This time on Distant Shores we visit the build just as the aluminum hull is completed. She moves out of the build shed and down the road to have the keel put on. The boat is lifted up so the keel casing assembly can be lifted up and welded into place. Finally we get a look at the completed hull and deck and interior with almost all details in place ..read more

We fly to the Netherlands to see the progress on our new Enksail Orion 49 sailboat, Distant Shores IV. She is nearly finished hull construction. We get a tour of all the progress and an overview of the remaining jobs. Next stop is Germany where we check out the world's largest indoor boat show, Boot Düssseldorf. Thanks to our sponsor for this episode - Athletic Greens nutritional drink. If you want to give it a try click on the link for 1 year free supply of vitamin D3+K2 and 10 travel packs ..read more

This time on Distant Shores we're planning out the energy requirements of our new Enksail Orion 49 custom aluminum sailboat. Will a hybrid power system allow us to achieve the passages we're planning from Europe to the Arctic Circle as well as long ocean passages around the world? We examine our power usage from past voyages made on previous boats and talk to the crew of S/V Delos about their experiences with electric cooking ..read more

This time on Distant Shores we discuss the pros and cons of using a hybrid drive on a sailboat with former SpaceX engineer and sailor, Casey Schilling. We record a video conference with him while he’s 50 miles offshore using Starlink! Check out the results and learn how hybrid drives work too ..read more

While work continues on the build of our Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat, we take the opportunity to do some cruising on the French Canals where we demonstrate boat handling techniques for tight quarters such as locks and narrow channels. We visit picturesque towns and a unique winery as we navigate through beautiful countryside. On this cruise, we charter a 50-foot (15 metre) Penichette 1500FB canal boat for 2 weeks and show you the experience of bareboat chartering in France as we travel the tranquil Nivernais route out and back from Joigny ..read more

This time on Distant Shores we update you on the build of our 49 foot aluminum expedition sailboat - and answer some of the questions we've had about the project ..read more

This time on Distant Shores we reach a literal turning point in the build of our new Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat - the hull is turned over to upright position so interior welding can begin! We make the first trip down below where we learn how a proper aluminum weld is made and what is required of welders to meet safety standards. We are then shown how the metal work is inspected so the highest quality construction is achieved ..read more

This time on Distant Shores we get our first look at the boat welded together… We also dive deep into how flat aluminum plates are shaped into the smooth curved pieces needed to make a fast and strong sailboat hull. Then we take the opportunity to climb right inside our new boat and learn more about how the welds are made ..read more

This is our third video in the series on building our new Enksail Orion 49 aluminum expedition sailboat! We look into how plates are positioned and welded into the perfect shape according to the drawings and plans ..read more

While work continues on our new aluminum Enksail Orion 49 sailboat, we take the opportunity to try our hand at sailing a traditional Dutch gaff-rigged sailboat and explore the Dutch Canals and Frisian Islands ..read more