Moving aboard our TINY floating HOME DOWNSIZING to fit on a catamaran | Ep 16
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2023
- Downsizing from a 3200sq foot home to less than 500 sq feet is tough. See if we are able to get everything aboard our tiny floating home on the sea. The first week aboard we encounter an uninvited guest and everything hits the fan at one time. Family plans to sail around the world on their Leopard 45 sailing catamaran.
Follow our journey as we plan a 4 yr circumnavigation visiting 40 countries spanning 6 continents on a budget of $4,000/mo.
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Want to know the gear the love as we transition to boat life? Check out our Gear We Love section on our website to find links to amazon to purchase those items.
sailingparadisefalls.com/gear...
Items mentioned in this video:
Shannon's smaller velvet hangers: amzn.to/3qSCdZp
Thanks so much for watching and supporting our journey!
Just adjust the waterline if you have to 😅… after living on board for over a decade.. I can tell you’re just starting. You probably do not need 2/3 of what you brought on board… all papers can be scanned ( except passport and maybe a few other official docs) and there’s a lot you didn’t use for a year… and don’t need to keep …just start to clean out the boat every month from what you didn’t use and you’ll get rid off the overweight..
Boats look big in small marinas but not do much when you trie to squeeze your land life in it. See if you can change some closets for drawers that frees up a lot of usable space.
Rats walk in over the mooring lines.. some use plates in an attempt to stop them. What in my experience works best is to have all (!) food in plastic boxes. Make sure nothing smells like good or waste..
Carton boxes are famous for attracting roaches in warehouses… get rid of them asap when you arrive. They are similarly bad for boat life but don’t eat electric cables ( the rat may have caused invisible damage, check all cables)
Wow! So many words of wisdom! Since that video was filmed, we have downsize a couple more times. It just is so freeing to get rid of “stuff” Thank you for taking the time to write! It means a lot!
Wise words Walter!
"I'm gonna get my own!!".
That's a spark. Good luck Chase! wish you all the best!!.
He will! He has a bright future ahead! I’ll pass on your encouragement!
Time to define the difference between your wants and your needs! Boat life will not be the same as land life. You will find a cadence to the
new boat life you have chosen. You will figure it out as you go! Bon voyage! Fair winds!
Yep, we have gotten rid of so much "fluff"! Thanks for following our journey!
The more you get rid of, the better it will be. It's not just the volume of the stuff and finding places for all of it, it's the weight of all that stuff. Weight is the enemy of boat speed. Too much weight is the difference between a nice day of sailing to your next destination and having to use the engines to make it before sunset.
Agree wholeheartedly! We have been shedding "weight" since we brought all that stuff over. We started getting rid of things that we did not use or touch for 6 months at the house. We are adopting that to here as well, for items that normally are used every day but aren't. Thanks for following our journey!
Less internal living space, but a whole world of "living" space to explore.
Donate for a Dream
Absolutely!!!!
The rat came up your dock line, they also have a habit of jumping from the docks onto the boat. You might notice ships put rodent blockers on their dock lines.
Yes. From what we learned, it was going boat to boat...but it met it's match on ours! Thanks for following our journey!
Your children are adorable: Job well done .
Thank you!
OMG! That is a big rat! When we moored our boat in the California Delta we used large funnels on the lines, which helped with the river rats.
We have since learned about those funnels. Luckily, no more since!
Excellent job wow you guys are amazing!!
Awww, thank you SO much for your kind words! They really help motivate us and keep us going through the rough days!
I understand the downsizing issues. I moved from the States in a 5200 sq ft to England in a 1000 sq ft home. While I missed the space, I have learned that less is better. The more space I had, the more I bought. So I think you will get used to having less space. All the best to you and your family in this new adventure.
We as Americans have this more mentality. More is not necessarily better! There are things even now as we have moved onboard that we find not really necessary, so we have been getting rid of more stuff! We are starting to get used to living with less. It's actually refreshing! Thanks for following our journey!
Another great video packed with real life information. Thank you!
Thanks for the encouragement!!
Woo Hoo, Congratulations to the Kiddos. I love Conch House but a little pricey. Thanks for sharing the marina info, I have been looking for a place for our boat for when we find it, (still shopping ugh!)
That’s one of the best things you can be doing right now is looking for a potential slip or mooring. That and lining up trades to do the upgrades.
That's a LOT of hats guys!
We downsized from a 4 bedroom house to 4 backpacks for our world trip. I have 1 cap!
Yes, it was. They have since been reduced down. In the beginning, you think you need a lot more than you actually do. Awesome job going from a 4BR home to backpacks! Your way ahead of me!
@@SailingParadiseFallsNot sure about that... we've accumulated a ton of crap since we left and stopped for more than 5 minutes ... 🙈🙈
Hang in there you guys have got this !
Thanks for the encouragement!
good luck and remember the power of life jackets - weird stuff can happen in a sec!
Thanks for the advice and watching!
Love you guys....but....It seems like you may have tried to bring more on the boat than necessary. That video of the "hat storage"? I know you watch Sailing Zatara and Keith has one baseball hat and a sun hat. He wears the same clothing every day as does Renee. Perhaps that is the better idea? Keep 90% in a land storage and bring only the essentials? My take on your journey so far is it has been a bit "rushed" and that a slower transition would have allowed to be pickier in what was a necessity. Having said that, I still love watching your journey and your passion for this. What an awesome son you have as well. Looking back on the last month or two or packing and organizing and unpacking etc, are there any lessons that you have learned that are worth sharing to others that wanna do what you are doing? Your experience is invaluable. Look forward to the next video....
We had our other boat and had great storage on it. That being said, yes we should have spent more time going through our "stuff" and looking at what we can bring and what we can't. We have been paring down and will continue to do so as we prepare to depart the US. There are things that are more critical than others in our journey. But hey we are learning and LOVE suggestions! Each boat and crew will have a different experience with moving aboard. We were blessed that we live in a coastal community and could bring our boat home to load our stuff. We prepurchased a lot of items to lessen the "sting" of so much money going out at one time during onboarding. In hind sight, we should have waited to have the boat here before getting things for it. There is a fellow cruiser that has a new dishwasher because we decided was going to take too much valuable space from our galley. We have space, but it's finding appropriate space for items...Wet locker vs dry locker vs deep in the bow storage or storage in the engine rooms. I also recommend getting to a place that is known for outfitting boats if you are going to do extensive upgrades. Thanks for following our journey!
Great to see you guys moved in and adjusting to your home on the sea! Glad to see you got this video out as well. The bumps in the "road" will get less and soon you will be sailing and enjoying life! Glad you got that rat! Best of good fortune to you guys and looking forward to what comes next...!
Thank you SO much for the kind words!!! They really mean so much going through this rough period!
Must be so wonderful to have the family now all aboard and ready to experience the next chapter in your lives. It will take time for all to adapt to the new living conditions, wow you guys have a lot of stuff! - Fortunately there is no rush, but try and be logical to where you store items as you No how rough it can get on the open oceans. Once again that you for such a wonderful episode and as always be safe and take care. “God Bless America” 🇺🇸
Thank you SO much for your kind words! We have actually downsized at least 3 more times since filming this video. It’s very freeing to get rid of things you don’t need. Our sail from the BVI reinforced our understanding how violent Mother Nature can be. I’m securing everything for the rough days. Thanks again!
Good on you guys not a easy task
It’s still a work in process! I’ve went through and made a few more donations bags. In a home having all the “stuff” is no big deal but in a boat you realize it’s just “stuff”. Thanks for watching!
Damn... he's big!!
Yup!!!! Crazy how big!
It’s a boat, maintenance and projects are never ending. Personally, I enjoy working on my boat. Some issues are above my skill set but all it takes is $ and hiring the “right” person. Easier said than done. 😂
There are some things Rob loves doing, and some that stretch his skill set. He's good at a lot of things but certainly no expert. And you are so right about finding the "right" person when you can't do it yourself! That is where we have struggled. It's like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow if you actually get someone to the boat to get work done! Thanks for following our journey!
You have a mouse in the house, may of one from the storage place. You should be able to smell it
Found out he was on other boats at the marina before ours. Did you see where I caught it? : ) He was big!
the guys you caught pilfering that battery regulator, or whatever it was it was, probably paid you back with that mouse for making moorings look REALLY BAD!
We didn’t even suspect a mouse for almost 3 weeks after leaving St. Thomas. Pretty sure we picked him up at the dock in St. Augustine. Thanks for watching!
we too have rodent issues on land, here when they get suck in pool we make them clap once to get out (ours don't go for peanut butter)
I’m just glad we got him! It was creepy trying to sleep when he was onboard but at least I had no idea how big he was!!
Always keep a rat trap setup (plastic) they will chew holes in everything including bedding, electric cables, and even through poly water tanks.
Great advice!! Now we know! Thanks for your comment & watching!
Fabulous job with your clothes Shannon, and everything else !! do you have or will you have a washer ? Way back in the day we had a plastic barrel we would put in the forepeak whilst under sail 😂
Hopefully, we will get to the washer before we leave the dock. We are gutting the SB forward cabin to create a utility room that should house the washer. Off course, that project has been bumped for now due to other pressing isues (new AC and wiring lithium and solar). Currently, I am very appreciative of the marina laundry facilities :)
Great job you guys! Don’t forget to take the time to celebrate the small stuff. Just as all the little problems add up and eat away at you, counter them for balance! ❤ I’m curious if you measured your waterline before and after move-aboard?
Thank you SO much for the encouragement! I really wish we somehow measured the waterline before we moved aboard. I know I haven't paid much attention to that but maybe Rob has - so if he did I'll get him to chime in. We appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment!
"Little Mr. Rat"? Much bigger and you probably would have needed to get a hunting license and tag for that thing.
I keep thinking about the Rodents of Unusual Size from Princess Bride when I watch that footage. He was big for sure! Thanks for your comment and for following our journey!
That was a BIG effing rat! And they walk in on the lines, the are excellent climbers. /Catta from Sweden
Yes it was! We were shocked as well but now we know! Thanks for watching!
Hopefully he as alone and doesn't have a family. Hang in there cause all that bad luck will eventually fade away and you'll be rewarded.
No family so far thank goodness! Thanks for following our journey!
I would assume that the rat came aboard via your dock line. The Navy uses rat guards on all lines dock/mooring lines.
Great advice! Thanks for your comment and watching!
So did you find the leak in the cabin ? Is it a hatch or something more sinister 😢
We did! The chart plotter at the helm was letting the water in. They did not weather strip around the edges. We just stopped the rain from landing on the helm station and that stopped the leak. When I update the charts for our upcoming voyage, we are going to add the weather stripping and the helm enclosure will prevent all water in that area. Oh the joys of boat ownership! People in, WATER OUT, and look good doing it! : ) Thanks for following our journey!
I'm enjoying watching your progress videos on the boat! On your videos I've noticed the dialog audio levels are inconsistent. When you are editing your videos, you should be able to select your audio channels and apply a NORMALIZE filter which will bring all the audio levels to the same cap, usually -2db or so. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the tips! I’ve been watching videos trying to figure it out. Audio is difficult! We’ve tried multiple mics trying to get it right. I just found the primary Nikon z30 audio sensitivity was turned down hence I can only raise it so much in post. I’ll take all the editing tips you’ve got 😀 Thanks for watching!!
I think I did it! Hopefully, the next video will be better. Please let me know! Tks!
Will do! BTW, my mom went to Auburn War Eagle!! @@SailingParadiseFalls
War Eagle!
ROLL TIDE!! 🐘
Roll Tide!! We support our kids! Even when they go to Rival universities! Thanks for following our journey!!
Love your vids, felt bad for the way you were treated by Moorings. One reqest when you have time try to impove the audio as i am going nuts constantly adusting the volume. Keep up the good work l hope everything works out.
Yes! This is a constant battle. We are searching for the right microphone and settings. I'm watching videos to improve but I'm no video editor. Thanks for suffering through! We are aware and working on it! Thanks for your comment!
What year is this boat?
2018
You guys are doing great. Its unfortunately a boat and chasing never ending leaks is part of the charm and journey. It will get easier.
One day we will have it perfect no? HAHA, We have had a few boats prior and it's always something that needs attention! Just trying not to feel or get overwhelmed with the "repair" side of this adventure! Thanks for your comment!
@@SailingParadiseFalls The day you have it perfect is the day after you find your next boat, and you wonder why you wanted a new one.
I keep forgetting you had other boats! Sorry. It's still going to be a GREAT adventure. @@SailingParadiseFalls
let your older children fly to the boat to help you circumnavigate this rock when they are not taking classes. mit (massachusetts institute of technology) has a whooooooole lot of completely free online courses that they can take, and then clip for credits!
Our oldest really doesn’t like boating or the ocean. Our daughter is on a full ride to Auburn for AFROTC - her dream. Our 2nd son is happily involved with his frat at University of Ala. They may come visit but the older ones really don’t want to be on the boat for extended cruising.
Rats often come from the dock….you had all that stuff stored in the cockpit and probably carried inside. Keep your traps you’ll probably need them later.
We have definitely kept the traps and luckily have not had any more unwanted visitors! Growing pains going from land to boat life!
@@SailingParadiseFalls During our first Christmas as a newly married couple, we brought a rat into the house in the Christmas Tree. Over the years we have routinely gotten mice and bugs. I'm not sure there is much difference between land and boat life when it comes to varmint or insects...except the space just increases the likelihood of noticing sooner.
You learned a valuable lesson, friends don't let friends buy Fords. Thankfully you have a beautiful boat and are going to have a great adventure, no cars/trucks required.
Ha! I was originally opposed to Fords myself but they have grown on me. Rob’s has had two F-150’s that were really good to us over the past 12 years. He totaled one that saved his life. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching!
@@SailingParadiseFalls definitely seems to be hit or miss with those with some people having a good experience and others never buying again. My wife's family grew up with them and mostly had good luck, I've slowly pushed all but one to Toyota, Honda, and GMC and they say they'll never go back. I am glad to hear his first truck did its job in the crash though. I saw the thumbnail but didn't watch that video.
I want to down size to a $500,000 boat.
I guss downsizing means different things to different people.
Downsize in terms of square feet for living area. This is actually the most expensive home we have ever owned. Thanks for you comment & watching!
Put a life jacket on that boy (please)
He's got a couple to choose from. He's also been on swim team since he was 4. We were moving the boat in the intracoastal with minimal wave action, But offshore, he will always have his spinlock on when he is on deck. He loves being "Connected" to the boat with his integrated harness and tether. Thanks for following our journey!
Almost can't hear you even with high volume, you need to learn to position your mike's better I think :-)
Yes! Somehow the volume on the camera got turned down and we were not checking. Now we now. We are also searching for better mics and I'm watching video editing tutorials amongst all the chaos of boat projects. Thanks for watching and your comments!
Not trying to be a jerk. But you guys need to work on a better mic. We/I cannot hear a lot of the time when you away from the camera. I know y’all will get better.
Not being a jerk - we are aware and really working to improve the audio. Thanks for your comment!
All those monohull owners will love you for calling the L45 tiny. You‘ve obviously never experienced what tiny really means. 😉
We came from a 25ft Catalina and and 36ft Hunter both monohulls. Tiny in the meaning that we downsized from a 3200sq ft home to this. It just takes time to adjust and we are still downsizing! Thanks for your comment!
Honestly, you have way to much "stuff" for boat people. Being a liveaboard is about the bare necessities, not tiny home living
We agree. We are learning that very quickly!
Not true on a cat. That‘s why they’re called Condomarans… 😜
rat guards ,, all the ships use them.
Yep. What's funny is we were WAY out on the second to last dock... Apparently, the rat was making his way around the boats. Once we dispatched him, our neighbor said that he noticed things being bitten and such on his boat a week or so before. Going to be getting a rat box to put near the lines when we are at dock, because they tend to climb up the lines for the fenders as well. We'd need 10 plus guards on all the lines! Thanks for following our journey!
Rats are excellent swimmers. we have seen them climb up our anchor chain.@@SailingParadiseFalls
@@SailingParadiseFalls get a cat , rats/mice smell a cat and leave 😎
We‘ve got 5 cats on board (ever noticed that the Leopard logo has 5 segments 😬) and in the super-rare case of us not anchoring all it does is attract other cats… 🤣
rats will climb up your ropes on the outside
Yep, lesson learned. Thanks for you comment & watching!