With Jubilee tied up at the dock for a stretch, we decided to take full advantage of the downtime. What started as a simple list of maintenance items quickly expanded into a full-scale boat refit—ranging from major solar power upgrades to safety additions and, of course, a few unexpected dockside swim lessons along the way! Interested in where we are? Our live tracking page is back up!
The Great Trampoline Splashdown
One of the first projects on our list was replacing the worn-out trampolines at the bow. The first side went on without a hitch—everything went smoothly, stretched tight, and looked brand new. Then we moved on to the second side.
We had repeatedly reminded the kids that the bow was strictly off-limits while we were working. We had just removed the old material and were starting to string up the new net when William decided to make a dash across it. The unlaced material gave out instantly, sending him splashing right down into the water!
Startled but completely unharmed, Pamela didn’t hesitate—she jumped right into the icky Port Everglades water after him and passed him up to me.
Deck Prep, Safety Nets, & Cosmetic Details
Once the new trampolines were securely laced, we shifted focus to safety and cosmetics around the deck. With three energetic boys on board, adding extra peace of mind is always high on our priority list.
Alongside the netting, we tackled several structural and storage improvements:
- Deck Repairs & Through-Hulls: Did some custom epoxy work to repair worn deck areas and re-bed a loose through-deck fitting that was letting moisture seep in.
- Inflatable Fender Upgrade: Swapped out our bulky traditional fenders for compact inflatable ones. Our old rigid ones used to completely consume an entire large storage locker!
- Outdoor Shower & Window Prep: Replaced the worn-out outdoor shower head on the transom and spent time freshening up the black border trim around the windows for a clean, sharp look.
Supercharging the Electrical System (4,200W Solar!)
The biggest game-changer for our offshore independence has been our complete power system overhaul, worked in partnership with Just Catamarans. Our goal was simple: make Jubilee completely self-sufficient so we can run the entire boat—including air conditioning and heavy appliances—straight off our battery bank without needing the generator.
- Solar Capacity Boost: Expanding our system from 900W to a massive 4,200W array mounted on a new custom solar arch.
- Inverter System: Installed dual Mastervolt inverters, seamlessly converting our heavy solar generation into pure sine-wave power.
- Interior Upgrades: Swapped out old AC wall outlets throughout the living areas for modern units featuring built-in high-speed USB-C charging ports.
Engine Maintenance & Upcoming Haul-Out
No refit period is complete without getting your hands dirty in the engine room. We checked off the intensive 1,000-hour service on both of our diesel engines—inspecting impellers, changing filters, flushing heat exchangers, and replacing fluids to ensure mechanical reliability for our next passage.
What’s Next for Jubilee?
Next up on the schedule is hauling the boat out of the water to repaint the bottom hull with fresh anti-fouling paint and replace a few below-waterline through-hulls. With 4.2kW of solar, upgraded inverters, and fresh engines, we are beyond excited to unplug from the dock and live completely off-grid!
Your adventures are a testament of your faith and resilience. God is guiding your journey in many ways and providing…
So thankful all went well! What an experience, and so interesting to follow. Thanks for sharing Jason, sending prayers and…
We are enjoying keeping up with your updates! Memphis’ says Hi to Declan! Can’t wait to read about more adventures.…
Hi Jason and Pamela, I’m just catching up on your adventures. Yes, we had an unusual amount of cold weather…
Jason- Great to follow you and your wonderful family!! Be safe and enjoy
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