A Trial Liveaboard

Since purchasing this Hunter, we have taken two one-week trips: one within Tampa Bay, one to Burnt Store. Once Covid started, we spent almost every weekend on the boat, sailing around the bay with Sonny, our miniature pinscher. After returning from Burnt Store in July, we agreed to take a trip to the Florida Keys after Christmas. Nathan wanted to reserve a dock for two months, but Kate insisted only one month because she didn’t want to be gone that long. These are our testimonials of our trial run for liveaboard and cruising while working.

General Thoughts on Cruising Prior to Trip:

HIM: I have dreamed about the cruising lifestyle on and off over the years. I love being on the water. I worked on boats in college, racking up over a thousand sea days as first mate on 100-ton passenger vessels, and I’ve even done a delivery from Maine to Florida (but never got a captain’s license). I have owned fishing boats and fished hard for years, but that was always with the guys. Now I decided to try going to the dark side and buy a “blow boat” so that hopefully I can do more with Kate and eventually sail off on our own adventures. For years I have read Lats & Atts, Good Old Boat, and related books. Several times a week I watch YouTube sailing channels, but Kate finds them boring. I have been impressed by Sailing UMA and others who take a nearly worthless boat and create a dream life. I am not starting with a cheap boat. It is a high price to this risky venture, but I am willing to give it a try. I have spent the last 20 years in an office and want more out of life. I want to feel like I am living life and not just getting through it with a few weekends to actually live. Little weekend and weeklong trips are nice, but if we are not going to do real adventures, I don’t know that is worth owning this boat. As stated by Bob Bitchin, just set a date. So I did, at least for a trial run to the Florida Keys.

HER: Nathan has a fantasy about cruising, but it just does not appeal to me. I don’t want to give up my house, car, space, my hair stylist, my nail tech, and other luxuries.

Sonny: I like going to the boat. It gets me out of the house a lot and the neighbors always give me treats. Mom and dad never give me as many treats as these wonderful people at the marina. I don’t know why we have to move the boat all the time. It is a really long day for a small dog like me to hold it.

Leading Up to Departure:

HIM: I am busy every weekend trying to make sure the boat is ready and I am ready to handle everything on my own. Over the past year, Kate learned to handle the helm station. I added a wifi system since I will be working remotely. I am hopeful that this goes well. I want to expand our use of the sailboat beyond being a weekend home. However, Kate is not excited and doesn’t even want to do this trip. In the last few weeks before departing, I tell friends we will either come back happy or divorced.

HER: As the trip approaches, I am overwhelmed with anxiety. I do not want to take this trip but I have to. Did I pack enough? What am I going to do without a car? How am I going to get my hair and nails done? What am I going to do with my time?

The Trip South:

HIM: Finally D-day has arrived. I planned this to be an easy ride down the coast from Tampa Bay to Marathon over six days plus a couple days in case of weather. We move onto the boat the day after Christmas, ready for departure the next day. Unfortunately, a full moon winter tide prevents us from leaving the dock till after lunch. The first day is a slow sail across the bay and anchoring at Longboat Pass. We have a nice sail down the coast and drop anchor on the beach in front of the lighthouse at Boca Grande. During the night, the wind and waves turn to 90 degrees to each other and practically throw us out of bed. I quickly add a line from the stern to the anchor line and turn our bow into the waves. A few hours later, we are up at first light and on our way again.

Winds are turning to the southeast, pushing us farther west. As we get close to

Captiva, the winds turn east and are on our nose headed to Ft. Myers Beach.

Time for the iron genny. The marina we reserved had a mix-up in reservations, but all is good once we are moved to the far dock. We plan to stay two nights so that Kate can get a break and enjoy making stops as part of cruising. Our next stop is Marco Island for anchoring. A large trawler runs through the inlet at full speed, kicking off a large wake that lifts us and slams us on the bottom as we are navigating the shoaling inlet. I hope nothing is broken, at least as nothing is leaking. The next day we wait for high tide to start our crossing to

Marathon. The winds are on our nose — we’re gonna have to motor. That’s ok, we have autopilot, well we did until two hours into this leg. As Captain Ron says, it’s gonna happen out there. We hand-steered the next 14 hours until dropping anchor off Fanny Keys. After a few-hour nap and a phone call to the marina, we pulled into our new home at Marathon Marina and Resort. A few hiccups, but no disasters. What a great trip, I am loving this. HER: The trip down was fine. I am not really enjoying being cold for several days. (We only have a bimini top.) I just want to get this over with. We had to motor part of the way from Boca Grande to Ft. Myers Beach. When we finally arrive at our dock for two nights in Ft. Myers Beach, I am so glad just to be stable. However, the marina has overbooked the transient docks, so they move us three times. In the morning, we wake up to find the boat at least two feet out of the water, leaning on the rudder, held up only by the floating dock. This is not good. But not all is lost. Nathan works it out with the marina to move us to deeper water once the tide rises and we get to spend some time exploring and window shopping. I even find a stuffed toy lionfish for Sonny. The second night here, we decide to close down the bar here at the marina, but for us that means a large chocolatey dessert.

A Trial Liveaboard

Nathan’s rule is no drinking before sailing. Our next stop is Marco Island for one night. It is New Years Eve, Nathan is tired and crawls into bed around 9pm. But I stay up and enjoy a lovely evening of simply watching some YouTube and relaxing. This is peaceful and quiet. Tomorrow is our longest leg, a run across Florida Bay to Marathon. The winds are against us, so we decide to motor our way across the bay to arrive first thing in the morning. I will never make fun on the YouTube sailors anymore for motoring. I now understand motoring versus tacking back and forth.

Sonny: This trip won’t seem to end. I am cold and spend most of the day under the blanket. I have held it for two days and finally have to let it go and I am just going to right here so I know how much I had to hold. Now Dad wants me to go on this carpet thing in the shower. This is weird. When are we going back to our dock?

Living Aboard in Florida Keys:

HIS: This has been an amazing time. While I am trapped by my laptop and Zoom calls during the day, I get to enjoy breaks on the docks, evenings socializing with other cruisers, amazing sunsets, and happy hours everywhere. Of course, doing Zoom calls in the tropics with real backgrounds while coworkers are snowed in just makes the experience that much more enjoyable. Why would anyone want to leave? I don’t want to wait until retirement to enjoy this.

After two weeks, we discuss our departure date and decide to align with the holiday in February, extending our stay two weeks. My little trick to stay longer worked! Then Kate asks the marina to reserve us for next year and puts down the deposit. That’s a good sign. After four weeks, I ask the marina how much I owe for the next two weeks and what it would be for the whole month, only $200 more. I brief Kate and she says let’s stay. Victory! I get the two months I originally wanted!

HER: It would be nice to have a kayak, paddleboard, or something to do during the day while Nathan works. I visit the aquarium, go to happy hour, sit on the deck watching sunsets, but I am kinda bored. I purposefully buy small bottles of milk, fruit, etc. just so that I have an excuse to walk to get more. If I come back, I need to have something to do with my time.

The great thing though is all the like-minded people. There is great comradery here. Within a few days we made some new friends and have an excuse to enjoy happy hour with new friends. Here we are not the exception. There is no rat race or competition in life. These people understand the lifestyle and are enjoying it as their retirement dream, but we get to do it now. Spending a few hours in the afternoon sitting by the pool looking out at the bay is so peaceful and relaxing. I think we will stay here a little longer.

Sonny: Well this isn’t too bad. I am not cold anymore. I like having the bow into the dock. I get to spend several

hours a day running around the deck. I can see everyone all the way to the end of the dock and make sure they know that I see them. A few of them bribe me to not bark by giving me treats. I wonder if I make more noise if more people will give me treats. I learned that jumping on the anchor locker lid does make more noise, but no more treats yet. I will have to keep trying.

Return Trip North:

HIM: Based on weather, I decided it would be best to leave a couple days earlier to take advantage of a southeast wind to carry us back up the Florida Gulf Coast. I convince Kate to try making the trip back nonstop. On departure day it is blowing 15 to 20, and gusting 25+. The waves are 2-to-3 feet at 3 seconds, with the occasional bigger wave across Florida Bay. I cut across the waves at broad reach to point us toward Marco Island. Our autopilot is fixed, but not happy with the following seas at this angle on a short period. I hand steer for the first several hours while maintaining our speed at over 7 knots, grinning ear to ear. This is fun! Once we get in the protection of the coastline, I take a more direct northwest direction for an easy downwind run the rest of the way. We decide to motor across Tampa Bay due to lack of wind, which slowed us down for the last several hours compared to our sailing. The trip back was without event until we get the entrance of our home marina. It is low tide and we can’t get in. We just ran 39 hours straight and can’t go the last quarter-mile. We drop anchor and set an alarm to get back up in four hours. A few hours later, we tuck into our slip and fall asleep. We completed the 250 miles with an average speed of 6.4 knots. Those numbers make me real happy.

HER: The ride back really sucks! I am seasick and cold again. I just want to get this trip done and over with. I feel bad for Sonny too. He is being stubborn and won’t go to the bathroom; he must be not enjoying this as well. Why did I agree to making this trip straight through? Advice for anyone, don’t be like and forget to take Dramamine. Also, keep up your caffeine intake.

Well, now that we have sailed for over twenty-four hours, I am starting to feel proud of myself. I have overcome the seasickness, taken night watches, and feel great. I would have never thought no way in hell I would have done this.

Sonny: Oh no, we are out here again? Where are we going this time? I can’t keep holding it for days on end. At least I found a place to go up here on the front of the boat, hope they don’t mind. I will just continue my dog duties and bark at every boat I see, especially these motorboats. They are going too fast. That should keep us safe.

Post Trip:

HIM: Now I have to do house projects and don’t want to. I prefer the boat projects that need done. Nine weeks living aboard. We have lots of stories to tell while earning our tan in the middle of winter during one of the harshest winters for parts of the country. I had no issues working while on the boat and think I can do this a lot more. Now I just have to convince her to go on an adventure up the East Coast after our next trip to the Florida Keys next year. HER: Being home is nice. I have my big kitchen, am able to walk around in open spaces, have no limits on water use, use my car, visit my hair and nail professionals. But all is not right. This first week home, I am missing the laid-back attitude and atmosphere. Nathan says I have tropical depression. Oh my, I have changed. I can’t wait to do it again. I am not afraid anymore. I want to plan our next adventure. Nathan is already pushing to go further and rent the house. I don’t know if I am ready though for extended cruising. As I reflect though, is it bad that my favorite moments were when I was alone? That’s when I pushed my limits. Wow, Nathan has pushed me, and I feel like a better person. Sonny: Oh, my favorite toys! I get to play all day with them and run all over the house. It is so nice being able to run back and forth all day. There are so many more things I can grab so I can make Dad play chase with me.

Final Verdict:

HIM: Guilty. I have successfully converted my wife. HER: This is not for everyone, but I am glad we did it and I am looking forward to doing it again next year.