Boat building on YouTube: Tradition meets modernity - about the success of the "Tally Ho"
Fabian Boerger
· 26.04.2025
Around eight years ago, Leo Goolden bought the remains of the famous cutter "Tally Ho" for a symbolic dollar. From then on, he documented the restoration of the 1909 boat with his camera. The likeable Brit regularly reports on the progress of the project on the YouTube video platform and has been inspiring young and old alike with the traditional craft ever since.
His fan base has been growing steadily ever since. More than 540,000 people now follow his account and his videos have been viewed several million times. And what was once considered impossible has now become a reality thanks to all-round support: The "Tally Ho" is afloat again and shining in new splendour - and she already has the next big adventure ahead of her.
Leo Goolden in a YACHT interview
The young Brit spoke about the success of an unusual sailing project, the appeal of taking risks and the future of traditional boatbuilding during the Classic Yacht Symposium Helsinki with the YACHT.
Your videos inspire hundreds of thousands of people with an old craft. How do you explain this?
It is not easy to answer this question; ultimately it is a mixture of many factors. A bit of luck certainly plays a role. You also have to be in the right place at the right time. We started our project on YouTube when the demand was there. People were interested in such videos. It's also crucial to be consistent, post regularly and maintain a constant presence. This also includes the determination not to give up when things get challenging. Developing this attitude right from the start is extremely helpful. However, the way in which the story is told is certainly also important. The characters who play a part are crucial here; that's what it thrives on.
You took a big risk with the "Tally Ho" project. How important was that for its success?
I believe that people are much more risk-conscious today than they used to be. That's a good thing in many ways. However, it can also discourage people from embarking on adventures. The "Tally Ho" project wasn't risky in a dangerous way, but it was a big financial and personal risk to my career and my life. The fact that I took that risk, I think, comes across in my videos.
More about the "Tally Ho":
I embarked on the project without any guarantee of success or that the financing would even be guaranteed. Even the fact that I would be allowed to stay in America during construction was not certain. The bottom line is that I think society has become risk averse in many ways. This is another reason why there are no longer as many exciting stories of adventure as there might have been a hundred years ago
Young talent for traditional boatbuilding
Your videos have given many people access to traditional boatbuilding and classic yachts. How important was this aspect to you?
Maintaining, building and sailing classic boats is something special and offers a form of fulfilment. At the same time, it is crucial to get young people interested in this lifestyle. Of course, it's an old craft where many skills can be found in the older generations of boat builders. I myself have received a lot of tips and support from them. But there is also a lot that is gradually being lost. That's why it's all the more important to motivate young boatbuilders to dedicate themselves to this craft. But I am really happy to meet such young boat builders time and again. It's very inspiring.
More about classics:
The "Tally Ho" is back on the water and already has her first trips along the Canadian west coast in her wake. Is this the end of the adventure?
No, it's not over yet. All we can say at the moment is that we will be sailing the "Tally Ho" to the UK. That's a big project, because we first have to really get to know the boat. Until then, we still have a lot of work ahead of us.
You want to take part in the legendary Fastnet race in Great Britain - 100 years after the "Tally Ho" once won the race. When do you want to start?
We are planning to set off in autumn this year, as the journey will take some time. When sailing on the high seas, you bear full responsibility for your actions. If something goes wrong, there is no help nearby, which brings with it a certain amount of risk. This is the next adventure ahead.
