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Sailboat Refit — Community, Crowdfunding & DIY Resources

A sailboat refit is one of the most honest relationships a person can have with a boat — you learn every flaw, every shortcut the previous owner took, and exactly what it takes to make something seaworthy again. The sailing community has always supported each other through these projects. This page highlights builders doing it on real budgets, Patreon creators you can support, GoFundMe campaigns from sailors who need a hand, and the best free DIY refit resources on the internet.

The refit mindset: Budget twice what you think it will cost and schedule three times the time. Every sailor who has done a serious refit says the same thing. It is also one of the most satisfying things you'll ever do with a boat.
Jump to:   Spotlight — Boat in the Woods  |  Refit YouTube Channels  |  Support on Patreon  |  GoFundMe — Sailors Who Need Help  |  DIY Refit Resources & Planning

⭐ Community Spotlight — A Boat in the Woods

A Boat in the Woods YouTube Patreon Ko-fi

Budget Build Wooden Boat

Joshua lives off-grid in the woods of Nova Scotia, Canada, and is restoring a 32-foot wooden sailboat — by himself, on very little money, in the middle of the forest. His films are quiet, honest, and beautiful. He writes letters and makes little films around the story of what it takes to bring an old wooden boat back to life far from the water, with limited resources and a lot of determination.

This is not a slick production channel. It's one person doing hard, real work on a boat that matters to them. If you appreciate that kind of honesty and craftsmanship, this is worth your support.

▶ Watch on YouTube ❤ Support on Patreon ☕ Buy a Coffee (Ko-fi)

Mail: A Boat in the Woods — c/o Joshua, P.O. Box 224, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia B0S 1A0, Canada

Refit & Restoration YouTube Channels

These channels focus on doing real work on real boats — not highlight reels. Most are budget-conscious, hands-on, and honest about what refits actually cost and take.

Sampson Boat Co YouTube

Wooden Boat

Leo is rebuilding Tally Ho — a 1910 gaff-rigged pilot cutter bought for $1 and rebuilt from near-nothing in the Pacific Northwest. One of the most extraordinary and thorough boat restoration projects ever documented on YouTube. Leo is a trained boatbuilder and the craftsmanship shown is genuine. The goal is to sail Tally Ho back to the UK in time for the 2027 Fastnet Race.

❤ Patreon sampsonboat.co.uk

The Duracell Project YouTube

Offshore

Matt and Janneke are refitting Duracell — the legendary Open 60 sailed solo around the world by Mike Plant in the first Vendée Globe — into a fast, comfortable cruising home. Extraordinary access to an extraordinary boat. Fiberglass, epoxy, and composite work shown in real detail.

❤ Patreon

Boatworks Today YouTube

DIY Technical

The most technically detailed DIY fiberglass, painting, and gelcoat channel on YouTube. Excellent for anyone working through a fiberglass refit — bottom blisters, osmotic damage, hull fairing, painting. Real techniques explained clearly.

Fitzee's Fabrications YouTube

DIY Technical

Serious gelcoat and fiberglass repair work. Color matching, spray technique, surface prep — the kind of skills that separate a professional-looking refit from an amateur one. Free and extremely practical.

Fish Bump TV YouTube

Boat Building

Captain Joe, 2nd generation boat builder. Fiberglass repair, boat building from scratch, laminate work. One of the most practically useful fiberglass channels available — directly applicable to any sailboat refit involving structural repair or gelcoat work.

Sailing Uma YouTube

Electric Conversion

Dan and Kika are 10+ years into full-time sailing and recently completed a complete rebuild of Uma — converting her to full electric propulsion. Detailed, honest documentation of a serious systems refit. Highly relevant if you're considering a diesel-to-electric conversion.

❤ Patreon sailinguma.com

Two Shanties YouTube

Budget Refit

Young couple who bought a neglected sailboat and are documenting every step of bringing it back. Real budget, real problems, real solutions. The kind of channel that makes you think "I could do that" — because they're figuring it out as they go.

Sailing Magic Carpet YouTube

Budget Build

Maya got a boat for $1; Aladino bought a boat that fell off a crane onto concrete. Both fixed theirs and sailed them. Real determination, real budget constraints, real results. Author of The Northern Voyage.

❤ Patreon

West System Epoxy YouTube

Official West System channel — free tutorials on structural fiberglass repair, core replacement, epoxy fairing, and laminating. The technical backbone of any serious fiberglass refit. Not glamorous. Extremely useful.

Sail Life YouTube

Mads refitting an Antares 44 catamaran — detailed systems work, woodworking, and hull work. Good for larger boat refit projects and catamaran-specific challenges.

❤ Patreon

❤ Support Refit Creators on Patreon

These sailors are doing real work and sharing it honestly. A $5–$10/month Patreon pledge goes directly toward materials, tools, and keeping the cameras running. Most offer bonus content, behind-the-scenes access, and direct interaction with the creator.

Budget & Solo Refit Projects

Major Restoration Projects

  • Sampson Boat Co — Leo rebuilding 1910 wooden pilot cutter Tally Ho; the gold standard of YouTube boat restoration
  • The Duracell Project — Matt & Janneke refitting Mike Plant's legendary Open 60 Vendée Globe racer
  • RAN Sailing — Swedish family building RAN III, a 52 ft boat from scratch; extraordinary documentation

Liveaboard & Cruising Refits

  • Sailing Uma — Dan & Kika; complete electric conversion refit; 500K+ subscriber community
  • Sailing Doodles — Catalina 42 cruising and maintenance

How Patreon Works

  • Patreon is a monthly subscription platform — you pledge $1, $5, $10, or more per month
  • You can cancel at any time — no long-term commitment required
  • Most sailing creators offer tiered rewards: basic ($3–$5), bonus content ($10–$15), direct access ($25+)
  • Your support directly funds materials, tools, fuel, and equipment — it goes straight to the person doing the work
  • Browse all sailing creators on Patreon
Ko-fi is an alternative to Patreon for one-time support — no subscription required. Search ko-fi.com for your favorite creators. A Boat in the Woods uses Ko-fi alongside Patreon.

🤍 GoFundMe — Sailors Who Need a Hand

The sailing community takes care of its own. Whether it's a shipwreck, a devastating mechanical failure before an offshore passage, or a solo sailor who just needs one more part to make their dream happen — GoFundMe has become a real resource for sailors in need. Browse active campaigns and share them with your sailing community.

Note: GoFundMe campaigns are created by individuals and change constantly — campaigns close when funded or expired. The links below are to search results and specific known campaigns. Always verify a campaign before donating, and share campaigns you believe in with your sailing networks — that's what gets them funded.

Search for Active Sailing Campaigns

Known Active Campaigns

SV Triteia — Keep James Sailing

James Frederick has been sailing and documenting his 1965 Alberg 30 since 2017. After 18,000 miles and a Pacific crossing, critical equipment failures are threatening his ability to continue to the Indian Ocean. A real sailor doing it alone on a tight budget.

GoFundMe Keep SV Triteia Sailing with James

The People's Boat Project — Sea Sharp

A 1957 25 ft Folkboat named Sea Sharp — 67 years old and in need of full restoration. The project uses the restoration as a platform for community workshops and volunteer opportunities, empowering people to learn boat maintenance skills.

GoFundMe The People's Boat Project

Help Mike Elia Rebuild After Historic Pacific Crossing

Mike and Chloe set out from California and crossed the Pacific in April 2024. This fundraiser covers parts and repairs to restore Promise Kept to sailing condition after the crossing.

GoFundMe Help Mike Elia Rebuild

Refit Sababa — Flotilla for COP30

Ross is refitting a 1990s 50 ft racing yacht into a transit home for a flotilla sailing from Europe to Brazil for the COP30 climate talks. A mission-driven sailing campaign with real environmental purpose.

GoFundMe Help Refit Yacht Sababa

Shipwrecked — Sailboat Restoration

A campaign helping a former boat captain restart their sailing life after losing their vessel. The kind of story the sailing community rallies behind.

GoFundMe Shipwrecked — Sailboat Restoration

How to Help Beyond Donating

  • Share campaigns — sharing a GoFundMe on social media or in sailing forums is often more valuable than a single donation; it exposes the campaign to the right community
  • Post in sailing forums — Cruisers Forum, Sailing Anarchy, and r/sailing are good places to amplify campaigns for sailors in need
  • Donate skills — if you're near a boat in need, offer hands — a day of volunteer labor can be worth more than a cash donation
  • Donate materials — surplus hardware, used sails, paint, epoxy, and tools shared within the community have real value to someone doing a budget refit

Submit a Campaign

Know a sailor with an active GoFundMe or crowdfunding campaign that should be listed here? Submit it on our feedback page — we'll review it and add it. We're looking for genuine sailors doing real projects, not commercial ventures.

DIY Refit Resources & Planning

Where to Start — Refit Planning Guides

Refit Phase Overview

1. Condition Assessment — Survey, moisture meter throughout deck and hull, inspect rig top to bottom, run every system. Write everything down. This is not the time to be optimistic.
2. Prioritize by Safety — Seacocks and through-hulls first. Then structural integrity (keel, chainplates, deck-hull joint, mast step). Then standing rigging. Safety items cannot wait.
3. Systems — Electrical, plumbing, engine, head. Work top-to-bottom and bow-to-stern; add all wiring and plumbing before closing up the interior.
4. Interior — Berths, galley, nav station, sole, upholstery. This phase takes longer than expected and requires patience for detail work.
5. Deck & Topsides — Non-skid, deck hardware rebedding, teak work, paint or gelcoat. Work from forward aft.
6. Rig & Sails — Last so new sails don't sit aboard gathering mildew while interior is incomplete.
7. Launch, Sea Trials & Punch List — Budget 3–6 months for problems that only show up on the water.

Technical Resources by System

  • Electrical Wiring Guide — ABYC E-11 standards, wire sizing, color codes, load tables — the complete electrical refit reference on this site
  • Marine Adhesives & Sealants — which sealant goes where; 3M 4200/5200, Sikaflex, polysulfide — the most important refit decision most people get wrong
  • Marine Batteries — lithium vs AGM vs flooded; Victron system design; inverter/charger sizing
  • Portlights & Hatches — rebedding leaking portlights, lens replacement, hatch repair
  • Marine Head Guide — head replacement, joker valves, holding tanks, macerators
  • Hull & Deck Repair — gelcoat, fiberglass repair, resin selection, bottom paint
  • Resin Comparison — polyester vs vinylester vs epoxy; which to use for which repair

Budget Refit Communities

Used Parts for Budget Refits

  • Used & Salvage Parts — full guide on this site: Longship Marine, Sailors Exchange, eBay, Craigslist, and tips for buying used gear safely
  • Longship Marine — Poulsbo, WA — consignment marine hardware; physically accessible by boat; excellent for refit hardware
  • Sailors Exchange — St. Augustine, FL — large used parts warehouse
  • Facebook groups — search your boat brand + "owners group"; parts often posted before they hit eBay

Books Every Refitter Should Own