Come along with Scott & Ally on their boating journey in Florida!
Tag: Boating Blogs
Boating blogs are great resources for information for new and experienced boaters. Before we bought our boat, we followed many sailing, cruising and live-aboard bloggers. Most of them shared their troubles and accomplishments and really gave us insight into what to expect.
But what they didn’t do, is tell the story from the very beginning and that’s how our bloating blog “boatingjourney.com” came to life. We wanted to share how do you find a broker, a boat, moorage and what is the entire process? What things to new boaters need to know and learn before buying a boat? All of these things are very important and part of the process of owning a boat.
We also read a lot of books written by sailors and cruisers. I wanted to document our story using the blog so we would have that at our hands if we decided to write a book too. We hope you enjoy our blog among all of the other boating blogs.
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.
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.
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.
Back in March, Scott and I headed down to Barbados for a much needed vacation and this was our first time visiting this Caribbean island. This was a very last minute trip, as I had just given notice at OneWater Yacht Group and I wanted to take a break before starting my new job (CMO at 26 North).
If you recall, Scott and I spent our honeymoon in Antigua at Sandals Resort and have since stayed at numerous Sandals location. Since this was a last minute booking, we decided to once again stay at Sandals since we know the resorts well.
One of the great things about living in Florida, is that we can easily travel to the Caribbean without having to fly 12-14 hours from Washington State. We arrived in Barbados around 1pm after a two hour flight. The resort is located about 15 minutes from the airport and is at the southwest end of the island.
When we arrived to our room, we were pleasantly surprised by our welcome gift. We had a great room that overlooked the pool and the ocean.
There are two Sandals resorts in Barbados, each located next door to each other. We stayed at the Sandals Barbados resort. You can easily walk throughout the entire property to access the restaurants and pools for each resort.
The Beach
The winds stayed consistent at about 25mph during our entire stay. The resort’s beach is located where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea. There is a reef just off-shore from the beach, but honestly the seas were way too rough to do any kind of water sports during our stay. In addition, Barbados was also dealing with the dreaded seaweed called Sargassum. Unfortunately, the Sargassum is killing fish and other marine life as it is suffocating everything. The resort did a great job cleaning up the seaweed every day to make the beach pristine.
Dining & Amenties
The resort had a couple of cute gift shops and between the two resorts they have 21 restaurants to choose from. It’s a great option, if you want to stay at your resort and not worry about having to walk or take a taxi to dinner.
From our room, we had a great view of the moon overlooking the beach each night. Too bad I didn’t bring our professional camera, as the shot would have been epic.
Snorkeling a Shipwreck in Barbados
We couldn’t go to Barbados without taking a sailing & snorkeling excursion. We picked up our catamaran at the city dock in Bridgetown. The snorkeling company actually runs two identical cats that hold about thirty people each.
We left the dock and headed south to Carlisle Bay to snorkel with the turtles.
Unfortunately, we only saw one turtle and it was a bit murky as the wind was really kicking up. After 15 minutes (yes 15!), the captain called us all in as we were heading to our next location. I assumed we were sailing for a bit to our next spot, but instead he simply moved the boat about 150′ to the shipwreck. By this time, I had dried off and reapplied my sunscreen so I didn’t bother to jump back in. Scott decided he would jump in and check out the shipwreck. Berwyn (a tugboat) was sunk by its crew in 1919. In late 1918, the crew of this 60-foot vessel didn’t want to leave the island when the war ended. A French military ship came into the harbor during World War I. The captain allegedly replied, “over my dead body and a sunken ship.” Consequently, his rebellious crew sank the ship, and – as our tour guide said – “they sunk the ship and went back to the island for more rum!”.” Be sure to check out our YouTube video for the footage of the shipwreck.
After snorkeling for about twenty minutes, we left Carlisle Bay and sailed to another beach where we spent the morning swimming and enjoying the Caribbean sun.
Our excursion ended after four hours and soon it was time to head back to the dock.
One thing Scott and I miss about living in Fort Lauderdale are the sunsets. Sandals Barbados had a cool rooftop terrace overlooking the ocean and the sunset.
Land base tour of Barbados
The following morning we hired a taxi driver to drive us around the island to explore. We’ve done this on many of our past trips including Antigua and St John. For $175 he drove us around for three hours. Scott and I told him what we wanted to see and do, and he got some of it right. In any case, it was really cool to see the island for the first time.
The residents of Barbados love horse racing and in the middle of the track, you will find a giant Barbados flag. This is where the people of Barbados celebrated their independence from Britain in this very spot.
The national flag of Barbados is comprised of three equal vertical panels – the center panel of gold and the outer panels of ultramarine. A broken trident in black is located in the center of the flag. Blue represents the sea and sky of Barbados, while gold represents the sand of the island’s beaches. The symbol at the center of the flag represents the Trident of the mythical sea god, Neptune – the shaft of the trident is broken symbolizing Barbados’ break from Britain.
As you drive through Bridgetown, you will come across many government buildings. Some of these are now museums and some are vacant. We had the chance to see the house that George Washington stayed in for a number of months while trying to bring his brother back to health. Unfortunately, he had TB and never recovered.
Downtown Bridgetown
The Parliament buildings are located in downtown Bridgetown and were built between 1870 and 1874. They are located across the street from the Constitution River where we picked up our snorkeling catamaran.
From the Parliament buildings, we drove about 5 minutes to Rhianna’s home where she grew up in. We also drove by her coastal mansion (see video for that).
Beautiful Coastline
As Scott and I traveled north along the Caribbean side, our driver made it a point to stop so we could enjoy the amazing waters and beaches. Since our resort is at the southern tip of the island where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean sea, we did not have these gorgeous waters.
Barbados symbolizes the Caribbean lifestyle in so many ways, including the vibrant colored homes.
Just up the beach, we made another stop at the Cubana Monument. This memorial was designed by Virgil Broodhagen who was the son of Barbados’ well-known sculptor, Karl Broodhagen. This monument is a memorial commemorates the victims of the Cubana de Aviación Flight 455 bombing that occurred in 1976 in route from Barbados to Cuba.
St James Cathedral
Our next stop was St. James Cathedral, the oldest church on Barbados. What amazes us every time we visit these island churches is not only their age, but the fact that they have survived hurricanes. This church was absolutely beautiful. Another interesting fact is that many famous people have visited the church, including President Ronal Reagan and his wife Nancy.
Orange Fort
Further north is a quaint town called Speightstown. The town was named after William Speight, a wealthy and influential merchant who owned the land on which the town grew. In 1639, William Speight became a member of Barbados’ very first parliament under Governor Henry Hawley. Speightstown became a bustling port town during the early years of British colonization in Barbados. It played a crucial role in the island’s sugar industry, serving as a shipping point for sugar, molasses, and other goods produced on the island’s plantations.
Unfortunately, like other parts of Barbados, Speightstown played a role in the transatlantic slave trade. Enslaved Africans were brought to the island and sold in Speightstown before being transported to plantations to work on sugar and tobacco fields. Speightstown was protected by numerous forts, including Orange Fort. Today, Speightstown remains an important part of Barbados’ heritage. Its historic charm, colonial architecture, and rich cultural heritage attract visitors who appreciate the town’s historical significance.
The coastline of this quaint town is absolutely stunning and we were impressed by the brand new dock they installed for boaters.
The water here is vibrant turquois color and completely clear.
In search of the Abbey
We told our driver that we wanted to stop by St. Nicholas Abbey, which is a historic plantation house located in St. Peter Parish, Barbados. It is one of the island’s most well-known and cherished landmarks. It is believed to have been built between 1650 and 1660. Unfortunately, he took us towards the Abbey, but not to it. Instead we landed at a popular viewpoint for tourists (oh, and saw a monkey!).
Overall, it was still a great tour and we highly recommend hiring a driver to take you on a personal tour when you are visiting a new island. Check with your concierge or front desk, as they have drivers on hand to show you around.
St. Lawrence Gap
St. Lawrence Gap is where the resort is located and home to lots of restaurants and bars. Scott and I took a quick stroll on our last day to check things out. Unfortunately, most were not open yet as it was too early. There are some quaint shops along the way and definitely worth the stop.
Overall Impression of Barbados
Like most of the Caribbean Islands we have visited, we loved all of the people we met in Barbados. This is a vibrant town with friendly residents and there is so much to do. We will definitely be back to visit again. Next time, we will look at staying on the west side of the island where the water is calmer and crystal clear.
As always, thank you for following our blog and our journey. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel (link below) and follow us on social @boatingjourney #boatingjourney.
This year, Scott and I were able to attend the 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show together. Last year, he was still in Seattle and for the past year, I’m always working a show. In March I left OneWater Yacht Group to join 26 North Yachts as their CMO, so I had time off to attend the show with Scott.
Just like last year, the weather was hot and unforgiving. We arrived to the show when they opened and walked the super yachts first.
This is a very upscale show and here you can find not only your next yacht, but your Bentley too.
Vendor Tents at 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show
As you can see by the map below, there are a few vendor tents at the 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show, but not nearly the size as the ones at the Fort Lauderdale or Miami International Boat Shows.
Check out this cool “bar set” from Docktails. Next boat we get, we are installing this!
So many cool things at the 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show
From vintage yachts, to slick cruisers to fast boats; you will find everything at the Palm Beach Show. Since the layout is not nearly the size (Thank God) as Fort Lauderdale, you can cover the entire show in one day easily.
Since the layout is not nearly the size (Thank God) as Fort Lauderdale, you can cover the entire show in one day easily. That was especially nice, since it was so hot the day we attended.
2017 Hatteras 75′ Tour
Scott and I were able to tour so many awesome yachts and we were thrilled to get a tour of this 2017 Hatteras M75 yacht featured by 26 North Yachts. As you know, we’ve toured two other Hatteras yachts – one was a hoarder home and the other was an older 52′ Hatteras. This yacht at the show, was absolutely stunning and we could definitely live on this boat. For a full tour, be sure to check out our YouTube episode posted this week (see video at the end of this blog).
The 2017 Hatteras M75 Yacht offers a sleek and contemporary design, spacious living areas, and exquisite finishes. With its four beautifully appointed staterooms, expansive flybridge, and advanced navigation systems, the M75 delivers an unforgettable yachting experience. Discover the epitome of elegance and comfort on the water with the 2017 Hatteras M75 Yacht.
After leaving OneWater Yacht Group, I took some time off before joining 26 North Yachts. Scott and I took a last minute vacation to Barbados, so be sure to tune in to follow us on that adventure.
As always, thank you for following our blog! Be sure to subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel for future tours and adventures. You can also follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.
Back in March, Scott and I attendedTrawlerfestin Stuart, FL. Trawlerfest is a big event in the PNW and we have never been before, so we thought this would give us a great opportunity to tour some trawlers. Recreational trawler boats are typically designed for long-distance cruising at a slower pace, with a focus on fuel efficiency, comfort, and safety. They are often equipped with a displacement hull, which allows them to travel at low speeds while using less fuel. As a result, they are very slow and their cruising speed is less than 10 knots, which is why we haven’t been interested in buying one.
We decided to head to Stuart, FL to check out the town and see what Trawlerfest had to offer. Stuart is less than 2 hours north of Fort Lauderdale. Trawlerfest was held on Hutchison Island, west of the city at a very small marina. Scott and I stayed at the Marriott Hutchison Island Golf Resort, so we could walk to the boat show.
Trawlerfest in Florida
When we arrived to the show, it was not what we were expecting. Remember, for the past year we have been attending major large shows likeFort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach.
They had a simple check-in tent with a few surrounding vendors in the hotel’s parking lot. (not sure why the first few photos have a strange filter on them, making them look like they are from the 1960’s?)
The actual boat show, was only on the first dock (this photo is actually pretty old, as the other dock was ruined by a storm).
Touring the boats
Overall, there were about twelve boats to tour at the show. There were a couple of Nordic Tugs (see our most viewed video here, where Jeff lives on a 32′ tug). In addition, there was an old Californian, a new Fleming, Greenline and a Ranger Tug.
The first boat we toured was a Ranger Tug. Having never been on one, we were actually pleasantly surprised by its features. The galley offered plenty of space, a large fridge and freezer and lots of daylight.
Under the settee, you will find a pantry and the washer/dryer!
1989 48′ Californian
Next we decided to tour a 1989 Californian. This boat really reminded us of the Ponderosa we stayed on in Gig Harbor, WA back in December 2021. For 48′ this yacht had the space and feel of a 60′ yacht.
Though this was a 1989, she was in very good condition. In fact, the owners actually live aboard this yacht and it shows the love they have given her.
The salon was nice and roomy, the galley had tons of space and the master stateroom had a full walk around bed.
2016 Fleming 65′
When Scott and I first moved into our slip at Elliott Bay Marina, we became friends with our neighbors Doug and Jules who owned a 75′ Custom Delta. Jules was an avid yachter and always told us to buy a Fleming (she doesn’t know our budget! LOL). This yacht is for sale for $3,800,00. Finally, we had the opportunity to tour one and it did not disappoint.
The galley was bigger than our kitchen in our apartment! Imagine the spread you could put on this counter?
This yacht had an 11′ center console tender on the flybridge, yet there was still plenty of room up top.
2003 Nordic Tug 42/44
I have a friend who lives near Jupiter, so I texted her to see if she would be at the show (because she is in the marine business) and she replied that she was not going, but that her dad had his 42′ Nordic Tug in the show. Scott and I were talking as we walked towards the dock and I said “we need to find Sea Gypsy, that’s Katie’s dad’s boat”. Suddenly, the man in front of us, turned around and said “I’m Katie’s dad”. LOL! He and his wife are from the PNW and recently finished cruising the Great Loop. Now they are heading home and selling their tug.
For only 32′ this tug has tons of big boat space! It’s perfect for just two people.
If it had been closer to Fort Lauderdale and had a slip, we would definitely consider buying her!
That’s a wrap!
The entire show took us about an hour to tour. Since it was a smaller show, the boats tended to get pretty crowded and we didn’t feel like fighting the crowds on all of them.
Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center
After the boat show, we walked about a mile to the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center. This is a 57-acre marine life nature center. When we arrived, they were feeding sting rays and we got to feed them by hand!
We then walked the nature trail to the ocean. The walk took about 15 minutes and was pretty cool. However, be sure to wear your bug spray!
There is lots of information when you reach the beach and you can continue to walk down the beach. We chose to turn around and go back.
Back at the nature center, you can walk all around the turtle sanctuary.
If you haven’t been to Stuart Florida, I will tell you it’s a very sleepy town. There’s not much to do, especially on Hutchison Island. Your only option for dining on the island is the restaurant at the Marriott or another cafe’ which was only open for lunch. It did look like a great place to play golf and just unwind. I don’t think we’ll be heading to Stuart anytime soon.
As always, thank you for following our journey! Please subscribe to our blog and our YouTube Channel (link below). Follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. Soon, we’ll be heading to the Palm Beach Boat Show and then Barbados! So tune in.
Since our last post, a lot has happened and we wanted to give you a quick update. Right after the Miami Boat Show, I (Ally) spent three days in Miami on a photo shoot for Sunseeker. Then in March, Scott and I attended Trawlerfest in Stuart, FL and the Palm Beach International Boat Show. In the upcoming episodes and blogs, we’ll go into details and take you on some great tours.
In addition, I accepted a new position as Chief Marketing Officer with 26 North Yachts here in Fort Lauderdale. Since it will be a while before I can take any vacations, we took a week off and headed to Barbados (more on that later).
Boat Tours and Trips
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be bringing you lots of great boat tours, including a Sunreef 68 Catamaran, Riviera 64 Sports Motor Yacht, Fontaine Pajot 67, Leopard 53 Catamaran and much more. We’ll also take you on a quick tour of both boat shows and bring you along on trip to Barbados.
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.
Last month, we attended the 2023 Miami Boat Show. This is a great show to see every kind of boat or yacht in the industry. As we mentioned in our last blog, they have a number of different displays at the show, so it a show to put on your bucket list.
You can find all of our yacht tours on our YouTube channel. Thank you to all of you who have subscribed and are following us! Wow, has our channel grown and we are truly grateful.
2023 Lekker 44
Our first yacht tour was a 2023 Lekker 44 from the Netherlands. Per their website “When LEKKER’s founder (Meindert Wolfraad) travelled the world, he discovered that the Amsterdam way of living appealed to people everywhere. Moving around on your own terms, taking control – whether it’s on the road, the canals or open sea. The freedom to move your own way. So that even the most free-spirited people don’t get caught up in everyday life.” This was a pretty cool boat that is not only comfortable, but very fast with a top speed of 57 mph.
2023 Privilege Signature 580 Catamaran
You might remember that we chartered a 43′ power catamaran last year during our trip to the British Virgin Islands. While it was a nice cat, the “guest sleeping quarters” were extremely tight and uncomfortable. Our next yacht tour was the Privilege Signature 580 and you have plenty of space on this yacht! (of course this would be a lot more expensive to charter too). This yacht we could live on and cruise the world.
2022 Azimut 72 Fly
If 58′ isn’t big enough for you, check out our next yacht tour on the 72′ Azimut Fly. This yacht has four staterooms, four heads PLUS crew quarters! Powered by twin MAN V12 1400hp diesels, her top cruising speed is 32 knots! Her exterior has been designed for luxury and comfort, as you relax on under the canopy on the bow’s sun pad. Cruising on this yacht through the Bahamas would make a dream vacation.
Cool surprise!
During the show, I passed by Captain Sandy Yawn a number of times. We’ve tweeted back and forth here and there. I had just finished reading her book, “Be the Calm or Be the Storm”. This is a fantastic read and I highly recommend it. Here’s a quick link to the book. When I saw her in the lobby of my hotel, I had to stop and tell her how much I enjoyed her book. She then said, “let’s get a photo”. What a fun surprise!
What’s next for us?
We’re excited for what 2023 has on our plates. This week we’re headed to the Palm Beach International Boat Show and since Ally isn’t working the show, we will be doing the tours together. Why isn’t she working? Tune in and find out what her next adventure is. Next week we leave for Barbados and it’s our first visit there. Barbados is known for their amazing snorkeling and beautiful beaches, so this is a much anticipated trip.
As always, thank you for following our journey. Please be sure to subscribe to our blog and our YouTube Channel (link below) and follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.
Earlier this month, Scott and I attended the Miami International Boat Show for the first time. We did come down here in 2015, but that year we could only find the display on Collins Avenue. That was the last year the show had a display on Collins. I was working the show, so I arrived on Sunday, February 12th to help set up the show. It really is amazing how the show actually comes together. I had a great view from my room at the Marriott of One Herald Plaza and the Venetian Marina.
At the Venetian Marina, we found a Sunreef Power Catamaran. Scott took a tour of it, which you can see on our YouTube channel next week. Apparently, the interior was very interesting, so tune in.
Big Yachts & Huge Displays
I was working in the Sunseeker display and this was the largest display they have had in over 30 years. In addition, we had on display a Sunseeker 90 Ocean and 95 Yacht. Now a days, seeing a large yacht doesn’t seem to phase me.
One thing that is different about Florida boat shows compared to others, like Seattle is the displays include luxury buildings and VIP lounges.
Beyond Yachts
Comparing the Miami Show to the Fort Lauderdale show, I would say the on-the-water show was smaller and more intimidate. They had a large tent with vendors and places to dine (where Fort Lauderdale didn’t have the food court per se). To access the Windward VIP lounge, you had to purchase a VIP ticket.
Scott did a great job showcasing all of the different vendors in our latest episode, to so be sure to watch it.
Miami Beach Convention Center
I had a breakfast later in the week at the Miami Beach Convention Center and then I walked the show. Even though I’m used to an indoor show, everything in this display seemed bigger.
Yachts After Dark
On Friday night, IYBA hosted a “Yachts After Dark” event. Here displays who participated hosted guests with cool lighting, cocktails and appetizers.
If you haven’t been to the Miami Boat Show, I definitely recommend it. In fact, Scott was able to meet up with the new owners of our Bayliner 4087, who were attending the show from Seattle. There’s so much to see and the venues are great.
One highlight for me, was meeting Captain Sandy in my hotel. I’m currently reading her book “Be the Calm, or Be the Storm” and it’s a fantastic read.
As always, thank you for following our journey. Next week, Scott will take you on some great yacht tours and we have some cool trips coming up including Trawlerfest in Stuart, FL. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel (video below) and follow us on social media @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.
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!
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
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