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Sailing Life Realities: Engine Fixes and Fresh Cooking in the Caribbean | Ep 80 #svaguaazul #boat
Aug 1, 2025
Join us for a day in the life aboard SV Agua Azul as we tackle an engine starter replacement, explore the local Dominican Republic town, and cook up delicious fresh meals. Watch the real challenges and joys of living on a sailboat off-grid with fresh produce, community moments, and adventure. Chapters: 00:00 Breakfast and fresh cooking on the boat 02:15 Water filter maintenance update 04:00 Troubleshooting and fixing the boat engine starter 08:30 Testing the engine and preparing for sailing 11:45 Trip to town: fuel prices, market, and local sights 16:30 Grocery shopping at DN supermarket 20:15 Evening bonfire on the beach and relaxing on board Don’t forget to subscribe for more sailing, DIY, and cooking adventures # Life Aboard SV Agua Azul: Engine Troubles, Island Living & Fresh Cooking in the Dominican Republic Living on our sailboat SV Agua Azul in the Dominican Republic is full of surprises and daily challenges — plus plenty of rewards. In this update, we share how we tackled engine repairs, explored the local town for fuel and groceries, and enjoyed fresh homemade meals with the bounty of this vibrant Caribbean island. Blog Post: https://www.chrisdoeswhat.com/sailing-life-realities-engine-fixes-and-fresh-cooking-in-the-caribbean-ep-80/ Get content early by becoming our YouTube member https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUMOZBmn0CZW578hpt4ImB3CRA Follow our boat on NOFOREIGNLAND:
View Video Transcript
0:01
Okay, guys. Baba's making breakfast. And
0:05
look at that. That is a big thing of
0:07
sausage over there.
0:10
She's got fresh cilantro. Cooking some
0:12
ters.
0:14
And are we going to throw eggs on this
0:16
or?
0:17
Uh, I'm making like a omelette.
0:19
Okay. That's going to be yummy.
0:22
Veggies and sausage and egg and cheese.
0:26
Yeah, it's going to look good. And the
0:29
fresh vegetables here in the DR top
0:32
notch.
0:36
And on a different note, we're out of
0:38
water. Of course, I have to had to
0:40
change our uh filters because they smelt
0:43
like uh eggs, but uh I imagine I could
0:47
probably clean them uh after using, you
0:50
know, dump the sediment water out and
0:53
they'd probably last longer.
0:55
But I may give that a try after today
0:58
and see how that works. But that'd be a
1:00
lot more work. And them filters, they
1:03
aren't cheap.
1:05
Well, they aren't expensive, but yeah.
1:09
Okay, our omelette's going to be turned
1:11
to just scrambled eggs with a bunch of
1:15
stuff in them. So,
1:17
yeah, made too much, it's not going to
1:20
work. It's not going to work. So, it's
1:23
going to be a yummy uh like hash type
1:27
stuff.
1:27
Hash with and then uh potatoes and eggs.
1:32
Still going to be really good. It'll
1:34
taste the same.
1:37
It's what we usually do to put it in a
1:40
um a flour tortilla, but we've been
1:43
eating way too many of those. Mhm.
1:46
We've been going through like we've been
1:47
eating like two a day
1:51
and some weight.
1:52
Oh yeah.
1:53
So I decided n let's uh forego that for
1:58
a little bit and go back to a more of a
2:02
you know meat and potatoes and veggies.
2:05
Yum.
2:09
So, it's been about two months since we
2:11
started our engine for our boat, and it
2:14
doesn't start. So, I just pulled out the
2:16
multimeter, did some checking, and uh we
2:19
have just a loose connection on the
2:21
starter. Simple fix. But look at that.
2:24
Look at that beauty.
2:29
Yep. She's just sitting there all pretty
2:31
waiting for us to go again.
2:33
So, a little 13 mm. That thing's tight.
2:36
Good to go. Well, let's see if this
2:37
engine starts. Crank up all 55 of them
2:40
horses on this damn boat.
2:42
Okay, so we're out here. Turn on.
2:47
Press the start button.
2:49
Nothing.
2:52
Nothing.
2:53
So, I got something else that's a
2:55
problem. So, my starter's bad. So, I
2:58
might have to replace that. I think it's
3:00
the solenoid amp that's bad cuz I jumped
3:02
it off with a screwdriver and it sounds
3:05
like something was trying to turn. But
3:07
uh go ahead and get that replaced and
3:09
see if we can start this engine.
3:12
Okay, so I got my brand new old starter.
3:16
Let's stick this in. See if it works.
3:19
Okay, guys. Got the old new starter out.
3:23
This one looks a lot better than the one
3:24
I'm bringing in. But see if the old
3:29
busted looking one fixes it.
3:32
And if you noticed, the starter is gone.
3:34
And there's my pile of sweat. Yeah,
3:37
Brandon. I'm sweating all over the
3:38
place. Okay, moment of truth. Got the
3:41
new starter in. Couring sweat. Let's see
3:44
if it starts.
3:49
Oh yeah, there it goes.
3:53
And there's the water coming out.
3:56
right there.
4:00
Now we can test and see if this thing
4:02
actually uh
4:04
if the uh
4:06
uh Popo's uh moring holds. I'm going to
4:10
pull back on it just a little bit.
4:13
Let's see.
4:17
We're in reverse.
4:19
No lines in the water. We're
4:22
straightening up now. Let's give it a
4:24
little gas.
4:27
Okay,
4:29
simulating a little wind there. We're at
4:31
1500 RPMs.
4:34
See, it's us going against the tide.
4:41
We haven't broke loose yet.
4:46
There's 2,000 RPMs.
4:49
My guy scared me with the brake.
4:55
There's 2200.
5:00
Okay, we did 2200 on it.
5:05
Yeah, it's uh maybe it'll hold. Didn't
5:09
move.
5:11
Got a lot of current in the wire. This
5:14
is my babe. She's She's all nervous. You
5:15
want to do it again?
5:18
You
5:18
sure we're not closer to that boat? No,
5:20
we're not any closer to that boat. We
5:23
didn't move. It's just the angle we're
5:25
at now. The way the wind's pushing us.
5:31
So, a little task like starting the
5:33
engine just to make sure it still works
5:36
can turn into an all day event.
5:41
All day.
5:42
Oh, a few hour event. So,
5:46
but uh yeah, we got to get uh I think
5:50
we'll get to town probably tomorrow cuz
5:52
we have to get more money for Papa cuz
5:55
we have to pay for our morning. Been
5:57
here now 2 months.
6:04
Okay guys, we are going to get fuel.
6:07
Have the dinghy loaded. pulled out our
6:10
wagon fresh and we are set.
6:14
The last time we used our wagon
6:18
uh actually it was Georgetown.
6:21
Yeah.
6:22
No, we didn't even use it in Georgetown.
6:26
We didn't
6:27
we just uh it was actually March.
6:29
Yeah, March.
6:30
That was a long time ago.
6:32
So, it's not
6:34
No, it's rust. It's rusting a bit
6:36
though.
6:38
Yeah, it's got a little rust on the
6:40
side, so I imagine it's almost in the
6:43
light.
6:46
Ocean takes everything back.
6:47
Yes. But we're going to show you uh tell
6:51
a little bit. We're going to also show
6:53
different places we stopped along the
6:55
way so you know uh general aspect of
6:59
where everything is going to the gas
7:01
station.
7:04
Okay. Of course, you've seen the dinghy,
7:06
but we're on it. Or the dinghy dock.
7:09
Yeah, we're on that. But uh here's our
7:14
our get up.
7:15
Why does it always look hazy here?
7:18
Actually, we're still in the Sahara
7:20
dust.
7:20
Yeah, it's it was covering the solar
7:22
panels this morning.
7:23
It's pretty much all over our boat, too.
7:26
Our boat's looking pretty nasty. We're
7:28
hoping for one of them big rains to wash
7:30
it down. hasn't happened yet,
7:33
but we're going to get on to town and
7:36
yeah, get some fuel.
7:39
Okay, guys. This is, of course, the
7:41
immigration spot we're passing. And uh,
7:45
of course, like always, we get uh
7:47
stopped and talking with other voters,
7:49
and it delays our progress. But
7:52
my gosh, it's muggy today. It
7:54
is. And uh hopefully our wagon will
7:58
navigate this road because
8:00
it's got some some deep uh uh
8:04
obstacles. Oh yeah, the gutters.
8:07
Yeah,
8:07
they're horrible.
8:10
Trash.
8:11
You can hear We're getting into town.
8:12
It's getting a little louder.
8:16
Okay guys, so we just passed Wendy's
8:18
right there. Uh you see the paintings on
8:21
the wall. But uh yeah, my wife says
8:23
we're never going to get the gas station
8:24
at this base cuz uh we just uh
8:28
we always run into all the sailors in
8:30
town.
8:32
So we're we're working our way up there.
8:35
Probably take us a few hours.
8:37
Better not.
8:41
Okay, guys. We just passed Astrid. She's
8:43
coming back this month. This is the
8:45
pizza place.
8:47
We've already done a video on that.
8:50
There's a bait right there. And that's a
8:52
meat market over there. I'm thinking
8:54
right there.
8:56
Yeah. Trying to figure out if that's the
8:58
one everybody keeps talking about cuz we
9:00
went to the one.
9:01
No, we went right there.
9:04
And their meat was a little tough.
9:08
But it's a lot of traffic today. Lot of
9:10
traffic.
9:12
Okay guys,
9:14
I made it to the end of Loop
9:17
or the middle of Loop.
9:20
No, the hat.
9:22
I don't know.
9:26
[Music]
9:28
Looks like a school supply store.
9:31
So, never seen that.
9:33
But uh we're about to pass where uh the
9:35
ATM is up here and uh right there and a
9:40
little grocery store. It's where we uh
9:43
get our liquor from usually cuz they
9:46
have the big bottle. Okay, we're almost
9:48
to the gas station
9:50
and uh you see it right there, the
9:53
lights. Uh yeah, good little walk up
9:56
through here.
9:58
And uh hopefully the gas is not $8
10:02
million a gallon like they charge you to
10:04
bring it to you.
10:06
They like to play lotto.
10:07
Oh yeah, they do.
10:08
Find it everywhere.
10:09
Yeah, there's like five of them up this
10:11
little road.
10:14
Okay, guys. So, we got gasolina.
10:17
28 pesos. 2,800 pesos or 28,000 pesos.
10:23
10 gallons.
10:24
Yeah. 2,800 pesos
10:25
equals about 48 bucks.
10:27
Yeah. $50. $50.
10:29
We are We are uh envying the US right
10:32
now with your guys' gas prices.
10:34
Yes. Yeah. It's
10:35
cuz it's not It's
10:36
It's not cheap here.
10:37
No, they go by liters.
10:39
Yep.
10:40
So, it's very expensive.
10:41
There it is right there. That's what
10:43
we're dealing with out here in the DR in
10:45
the DR.
10:47
Okay.
10:49
Wow, it's loud. We got our liquor. We're
10:51
not as cool as them other green goes
10:53
around here out here with cars and
10:55
stuff, but we're making it and
10:58
motorcycles.
10:59
Yeah. So, but we're making it.
11:03
Okay, guys.
11:05
Giving free labor ice truck right here.
11:07
Got some great music going on.
11:10
And we're at one of our favorite stores.
11:13
I have to show you inside. Mom, I'm
11:15
guarding the gasolina.
11:17
But yeah, this is one of our favorite
11:19
locations in Lupron. This where we get
11:21
our eggs, our veggies, and all that
11:24
crap. Good to go in here, though.
11:28
But yeah, this is the DN uh supermarket,
11:32
and uh they do delivery, so I guess we
11:34
could deliver to the field, the dock
11:36
where we're at. My wife got all the
11:39
groceries and now wants the money. Dero
11:42
Nessita.
11:45
Okay, my wife got some beers for the
11:47
road. This guy, come in here, uh, get
11:51
your food on. He hook you up. They have,
11:53
uh, meat and delies all in the back and,
11:56
uh, it's a good day. As long as you can
11:59
eat.
12:00
Good. Good.
12:03
Okay, guys. We made it. We came from
12:05
that way. And, uh, my bab's got two
12:08
beers in hand.
12:10
Get a beer. She's got two of them.
12:11
That's
12:13
But yeah, we're almost back to the boat.
12:15
It's It's legal to walk around the beer.
12:19
Yeah, but you can't ride a bike without
12:22
a helmet here though,
12:23
even though everybody does, but they do
12:25
have checkpoints.
12:26
Yeah, but uh yeah, we're almost back to
12:29
the boat. Slowed up. I told her we got
12:32
AC for 10 days now.
12:34
We No, it hasn't been that. It has been
12:37
that it's been very cloudy. Yeah.
12:40
And we're not making power.
12:41
No.
12:43
But uh still making power just not
12:45
enough. We're making about just over 4
12:47
kilowatts a day, which with our electric
12:50
kitchen seems to consume a lot of that
12:52
power.
12:56
Hey guys, my babe got her a new pan.
13:02
That one is going to just be retired,
13:04
too. We're still going to keep it, but
13:07
it it it's not a good pan. It's not a
13:09
good fan.
13:10
So, we got us
13:11
a stainless steel pan. And look what's
13:13
cooking there. Oh my gosh, the color of
13:16
that.
13:18
It's gonna go over rice.
13:19
Yeah, I got some more lights coming in,
13:21
too. I just haven't got them yet. So,
13:23
hopefully we can uh correct some light
13:25
in here.
13:27
Yeah,
13:28
but this is for later cuz we're going to
13:30
go to a bonfire first.
13:31
Yeah, we'll.
13:32
But I knew when we got home from the
13:34
bonfire cuz it was going to be late. I
13:36
was like, I know I'm not going to want
13:37
to cook, so I'm cooking it now. And then
13:40
when we get home, we'll we'll
13:41
Oh, yeah.
13:42
We'll eat it.
13:42
Oh, yeah. And uh And there's our puppy
13:46
cam right there. It's in the sun. You
13:48
can't see it very good, but we have
13:50
still have a dog.
13:50
She's getting her hair back.
13:52
Yep. She
13:53
We had to do a full on She can't go to
13:56
the beach anymore.
13:57
Yeah. I had I had the tick infestation
13:59
with her.
14:00
Yeah, there's ticks at the beaches here.
14:03
Yeah.
14:05
And now my babe has her two stainless
14:07
steel pans. She can cook that, right?
14:11
We bought that in
14:15
it was in Cape Canal.
14:17
Yeah, that was in Yeah. So,
14:20
we still had a car then.
14:21
I need a hairdresser.
14:24
But now we're going to get ready and uh
14:26
we're going to go uh get ready to go to
14:29
the beach. So, take with us for a little
14:32
bit.
14:32
Yeah. Show us some stuff. Yep. Let's get
14:37
Okay, guys. We're going to the party and
14:39
my wife said, "Look at that." The wave
14:43
said to go out to the ocean.
14:44
So, I zoom in here
14:46
and that
14:47
I don't see the wave right now.
14:49
No, it just had a really big wave. Now,
14:51
that looks like that's not it.
14:53
No.
14:54
No. No. Okay. Start a build.
14:56
It's starting to build.
14:57
But on a sailbo,
14:59
that is not fun. Wait, where are they
15:02
at?
15:02
They're right there.
15:03
There's people.
15:09
Okay, guys. We're on the beach and uh
15:12
the girls are here. She makes some
15:14
excellent sauce. So, got to check out
15:18
this girl's sauce. But uh
15:20
it's like I It's Halloween already.
15:23
My Halloween shirt.
15:24
Yeah, she's my pumpkin. And that you
15:26
know what that makes me?
15:29
Oh, his shirt was pumpkin eater.
15:32
Pumpkin. Oh my god.
15:33
Wait, what was it called?
15:34
Peter Peter Parker.
15:36
Oh my god.
15:37
But
15:38
that's crazy.
15:39
Yeah, we're going to have a a little fun
15:41
on the beach. Got the locals back here.
15:45
I'm not getting babies.
15:47
And uh yeah, got some s'mores. Got
15:50
baby.
15:51
What?
15:52
Thank you for the intro.
15:56
Turn it off.
16:00
Okay, guys. We make fire
16:03
and my wife make drinks.
16:06
I take drinks. I make the fire.
16:10
[Music]
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