When you think about people in their mid to late twenties you probably think of saving money, job searching, stabilizing a career and buying a home.
Well… we did all that but not in any typical way. Billy graduated college and wanted to escape the cold of New York so why not buy an old boat, fix it up, live aboard and sail down to Florida? He dropped the hook in my hometown of Jupiter, Florida. He was completely broke and needed a job and just happened to start working with me at a kiteboarding and paddleboarding shop. A year later as a junior at Florida Atlantic University I moved onto that itty bitty 26-foot sailboat named Tula.
Sailing around the Florida Keys
We spent a good amount of time sailing around the keys (after a failed attempt to cross to the Bahamas). We then figured we needed a tad more room.
Hmm, should we get an apartment?
I do not think that thought ever crossed either one of our minds.
We needed a bigger boat of course!
We sold that little sailboat and bought a 34′ Marine Trader Trawler project boat. Man, that thing was like a mansion. We cruised up and down the east coast and through many of the Bahamian Islands. We even had friends stay with us along the way. Our friends Travis and Kaycee have visited us a number of times and have claimed our V-berth as their home away from home. When asked about their time aboard they said “We had an awesome time hanging out on Neverland, checking out Stuart and seeing what boat life was all about! We went out to dinner on the water and Billy and Sierra picked us right up at the restaurant. We couldn’t have asked for a better time or pick up service!”
Sunset Cruise aboard Neverland
Our families have always been super supportive. I have to say our biggest fan has always been Billy’s mom, Laurie. When we first told her about our move to a bigger boat and our travel plans her response was: “What the hell?! I’m Jealous!” and ever since she has stayed completely up to date on where we are, what we are doing, and the coolest things we have seen.
My mom’s favorite question is “When are you getting a job?” She does find what we do very interesting but is always worrying. She loves getting the inside info about the places we have seen and where she needs to visit. She knows we love what we are doing so, for now, that is good enough!
My dad is dead set determined to find us a way to combine my degree in Marine Biology with traveling the world on our own terms. Did you know there are Killer Whales in the Bahamas? I did not either, but he knew and he wants us to find them. I constantly find fishing and science articles set aside at their house for us explaining the new kind of research opportunities that are available. If you were to ask him why he would say “because I am going to come work for you guys”.
Whale research in the Bahamas
Billy’s dad, Bill Sr. is definitely the biggest help when it comes to buying equipment. He is the Craigslist master and an all-time bargainer. He knows exactly where we can find things and how much we should be paying. When asked about his opinion on our travels he says “To put it simply, Sierra and Billy are “living the dream” by living and traveling on a boat. They are inspiring thousands of others to explore their dreams as well. I am proud of the clean, healthy, adventurous life that they are living”.
Our siblings are all very different from us. My sister Sydney likes to call us “strange birds” but will be the first one to raise a hand when asked who wants to go for a boat ride.
Sydney jumping off Neverland
Billy’s brother Chris is what we like to call a big wig in the sports world. He is a part of a company that organizes and puts on athletic events around the world. When anywhere near surfing or paddling events he always makes sure he is sporting his Tula’s Endless Summer shirt which we are always grateful for. His response to our lifestyle is as such, “Unique. Definitely, very unique. While I would never be able to live on a boat, I do work for a billionaire who lived on a boat and launched one of the most well-known global brands from his cabin. I have similar expectations for the Tula crew”.
Chris meeting Pro Surfer and Paddler Kai Lenny
Catherine, Billy’s sister, is another big supporter of our dreams. She has even lent a hand crewing on both Tula and Neverland, so she knows first hand what boat life is all about. She explains that “most people would probably find the idea of living on a boat full-time to be a far-fetched dream, knowing Billy and Sierra it is hard to imagine them creating a home anywhere other than on the water… literally” and boy does she have that right we absolutely love the life that we have created.
Billy and Catherine sailing Tula
We are beyond blessed to have both of our families be so supportive of our dreams and we could never thank them enough for all that they do for us!
I hope you enjoyed learning what the rest of our families are like and how they feel about this crazy life.
Sierra:)
Living the dream! Hope you find your Cat ( like a Gemini). If that doesn’t work out. Get a bigger trawler and or newer and travel further.
You two are living the dream. I almost did what you two are doing, when I was in my twenties, and spent some time bumming around the Bahamas on a sailboat. But, I chickened out and did the career thing and I have always regretted it. I finally retired in my fifties and started doing it again. Persevere! Sail! Surf! Explore! Live your life on your own terms! Because, it’s yours to live.
If I could live my life over again, I like to think it would look much like yours.
I reall enjoy watching your videos. You’re very interesting the way you compile them.
Question: in a previous video a man showing you the mooring made a derogatory remark about Neverland, but you never told us what he said. What was it? I like your boat especially since it is a first and a project. Some people are rude and have absolutely no feeling for others.
KEEP UP THE GOOD VIDEOS. I am retired and to old to do what you’re doing so you two are my daily get away from a boring life.
This back store is awesome. Thanks for sharing info we subscribers were wondering about!
Loved reading this. Have to meet up with you guys this winter in south Florida or the Bahamas on my expedition MV.
Yep live your Dreams, and that is what La Vagabonde and their crew have been doing for years now.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZdQjaSoLjIzFnWsDQOv4ww and making money doing it.
Living on a boat is something I’ve wanted to do since I was 11-12 years old. I would read all the books I could find on sailing the world, living aboard long term, even building boats from scratch to be able to afford it. I never got any support from anyone I mentioned my dream to, instead I always got shot down, being told that no one does that for very long, I’d always be broke, I wouldn’t be able to keep a job that way, I’d never find a mate who would be worth having that would want to join me, I needed to forget about that fantasy and get down to earth with a “conventional” life style, boats cost too much, especially one big enough to live aboard, etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum! The end result so far has been I have always felt like an out-cast and/or a prisoner in my life, always felt like it was forced upon me, never been truly happy with where I am or have been, many failed relationships, and so forth. My life to this point reads like a bad psychology study!
Then, several very major things occurred in a very short amount of time in my life: Since 2014, I went back and married my high-school sweetheart, (finally), my parents died and left me a tremendous amount of debt from their “conventional” lifestyle, I lost my career at age 53, and finally, I found your channel!
My wife and I have been avid watchers for a couple months now, and we have been talking about a lot of things, primarily, the fact that she wants to go back to Florida to live, and we both abhor the “conventional” lives we have been leading up till now. Your videos opened a dialog between us that allowed us to learn new things about each other desires. For instance, we both want rid of the debt, we both want something else, and we both love the ocean! To that end, for the first time in many years, I told my childhood dream to someone, and to my surprise found that not only did she like the idea, she also had that same dream and wanted to pursue it immediately! So, we are now in the process of selling all our assets, picking out a boat and divesting ourselves of all the clutter that seems to accumulate anytime anyone lives the “conventional” lifestyle. We went just yesterday to tour a 36 foot trawler and came away totally convinced we can do this! Our life plan is to be living aboard by the end of this year, and the boat we have picked out to buy is a used 42 foot Kady-Krogan trawler. Previously I would have never considered a used anything, let alone a used boat for live aboard! Thanks to Billy’s “can-do” attitude that comes through in the videos and his advice on the book, “This Old Boat”, I now feel like it is not only possible, but doable!
Sorry for droning on and on, but you two have been an inspiration to me and my wife, and I thought you might like hearing a little bit about what a difference your videos have made in two peoples lives and happiness! Thank you both very much, and thank you to Jetty too! Hope to cross wakes with you sometime in the future!
Hey Bobby! Thanks so much for the comment man! I’m so glad we could re-spark the dream and get you and your girlfriend to consider boat life again. How’s it going so far? Did you get your Kady Krogen? Those are beautiful boats!
Haven’t bought a boat yet, still waiting on the house to sell. Q=We have most likely changed what boat we will buy however. We are now considering a CSY 44 Pilot House model. My wife has been a little reluctant to go with a sail boat instead of a trawler, but between myself and her older brother who is a CG Licensed Captain, we have finally convinced her it would be the better choice since we really do want to travel world wide and that it would be totally safe. She was concerned about the heel angle, but now understands more and is more comfortable with the idea of sailing.
Thanks for the reply and hope you continue to have awesome adventures! We’ll still be watching!