A personal refit journal

Bringing Tortuga
back to sea.

A personal journal of a sailboat refit, life in Mexico, and the work of finding our way back under sail.

RAUL SILVAS · CAPTAIN, VALHALLA DE TORTUGA

Chapter one

Seeing What She
Could Become

After about five years searching, we found Tortuga in Mexico. I could see the beauty hidden inside her. What followed was a much bigger refit than we had imagined.

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An illustrated still life of rope, woodworking tools and a boat sketch — Notes from the refit · an illustration

From the journal

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Rigging

Rethinking the rig

A single-mast sloop plan, with the measurements still doing the talking.

Read entry Boat systems

Planning life aboard

Designing the electrical system around the way the boat will be used.

Read entry Carpentry

Built by hand

Making the interior work begins with measurements and access.

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