What upgrades are actually worth the money on an older sailboat… and which ones you should avoid?

In this episode of The Sailing Doodles Podcast, I break down the most valuable upgrades I’ve done across all the boats I’ve owned — from my classic CT-56 to the newer catamarans and charter boats we’ve sailed.

I cover which improvements truly make your boat safer, easier to sail, and more enjoyable… and which “fancy” upgrades usually end up being a waste of money. If you’re shopping for an older cruising boat or planning a refit, this episode will save you thousands.

Topics Covered

Why buying a boat already upgraded is often cheaper

Rigging, sails, and critical safety upgrades

Ground tackle & anchoring systems worth investing in

Autopilots, instruments & navigation upgrades

Electrical systems, lithium, solar & charging

Refrigeration: why it’s usually a later priority

Comfort upgrades: electric winches, watermakers & more

What to skip… and what will absolutely transform your cruising

About the Channel

I’m Bobby from Sailing Doodles. I sail, travel, and document the adventure while running my YouTube channels from around the world — from the Caribbean and the Bahamas to the Mediterranean and beyond.

If you enjoy the episode, hit subscribe and check out the sailing raffles, flotillas, and behind-the-scenes content!

Enter the contest here: https://raffall.com/398138/enter-raffle-to-win-sailing-doodles-sailboat-hosted-by-sailing-doodles

Want more info in the Island Spirit 525e? Be sure to say you saw it on Sailing Doodles. https://inspiredyachting.com/sailing-doodles-and-inspired-yachting-island-spirit-525e-referral/

 Patreon members will get to watch the submissions and help me decide who joins the crew. If you want to be part of the process, join here: https://www.patreon.com/sailingdoodles

The fans didn’t hold back on this one… In this Q&A episode, I answer YOUR questions about the new catamaran, future sailing plans, past crew, and even a few spicy ones about “hot babes” and babies on board

We talk about:

• Updates on the new Island Spirit 525e catamaran (Hull #5)

• Future cruising plans in Thailand and the Mediterranean

• Crew, relationships, and how the channel has evolved

• Life as a full-time liveaboard and YouTuber

• Gear, filming setups, and how the dogs handle land life

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions — I read as many as I could!

Watch next: [link to related podcast or vlog]

Join the Sailing Doodles community: Patreon / Podia links

Follow along on Instagram: @SailingDoodles

#SailingDoodles #Podcast #QandA #SailingLife #BoatLife

Enter the contest here: https://raffall.com/398138/enter-raffle-to-win-sailing-doodles-sailboat-hosted-by-sailing-doodles

Want more info in the Island Spirit 525e? Be sure to say you saw it on Sailing Doodles. https://inspiredyachting.com/sailing-doodles-and-inspired-yachting-island-spirit-525e-referral/

Patreon members will get to watch the submissions and help me decide who joins the crew. If you want to be part of the process, join here: https://www.patreon.com/sailingdoodles

I just bought a brand-new RV… and it didn’t even make it off the lot before breaking down. Within minutes, the engine started smoking and I quickly realized the EGR cooler had failed, dumping coolant straight into the exhaust.

In this episode of The Sailing Doodles Podcast, I talk about what happened, how I diagnosed the issue, and what comes next. The dealer says they’ll cover the repair — but we’ll see what really happens.

I’ll share what I’ve learned from years of owning boats, planes, and RVs about mechanical failures, warranty claims, and how to handle breakdowns the smart way.

Topics:

How to spot EGR cooler failure symptoms

What happens when coolant enters the exhaust

Towing and dealer negotiations

Lessons learned when buying new rigs

Listen on YouTube, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

#RVBrokeDown #RVPurchase #EGRcooler #SailingDoodlesPodcast

Enter the contest here: https://raffall.com/398138/enter-raffle-to-win-sailing-doodles-sailboat-hosted-by-sailing-doodles

Want more info in the Island Spirit 525e? Be sure to say you saw it on Sailing Doodles. https://inspiredyachting.com/sailing-doodles-and-inspired-yachting-island-spirit-525e-referral/

Patreon members will get to watch the submissions and help me decide who joins the crew. If you want to be part of the process, join here: https://www.patreon.com/sailingdoodles

In this episode, I dive into how sailors and cruisers deal with one of the biggest threats on the ocean — hurricanes.

Fifty years ago, crossing an ocean meant hoping you didn’t run into a storm. There was no internet, no satellite tracking, and little warning. Today, we carry a weather computer in our pocket, with live hurricane data, Starlink connectivity, and routing tools that can literally save lives.

We’ll talk about:

How hurricane forecasting has changed in just a few decades

The role of Starlink and modern weather apps at sea

What the “hurricane box” is — and why insurance won’t cover you inside it

How cruisers migrate north and south each year to stay safe

Where sailors ride out storms (the famous “hurricane holes”)

The truth about insurance loopholes and “named storm” clauses

Real stories, lessons learned, and what it’s like to live with hurricane season as a full-time cruiser

If you’ve ever wondered how modern sailors dodge hurricanes — or how it was done before the digital age — this episode will blow your mind.

Leave a comment: Where do you go during hurricane season?

Subscribe for more real-life sailing stories, tech talk, and behind-the-scenes of the cruising lifestyle.

#SailingDoodles #HurricaneSeason #SailingPodcast #CruisingLife #StarlinkAtSea #SailingTips

A Queensland superyacht agent was offered $300,000 for a “simple” job — help two divers enter Australia. Days later, one diver was dead, another had vanished, and 100 kilos of cocaine were floating in Newcastle Harbor.

In this episode, Captain Bobby White of The Sailing Doodles Podcast breaks down the true story of James Blake Blee — how financial desperation led to a deadly smuggling plot, what “parasite smuggling” really is, and why this growing underwater drug tactic is spreading around the world.

All details sourced from court reports, News.com.au, ABC Australia, and VICE News investigations.

Enter the contest here: https://raffall.com/398138/enter-raffle-to-win-sailing-doodles-sailboat-hosted-by-sailing-doodles

Want more info in the Island Spirit 525e? Be sure to say you saw it on Sailing Doodles. https://inspiredyachting.com/sailing-doodles-and-inspired-yachting-island-spirit-525e-referral/

To apply: Send a short introduction video uploaded to YouTube (public or unlisted) and email me the link. Tell me who you are, why you want to join, and what makes you the perfect fit. [email protected]

Patreon members will get to watch the submissions and help me decide who joins the crew. If you want to be part of the process, join here: https://www.patreon.com/sailingdoodles

A U.S.-flagged motor yacht was raided by Bahamian authorities in Bimini after a tip-off — and what they found shocked everyone. Ten people were arrested, including the crew, and officers seized a cache of weapons, ammunition, and cash.

In this episode, Captain Bobby White of Sailing Doodles breaks down the facts, shows footage from the local news, takes a look at the yacht’s charter listing, and shares his honest opinions about carrying weapons onboard and the risks every cruiser faces when crossing borders.

I’m not a lawyer — this is my perspective as a captain who’s checked in at Bimini many times. Always verify local laws before you travel.

Enter the contest here: https://raffall.com/398138/enter-raffle-to-win-sailing-doodles-sailboat-hosted-by-sailing-doodles

Want more info in the Island Spirit 525e? Be sure to say you saw it on Sailing Doodles. https://inspiredyachting.com/sailing-doodles-and-inspired-yachting-island-spirit-525e-referral/

To apply: Send a short introduction video uploaded to YouTube (public or unlisted) and email me the link. Tell me who you are, why you want to join, and what makes you the perfect fit. [email protected]

Patreon members will get to watch the submissions and help me decide who joins the crew. If you want to be part of the process, join here: https://www.patreon.com/sailingdoodles

This week’s Sailing Doodles Podcast gets personal. Viewers submitted hundreds of questions — and of course, the most common one was about Laura.

Are Laura and I getting back together? What really happened behind the scenes at the Annapolis Boat Show? And how does Miss Lone Star fit into all this?

I also answer your questions about the new catamaran, future flotillas, the boat raffle, and what’s next for Sailing Doodles in 2026.

Drop your next questions in the comments for the next Q&A episode!

Enter the contest here: https://raffall.com/398138/enter-raffle-to-win-sailing-doodles-sailboat-hosted-by-sailing-doodles

Want more info in the Island Spirit 525e? Be sure to say you saw it on Sailing Doodles. https://inspiredyachting.com/sailing-doodles-and-inspired-yachting-island-spirit-525e-referral/

To apply: Send a short introduction video uploaded to YouTube (public or unlisted) and email me the link. Tell me who you are, why you want to join, and what makes you the perfect fit. [email protected]

Patreon members will get to watch the submissions and help me decide who joins the crew. If you want to be part of the process, join here: https://www.patreon.com/sailingdoodles

This might be the biggest announcement I’ve ever made. I’m looking for two people — ideally a couple — to come sail with me in Thailand this February for four months.

You don’t need sailing or editing experience. I’ll teach you how to sail, how to film, and how to create a YouTube channel like Sailing Doodles.

The goal? To train the next generation of creators and help them launch their own sailing channel when the journey’s done.

In this episode, I explain what I’m looking for, what the experience will be like, and how to apply.

To apply: Send a short introduction video uploaded to YouTube (public or unlisted) and email me the link. Tell me who you are, why you want to join, and what makes you the perfect fit. [email protected]

Patreon members will get to watch the submissions and help me decide who joins the crew. If you want to be part of the process, join here: https://www.patreon.com/sailingdoodles

This is your chance to change your life — to learn, explore, and start your own adventure.

At the Annapolis Boat Show, Bobby sits down with Amanda and Maryline from Current Yachts, a new brokerage that’s shaking up the traditional 10% commission model. Instead of sky-high broker fees, they’re offering a flat-fee, transparent system — just $1,500 to list your boat and à-la-carte options for everything else. We dive into why they believe the old system is broken, how they’re making boat buying and selling fairer, and what this means for the future of yacht sales.

If you’ve ever thought about selling your boat — or buying one — you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Check out Current Yachts

https://www.currentyachts.com

This channel is funded by viewers like you. Please help us keep this channel creating great content by Joining the Sailing Doodles Navy

https://sailingdoodles.podia.com/sailing-doodles-course-community

or become a channel member

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkDwexrF43p_1QurfKFBCBA/join

or join our Patreon

http://www.patreon.com/sailingdoodles

Donate Via Paypal to help

http://www.paypal.me/sailingdoodles

Fan-favorite Laura from Sailing Doodles Seasons 2 & 3 is back! She joined me at the Annapolis Boat Show with her two young kids, and things got a little… chaotic.

We catch up on what Laura’s been up to since her sailing days, talk about motherhood, life after the show, and the possibility of getting back on the water.

This one’s totally “wheels off” — her 14-month-old demanded plenty of attention (and snacks), interrupted mid-sentence, and even forced an unexpected break for feeding time. It’s messy, real, and absolutely hilarious.

If you’ve missed Laura’s energy, laughter, and down-to-earth honesty — this episode’s for you!

Enter the contest here: https://raffall.com/398138/enter-raffle-to-win-sailing-doodles-sailboat-hosted-by-sailing-doodles

Want more info in the Island Spirit 525e? Be sure to say you saw it on Sailing Doodles. https://inspiredyachting.com/sailing-doodles-and-inspired-yachting-island-spirit-525e-referral/