The end of life off-grid on our 30ft floating home? What's next for us? | A&J Sailing

After two years living off-grid aboard our 30ft Catalina sailing and exploring the beautiful coast of British Columbia we are onto the next thing.. Buying an Old Ferry?!
Stick around until the end!
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We're a Canadian Aussie duo documenting the joys & challenges of life off-grid on our small 'no-frills' sailboat. Currently exploring the Inside Passage heading North to Alaska, continually chasing our dreams of adventuring off the beaten path & living a more sustainable, self-sufficient life..
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• The Start of Life at S...
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~We acknowledge the Kwakwaka'wakw people as the original caretakers and stewards of the lands and waterways on which this film was created, on the unceded territory of the Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw First Nations~
WHO WE ARE
Hi! We're Allison & James 👋 a Canadian Aussie duo who left the conventional life behind to live an adventure-based alternative lifestyle here in the Pacific Northwest! Currently, we split our time between land and sea - living part time in our tiny home in the woods and the rest of the year living on our floating tiny home, exploring the epic coastline of the PNW! Continually chasing our dreams of adventuring off the beaten path & living a more sustainable, self-sufficient life.
Thank you for being here with us for vanlife, rvlife, boatlife and all the in between!
OUR STORY👇
• First Step Towards Mak...
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Much love,
​A & J
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A Instagram / allisonmcisaac
J Instagram / james_stce
Music from Epidemic Sound
#sailingadventures #offgridliving #boatlife

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

*Updated May 16th* Hey pals, we're so stoked to share our Tasman Sea Crossing with you! We won't have it ready to post publicly this week, it's been an absolute beast to put together.. but we're getting there! The hour-long film will be available over on Patreon first once it's ready.. yep it's a full on film! Scrubbing and sizing down fifteen days of footage (500GB, over 2,000 files) into one neat & tidy movie has kept me really busy while James has been back working at the hospital.. we're working really hard to hopefully get off the dock this Spring! Thank you for considering supporting our video production. We'll see you over on Patreon, Cheers!

[@threewins3]

Everything!!!😊

[@itscarolinemary]

ok that intro ❤‍🔥❤‍🔥

[@SailingtheLoungeResurrected]

We live here!!!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Nice! In the Broughtons?!

[@SailingtheLoungeResurrected]

@@AllisonandJamesSailing Just over all!

[@SailingSeaDreamofClyde]

Lovely footage of all the wonderful wildlife up there. Crazy that old ferry is chill'n in place like that. I hope the Canadian government gets serious about derelict vessels one of these days!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thanks Trevor! Aug-Oct is quite the spectacle up here in Weynton and Blackfish! Totally, was definitely bizarre to see BC ferries first vessel moored up to Bonwick! Was worried it was going to dissolve into the sea there. Hopefully it gets dealt with responsibly

[@davidrobertson9200]

Really enjoy watching your video on the Tasman crossing

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Glad you enjoyed it David! Thank you, cheers!

[@gillianmills5400]

Beautiful…just beautiful. ❤❤

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you Gillian!

[@briantrenorden8633]

Glad you are still going with the videos. Just love the hem and good luck for the future.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thanks so much Brian! Looking forward to continuing North along the Inside Passage the next few weeks and making more videos to share!

[@arthur4818]

Excellent camera work!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thanks Arthur!!

[@johnrumbles3068]

You guys never disappoint us. The artistry you bring to these videos is stunning 🙂 And now you tease us with open ocean sailing.......wicked.I very much look forward to your next adventure. Stay safe

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Awe thanks so much Jon! Really glad you appreciate all the effort. Looking forward to sharing the Tasman crossing with you, cheers!

[@ColleenBee]

The whales look amazing! I like seeing your teamwork during challenges and also love the scenery that's so perfectly filmed.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Awe, thanks Colleen we look forward to sharing more of this beautiful coast with you!

[@tomelerding1399]

It is great to see a Catalina 30 adventuring in the wilds! I had a ‘79 Cat 30 for 15 years, from new. Sailed the So Calif coast from San Diego to Santa Barbara and out to the Channel Islands and Catalina. Hated to sell it, but life moves on. Safe travels!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Awe wow that’s awesome! Ours is a 79’ as well! Hull 1543 Thanks for sharing Tom! Love hearing about others adventures on their Cat’s, there’s a good few of us out there! Cheers!

[@georgesampson4714]

About 1/4 century ago my wife talked me into taking the cruise ship from Seattle up to Glacier Bay and back. On the way up the ship took the outside route but on the way back it wound between small islands like in this video. I so wanted to stop and explore some of them but the darned Captain insisted there were rules and regulations and schedules to keep so he wouldn't stop at even one for a quick visit, although we did sit most of a day in Vancouver staring at a great big pile of sulphur on the dock. I never have made it back but maybe someday with a small boat like yours I will.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Ahh yes the cruise ships...they often stop here in Alert Bay on their way to/from Alaska. Too bad you were unable to explore the places you wanted but really hope you get a chance to come back and do it someday soon! Getting to Glacier Bay has been 'the destination' I've dreamt about for years now and has kept me going during the tough days. Maybe we will have the pleasure of sharing an anchorage together soon, cheers George! -A

[@user-fz8wi4it9o]

Y ou guys rock, see you out there, we are on Quadra Island, Heriot Bay Luv your videos

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Awe thanks so much guys! Hope to catch you out here sometime soon, cheers!!!

[@gmchristie123]

You two are so blessed to have experienced our west coast. I wish I could join you. 😊

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Agreed Guy! We're really glad we landed here in Alert Bay years ago (from opposite sides of the world), it's so amazing it inspired us to buy this little boat! So full of gratitude for this coast and this life

[@bobschick2943]

The Broughton Islands are officially on my bucket list now 🙂. Thank you for another wonderful video!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Awesome, really Hope you get to experience it first hand! Thank you! Always great to hear from you Bob!

[@annecompagnion1970]

Excellent can’t wait for more of your adventures. ⛵️🌄 Always enjoy your videography

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thanks so much Anne!! We're really happy to have you along with us :)

[@itscarolinemary]

so many wonderful shots in this, that horizon with the mountains is breath taking and you captured some amazing moments with whales/dolphins! wow ❤‍🔥

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Stoked you enjoyed it Caroline! The amount of humpbacks, orcas and porpoises here is absolutely amazing actually the village of Alert Bay is also called Home of the Killer Whale. If you ever want to visit an absolutely incredible place in BC this it!

[@Anton-cn3of]

Being from the PNW it's great to see my backyard being showcased so well. Great videos! Thanks for sharing!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you so much Anton! So glad you’re enjoying the videos. We hope to get back out there soon to continue making them, cheers!

[@danp7399]

Another fantastic video. Fantastic videography, and now I know about the queen of tsawwassen. Thanks sgain

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thanks Dan! It was interesting to see the OG BC ferries vessel tucked away in such an obscure place. Always great to hear from you, cheers!

[@sailing1stwatch]

I'm in Anacortes and have a lifelong dream to sail to Hawaii and then French Polynesia and to New Zealand! I'm looking for a boat 🎉 This is awesome to see you are in New Zealand!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Crossing the Pacific would be an incredible adventure! New Zealand is absolutely amazing. Do you know what sort of boat you might want?

[@sailing1stwatch]

@Allison & James I know I want a full keel and preferably older because of the solid fiberglass hull. 30ft - 32ft for easy anchoring in areas.

[@peterstace9006]

What a fantastic conclusion to your sailing season. Love seeing the wild life and the spectacular mountains and of course seeing you guy enjoying adventuring. Thanks for sharing, looking forward to your down under adventure.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

It was a fantastic journey! So many close encounters with nature, stay tuned for the next crazy adventure to unfold.

[@southernpaths2986]

Wow! I’m looking forward to the next videos… are you winding your way up from NZ to Fiji and the Marquesas on your way up? And count me among the dazzled on that intro too. Top shelf editing!!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thanks mate! Awesome to hear! We're really stoked to share the Tasman crossing, it was really something! After making landfall in Opua NZ we enjoyed costal cruising around the Bay of Islands and down to Whangarei! But shortly after it was back to the Pacific Northwest for us! Perhaps we'll make it across the Pacific one day but we're not in any hurry to leave this coast

[@barberamcisaac1633]

Again spectacular footage and videos. Denny and I loved roaming around old wrecks we find. I had a little thought to buy the old boat too. But came to my senses. Can’t wait for the next adventure video.

[@davidsfollys]

Another great episode. Hope to see more!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thanks David! We've got a lot of editing to do the next week or so, but we plan to return with scheduled programing once we release the big Tasman Sea crossing video

[@paulhenry5770]

I found your channel because of the trans-tasman video, but I have just finished going through your earlier videos. You guys are doing a great job of capturing the beauty of your sailing grounds, and show you don't need a massive cat or high tech gadgets to get out there, all it really takes is the drive to do it. Looking forward to your next season.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you so much for checking out our earlier vids & for the nice message! This lifestyle definitely isn’t accessible to all but we hope folks who are interested can see that you don’t need a big snazzy boat to live this dream. Stoked to have you with us this season! We’ll be releasing videos again soon :)

[@cherevas1]

Incredible photos! Great videos!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thanks so much!!

[@VeganSuz]

Awesome! I'm excited to see your latest adventure. You are an inspiration for me to create my own... I'm currently in the daydreaming and researching phase though I'm hoping to not stay HERE too long. Be well!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

What a fun phase to be in! We look forward to hearing more about your upcoming adventures! Cheers Suzanne!

[@yamahagriz8820]

Another great video with stunning shots and editing. Excited to see your new charter and the return to the west coast.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you! So glad you’re enjoying the videos. Looking forward to sharing the Tasman crossing with you and continuing north along the inside passage sometime soon, cheers!

[@GFH50]

Couldn’t have syphoned water tanks for a fresh bird bath ? This video wants me there !! Thank you 🙏 onward !!

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Hahah we do indeed usually spare some fresh H20 for our bird baths, but it was getting chilly and we were feeling a bit tired of cold dips by this point. Sometimes your hair just needs a good shampoo with ample hot water know what I mean?😅

[@kaylynn7441]

Really well done. And oh so beautiful. Thank you. ❤️

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thank you!

[@sunnysandhyamalanthra169]

I am in the fan club. Amazing shots. ❤️

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thanks so much Sunny! Really glad you enjoy them :)

[@CruisingMaya]

BRB I just took a crazy pill and I'm off to buy an old BC ferry 😂

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Hahah c’mon it’s be a fine fixer upper! 😅 it’s presence on Bonwick island definitely thru us for a loop! It was funny that we randomly came across an article on Facebook of people complaining about it being in Howe Sound just a week before we started editing this vid

[@stevelambert7496]

Nice episode

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Thanks Steve!

[@dougheizenrader2280]

Beautiful video of a beautiful area! I am curious though, it seems most of the time you are motoring. Are all of little channels narrow enough and wind protected enough that sailing doesn’t really work? What would you guess the percentages are between sailing and motoring?

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Hey Doug, the broughtons sure are beautiful! But unfortunately during the settled period at the end of summer there isn't much wind (although there is still plenty of current) so yeah you end up motoring a fair bit if you want to get anywhere. If it's the spring or fall then there is usually enough wind to sail about as the channels are wide enough to tack up/down. Typically the winds either funnel up the channels or out the channels depending on if the principle inlets are drawing inflows or sending out outflow winds.

[@user-vc2px5kd2p]

Planning a similar lifestyle and location out of Telegraph Cove with my Alberg 30 this year. What kind is ur boat?

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

Awesome, just a short slip across the way from us here in Alert Bay! We’re sailing a Catalina 30 tall rig at the moment

[@usspaul9422]

In a sailboat u do a "sail by" not " drive by" 😂😂😂

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

lol we weren't sailing we were motoring

[@thaliacrew1]

The title of this episode was misleading.

[@AllisonandJamesSailing]

It's not. We haven't been back on our boat like this in over 8 months, James has been back working at the hospital full time.. we're working really hard to hopefully get off the dock this Spring maybe.. cheers

[@theoutbound4164]

I don't find the title misleading. You guys clearly state that you're going to be 'away' from your home and your usual offgrid adventures for an extended period of time. Should the title instead be "Away from our floating home for 8-9 months"? lol People want things to be so literal. They don't understand what you need to do in order to market videos to YT and that the algorithm favours trendy titles and keywords. Keep up the great work guys!

[@thaliacrew1]

@@AllisonandJamesSailing I appreciate your response and I do hope you get back on the water soon. We sail the same waters and we will look for Uintah this summer. The episode title "The End of Life Off-Grid on out 30ft Floating Home" made it sound like you were abandoning sailing life, perhaps selling the boat, which made me sad. Adding "... for the season" would have been a more accurate descriptor of your situation. I understand the marketing concept of KZbin and needing to attract clicks, but I felt a little baited by the episode title, hence my original comment. I do enjoy your channel. It reminds me of our story 20 years ago. Fair winds.