After six weeks on the hard, three shipments from Finland, and countless hours of troubleshooting, we finally left Lauderdale Marine Center—only to discover another Oceanvolt motor issue on our way out. A chance suggestion from another owner led us to a surprising fix and one final decision: trust the motors and head north up the ICW
PART 5: Did we Finally Make It Out of Fort Lauderdale?! Read More »
After six weeks on the hard at Lauderdale Marine Center, three shipments from Finland, one new Oceanvolt motor, and two replacement saildrive legs, Water Wings is finally back in the water. But before heading north, we still have to remove the mast, transform our sailboat into a powerboat, and figure out whether we can actually trust the motors enough to leave Fort Lauderdale.
Lauderdale Marine Center – Part 4: Splash Day & de-rigging Read More »
Days turned into weeks. The Florida heat got heavier, the bills got larger, and somehow we were still sitting on the hard at Lauderdale Marine Center waiting for our second shipment attempt from Finland. After our initial shipment showed up looking like it bounced down the side of a rocky mountain, Oceanvolt had agreed to
A damaged replacement shipment, crushed motor components, and shocking warranty realities turn our Lauderdale Marine Center haul out into a much bigger Oceanvolt nightmare.
A Tale of Many Motors – Part 2: A Brand New Broken Motor at Lauderdale Marine Center Read More »
What started as a a quick haul out at Lauderdale Marine Center to diagnose and potentially replace our port Oceanvolt motor, quickly spiraled into a full-blown saga involving endless shipping delays, more problems than predicted and life stuck on the hard in Fort Lauderdale.
Change of Plans (Many times over) With hurricane season looming and our new mast still nowhere in sight, we had some tough decisions to make. How do you get out of Florida in the next 30 days to start heading north in order to satisfy our insurance requirement…when we are still sitting in a man
Fort Lauderdale – The Clock Is Ticking (And We’re Not Moving) Read More »
After 5,800+ nautical miles and 11 months abroad, we finally arrived in Fort Lauderdale—only to be met with engine failure, historic flooding, and a lost anchor in one of the city’s busiest anchorages. Our stay in Lake Sylvia quickly became one of our most memorable lessons in cruising life, resilience, and the power of the sailing community.
ICW Adventures in Fort Lauderdale: Drama in Lake Sylvia Read More »
In 2025, I read 65 books across thrillers, literary fiction, memoir, and a few palate-cleansing lighter picks—then rated every single one with honest, no-fluff reviews. This post includes my full rating system, standout favorites, surprises, disappointments, and my best “if you liked this, read that” recommendations. Apparently, I generally like my books dark, moody, and emotionally devastating 😅📚
📚 My 2025 Year in Books: 65 Reviews, Loads of Recommendations! Read More »
Our AWS semi-rigid wing rig promised innovation, but offshore miles exposed its limits. Here’s why we replaced it with a proven blue-water rig.
The Saga of Our Advanced Wing Systems (AWS) Sailing Rig Read More »
🎁✨ Shopping for a sailor this year? We rounded up 15 gifts we actually use onboard — practical gear, clever upgrades, and little luxuries that make life at sea better. From teak care to sundowners, sewing machines to bug zappers… these are the things we don’t want to live without. ⛵💙
16 Gift Ideas Sailors will Actually Use: Our 2025 Favorite Finds for Life on the Water Read More »