MJ Sailing

Two of my favorite things in the world - my hubby, and a sunset over the water. 🌅👩‍❤️‍👨

Once again I find myself covered each day in a fine layer of sanding dust.

After the rolling of our topcoat paint went so well on the interior accent walls, we've decided to try it on the exterior as well, instead of spraying (there are too many other boats around us that we don't want to get over spray on).

And while the results are promising, it does mean that only one layer can go on at a time to keep the smoothest finish possible. So I wake up just as the sun is cresting over the trees, roll on a coat to part of the cabin top, let it dry for six hours, and then give it a somewhat dense scuff sand to prepare it for another cost the next morning.

We think it will need 5 coats in total though.

But the next coat may be put off for a day as severe thunderstorms approaching have cut into my sanding time for the afternoon.

Guess that means I get to sleep in a little tomorrow!!

After months of working inside the hulls, it was nice to shift our attention back outside.

The longeron and forebeam are now test fit between the hulls. Every connection has to be checked before anything becomes permanent, so there's been plenty of measuring, aligning, and tweaking along the way.

It's another milestone that's more about precision than speed, but seeing these major structural pieces in place definitely makes the overall shape of the boat easier to imagine.

I never expected that building a catamaran would eventually send me back to school...but here we are. 😄

This week we're making progress on preparing our cabin top for paint, which means a LOT of sanding, fairing, guide coat, and primer. Meanwhile, I'm revisiting some interior paint tests to see if I can finally achieve the finish I've been hoping for.

I'm also sharing why I've decided to pursue my captain's license now instead of waiting until after launch. With our Greece charter coming up this fall and some of my qualifying sea time nearing expiration, the clock is ticking.

Join us for another week of boatbuilding progress and a few life updates along the way!

⛵ Watch here: https://youtu.be/5mf9qPI3ryQ

This cabinet may not look like much yet, but it will eventually power almost every system on our catamaran.
In our latest video, Matt starts installing the breakers that will control everything from lighting and navigation electronics to pumps and onboard systems. It’s one more step toward bringing the electrical system to life. ⚡

This cabinet may not look like much yet, but it will eventually power almost every system on our catamaran.
In our latest video, Matt starts installing the breakers that will control everything from lighting and navigation electronics to pumps and onboard systems. It’s one more step toward bringing the electrical system to life. ⚡

https://youtu.be/6cAZiLJNv_Q

A big milestone in the catamaran build this week…

We finally have the Victron components that will power the boat, and the electrical install is officially beginning. Matt converts our hanging locker into an inverter space while Jessica starts the painstaking process of laying out the cabin overhead supports.

A big thanks to Dakota Lithium Batteries for making this possible!

Watch the new episode here ⬇️
https://youtu.be/OW3FWBPd8_c