Living in Florida Archives

September 10, 2023September 10, 2023

Looking for our Land Yacht at the Palm Beach RV Show 2023

Last month, Scott and I headed north to attend the Palm Reach RV Show. This was only the second RV show we have ever attended and it was eye-opening. The show was actually put on by La Mesa RV at the Palm Beach Fair Grounds.

Sprinter Vans

Since the weather has been so hot and rainy, we wanted to find an activity indoors and this was the perfect way to spend a Sunday! First we started with the Sprinter or Class-B vans.

These are the type of vans that most van life YouTubers are living out of. It may look glamorous on YouTube, but after looking at these, there is no way I could live in one.

Scott and I looked at the largest sprinter van and it had an unique set-up. The head (is that what you call it on an RV?) was located in the rear of the rv. This one just seemed very long and didn’t have a lot of storage. The pull down sink was pretty clever.

Revel RVs are rugged and meant to go off-roading. The interior is made to simply get you to your destination with the minimal comforts inside. Surprisingly, the can run over $200k!

Class-A RVs

We only toured a few of the Class-A buses as they were popular and pretty crowded. Honestly, after touring a few, we realized we probably would not want one, as they are really long and could be hard to park. But we found a few that certainly had the comforts of home!

This RV had an island and a dining table! Keep in mind, these Class-A buses had the slide outs completely out, making them look really roomy. However, when they are compact, it would be hard to move past the island.

Class-C Rvs

Next we ventured onto Class-C RVs and these seem to be more of our type. They are not too big to maneuver and you can still easily park them. Here are a couple that were interesting, but not necessarily our type.

The RV below has a murphy bed, so you would have to make the bed every day and put it away. It did have lots of counter space however.

The RV below here, had a premade bed, but you will notice, there was no privacy between the bed and the kitchen.

Our favorite Class-C RVs

After touring a few, we stumbled upon two RVs we really liked: The Entegra and the Thor Motor Coach. These were both around 25′ long and they had lots of comforts in side, plus outdoor entertaining outside. Below is the Entegra Odyssey and it had a price tag of $127,000.

The Entegra RV also had a murphy bed behind the couch and it faced a large tv and fireplace. However, there was no privacy for the bed, so you would have to install some kind of curtain.

Our favorite of all of the RV’s was the Thor Motor Coach 25′. This retailed for $122,000 and it had all of the comforts we love. The bed was a full walk around, it had movie theater seats facing a large tv.

I think buying an RV when we retire could definitely be something we would do, if we don’t buy a boat. It would allow us to travel and enjoy the adventure, just on land. Plus we were surprised by how affordable they are compared to yachts.

As always, thank you for following our journey! Please subscribe to our blog and share your comments. You can watch the full episode on our YouTube channel (see link below) and please follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. Coming up we tour some famous sites in South Florida and we’ll bring you along!

Cheers, Scott and Ally

August 27, 2023August 27, 2023

Weekend in the Exumas

For my birthday this year, Scott and I spent the weekend in the Exumas. We flew out on Wednesday afternoon and we got upgraded to first class on American. The funny thing was that we were the only people in first class!

The flight was about 45 minutes, one of the shortest flights we have been on!

Soon I started to see the beautiful turquoise waters of the Exumas! In just 90 minutes we had landed, gone thru customs and immigration and were in our hotel room!

Sandals Resort Emerald Bay Exumas

For this visit, we stayed at the Sandals Emerald Bay Resort in Georgetown.

The resort was beautiful and upon our arrival, they drove us to our room on a golf cart and gave us a quick tour.

We had a beautiful ocean view room and we had no complaints!

The grounds were well maintained and beautiful. Over the next few days our plan was to relax by the pool, use the Hobie Cats, and go snorkeling.

About the Exumas

The Exumas, a stunning archipelago consisting of over 365 cays and islands, possess a captivating history that mirrors the Caribbean’s rich tapestry. Originally inhabited by the Lucayan people, the islands encountered European explorers during the 15th century. The Exumas became a haven for pirates and privateers during the 17th and 18th centuries, with figures like Captain Kidd leaving their mark.

The islands played a pivotal role during the American Revolutionary War, acting as a base for loyalist troops. The Exumas’ historical significance also includes their role in the salt industry and plantation economy. Today, these islands have transitioned into a paradisiacal destination celebrated for their turquoise waters, vibrant marine life, and luxurious retreats, inviting travelers to relish in their natural beauty and diverse past.

The Beach at Sandals Emerald Bay Exuma

Scott and I were disappointed that we were under a red flag every day, so we were not able to use the water toys. It is hurricane season, so perhaps if we return during normal weather it won’t be so windy. We were really looking forward to taking the Hobie Cat out and trying the paddle boards.

Swimming Pigs

The following day we headed up north to Rolleville to catch our excursion boat. For most of the trip we were on a pot hole filled dirt road! Talk about bumpy!

Check in was easy and within 15 minutes of arriving, we were on the boat and headed out. We were on a double decker power cat and it was extremely comfortable.

We booked a 4 hour (half day) excursion with Exuma Water Sports. Had we booked the full day, we would have headed towards Staniel Cay and the bigger sites. This tour would take us first to the smaller pig beach, then to a blue hole, then to mile sandbar and finally to the iguanas.

The Swimming Pigs

Last year I didn’t get the chance to see the swimming pigs, except for a quick 5 min stop at night. When we arrived the pigs were anxiously awaiting for us.

The excursion company brings fresh water and food to the pigs every day, so they are well cared for.

The origin of the famous swimming pigs of the Exumas, has a somewhat murky and debated history. One popular theory suggests that sailors or settlers may have introduced pigs to the island as a potential food source, leaving them there to breed and multiply. Another story points to shipwrecks, where pigs might have swum ashore after vessels were wrecked. Some locals claim that the pigs were left by sailors who intended to return and use them as a food source but never did.

Regardless of their initial arrival, the pigs have become a beloved attraction in the Exumas. Over time, they’ve become accustomed to visitors and even learned to swim out to boats approaching the beach, expecting food. The swimming pigs have gained worldwide attention through social media and tourism promotions, making them an iconic and endearing symbol of the Exumas’ unique charm.

There was also a very friendly sting ray and it kept swimming between people’s legs.

Blue Hole

Next we headed over to a blue hole. This was only about 30′ deep and we jumped in for a snorkel.

Since it was a bit choppy, the water was a bit murky. But there were plenty of fish, especially the Jack fish. One kept trying to bite me! Watch the video to see the footage.

Mile Sand Bar

After the Blue Hole, we headed to Mile Sand Bar to relax on the beach and enjoy some cocktails. The water was absolutely gorgeous!

Trust me, the photos don’t tell the entire story. You have to see this yourself!

The water was also the perfect temperature!

The beauty about the Exumas is the water and the way it makes you feel as you cruise through the islands. In many areas, we were only in 3 or 4 feet of water!

Time to Feed the Iguanas

We then headed up past Norman’s Pond Cay to Leaf Cay, to feed the iguanas. We were also trying to outrun a major squall that luckily never got us.

They gave us kale leaves to feed the iguanas and as soon as we were on the beach, they came running! Some were fighting with each other over the kale. Again, watch our YouTube video for the footage!

It was a great excursion! I think next time it would be fun to do the entire day or rent a day boat for ourselves. The catch is, we don’t know the waters and these guys were going past and through some sketchy spots. Best to have a local take you.

Wrapping Up Our Weekend in the Exumas

This was a great 4-day trip to the Exumas. It was easy to get to, there was plenty to do at the resort and the people were all incredibly friendly. Being that we are so close, we will definitely be back.

We got to the airport about 2 hours before our flight departed. Don’t expect much. This airport is smaller than the one in Belize! There’s no restaurant or bar, but you can buy wi-fi, snacks and beer from each of the two shops. The photo below is the terminal.

As always, thank you for following our journey! Please be sure to subscribe to our blog and vlog (link below) and on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney

Cheers, Scott and Ally

August 6, 2023August 6, 2023

Pontoon Cruise Down the ICW

Last week Scott and I took a pontoon cruise down the ICW from Deerfield to Delray Beach. Overnight Boat Rentals gave us a deal on the boat for a few hours. Overnight boat rentals offer daily and weekly boat rentals, so it’s a great option for people who want to boat, but not own one. Scott had never driven a single screw or a pontoon boat, so this was a fun experience.

We picked the boat up at Sullivan Park in Deerfield Beach where they have a few public docks available. Brandon, the owner of Overnight Boat Rentals was waiting for us with the captain.

Godfrey Pontoon

Our pontoon was actually a “tri-toon” as it had three pontoons underneath it. It was 26′ in length and had plenty of room for entertaining. It had a side entrance door along with a stern and bow door for easy access.

The helm offered a very comfortable captain’s chair along with the control panel with all of the necessary electronics from Garmin. It also had a Bluetooth stereo by Fusion.

The pontoon was powered by a single Yamaha 150hp outboard. It also had a super sturdy swim ladder and a “Power-Pole” (see black pole to the right). When engaged it keeps the boat from rotating while on anchor.

There was plenty of storage throughout the boat, to help keep your accessories, like lines, fenders and the anchor tidy.

Heading up the ICW

Scott was back at the helm and happy as a clam as we headed up the ICW. Most of the route was a no wake zone, so we took our time enjoying the view. We had the boat for 3 hours, so we figured we’d head north for an hour and half and then turn around.

We did have to wait for a couple of bridges. The clearance on these was only about 7′ at high tide and with our bimini top, we knew we were too tall.

The sites along the ICW

As we arrived in Boca, we came across a large sandbar. At 12pm, it wasn’t that crowded but when we returned, it was packed!

The view never gets old, that is for sure!

Soon, we left the giant mansions and were surrounded by mangrove trees. We had hoped to see a manatee, but no luck. Perhaps the people below saw one?

I’m digging the names of these two yachts – I see a theme here! My style that’s for sure!

On our way back, it was much busier and far more crowded than when we left.

We had a great time spending the day on the water. Our only disappointment was the rude boaters who didn’t follow the “no wake zone” rules – below is a great example. It was a wash machine in the ICW!

A big thank you to Brandon at Overnight Boat Rentals! Just as the title says, they have overnight and weekly rentals available. I think Scott and I will definitely look at renting one over night and head north to explore more.

As always, thank you for following our blog and journey! Be sure to subscribe to our channel (see link below) and follow us on social media @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

July 30, 2023July 30, 2023

Miami Beach Clean Up

Scott and I joined the Seakeepers Society last month to celebrate World Ocean Day by volunteering for a Miami Beach clean up hosted by Clean Miami Beach. They only had space for about 125 volunteers and we met at the beach near 22nd and Collins Avenue. The event started at 10am and ran until 12pm. It was so brutally hot and I’m not sure why they didn’t start the event earlier.

Celebrating World Ocean Day

As part of the clean up a variety of educators and artisan vendors were exhibiting their goods. Here we found artists who turn garbage into jewels.

Beach Clean Up

I bought garden gloves for Scott and I to use (they refrain from using anything rubber or disposable). The group also discouraged bringing water bottles, but instead asked everyone to use non-disposable bottles. They did provide buckets (Scott and I shared one) and we each had a garbage stick.

The beach clean up started right at 10am and off we went! The group encouraged everyone to try and pick up the small pieces as that is what the fish and birds digest. In addition,they did have a contest for most garbage and most unique garbage.

It took us two hours to pick up three pounds of garbage. It doesn’t look like much, but we probably picked up 300 tiny pieces of fabric, plastic, plastic ties and cigarette butts. Most of what we picked up was actually felt and we figured out it is probably the felt found on a floaty air mattress that was destroyed by the sea.

Successful Beach Clean Up

When we returned to the main tent, they weighed your garbage and then had a team sorting each bucket. It was alarming to see how much garbage we picked up in just two short hours.

Scott and I are looking forward to joining Seakeepers again for another great cause. Help do your part and join your local clean up crew.

As always, thank you for following our blog and our journey. Be sure to subscribe to our channel (see link below) and follow us on social media @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. We are heading to the Exumas in two weeks, so we are excited to bring you more boating adventures.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

July 23, 2023July 30, 2023

Kayaking with the Manatees in Sarasota

Recently, Scott and I took a quick trip to Sarasota on the west coast of Florida. Scott’s uncle lives just north of Sarasota and we decided to make a weekend trip out of it since we have never been to Sarasota. The drive took us about 4 hours going straight across the state on I-75.

We stayed at the Westin, just overlooking the bay. I picked this hotel because it has a rooftop bar and we would finally be able to see a sunset! Looking at the image below (facing southeast) you can see how FLAT Florida actually is!

Finding a place for dinner

Sarasota has a few very well known areas with great restaurants. One very popular area is St. Armands Circle on Lido Key.

Unfortunately, the traffic to get to Lido Key was nuts, so we decided to walk down to the marina and grab a bit to eat there. Our first attempt was at O’Leary’s Tiki Bar. Sounded cool, however, there’s no table service. You actually stand in line for your food and drinks – no thanks. So we headed back to the other side of the marina and found Marina Jack’s. We had a great view, some live music and the food and service was just okay.

There’s a park along the marina walkway and they have constructed a giant statue of the VE Day moment when a sailor randomly kissed a nurse.

After dinner, we hurried back to the hotel to catch our first sunset since being in Key West last December. It did not disappoint!

Kayaking with the manatees in Sarasota

Since moving to Florida, I have rarely seen any wildlife. I saw one manatee in the Bahamas when we arrived at Atlantis, but that has been it. No dolphins, no whales, no sharks (guess that’s a good thing). We booked our kayak trip with Sea Life Kayak Adventures and they were fantastic! I would highly recommend them! Scott and I took an Uber to the park, because we knew parking was very limited.

Our instructor gave us a brief introduction and then we were off! We had about 15 people in our group.

We left Ted Sperling Park and began to circumnavigate Otter Key in search of manatees.

I am so glad I wore my lightweight water shoes for this trip. They work as tennis shoes and also are water shoes. You can buy them here!

During the trip, our instructor stopped and dove down to bring up sea urchins! He actually handed them to people to hold. What?! I thought they were spiny and dangerous?

The trip was nearly done and we were feeling defeated, but suddenly our guide spots a group of manatees. So we all paddled as fast as we could and before we knew it, about five of them were under our kayaks. It is important to remember that they are still endangered and you can’t touch them or come into contact with them. Watch our video for the footage of our encounter.

The mangroves

As we were heading back, I mentioned “look at those tunnels in the mangroves – I bet you can take a boat back there”. Next thing I know, we were in that tunnel!

I got tangled a few times and then at one point, Scott says, “Oh, wow, they are everywhere”. What are everywhere I wonder!? Then I see them – Mangrove tree crabs. YUCK. They are everywhere – get me out of here! Watch the footage – it’s pretty funny.

The entire trip took about three hours and I would definitely do it again.

When in Sarasota, go to the circus

Let’s be honest – I hate the circus. They treated animals horribly, but their story is pretty fascinating. Scott and I had to go to the Ringling Museum and mansion as that is what founded the city.

The Ringling is the former estate of John and Mable Ringling. It features a museum of art, circus museum, Ca D Zan (the home of john and Mable), the historic Asolo theater and the bayfront gardens.

I recommend spending time in the Tibbals Learning Center. As you enter through the front lobby you are greeted by a giant mural entitled “The Greatest Show on Earth” painted by William Woodward in 1990 which captures the excitement of the ringling Bros and Barnum & bailey experience.

You’ll be transported back in circus history as you stroll through the poster gallery. As you walk thru the museum, you will come upon the Howard Bros Circus Model. It consists of more than 42000 pieces and covers 3800 square feet. The model is a historically accurate rendition of an early twentieth-century circus. The logistical engineering required to move the circus’s entire “tented city” from town to town each day via the railway was nothing short of a miracle.

From there visit the historic circus galleries featuring John and Mable’s magnificent turn-of-the-century private Pullman railcar, the Wisconsin, historic circus wagons of all kinds, an artistic display of painted wagon wheels, and a sideshow bannerline.

The Ringling Mansion

From this museum, we walked through the gardens and toured the first level of the mansion. The photos don’t do it justice, so be sure to watch our video (see link below).

The estate is massive and the mansion was beautiful. Everything about it was designed to the finest detail.

The stained glass windows are the original glass and considering these face out onto the water, it’s amazing they are still in tact.

For a kitchen during the 1920’s, this would still be considered a gourmet kitchen today!

Overlooking the bay in Sarasota

The tour finished outside the mansion on the palatial patio overlooking the bay. I can only imagine the parties they hosted here.

There were so many Banyon trees and they were giant! I walked through one that reminded me of a fort. Unfortunately, I was not digging the weird black lizards!

Scott and I finished our tour of the Ringling by walking through the gardens. One museum we did miss was the Art Museum. We’ll have to check it out next time as we hear it’s amazing.

Our impression of Sarasota

We finished our final day in Sarasota enjoying a great dinner at Clasico Italian Chophouse and we wrapped up our weekend with one more amazing sunset.

This was a great trip and we are looking forward to returning to explore more. With it’s abundant things to do on the water, Sarasota is a great destination for boaters and land lovers. We’ll be back!

As always, thank you for following our journey! Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel (link below) and our boating blog. Follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

July 16, 2023July 16, 2023

We Rented a Dinghy!

A few weeks ago, Scott and I rented a dinghy for a few hours to cruise along the New River. We rented the boat for $75/hour (two hours) from Salty Blue Fun Rentals. We found them online and we saw that we could walk to the boat to pick it up.

We walked about a mile and a half to a residential area. Now I was thinking, this is not a good idea. I mean, are we renting it from someone’s house?! Turns out there was a marina in the neighborhood and the owner of Salty Blue Fun actually lives on her boat and she rents her dinghy. She and her partner were very nice and got us set up right away.

Where can we go in two hours?

Scott and I hopped in, got a quick run down and off we went. We headed down the canal towards the New River. Remember, the New River is where we walk and also where we pick up the Water Taxi. I didn’t realize how far we traveled until I pulled this map!

Once you leave the canals and head towards the river, you have to watch for big yachts and lots of traffic.

It was really hot and we were so glad the dinghy came with a bimini top. I forgot to take a photo of the dinghy, so the image of the boat is actually from an old ad from when it was for sale. Looks like it cost around $4995 used.

Going Southwest on the River

We cruised through Downtown Fort Lauderdale, passing lots of traffic and bridges. The last time I did this cruise, I was on the Sunseeker 74′ Sport Yacht returning from the Bahamas.

Is there a current?

One thing you will notice while cruising in a dinghy, is the wind. Going Southwest, we had a very smooth ride, but on the return it was definitely wet and bumpy.

Time to turn around

After an hour, we made it to Safe Harbor Marina and we knew we had to turn around there to make it back in the next hour. Safe Harbor Marina is a large shipyard specializing in mega yacht haul outs.

Look closely at the image above. That mural is on the garage door for their yacht boat house. We also stumbled upon a variety of odd sites along the way.

There must have been a duck event this day?

The ride certainly did not disappoint. It was a great way to explore the river and spend time on the water without breaking the bank. Scott and I were so glad we rented the dinghy to spend a fun day on the river. We will definitely rent the dinghy from Salty Blue Fun again and if you are looking for a great boat rental, check them out.

As always, thank you for following our blog and our journey. Be sure to subscribe to our channel (see video below) and follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. Tune in next week as we head to Sarasota and kayak with the manatees.

July 9, 2023July 9, 2023

What is Boating Journey’s Channel & Blog About?

That’s a question Scott and I get all the time on YouTube, “What is your channel about”? For us, it seems pretty simple. It’s about boating, but that’s not how it started really. We started the blog first, so we could document our journey in becoming first time boaters (well, together – I grew up boating). Would we like it and could we actually live on a boat? Well in order to answer all of these questions, we have to go back to the beginning.

The Beginning

Ever since we spent our honeymoon in Antigua 20 years ago and charted both sailing monohull and catamaran boats we’ve been focused on not only someday finding our own dream boat, but to take part in the liveaboard cruising lifestyle. But like for so many, life has thrown us a curveball or two. The important thing is we have not to let them derail us from achieving our goal.

One of those curveballs happened back in 2005 when we lived in Renton, Washington. It was then we decided to convert an old DMV office into a boutique wine and beer shop. Flash forwards a few years to 2010. We attended the Boats Afloat Show and fell in love with sailing catamarans. We actually considered buying one to put into charter in the San Juan Islands, but we were right in the middle of the recession and it was not the right time. Instead, I began reading boating magazines and books about sailing around the world and immersing myself in the dream to escape from it all.

From then on, Scott and I attended as many boat shows as we could traveling coast to coast including the Miami, Annapolis and the various shows throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Owning our business started to take a toll on our personal lives as we were working 6 days a week. We knew we wouldn’t be able to enjoy a boat with our work schedule. We also had the dream of selling our home and buying a liveaboard boat. So in October 2015 we sold the wine shop and started to take our dream more seriously.

Our First Boat

As we started looking for a boat, we had to decide if we wanted a cruiser or a trawler style. We looked at quite a few and weighed our options. Did we want more outdoor space or indoor space? One Saturday, we headed out shopping with our broker and we looked at two totally different boats, both in the same yard. The first boat was much older and needed a lot of work, but it had tons of interior space.

Then our broker suggested we walk across the lot and look at a cruiser.

It was your typical cruiser. My first boat was a Bayliner 2655 and this was very similar. I wasn’t sure that I wanted another cruiser though.

The following weekend, we attended the Anacortes boat show and while we were there, we kept coming back to the cruiser. So we called our broker and made an offer that night. We bought our first boat, a 2001 Bayliner 3055 in April 2017 with the goal of spending as much time on it as possible.

Taking Possession

Our initial experience was wild. We picked up the boat in the Des Moines Marina from our broker on a Friday night. He gave Scott a 15 minute lesson on how to operate it and how to dock it. The following day, we hopped onboard to move the boat from Des Moines, Washington about 20 miles south of Seattle to the Elliott Bay Marina in DT Seattle.

We didn’t even know how to get out of the marina. Both of our hearts were racing as we made the trek north. When we arrived to our marina, we suddenly realized that the dock we selected was only accessible after making an S turn past 3 yachts (versus going straight down the fairway). But Scott did an amazing job docking it considering he had never docked a boat before. That summer we spent every weekend on it and made our first cruise to the San Juan Islands.

After spending every weekend on our Bayliner, we were hooked and we knew we could definitely live on a boat. Our first step was to sell our home and downsize to a small apartment. Then we sold the Bayliner, to save up for our liveaboard boat in the Fall of 2018.

Our Next Boat

After a few months of being “boatless” we really missed spending time on the water and at the marina. That’s when we saw an ad for a 2002 Bayliner 4087 and we decided to check her out. Scott and I were not expecting to like the boat at all, but we instantly loved it and put an offer on it, in the middle of a snow storm. In February, we hauled out for the survey and mechanical. It was a very chilly day!

We took possession of Our Happy Day in March 2019 and spent almost every weekend on her. Only have owned her for 18 months, we traveled throughout Puget Sound from Tacoma to Port Orchard to Bremerton to Port Madison to Kingston, spending almost every weekend on the boat.

Then Covid Hit

And then, as we all know, the world changed in 2020. If you have followed our story, you know that we sold Our Happy Day in July of 2020, because Ally had accepted a job in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. What we didn’t know is that covid would delay our move. In the end, we never moved. So we were boatless and still living in Seattle. But we were not defeated. We were more determined to move to a warmer climate with more boating options.

During the next 18 months we experienced as many boat activities as we could. We traveled to Fort Lauderdale, we bareboat chartered in the BVI’s, we rented a yacht to sleep on, we went whale watching and rented a tiny home with kayaks – just to name a few.

For the next year and a half, I looked for job opportunities in the yachting industry in South Florida. While a few came my way, I eventually selected one that would finally bring us to South Florida. For the past 15 months we have enjoyed becoming Floridians and settling in. I’ve since switched yachting companies and couldn’t be happier.

What Happens Now?

So where does this leave us? What is our channel and blog all about? Well, at this time, it’s all about what can you do to enjoy all things boating when you don’t actually own a boat. Over the past four years, we’ve visited the Caribbean and we have spent as much time on the water as possible.

We’ve taken a sailing cruise through the Lesser Antilles; we have chartered a yacht in the San Juan Islands and we’ve chartered a catamaran in the British Virgin Islands. And here in Florida we have experienced an air boat in the everglades, Ally has cruised to the Bahamas on a 74’ yacht, we’ve kayaked with the manatees, we’ve snorkeled in the Keys and in Fort Lauderdale we spend time on the New River as much as possible.

But now what? When are we buying the next boat? The honest answer is we don’t know. As we mentioned in a previous episode (see link below), slips and insurance are twice as expensive than what we paid in Seattle and overall, the availability of a liveaboard slip is next to none. Our best chance is to find a private dock and that is going to take some time and creativity. In the meantime, we are saving our money and exploring all that South Florida and the Caribbean has to offer.

So we hope that answered many of your questions. Please leave your comments below. We read them all. And if you find yourself in South Florida, let us know. We’d love to meet you. As always, thank you for following our journey. If you haven’t subscribed to our blog and vlog (see video below), please take a moment to do so. You can also follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

April 23, 2023April 23, 2023

Sea Trial and Photo Shoot in Miami

Before I left my job at OneWater Yacht Group, I was on location for a sea trial and photo shoot in Miami for a Sunseeker Predator 65. Having never been on either (of this scale) I wasn’t sure what to expect. The first day, we hosted sea trials with Boat TV, Power & Motoryacht and Boat International. I left Fort Lauderdale at dawn and arrived by 7:30am. As I approached our yacht, (which was at the Miami Beach Marina), I realized I would need some help getting on the boat. Remember, they have fixed docks here in Florida. It’s hard to see in the photo below, but the swim platform is actually about 3′ below the dock, so my best bet was to swing my leg around to the steps.

Fisher Island

Our first stop was in front of Fisher Island where the film crew could get some great angles with a gorgeous backdrop. Fisher Island is a luxury country club and is only accessible by boat or ferry.

The weather forecast was calling for 20kn winds, so we headed out to sea to start our sea trials.

Channel Markers

Heading out to sea, you will follow the channel markers for quite a ways. You do need to be aware of other marine traffic around you as well.

Before you knew it, we were pretty far off shore.

Sunseeker Predator 65 Sea Trial

Time to put this bad boy to the test. The Predator 65 is known for its’ agile hull and IPS drives that allow just the right amount of lean to feel the thrill – I on the other hand was terrified. LOL!

Using the joystick, the yacht turns on a dime at about 30 degrees, side to side. I didn’t enjoy this part of the trip, but for those that love adrenaline, this is the yacht for you. To get a feel of how it was, be sure to watch our YouTube episode.

Photo Shoot

We spent the following two days (dawn to dusk) doing a photo shoot complete with models and a full crew. First we needed to find a great spot for a back drop and headed towards downtown Miami.

Miami does have a very impressive skyline, but it was too choppy for us to find the right scene.

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

Hoping that the Vizcaya Museum would be a great backdrop, we headed towards the Key Biscayne bridge towards Deering Channel.

It was extremely shallow and our draft was only 5’3″ and soon we were in 4′ waters.

Unfortunately, the museum didn’t work out as it had some kind of tent structure in front of it. Our crew decided to head south in search of another spot. Make sure you stay in the channel or have outboard engines as you will end up on the sandbar.

In search of the perfect photo shoot spot

Our crew headed south to Hurricane Harbor in hopes we would find a gorgeous estate for our photo shoot backdrop.

There were plenty of boats anchored nearby and we entered the harbor. Soon we were in very shallow waters again and we did not find that amazing estate.

Heading south towards No Name Harbor, we hoped to find the perfect spot. But it was not to be. Instead, we headed to Cape Florida to use the lighthouse as our backdrop. Going south to Cape Florida, you’ll pass “Stilt City”. These are homes people have built and stay in for weekends and vacations. Many were destroyed after the last few hurricanes. It is extremely shallow, so you can only access during high tide.

Photo Shoot Sunset in Miami

Soon the sun was setting and we only had time to capture some amazing shots of the sunset and the city. Because many of the shots were drone shots, I actually had to stay below in one of the cabins, so I wasn’t in the shot. It was definitely an interesting experience.

This “office view” certainly beat my regular desk, so I was not complaining.

As always, thank you for following our journey. Be sure to subscribe to our channel (link below) and blog to stay updated. You can also follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

February 5, 2023February 5, 2023

Taking the Water Taxi to Hollywood

Last weekend Scott and I took the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi down to Hollywood, FL. It was a pretty cool trip down the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway).

The entire trip took about 45 minutes. We picked up our first water taxi in DT Fort Lauderdale, at Los Olas (about 2 blocks from our home). Then we transferred to the Hollywood water taxi at the 17th Street stop.

Sight seeing tour

The Fort Lauderdale water taxi is a great way to see the famous sites in Fort Lauderdale. In fact, my college roommate was just here and she took it for the first time. It is a great mode of transportation, but remember that it is also a sight seeing tour, so they announce the sites along the way.

After we transferred to the Hollywood water taxi, we passed by Port Everglades. This is the largest container port in Florida and the 3rd largest cruise terminal in the world.

The super-sized cranes at the Port are the largest of their kind in the world at 175′ and valued at $13.8 million each.

Along the route, you’ll pass by mangroves and marinas. We were hoping to see some manatees, but no luck.

What to see and do in Hollywood, FL.

Once you arrive in Hollywood, you’ll walk across the street and head towards the beach. Here you will find Margaritaville Beach Resort with plenty of dining, shopping and activities.

Finally, we arrived at the Hollywood Broadwalk (yes, broadwalk, not boardwalk). This is lined with shopping, restaurants and rental stores. You could spend all day here, laying by the beach, renting a bike or shopping.

We were shocked to find this artifact! Watch the video (link below) to find out what we think it is.

So if you are looking for a fun way to explore Fort Lauderdale, the ICW and Hollywood Beach, I highly recommend the Water Taxi!

January 29, 2023January 29, 2023

So much to do in Fort Lauderdale

Since moving to Fort Lauderdale last year, Scott and I have enjoyed so many cool experiences. The warm weather allows us to be outside almost every weekend. Let’s look back on everything we did in our own back yard!

Our first month here

One thing you will learn about living in Fort Lauderdale, is that there is something to do every single weekend. You will not be bored. In May, we took the water taxi to the Los Olas Beach for an airshow over the beach!

We found a 9-hole golf course just a few miles from our home. While we didn’t see any gators, we did stumble upon some tortoises.

There is also no shortage of walking routes or restaurants!

Summer in Fort Lauderdale

June, July and August are definitely the hottest months here in Florida. In fact, twice we ventured out and I ended up getting very sick from heat stroke. I have learned my lesson and now we take better precautions.

We do miss hiking in the PNW, but we have found a number of parks with some pretty cool walking trails.

Our first venture of the summer was to the National Everglades Park to ride on jet boat and see some gators. That was a must do!

Being so close to the Florida Keys, we hopped in the car at the end of June and headed to Key Largo for a long weekend.

Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi

It is easy to get on the water, as Fort Lauderdale has a water taxi that cruises up and down the new river. We’ve taken this water taxi a number of times, including Christmas in July, Christmas Light Cruise and our trip to Hollywood.

Summer is only just starting

Hurricane season begins July 1st, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying the outdoors. We had heard about a cool farmer’s market called the “Yellow Green Market“, so we had to check it out. It’s a site to see if you are in Fort Lauderdale.

Scott and I have seen some videos about Boca Inlet, so we headed north to check it out. The walk to the inlet was very long and hot. This is one of the days I got heat stroke. It was still a fun day! Here’s the video link of that day. Click here.

We’ve walked a number of times to the Los Olas Beach, which is about a 5 mile round trip from our home. Making this journey in July was brutal!

One morning, Scott and I decided to get up at dawn and watch the sunrise. That was pretty cool!

Summer went by fast for us. For two weekends in August, I was on an epic work trip traveling on a 76 yacht in the Exumas, Bahamas. After that trip, we spent most weekends, laying by the pool.

Fall in Florida

There’s a joke on the internet that Fall in most places is full of beautiful leaves and Florida is simply one palm leaf on the ground. We do miss the changes in seasons, but on the other hand, we love that we did so much this past Fall.

We started September, with another trip to the Florida Keys, this time to Duck Key.

Since September is the peak of hurricane season, we didn’t venture far after Duck Key. Instead, we took advantage of the great weather and enjoyed the scenery in Fort Lauderdale.

During September, when Hurricane Ian hit the west coast, Fort Lauderdale experienced a King Tide that flooded many docks and roadways in downtown.

Staying close to home in September, we drove up to Lauderdale by the Sea. This town is just 15 minutes north of us. It is a very cute town with a beautiful beach and plenty of great restaurants. Sadly, the Angler’s Pier was badly damaged when Hurricane Nicole hit the east coast just a week later.

The year is not over

With three months left in the year, we still had plenty of weekends to explore. October was taken up by FLIBS – Fort Lauderdale Int’l Boat Show. We did walk to the show the weekend before it opened, to check out the super yacht docks.

It seemed like every weekend in November had a festival. The month kicked off with the Day of the Dead festival. Downtown Fort Lauderdale closed off the streets, brought in food trucks, mobile bars and hosted a parade.

The following weekend we headed up to Palm Beach for the Luke Bryan concert. It was so nice, being at an outdoor concert in November! Plus, there was no shortage of bars!

The next weekend, Downtown Fort Lauderdale hosted their first Mutts and Martinis festival. We met some great vendors and Scott was selected to be a judge for the cutest dog contest.

As Thanksgiving was approaching, we decided to enjoy our long holiday weekend aboard Royal Caribbean. It was our first ever cruise on a large cruise ship and since it was just a 3-day trip to the Bahamas, we decided to check it out.

Christmas in Florida

Our close friends Ben and Maria flew in from Seattle to join us in Key West at the start of December. Key West knows how to do Christmas. We highly recommend heading that way.

Downtown Fort Lauderdale didn’t disappoint either. As we mentioned earlier in the blog, we took a water taxi cruise to see the holiday lights, plus we enjoyed Winterfest. Winterfest is Fort Lauderdale’s Holiday Boat Parade and it is a big deal here!

Scott and I were supposed to fly back to Seattle on December 23rd, but due to weather our flight was cancelled. Ironically, Christmas Eve was brutally cold here at about 38 degrees with the windchill factor. So we decided to walk to the Los Olas Beach and check it out. While it was nice that it wasn’t 90 degrees, it was brutally cold!

So much to see and do in South Florida

This has certainly been a year filled with experiences and amazing memories. Since moving here, we have yet to see a manatee, whale or a dolphin. But we have seen plenty of other critters and wildlife.

Whether you are visiting or moving to Fort Lauderdale, know that there is plenty to see and do. Scott and I are looking forward to 2023 and we’re excited to see where our adventures take us this year.

As always, thank you for following our blog. Be sure to subscribe and also follow our YouTube Channel (link below). You can follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. Cheers, Scott and Ally