I love it when the good guy gets the girl. I have been watching since you left NY. "I'm not use to making videos." I have learned more from your videos than any other. I'm 66 and hoping to get a Hunter 33 down to Savannah. Never sailed myself ... only with you. Wish me luck.
I just got to your web site by a fluke after watching a video about stepping your own mast with lines and winches. I saw a link to your UA-cam video #6 which to my surprise was at Sailcraft Marina in Oriental, NC. I spent some extended time there refitting my Pacific Seacraft Orion 27. While I'm viewing your video and while your moving Paragon into her new dry dock location for repairs guess who shows up next to you to my total surprise but my Orion 27 'NAN-SEA'. (Hatteras Off-white, Black Boot stripe & red waterline). I don't remember if we meet at that time but wish I had. I'll be viewing more of your videos. Happy Sailing. PWS. s/v NAN-SEA
Thanks Stuart, we love our Westsail. She is a solid boat that's built to go offshore and keep us comfortable and safe. There are so many things we like, but having the large ports in the galley/dinette area really make this boat unique. We can be sitting inside and still have a great view of everything going on outside which is lovely. Good luck with your search and feel free to reach out if you have any questions. (✿◠‿◠) ⚓-Monique
The ring around the sun is known as a "solar corona" and fit is caused by moisture, usually ice crystals, in the high atmosphere. Corona means "crown" or "halo" and you can have lunar coronas as well. My grandparents used to say that a "ring around the sun" was a harbinger of a snowstorm.
Amazing video Guys, really enjoyed this one... "Muscular" lol, I like that Mo!! I guess we can look forward to a cabin tour in the not too distant future?? Thanks Guys keep up the great work :)
Wow you got to stay on board while doing the work? Here in Florida it's getting really hard just to find a do it yourself boatyard much less live aboard while doing it. Great videos. I may take a trip north just to stay at that yard and fix a few things myself.
She turned out just great Drake! I have to admit that whenever I see a boat "flying", ours or someone else's, my heart skips a beat! :-) Loved the rainbow around the mast as you were stepping it. Definitely a good sign! Fair winds and following seas. Marco and Desiree s/v Kismet
Looks awesome Drake, I am a racer/ cruiser that lives in Charlotte and has a production company in Charlotte. Would love to come on a segment of a trip with you. Thanks for this great resource.
Thanks Mr. Roberts. Wonderful videos and vessel. If sailing her is your vocation then I think you made a great decision. Different question. I read that hard core sailors sometimes switch to steel/alloy hulls. I always thought the number one mission when transiting a waterway is to not bounce off of reefs, shoals or other vessels. What says you about GRP and Bluewater? Fair Winds
I'm really just trying to tell stories about the cruising life rather than getting into being very technical or instructional. But personally I think that for a boat to go offshore and thus potentially be in heavy weather, the design of the boat is more important than the material used. Things like skeg hung rudders, and keels that are attached well enough to make it impossible for them to get ripped off are most important to me that hull material. That said, if I were going into waters where the boat could potentially get stuck in ice over a winter then I would definitely want a steel hull that couldn't crush like fiberglass.
I new that you had done the bottom of Paragon but wow. you did a lot while you where on the hard. do you think the ruder damage happened in the storm? it looked fresh to me. nice job and you are slowly changing my mined about what boat i want it was a Bruce Roberts but west sail is looking nicer and nicer every time i see your boat. thanks for sharing and hope you are staying worm up there i am here in sunny Florida where it was a worm 74 to day just had to rub it in a little sorry....lol far winds
Hi Lee, I think the rudder damage happened while we were in a slip in the marina during some very bad weather. The tide went out much more than usual and we only had a few inches under the keel and rudder. Then the waves in the river built up and Paragon started to hobby horse in the slip. When this happened the rudder hit bottom many times. It also might have happened when we moved Paragon to a hurricane hole during Hurricane Irene. On the way we got stuck aground in the mud and I used the 85hp engine at full throttle to push Paragon through the mud... We are actually at this moment enjoying the wonderfully warm and humid weather in Houston, TX. We will be returning to Paragon in Iceland in a couple more weeks. Fair winds,
wow welcome back home to the usa and I am glade you are getting some well needed worm weather. have a safe trip back to Paragon and keep sharing you are the one that got me in to watching sailing Blogs on you tube and still one of the best at it. far winds my friend. and I hope we get to sail together some day.
Happy to be a subscriber and follow the videos. So well done and informative. I may join the ranks of the liveaboard. Setting aside the budget question, what boat would you get for a singlehandler. I am inclined to the Shannon 43.
I think if your goal is to sail offshore single handedly then you should do a very long offshore passage on that boat with or as crew. During the voyage imagine what it would be like to have to do everything by yourself before you buy it. I think that the bigger the boat becomes the harder it can be to single hand, and especially to dock.
Again a very nice video, Drake and Monique! Did you decide against cutting the ruder, to slope it, because of the adjustment you would have to make to the frame construction of the ruder?
Rob de Richemont Hi Rob, I ended up just grinding around the damaged areas and reglassing it. I really don't like how on the Westsail 42 if you go aground then then rudder is hitting bottom. I would have liked to have cut the bottom of the rudder at that angle, and I know of many Westsail 32's that have done this, but we just didn't have enough time. Maybe someday.
Great stuff Drake, I really enjoy all your video's, looking forward to more sailing. Paragon looks great. I also live on a Westsail 42 and she is for sale if you talk to anyone that might be interested. Twilight is listed on Bud Taplins World Cruiser Yachts Site. Fair winds, can't wait to see more.
DrakeParagon Presents the Real Cruising Life That was a halo over the mast. How often do you do a major over haul like that? All that work being done looks very expensive.
Hi Jadah, I usually haul out every 3-4 years to sand and repaint the bottom with antifouling paint and replace zincs. I think I've heard that standing rigging should be replaced every 10,000 nautical miles of offshore sailing which is a lot more work because ideally you'd take the mast down to do this. Replacing the bowsprit was a one time thing I hope! :)
Hi Jonathan, I'm not sure how much of a difference it made, but first I lightly sanded the entire hull with a Dewalt palm sander and 80 grit sandpaper. Then I rolled on 4 coats of Pettit Trinidad red. I heard that Pettit Trinidad in color red is better than the other available colors because it contains a higher amount of copper (but costs the same.) I can't believe it was over 4 years between haulouts. During the first two of those years I lightly scraped and scrubbed the bottom in the water in the Caribbean with SCUBA gear twice. Over the next 2.5 years in the water in North Carolina I never hauled out or scrubbed the hull.. I was really surprised that there wasn't more growth on the bottom when we hauled out. Next on DrakeParagon: Hull Tour :) Happy sailing,
Drake, tell us more about your air conditioning. You've mentioned it's being cooled by sea water, that must be really improving it's efficiency. Could you tell us what make it is or how much power does it use? Thanks, ~dzh
I have two Webasto 16,5000 BTU reverse cycle air conditioners bought from Defender. They can not be run without being plugged into shore power and each requires it's own dedicated connection to shore power.
The same way that people buy cars and houses. Paragon is my only home, which is also worth considering because she cost a lot less than any house I've ever seen for sale. For me, the boat is not a frivolous or extra expense. She is my home. I do just about all of the maintenance, repair and renovation work on the boat myself and have never paid anyone to help me sail her. I have always berthed the boat in places where it is most affordable, and usually spend much of the year at anchor. If you're interested, I think you might find the Ben Stookey, Astrid and Bjorn, and Renee and Lynette interviews, as well as the PRYC Presentation videos interesting.
![WHY Two Headsails? [Cutter vs Slutter vs Solent] | Sailing Wisdom](/img/n.gif)
I love it when the good guy gets the girl. I have been watching since you left NY. "I'm not use to making videos." I have learned more from your videos than any other. I'm 66 and hoping to get a Hunter 33 down to Savannah. Never sailed myself ... only with you. Wish me luck.
Fantastic series. Enjoy watching your boat yard repairs. Keep up the good work.
I just got to your web site by a fluke after watching a video about stepping your own mast with lines and winches. I saw a link to your UA-cam video #6 which to my surprise was at Sailcraft Marina in Oriental, NC. I spent some extended time there refitting my Pacific Seacraft Orion 27. While I'm viewing your video and while your moving Paragon into her new dry dock location for repairs guess who shows up next to you to my total surprise but my Orion 27 'NAN-SEA'. (Hatteras Off-white, Black Boot stripe & red waterline). I don't remember if we meet at that time but wish I had. I'll be viewing more of your videos. Happy Sailing. PWS. s/v NAN-SEA
Once more, you've added excellent content to my library. Thank you.
There is a Westsail 42 which I’m interested in buying, looks to be a solid craft, thanks for the video.
Thanks Stuart, we love our Westsail. She is a solid boat that's built to go offshore and keep us comfortable and safe. There are so many things we like, but having the large ports in the galley/dinette area really make this boat unique. We can be sitting inside and still have a great view of everything going on outside which is lovely. Good luck with your search and feel free to reach out if you have any questions. (✿◠‿◠) ⚓-Monique
Great video of an awesome process. Looking forward to the next episode!!!
Enjoy watching your videos. You guys do a great job putting them together.
Getting closer... Looking forward to the next episode.
The impact of how massive Westsails are doesn’t hit until they’re hauled out of the water.
Ed Koops
S/V Glorious
Westsail 32 #42
Looking good, looking forward to video from your crossing to Europe... and as for her looking big, yes she does! That's because she is!
Watched the last 5 or so videos together as I have been away. Interesting stuff with the rigging videos, Learnt some things I did'nt know!
Welcome back Barry! We keep thinking about visiting Plymouth.. It looks like such a wonderful city.
The ring around the sun is known as a "solar corona" and fit is caused by moisture, usually ice crystals, in the high atmosphere. Corona means "crown" or "halo" and you can have lunar coronas as well. My grandparents used to say that a "ring around the sun" was a harbinger of a snowstorm.
wow she is a beauty ! like the forward scanning radar too !
Amazing video Guys, really enjoyed this one... "Muscular" lol, I like that Mo!!
I guess we can look forward to a cabin tour in the not too distant future??
Thanks Guys keep up the great work :)
another great vid,, thanks for posting :)
Wow you got to stay on board while doing the work? Here in Florida it's getting really hard just to find a do it yourself boatyard much less live aboard while doing it. Great videos. I may take a trip north just to stay at that yard and fix a few things myself.
She turned out just great Drake! I have to admit that whenever I see a boat "flying", ours or someone else's, my heart skips a beat! :-) Loved the rainbow around the mast as you were stepping it. Definitely a good sign!
Fair winds and following seas.
Marco and Desiree
s/v Kismet
Thank you Marco and Desiree! Looking forward to seeing you in the same anchorage someday.
Looks awesome Drake, I am a racer/ cruiser that lives in Charlotte and has a production company in Charlotte. Would love to come on a segment of a trip with you. Thanks for this great resource.
Excellent!
Ah the classic galley sink Stain at 9:18
nice work
Drake awesome videos man I can learn alot from you thanks James Moseley
If you don't mind me asking, what did you and Monique do for the two years you were in Oriental, NC? Were you both repairing Paragon full-time?
4:43 I have herd some call it a Sun Dog.
Thanks Mr. Roberts. Wonderful videos and vessel. If sailing her is your vocation then I think you made a great decision. Different question. I read that hard core sailors sometimes switch to steel/alloy hulls. I always thought the number one mission when transiting a waterway is to not bounce off of reefs, shoals or other vessels. What says you about GRP and Bluewater? Fair Winds
I'm really just trying to tell stories about the cruising life rather than getting into being very technical or instructional. But personally I think that for a boat to go offshore and thus potentially be in heavy weather, the design of the boat is more important than the material used. Things like skeg hung rudders, and keels that are attached well enough to make it impossible for them to get ripped off are most important to me that hull material. That said, if I were going into waters where the boat could potentially get stuck in ice over a winter then I would definitely want a steel hull that couldn't crush like fiberglass.
Did she say, "mountaincles?" HA!
Drake/Mo at 38k lbs does your engine push you at hull speed in flat water and relatively no current? What is the spec. on your engine?
I new that you had done the bottom of Paragon but wow. you did a lot while you where on the hard. do you think the ruder damage happened in the storm? it looked fresh to me. nice job and you are slowly changing my mined about what boat i want it was a Bruce Roberts but west sail is looking nicer and nicer every time i see your boat. thanks for sharing and hope you are staying worm up there i am here in sunny Florida where it was a worm 74 to day just had to rub it in a little sorry....lol far winds
Hi Lee, I think the rudder damage happened while we were in a slip in the marina during some very bad weather. The tide went out much more than usual and we only had a few inches under the keel and rudder. Then the waves in the river built up and Paragon started to hobby horse in the slip. When this happened the rudder hit bottom many times. It also might have happened when we moved Paragon to a hurricane hole during Hurricane Irene. On the way we got stuck aground in the mud and I used the 85hp engine at full throttle to push Paragon through the mud... We are actually at this moment enjoying the wonderfully warm and humid weather in Houston, TX. We will be returning to Paragon in Iceland in a couple more weeks. Fair winds,
wow welcome back home to the usa and I am glade you are getting some well needed worm weather. have a safe trip back to Paragon and keep sharing you are the one that got me in to watching sailing Blogs on you tube and still one of the best at it. far winds my friend. and I hope we get to sail together some day.
Happy to be a subscriber and follow the videos. So well done and informative. I may join the ranks of the liveaboard. Setting aside the budget question, what boat would you get for a singlehandler. I am inclined to the Shannon 43.
I think if your goal is to sail offshore single handedly then you should do a very long offshore passage on that boat with or as crew. During the voyage imagine what it would be like to have to do everything by yourself before you buy it. I think that the bigger the boat becomes the harder it can be to single hand, and especially to dock.
Good stuff man! what a fortune this must have cost, i shudder at a refit of my lil 26 Columbia mark 2, but this was a life savings i imagine!
Again a very nice video, Drake and Monique! Did you decide against cutting the ruder, to slope it, because of the adjustment you would have to make to the frame construction of the ruder?
Rob de Richemont Hi Rob, I ended up just grinding around the damaged areas and reglassing it. I really don't like how on the Westsail 42 if you go aground then then rudder is hitting bottom. I would have liked to have cut the bottom of the rudder at that angle, and I know of many Westsail 32's that have done this, but we just didn't have enough time. Maybe someday.
Great stuff Drake, I really enjoy all your video's, looking forward to more sailing. Paragon looks great. I also live on a Westsail 42 and she is for sale if you talk to anyone that might be interested. Twilight is listed on Bud Taplins World Cruiser Yachts Site. Fair winds, can't wait to see more.
Hi Bruce, thanks! Twilight looks beautiful.
You must have the most epic(ly) constructed bowsprit on a W42
Cruising: verb. 1. To repair and maintain vessels in exotic locations. 2. The nautical act composed of 95% boredom and 5% sheer terror.
DrakeParagon Presents the Real Cruising Life That was a halo over the mast. How often do you do a major over haul like that? All that work being done looks very expensive.
Hi Jadah, I usually haul out every 3-4 years to sand and repaint the bottom with antifouling paint and replace zincs. I think I've heard that standing rigging should be replaced every 10,000 nautical miles of offshore sailing which is a lot more work because ideally you'd take the mast down to do this. Replacing the bowsprit was a one time thing I hope! :)
DrakeParagon Presents the Real Cruising Life Okay, because this work you're having done looks like it will be quiet expensive.
Drake, what bottom paint did you use that gave you two years (?) of an unfouled hull?
Hi Jonathan, I'm not sure how much of a difference it made, but first I lightly sanded the entire hull with a Dewalt palm sander and 80 grit sandpaper. Then I rolled on 4 coats of Pettit Trinidad red. I heard that Pettit Trinidad in color red is better than the other available colors because it contains a higher amount of copper (but costs the same.) I can't believe it was over 4 years between haulouts. During the first two of those years I lightly scraped and scrubbed the bottom in the water in the Caribbean with SCUBA gear twice. Over the next 2.5 years in the water in North Carolina I never hauled out or scrubbed the hull.. I was really surprised that there wasn't more growth on the bottom when we hauled out.
Next on DrakeParagon: Hull Tour :)
Happy sailing,
drake how much did everything cost mast, Hauling and that beautiful bowspirt ?
Have you posted anything about how this trip is financed?
I will soon. :)
Drake, tell us more about your air conditioning. You've mentioned it's being cooled by sea water, that must be really improving it's efficiency. Could you tell us what make it is or how much power does it use?
Thanks,
~dzh
I have two Webasto 16,5000 BTU reverse cycle air conditioners bought from Defender. They can not be run without being plugged into shore power and each requires it's own dedicated connection to shore power.
How, do folks get the dough to purchase, rig, operate and maintain these massive sailboats?
The same way that people buy cars and houses. Paragon is my only home, which is also worth considering because she cost a lot less than any house I've ever seen for sale. For me, the boat is not a frivolous or extra expense. She is my home. I do just about all of the maintenance, repair and renovation work on the boat myself and have never paid anyone to help me sail her. I have always berthed the boat in places where it is most affordable, and usually spend much of the year at anchor. If you're interested, I think you might find the Ben Stookey, Astrid and Bjorn, and Renee and Lynette interviews, as well as the PRYC Presentation videos interesting.
+J Roger Personally I chose crime :)
love the video, and please keep up the series. its just that i dont think your username is quite long enough.
HA! :) Thanks Justin. DrakeParagon for short.
looks like money, money and more money........................
@ 2:06 shouldn't the nut to be thightening ?