Sampson Boat Co
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Say hi to our newest crew-member (and SAVIOUR), Jake!
🕑 Added 2026-01-21 17:40:00 +0000 UTCIf you saw our last video you will know that we currently have an issue with one of the electric motors in our hybrid system - which means we can't charge our main battery bank.
However, we realised that if we had a shorter belt on board, we could just run ONE of the motors until we can pick up a replacement for the broken one in Panama.
I made a couple of calls, and against all odds a good friend of this project managed to source this unusual belt, at short notice, on a public holiday... then, finding that there were no guaranteed fast shipping options, he convinced his son to hop on a plane to Costa Rica to meet us!
Only a few days after the motor broke, Jake arrived with the belts in his bag to a very happy crew. We had never met him before, but we quickly realised that that as well as new belts we had also gained a friend and a valuable crew member!
We are very grateful to everyone involved :)
...next - fit the belt and get going.
Comments
Michel Bertoux
Leo you are a good sailor, and also a good leader... you can achieve great things.... Bravo!
James Miller
I like that you post an update every Saturday, even if it isnโt a video.
Kurt Lysne
Maybe you made an engineering design error by relying on a single source electrical service? Incorporating a genset and split inverter setup may have been better?
Michael Ottenbruch
Leo, you have built a community that gives hope that even nowadays not everything is as lost as it seems. Thank you for that!
Tom and Barbie McEwen
Good man! I hope you will have a stock of belts, with spare ones around the drive shaft so that they can be fitted without any taking the drive train apart.
Til Henze
โฆ the power of an amazing community!!!!!
MN Healey
If I show up with ale & cookies, can I join too? ๐
Bruce the Moose
Hi Jake, welcome aboard!
George Tibbetts
Is Jake a close relative, Leo? The resemblance it there from the hair to the smile on both your faces!
Nick DiJulio
A big welcome to Jake! Now that the Canal transit is imminent, Leo, I am wondering if the authorities (government?) will allow you to fly your drone during the transit? A drone's views of that could be very spectacular, no es verdad?
