was our first major obstacle to change. Thankfully electrical motor technology has come leaps and bounds. Electrical cars are now more affordable and more common than ever. However, sailboats are still in a transition period where the needs of long distance motoring have not yet been met. There are many people that are still on the fence when it comes to electrical boat motors because of this. The electrical motoring distance is still restricted by the battery capacity on the boat or if you have a sufficient amount of solar panels or wind turbines that can generate the necessary energy. The majority of the time this will still be significantly less than a tank of diesel. This opens up the complaints on safety. If you are in an urgent moment where you have to motor for a significant amount of time, will your electric motor be able to? So with current technology it, comes down to this – if you have an electric motor, you have to have a different boating lifestyle. But for us, the benefits far out weigh any effects on our lifestyle.... The positives are beyond noticeable for anyone on board. There is no noise, no smell, and no exhaust. You have instant power output with no need for engine rev settling and no pre-start waiting. Though the initial costs can be higher, the maintenance costs are much lower. And not only are the electric motors better for the environment, there are also less restrictions. But what do we mean by a "different lifestyle"? The use of the electric motor is mainly for getting in and out of marinas or in important situation. The rest of the time you are committed to do what your boat does best, and that is sail. Here in Brazil, there are many motor sailors that prop up their sails and then never turn the motor off. Perhaps in regions like these where there can be long periods without wind, this can be an issue. And that get's us to our second point; planning. When you have an electric motor, planning is going to be even more important. Living aboard an electric boat might mean that you live more in tune with mother nature. And that means sailing when the wind blows and waiting it out if it's not. That is not to say that we will never use our motor unless we are in dire need. One quick solution to extending your electric motor range is to have a diesel generator on board for emergencies. Many people chose to have this option available to them and that gives them the sense of security needed. There might even be certain regions (like polar regions) that require this option. We are still researching this option to decide if this is something we will have on board the Lahakai. All this is not saying that electrical motors do not have what we need. Electrical motors can have a significant amount of power and motoring hours in them. However this depends on many factors. Here are a few: How much battery power is available? Are the battery resources being allocated to other things? How fast are you traveling? What is the rate of recharging? (to extend your battery life) These are all of the points we will be testing once we have our electric motor installed in order to have the parameters we can travel around safely. What electrical motor did we choose for our sailboat? We did research on many of the companies that provide electrical motors for sailboats and we found that the for the price point, power and options available, that Torqeedo fit the bill for our 34.5 foot steel sailboat. We decided to go with the Cruise 12.0 FP TorqLink by Torqeedo. This electric motor is best suited for sailboats up to 12 tons. The Lahakai sailboat is projected to weigh around 6 to 6.5 tons when it is completely finished. This puts it right between the the Cruise 6.0 and the Cruise 12.0 in their Pod Drive electric motor line. So the upgrade to the 12.0 was the better fit for maximum usage of the motor and knowing that we have plenty of power available if we need it. Cruise 12.0 FP TorqLink Technical Specs: Unboxing our 25 HP Electric Motor by Torqeedo Notable Torqeedo Cruise Pod drive Sales Points: Smaller and lighter than combustion sail drives Virtually silent while in use No fuel or oil to leak or stink Minimal impact on sailing speed Durable design and excellent corrosion protection for fresh and salt water We are going to put these bullet points to the test once we install and get our Pod Drive running on the Lahakai. Suggested setup by Torqeedo: The benefits of Hydrogeneration A bonus to the Cruise Fixed Pods are their ability to use Hydrogeneration which means that when you are sailing and the motor is not in use, the propeller can be used to charge its own battery. In our case we did opt to get the additional folding propeller that we found was recommended not only to reduce drag but also because it's construction is stronger since the blades are made of metal instead of the plastic propellers (that come with the pod drives). This does reduce the benefits of hydrogeneragtion, however it is still there and any little gain in battery power is a big win. Installing and testing our electrical motor... As of now we are still in the middle of our construction and have not installed our electrical motor just yet. However once we do we will be publishing our results, experiences and a full review of our Cruise Pod Drive. So stay tuned!! References: If you would like more information on our Torqeedo electrical Pod Drive motor we choose, please visit these links below: https://www.torqeedo.com/us/en-us/products/pod-drives/cruise-12.0-fp-torqlink-/1283-00.html https://media.torqeedo.com/downloads/flyer/EN/torqeedo-onepager-cruise-pod-en.pdf

The popular VelaShow 2023 (an exposition and show focused exclusively on sailboats in Brazil) is being hosted in Ilha Bela, Brazil this year... And we will be speaking in it! The VelaShow has made a big impact on our journey, since it was the pivotal point where our project took off. After struggling with our neglected steel boat trying to save it and salvage it, we were running out of options, time and money! And around this time, the VelaShow came to Niteroi, Brazil in 2022. The show was held in the same club we were doing construction on our sailboat and it was the perfect opportunity for us to meet our peers. It made us feel normal and human.... The show had several speakers sharing their advice and experiences though out the 3 day event. There were so many inspirational stories of lives transformed simply by sailboats. And you could feel the camaraderie and joy that emanated from this wonderful community. Everyone we met was excited to share their lives, advice and support. So many people also had stories of their boat building disasters, mistakes and mishaps. It made us feel normal and human. It was the perfect moment for us to recharge and get motivated again about our boat build. And not only did we get motivated, we changed direction completely. We learned about a different location in Brazil that was one of the epicenters of boat building. Everyone declared that there were more professionals builders there, actual boat yards to choose from, and cheaper resources! They had us at hello. And with that, we sailed our empty and motor-less boat 7 days south to continue her construction in this boat heaven. One year later and we are returning to the VelaShow 2023 to now share our stories. We want to talk to you about how our failures have been fundamental parts of our success. In fact, without one, the other simply wouldn't exist. Without falling down, we wouldn't have found the people we did, the places we went and everything along the way. It feels a lot like jumping out of an airplane and finding your parachute on the way down. To avoid the pains, you skip the gains. So, we can't wait to see you at the VelaShow 2023! UPDATE: Unfortunately, plans have changed and we will no longer be able to present at the VelaShow this year. Our boat construction continues and needs our attention so we will have to try to go next year instead! We were very much looking forward to the show and meeting up with old friends again. Wish us luck on the construction and hopefully we will have the opportunity to show our finished boat soon!

When it comes to building boats, one of the most important decisions that must be made is the choice of material for the hull. There are a variety of materials that can be used to construct a boat hull, but one of the most popular options is steel. In this blog post, we will compare steel boat hulls to some alternate options and discuss the pros and cons of each and why we made our decision. The hull is the outermost layer of a boat that sits in the water and is responsible for keeping the rest of the boat afloat. Steel Boat Hulls One of the primary benefits of a steel boat hull is its durability. Steel is a very strong and sturdy material that can withstand a lot of wear and tear. Additionally, steel can be easily repaired if it does become damaged. So when we are traveling, and we are planning to go far, we will be able to easily find the materials and support needed at reasonable prices. These advantages make steel an ideal choice for commercial and recreational boats that will be used frequently and in harsh conditions. Another benefit of steel boat hulls is their ability to be customized. Steel is a versatile material that can be shaped and formed into a variety of different designs. This allows boat builders to create unique, custom-made boats that are tailored to the specific needs and preferences of their clients. In our situation, we plan on modifying our boat for it to fit our electric motor. This involves not only removing the old diesel motor but also modifying the hull to receive a Torqeedo Pod Drive. So we needed a material that was easy to adapt. One of the downsides of steel boat hulls can be the routine maintenance that is required to prevent rust and corrosion. Rust is enemy of steel and one must remain vigilant to stop it where it starts. Additionally, steel boat hulls can be more expensive than some alternate options, particularly for smaller boats. Fiberglass Boat Hulls Another option for boat hulls is fiberglass. Fiberglass is a lightweight, durable material that is resistant to corrosion. With some skill, they can be easy to repair if it does become damaged, making it a good choice for boats that will be used frequently. Fiberglass can be molded into a variety of different shapes, allowing for custom designs. Additionally, there are a lot of used fiberglass boats in the market so it's quite easy to find a boat at any size or price range. However, one of the downsides of fiberglass is that it is not resistant to bumps or scrapes and one unlucky hit can sink your boat. Fiberglass hulls are susceptible to osmosis. This is when water penetrates the top layer resulting in the fiberglass fibers begin to rot. And finally, in our case, the complexity of remodeling an existing structure of a fiberglass boat to fit a different kind of engine would be highly complex. Aluminum Boat Hulls Another alternate option is Aluminum, which is lightweight and corrosion-resistant, making it a great choice for boats that will be used frequently in saltwater environments. Additionally, aluminum can be easily formed into a variety of different shapes, allowing for custom designs. However, one of the downsides of aluminum is that it is not as strong as steel, so it may not be suitable for larger or commercial boats, but for a sailboat it's quite suitable. Additionally, aluminum can be more expensive than some other materials. Finally, Wooden boat hulls are known for their aesthetic appeal and are often used in the construction of classic and traditional boats. Wood is a natural material that is relatively inexpensive and easy to work with, but it requires regular maintenance and is not as durable as other materials. Additionally, wooden boat hulls are susceptible to rot and can be more difficult to repair if they do become damaged. In conclusion The choice of material for a boat hull will depend on a variety of factors, including the intended use of the boat, the conditions in which it will be used, and the budget of the boat builder. Steel boat hulls are a great choice for boats that will be used frequently in harsh conditions, but they can be heavy and expensive. Alternate options like fiberglass, aluminum, and wooden hulls offer different benefits and drawbacks, and the choice will be based on the specific needs of the boat builder and the end user. Ultimately, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of each material and consider factors such as durability, weight, cost, and ease of repair before making a decision. Additionally, it is important to consider the specific requirements of the boat, such as size, intended use, and expected conditions of operation. It is also important to mention that, when comparing these materials, it is essential to take into account the life-cycle cost of the boat, including the cost of materials, construction, maintenance, and repair over the entire lifespan of the boat. Steel boats may be more expensive to build, but their durability may make them a cost-effective choice in the long run. Fiberglass may be cheaper to build, but they may require more frequent repairs and maintenance, which could make them more expensive in the long run. We chose a steel boat hull because it fit our specific needs. Though we would really love to have aluminum, we didn't have the budget for what was available at the time. We wanted to have a hull that would be strong and could travel to any region, even colder latitudes. It is important to consider all factors and take into account the life-cycle cost of the boat before making a final decision. And we feel that our boat will last for many years to come.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS Strangely this was the most intimidating task we had to do in our boat restoration project so far. The sheer size of the shed left us feeling in doubt the entire time. Will this be large enough? Will this stand? Will this get blown away from the wind? We did lots of research to conclude that the Cathedral Arch structure would be the easiest and most practical for us to build. Since we are renting land and do not own it, we didn't want to create any permanent structures or throw cement. So the cathedral arch boat shed checked off all the right boxes. We were limited by the supplies we had here in Brazil and their availability. We had the option of eucalyptus or pine planks and went with pine since they were cheaper, However they were shorter so we had to connect more together to get our overall length. We found a maximum of 3 meter (3 yard) planks of 6 x 1 inch pine so we had to attach 3 together. If you find longer planks, you are better off. SUPPLY LIST: Wood planks (see paragraph above) Wood separators (These are the block in between each plank. We used 2 x 2 inch (5 cm) blocks by 6 inches (15cm) the width of our wood planks. But we recommend rectangle ones (which were not available to us at the time) that could be better since they wont twist under pressure. Bolts and nuts (to connect planks together for the over all height. We used 4 bolts per intersection) Nail (so many it's unfathomable) Glue (we started out gluing but it was so much that we abandon this step...) TOOL LIST: Power drill (with extra batteries!) Drill bit (For bolts) Nut driver drill attachment (for bolts) Hammer (or if you are smart, a nail gun would be way better) Anchors (We used rebar stakes, but you can use cement blocks or anything heavy) Cover of your choice (We went with a thick tarp) Friends (Help makes this job go faster!) STEP ONE: MEASURING To find the size we needed, we measured the size of our boat in the cradle as if it was in a large box. We then measured on the ground how much space we wanted on each side of the boat to move around. Calculating a reasonable height from the top of the boat, we measured from the center point above the boat to the ground points. The arch was determined by how much we had to clear the side of the boat. NOTE: We messed up when we didn't calculate the stanchions so when we take the boat out of the shed, we will have to manually move the arches out of the way to avoid from hitting the structure. Make sure you keep this in mind and give enough space because eventually this thing has to leave the shed! STEP TWO: CREATING THE TEMPLATE To create the template for all of the arches, we found a large enough space on the ground that we could create half arches which we would connect later on. On the ground we measured from the middle point of the boat to the outer ground point and also the height (creating a large L). At these points we placed something that would be able to secure the wood while we would arch it and nail it. We found that strong metal stakes in the ground served well for this purpose. We also tried wood blocks drilled into concrete but these failed us more often since we were constantly bumping and rubbing them as we moved the wood, placing it in and removing it from the template. Then we placed a stake where the wood would be curved to create the arch. This was a little tricky because this is also limited by the amount of curve the wood could withstand. We found that our planks being only 3 yards (3 meters) and with several connections, didn't seem to want to arch as much as we hoped. Also, they had lots of knots on them so several broke before we found an arch that was suitable. We've seen others able to arch much more than ours so perhaps we were rather conservative on this part. STEP THREE: PREPARING THE WOOD PLANKS Since we had to make 3 planks to make up our overall height, we had to go though the process of connecting all the planks together with bolts. Ideally you have found longer planks so you can reduce this step or eliminate it. All the wood was cut at different lengths, so we found it was easiest to create your first perfect height in the template, then remove it and lay everyone next to that instead of measuring. It seemed like madness to try to use a ruler and eyeballing it next to the completed one went much faster. The inside piece of wood will be shorter than the outside, so keep this in mind. It's the same process to create this guy, just note the difference in height and create it accordingly. For the inside piece, we also already nailed on the separating blocks of wood while it was flat on the ground. This was important because we could line up all the blocks more or less. Again, without needing to measure all the time. IMPORTANT: If you have to connect planks together to get the height, make sure when you assemble your piece the inside piece and the outside piece to mimic each other NOT mirror each other. Example; you wouldn't want your mend on the outside to be on the outside of the arch, and the mend on the inside to be on the inner side of the arch. You would want them both be mended the same way; both inside, or both outside. We made this mistake the first time and it effected not only the curve but out blocks didn't fit on the inside since the wood placed incorrectly created different spacing. STEP FOUR: ASSEMBLE HALF ARCHES Place your two pieces together loosely and then place them on their side in your template. Line up the foot of the planks on the inside of the stake in your template that will be at ground level. Make sure the wood is lying on the outside of the stake that will be holding the template curve. Then carefully take the upper most piece of your wood planks and gently walk them back until you can get it to curve around the center stake. At this point you will need to ever so slightly lift the planks in your hand over your top stake and place them down on the inner side of that stake, thus securing your wood and establishing the curve. At this moment we discovered that our center stake needed to be moved as the curve was too aggressive for our wood. Make adjustments correctly and try again till you get it right. Once your planks are correctly curved in your template, start nailing it all together. Repeat this till you have created all of your half arches. STEP FIVE: ASSEMBLE COMPLETE ARCHES Take the half arches and measure the distance of the feet to match calculations. Then join the arch points at the top. We did this by adding the same square blocks on the point and nailing them together. Next you need to reenforce that top triangle part. We've seen this as large boards cut to triangle which reenforce the points and look very sturdy. However the boards cost more so we personally went with planks and they did the trick. We took one 6 x 1 inch plank and made a triangle in the top and nailed it to the side. Then we measured down about 2 feet (60 cm) and placed another plank passing from the side of one side to the other, cutting off the excess. If you want to reenforce it even more, you can do this to both sides. Choose whats best for your project. STEP SIX: BUILDING YOUR GOTHIC ARCH BOAT SHED We put the feet near the boat and then lifted the arch by its point then stood them up one arch at a time and walked it into place. This was tricky because ours is around 20 feet tall (6 meters) so we had to have help for this. We had to lay 2 down on the boat to get going. They were then righted next to each other as we put in some horizontal reinforcements. Try to get the highest point first and lowest point to get some stability then add more horizontal points. We had to add the highest point last since it was impossible to reach till the end, but it made all the difference. RECOMMENDED: Create diagonal supports going from the foot of the structure to midway in the arch to prevent the structure from buckling STEP SEVEN: FINISHING STEPS Cover it! Once you have completed the structure, you can choose how you want to cover it. We went with a large tarp that left enough area for wind to pass below the structure. Ground it! If you haven't already, you'll need to put in your ground supports. This can be cement weights or rebar stakes. Enjoy it! Congratulation! You finally finished this structure. Hopefully it went much smoother and took less time than it took us to make! How many arches do you need? We don't know the mathematical answer to this. We created one every 3 feet (1 meter) so we ended up with 11 arches (so we had to create 22 halves in our template). But we've seen people put them closer together, and reenforce them more than we did. This probably depends on a couple factors, how much. money you want to spend and also how long you want the structure to last. Our's is very temporary so we went for the minimum, but if you wanted to create something more permanent with a solid roof, we'd suggest reenforcing it. It will stand and be very strong if you do!! DISCLAIMER We are amateur DIYers, this blog is how we personally made our structure. Please do check out our references below and always make sure you do your own research before trying to make anything! Good luck and be safe! REFERENCES Don't take our word for it alone, check out these great videos we based our build on: Duracell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8_xGIMrJAg Zack Of All Trades: https://youtu.be/Co5KfvKux44

Welcome to the most exciting phase of our boat restoration project—the wood interior! We have eagerly anticipated this moment and are thrilled to announce our partnership with Mobili Mare, who will help us turn our vision of a home on the sea into a reality. Over the next few weeks, we invite you to join us on this incredible journey as we design and construct our wood boat interior, sharing every step of the process. A Rocky Start Unveiling the Neglected Interior When we first encountered the original wood interior of our neglected sailboat, it was clear that it had seen better days. Constructed before 1997, the interior had undergone minimal modifications over the years. Watch the full demolition in Episode 2 Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” – Winston Churchill As we began the daunting task of dismantling it, we realized just how sturdy the structure was, with screws and nails cleverly concealed beneath the veneer. It took determination, a hammer, a saw, and plenty of sweat and elbow grease to bring it down. However, the superficial parts of the interior told a different story. Water damage had taken its toll on the roof panels and the entire bathroom area, leaving nothing salvageable. Previous attempts to improve the situation resulted in inferior quality wood and haphazard paint jobs, leaving behind varnish drips and a surface marred by neglect. Though the uniform brown appearance masked some imperfections from a distance, a closer look revealed the lack of care given to maintaining this steel boat. Learning from the Past Reaching this stage of our project has taught us the importance of doing things differently. We must learn from the past to avoid repeating its mistakes. After investing considerable effort in saving our beloved boat, we were determined to prevent it from sinking into a state of disrepair within the next decade. With this in mind, we made the decision to partner with Mobili Mare—a renowned company specializing in residential and marine interiors. They will not only showcase their exceptional craftsmanship but also guide us through the process of creating our dream home on the sea. It is an incredible opportunity to witness firsthand the work of professionals who have mastered the art of boat interiors. Watch us move the Lahakai in Episode 28 Join Us on This Transformative Journey We are thrilled to embark on this journey of crafting our wood boat interior. With Mobili Mare's expertise and our unwavering commitment, we are confident that we will create a space that exceeds our expectations and becomes a sanctuary on the water. Stay tuned as we share updates, insights, and the incredible progress we make along the way. Together, let's witness the transformation of a neglected interior into a breathtaking living space. We are determined to do justice to this remarkable vessel and build a home that will stand the test of time. Join us as we breathe new life into our boat and fulfill our dreams of sailing the seas in unparalleled comfort and style.

We have been long awaiting the VelaShow to arrive in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is a convention exclusively for sailboats and since the pandemic it has not had the chance to have its second event. How lucky were we when we found out that it will be hosted in the very club that we are rebuilding the Lahakai. And to our greatest surprise, we not only were able to find many missing pieces to our project that we were were looking for but we also made some amazing friends as well! "Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you; spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life." Amy Poehler There is truly something to be said about the sailboat community - a group of people that are just as humble as they are inspiring. Everyone was kind, helpful and full of useful advice to guide us on our journey. The show was hosted in the Charitas Clube Naval in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was comprised of around 40 vendors and three days worth of speakers spanning topics from how to buy a boat to how to conquer the arctic ocean. The entire show was in Portuguese so if you are not a fluent speaker, it would be a challenge to enjoy. But if you do, it was a wonderful time to mix, mingle and learn a lot. We will be looking forward to next years show and if we are still in Brazil, we will definitely be coming back! Here are some notable mentions from the show: MotionMe Influencers you need to know! MotionMe is true to their name, a fantastic couple that is always on the move. They are bringing our online universe their amazing story and inspiring us with all the things they do. Learn about Brazil, traveling, sailing and more - in Portuguese and hopefully soon in English! ;) Find them on Instagram, TikTok, Youtube and more! MyBoatRio Handmade Bags & Coats These hand made one-of-a-kind bags and coats are created out of recycled sails and other materials. They are truly artesanal and we can't say enough about the quality, creativity and the creators! They are wonderful! Visit them at www.myboat-rioupcycling.com.br Equinautic The answer to our marine supply needs! After searching long and far in Brazil, we had great difficulty locating items like Lithium Batteries, Watermakers, Marine Fridges, Chartplottes, and more. Equinautic had everything we wanted with competitive prices in the Brazilian market. Find out how they can make your boat better at equinautic.com.br