Title: Embarking on the Unconventional: A Tour of our Totaled & Salvaged 49′ Beneteau Sailboat!
Intro:
Have you ever made a decision that left you feeling nervous, yet exhilarated at the same time? A decision that seemed crazy to others, but deep down, you knew it was the fulfillment of your wildest dreams? That’s exactly what my partner Brett and I experienced when we embarked on the journey of a lifetime. Today, I invite you to join us on a virtual tour of our 49′ Beneteau sailboat, a vessel that embodies the culmination of our craziest dreams. Brace yourself for an adventure filled with twists, turns, and a touch of serendipity.
It all started five years ago when Brett and I were just beginning our relationship. We stumbled upon a humble YouTube channel featuring an Australian couple who had taken to the seas. Little did we know that these videos would ignite an endless passion for sailing within us. Growing up in a landlocked area with very little exposure to the ocean, our desire to sail the world may have seemed far-fetched to others. But we were determined to bring our childhood aspirations to life.
Brett had always dreamed of becoming a pilot, while I had a knack for the arts. Fast forward to today, and Brett is now a successful pilot, while I recently completed my bachelor’s degree in fine arts. We are the kind of couple that seizes the opportunity to turn our craziest ideas into reality. So, we hatched a plan – let’s sail the world.
However, before setting sail, we needed a place to call home. With tight budgets and big dreams, we purchased a school bus, converting it into a cozy living space. Despite the sweltering heat and countless challenges, the bus build became an unforgettable adventure for both of us. We then relocated to Hawaii, where we immersed ourselves in the world of sailing while Brett pursued a career in flying, and I honed my skills as a photographer.
As we continued to save money, I was fortunate enough to be accepted into a prestigious art academy in Europe. Our grand plan was to find an affordable ex-charter boat in the Mediterranean, restore it during my two years of grad school, and eventually sail towards our wildest dreams. But as fate would have it, the year 2020 brought unexpected changes to our lives.
Our plans to leave the country transformed into the necessity of staying closer to home. While visiting family, we stumbled upon an auction website that presented the opportunity of a lifetime. What was initially meant to be a move to Europe turned into an unexpected decision to purchase a shipwrecked boat.
Driven by passion and a little hint of madness, Brett flew back to see the boat and within three days, we emerged as the winners of the auction. Packed like sardines in the back of our trusty van, we embarked on a whirlwind 3,000-mile journey to meet our new home for the very first time.
Now, the moment has arrived, and we are standing before our salvaged 49′ Beneteau sailboat, ready to uncover the mysteries that lie within. Join us on this virtual tour as we explore every nook and cranny, and witness the staggering beauty that emerges from the wreckage. Are you ready to delve into the depths of our extraordinary journey? Let’s set sail together and embark on this one-of-a-kind adventure!
– The Origin of our Craziest Dream: Falling in Love with Sailing
About five years ago, when we were just starting to date and were still young and naive, we stumbled upon a small YouTube channel run by an adventurous Australian couple. Little did we know that watching their sailing videos would ignite a spark within us that would eventually turn into our craziest dream. Despite growing up in a place with limited access to the ocean, we were captivated by the idea of sailing the world.
You see, we were always the kind of people who embraced crazy ideas and took them in stride. In fact, when we were in kindergarten, Brett dreamt of becoming a pilot and I dreamt of becoming an artist. Fast forward to now, and Brett is indeed a pilot, while I recently completed a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. Our mantra as a couple has always been "let’s go for it," so when we decided to sail the world, we knew it was time to take action. However, with limited funds, we had to get creative. We ended up purchasing a school bus, our humble and affordable home-on-wheels, which would serve as our living space as we saved up for our dream boat.
Despite the scorching 110-degree summer heat, the bus conversion project brought us immense joy and excitement. We took this tiny home of ours to Hawaii, where we deepened our connection with the ocean. Brett worked tirelessly as a flight instructor and later as an airline pilot, while I secured a full scholarship at a prestigious art academy and took up photography gigs on the weekends. Eventually, we sold everything we owned, including the boat and the bus, in pursuit of our ultimate dream. The plan was to go to Europe, find a cheap ex-charter boat in need of some love, work on it during my two years of grad school, and then set sail towards the metaphorical moon of our wildest dreams.
But then, the year 2020 came with its unexpected twists and turns. Our plans to leave the country and visit our family turned into moving back in with our moms. Mask-making sessions and boat tours became our new reality. It was during this time that we stumbled upon an auction website and found our absolute dream project boat. What was supposed to be a simple move to Europe turned into a mission to buy and restore a shipwreck. Brett, being in close proximity to the boat, went to see it, flew back home, and three days later, we won the auction.
Now, here we are, embarking on a new chapter of our lives. After driving nearly 3,000 miles in just three days, sleeping in the back of our van, we are about to lay our eyes upon our new home for the very first time. It’s overwhelming, exciting, and a little nerve-wracking, but in our hearts, we know that this is just the beginning of our craziest dream – falling in love with sailing.
– From a School Bus to a Shipwreck: Our Unconventional Journey
About five years ago, when Brett and I had just started dating, we stumbled upon a certain Australian couple with a teeny tiny YouTube channel. Their videos were all about sailing, something that fascinated us even though we grew up far away from the ocean. Despite that, we made a crazy decision – we were going to sail the world. You see, even in kindergarten, Brett wanted to be a pilot and I wanted to be an artist. And now, Brett is working as a pilot and I just finished my degree in painting. We’re the kind of couple that takes crazy ideas in stride, so naturally, we decided to take on the challenge of sailing the world.
To kickstart our unconventional journey, we bought a school bus, or rather, a short bus, because we couldn’t afford a sprinter van. The bus became our home as we moved to Hawaii, exploring and getting to know the ocean. Brett worked hard as a flight instructor and later as an airline pilot, while I secured a full scholarship for university and pursued photography on the weekends. Once we could afford it, we bought our first sailboat and took the time to learn the art of sailing. Little did we know that our plans were about to take an unexpected turn.
2020 brought unexpected challenges. Our plan to move to Europe was put on hold when the pandemic hit. Instead, we found ourselves bidding on boats and stumbled upon a dream project – a shipwreck. What was once a plan to sail the Mediterranean and pursue our wildest dreams became an opportunity to adopt a vessel with a fascinating history. Without hesitation, we won the auction and embarked on a 3,000-mile journey, sleeping in the back of our trusty van along the way. And now, as I stand here, about to see our new home for the first time, I am filled with a mix of nerves and excitement. This unconventional journey has brought us from a school bus to a shipwreck, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us next.
– Salvaged & Wrecked: Unveiling our 49′ Beneteau Sailboat
About five years ago, when Brett and I were just starting out, we stumbled upon a small YouTube channel by an Australian couple. Little did we know, their videos would ignite a passion for sailing within us. It was a wild idea considering we grew up far from the ocean, but we dreamt of sailing the world together.
You see, Brett always wanted to be a pilot and I, an artist. Funny enough, those childhood dreams actually became our reality. Brett now works as a pilot, while I recently finished my fine arts degree in painting. We’re a couple who embraces crazy ideas, and sailing the world became our ultimate goal. So, in pursuit of our dreams, we bought a salvaged 49′ Beneteau sailboat.
To make our dream even more adventurous, we initially lived in a school bus while saving money for our boat. Despite enduring scorching summer temperatures, the bus conversion brought us endless joy. We took our cozy home with us to Hawaii, where we began to connect with the ocean. Brett worked tirelessly as a flight instructor and then as an airline pilot, while I secured a full scholarship for art school and worked as a photographer on weekends.
As soon as we could afford it, we purchased our first sailboat and learned the ropes of sailing. Our love for the open sea remained strong, and we continued to save for our grand plan. I was accepted into an incredible art academy in Europe, and the plan was to find a cheap ex-charter boat that needed some work. During my two years of grad school, we would transform the boat into our dream vessel. However, 2020 had different plans for us.
Our plan to move to Europe suddenly shifted when the pandemic hit. Instead of leaving the country to visit family, we found ourselves hunkered down, sewing masks and exploring boat listings online. And that’s when we came across our dream project boat, a shipwreck that was up for auction. Our "Let’s move to Europe" became "Let’s buy a shipwreck."
Brett, being in proximity to the boat, went to see it firsthand. Three days later, we won the auction and embarked on a 3,000-mile journey to pick up our new home. It was an intense road trip, with us sleeping in the back of our van. And now, standing here, I am about to unveil our salvaged and wrecked 49′ Beneteau sailboat for the very first time.
– Recommendations for Restoring and Exploring our New Home
We are beyond excited to share our recommendations for restoring and exploring our new home! After a whirlwind journey that took us from being inspired by a small YouTube channel to buying a shipwreck, we can’t wait to dive into this new chapter of our lives. Here are a few ideas and tips we have for making the most of our new adventure:
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Restoring the Boat:
- Take inventory: Make a detailed list of what needs to be repaired or replaced on the boat.
- Create a timeline: Break down the restoration process into manageable tasks and set deadlines for each.
- Seek professional help: Consult with experienced boat builders or restoration experts for guidance and advice.
- Embrace creativity: Think outside the box and consider unique design elements to personalize our new home.
- Exploring New Horizons:
- Chart the course: Plan our sailing route and research the best destinations along the way.
- Connect with the sailing community: Join online forums, attend meetups, and build relationships with fellow sailors.
- Learn the ropes: Brush up on sailing techniques, navigation skills, and safety procedures.
- Embrace the unknown: Stay open to unexpected detours and spontaneous adventures.
With these recommendations in mind, we’re ready to embark on this incredible journey of restoring and exploring our new home. We can’t wait to breathe new life into our boat and set sail on the open seas, chasing our wildest dreams. Stay tuned for updates as we navigate the challenges and joys of this extraordinary endeavor! In conclusion, our journey to owning our 49′ Beneteau sailboat has been nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we discovered our love for sailing, to converting a school bus into a makeshift home, to selling everything we owned in pursuit of our dreams, we have embraced every crazy idea that has come our way.
But then, 2020 threw us a curveball. Our plans to go to the Mediterranean and find a cheap ex-charter boat were put on hold. Instead, we stumbled upon our dream project boat, a salvage wreck, and impulsively decided to make it our own.
The road to this point has been filled with excitement, nerves, and a whole lot of determination. We’ve driven thousands of miles, slept in the back of a van, and now we stand here, about to set foot on our new home for the very first time.
As we eagerly await the unveiling of our sailboat, we can’t help but reflect on the journey that brought us here. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been an adventure like no other. We are ready to embrace the challenges, the highs, and the lows that come with owning a totaled and salvaged boat.
So join us on this new chapter of Expedition Evans 2, as we navigate the waters of uncertainty and turn our wildest dreams into a reality. From sailing novices to boat owners, we are ready to embark on an unforgettable journey around the world.
Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this incredible adventure. Let’s set sail and see where the winds take us. Let’s make our dreams come true. Let’s go for it!
