Searching for Freedom | Moving our Tiny Home Off Grid | Off Grid Boat Life

Other than a few weekend trips here and there, we’ve been moored at the docks for two years. That means easy water fill-ups, power, facilities, and the luxury of stepping off the boat onto solid ground. Now we’re changing all of that by going off grid in our liveaboard sailboat... Finally, we sail our Catalina 30 sailboat (and tiny home) away from the docks!
We had a few hiccups along the way, the most significant being that our engine failed during a key part of our journey. But we made it to anchorage safely in time for an incredible sunset.
If you enjoyed this video and want to support us directly, you can receive access to our episodes Ad-Free, our chat community, behind the scene updates and more at / bluemoonlife
These videos are made possible by the generosity of viewers like you and we want to thank you so much for being here!
If you are new to the channel, Blue Moon is a 1978 Catalina 30 sailing vessel which we acquired in 2020. One year later we decided it was time for a road trip and built out a 1998 Delica to drive across the country. Now we live aboard the boat full-time, take weekend trips in the van, and explore this beautiful world.
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0:00 - In this episode
0:36 - Last morning on the docks
1:39 - Scraping the hull
3:33 - Scrub the decks!
5:09 - Final preparations and provisions
8:32 - Let’s go sailing
9:15 - Big boat vs little boat
9:59 - Sailing the west coast
15:58 - Anchoring
17:22 - Land ho! Exploring this beautiful island
19:23 - Sunset dinner off grid
20:40 - Debrief: our engine died
25:04 - Fire in the wood stove

[@claudeelliott3993]

A day afloat without a couple of hiccups makes for a boring day!! Fair winds, guys!!

[@williammolley6684]

Hello to you guy’s ! Watching you put foam in door. It’s that time of the year . To keep the cold from coming in your windows and skylights… use Bubble wrap. Spray with water and it will stick… Walmart for under 5 bucks… also to help keep you guy’s warm is invest in two heating blankets. One on your bed and the other were you guy’s sit.. hope this help. There is nothing worse than being ..COLD ..Luv watching you guy’s on your videos. Stay WARM

[@rgbent4359]

Invest in a Racor fuel water separator if you don't already have one. And yes, fuel filters. Also make sure zero leaks, weeps from fuel system. Good luck!

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thanks for the advice! We'll look into that :D

[@justadutchman5169]

I really like the chosen background music for your videos. 🫵🏼👍🏼🫡👊🏼✌🏼🇳🇱

[@craigblakeley4731]

Congratulations, it is a sailboat again ⛵

[@peeldumpz26]

I can’t only dream of this with my significant other

[@Stephan_01]

Adventure finally started, sail safe, looking forward for your video’s ♥️♥️😂🥰

[@allan1062]

Check your fuel tank for water. Y can buy a paste in a tube that changes color when it contacts water. Put some on a thin dowel or heavy wire and put it thru the fuel fill port to the bottom of the tank. Pull it out and check for color change, if there is then deal with it. Good luck!

[@johnwishart7950]

i think solid fuel heaters are beautiful i like the video

[@skippyone3085]

Blocked fuel filter yep sounds right. After sitting on the dock all the sludge falls to the bottom of the tank, however when you start sailing it gets stirred up and blocks the filter always carry a spare onboard.

[@BlueMoonLife]

That makes sense! To be honest, we actually thought we had a spare one aboard, but it turns out we didn't haha! We'll be sure to carry a spare from now on though :D

[@brucefletcher6179]

@@BlueMoonLife An ounce of prevention... Take it from a Canadian who lives in the caribbean and does regular deliveries leaving Florida nose into the caribbean trade winds in heavy chop. Every time I do a pre-delivery inspection, I automatically add startrons TANK cleaner (not the regular stuff, get the tank cleaner mix), then fill the tanks to the top with diesel and wait at least one month. Once I learned this trick I no longer spend the first few days of each delivery swapping filters or worse, reaching into the bottom of a tank to pull the sludge out of the draw pipe. This stuff uses an enzyme to digest the sludge down to the point it will pass thru the filters and not clog injectors. Fuel polishing doesn't cut it. Yes, it cleans the fuel, but the accumulated sludge on the tank walls is just waiting for the first chop to hit it with the tank half full to slide off and start plugging the lines. Previously I typically insisted on a minimum of 10 primary filter elements plus 6 secondary filters, now I usually make the 1200 nm bash with no filter swaps. PS - enjoy your Caddy Bay winter, it's a short walk up to the UVic sub for pitchers, much cheaper than the yacht club restaurant.

[@armslength2618]

Tres Cool. Fire in the cabin heater.

[@MCallsen]

You both were under such "happy tension" in the beginning, it was contagious :D Glad the motor problem was not serious!

[@BlueMoonLife]

Haha yes that is a perfect way of describing it!

[@thepageandstage]

You really captured the beauty of the region in this video - those sunsets! 😍✨

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thank you :D this is some of our favourite content to film. And those sunsets blow us away every time!

[@PyeGuySailing]

Crud in your fuel tank got agitated in the waves, clogged the filter...that's my guess. Another reason I went electric. Carry bags of chickpeas and make all the hummus you want 😁

[@MrSerraangel]

One of the best feeling you can have is being on the open water with the sail up. ;}

[@BlueMoonLife]

Yes it really is :D we are so fortunate to be able to experience that

[@jeffmanson6858]

@@BlueMoonLife I really hope to experience this some day 🥺

[@DaveHines1]

Good to see you leave the docks and set sail , looking forward to more sailing , and seeing how luxurious you can make your life at anchor 😃🍻

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thanks Dave! Yes it has already been such a treat :D

[@johndavidson6867]

Well done, nice to see you out chasing the waves again. Hoping you have a wonderful summer of sailing, seeing new places.

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thanks John :D We cannot wait!!

[@jeffmanson6858]

I can’t even imagine the exhilarating emotions that you go through to take your home out on the water and disconnect from the comforts of the dock. This is an amazing video! I felt like I was on the journey with you two! But I know watching behind this screen can never do it justice. Love watching all your videos!

[@maryannpenner9286]

So great you had a safe trip, now you can settle into your new location!

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thank you!! It feels so good be out of the marina :D

[@captainjosho372]

So nice to see your videos sailing through this area! I wish I could bring my boat up there again, so beautiful!

[@scable-eq7bp]

Oh my goodness, what a great episode, watching the sail go up after two years of being at dock brought a happy tear to my face. Me & Julie are doing our first long, not really long, but long enough sail on "Krill-minal" our 2020 Corsair 880 Sport Trimaran next week. Sailing from our home base in Key Largo down to Key West, from Key West we head out west at about a 370 degree compass heading for 70 miles until we reach our destination, THE DRY TORTUGAS.....

[@JagLite]

Beautiful music! You did it, you got out of the harbor and that is the most difficult part. Peace and quiet away fro the cities is why we cruise.

[@BlueMoonLife]

We're glad you liked the music! Yes, such an amazing feeling :D

[@Mike-bb1li]

Very happy for you both!! Sail on!

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thank you!!

[@Mike-bb1li]

@@BlueMoonLife Your welcome!

[@Kathleensailorgirl]

So excited and happy for you both . Blue Moon looks so beautiful and nice and clean 😊 safe travels with fair winds and falling seas. 😊💕💕⛵️⛵️⛵️⛵️

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thanks Kathleen! Haha yes she had a well deserved bath and is ready to take on the waves!

[@tanyasoroka3314]

Good for you guys. I know that feeling of getting off the dock for the first time but once you're out its all good

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thanks Tanya! Totally, it always seems like such a big thing, then all the stress melts away as soon as you get out there

[@harveyg845]

Great video guys, looking forward to seeing your future videos at the new anchorage.

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thank you :D

[@itsmePassportBro]

Welldone guys.. summer time...

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thank you! Yes we cannot wait :D

[@crashthewaves9636]

You guys really need to up your maintenance game! There is no excuse for not having spare fuel filters on board, or having not inspected/switched them before leaving the dock for the first time in the spring. You are putting yourselves and others that may well have to rescue you sooner or later at risk. Find a mentor or take a sailing course, and make a maintenance schedule. The ocean is a fun place to play, but it will bite you soon if you keep spending all your time filming yourselves and not focus more energy on keeping you boats essential systems looked after. Look for a copy of Nigel Calder's "Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual: How to Maintain, Repair, and Improve Your Boat's Essential Systems", which many mariners refer to a "the bible." The internet is a great source of a lot of information, but a lot of it can be bad information. Calder's book gets straight to the point, and describes and instructs even a novice how to fix and look after their boat. I don't mean to sound harsh, but Haro Strait and the Strait of Juan De Fuca are not a places to mess around with a poorly maintained boat. Good luck out there.

[@larrycheek74]

Diesel engines on old sailboats have a penchant for walking off the job early and at inopportune moments. For that reason I always recommend motoring with the sail covers off and BOTH jib and main ready to deploy quickly if you need them. Sometimes you'll find yourself in a position where the jib alone won't give you the speed or direction you need to avoid trouble. I'm glad you escaped trouble easily this time.

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thanks for the tips Larry! We had a few conversations about whether to take to main cover off before we left, but decided to leave it until after we rounded the rocks... but we'll know for next time to take it off :D

[@tedmccullen7466]

Enjoy the show thank you!

[@BlueMoonLife]

we're so happy to hear that!

[@skippyone3085]

Finally, a weather window ! Just go for it don't worry you will be fine. You do know the blue rubber caps on your winches are to make them self tailing? Makes it easier to grind them. Tip wind four times then pull into the rubber slot then remember to go once round with the tail so it won't accidently pull out.

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thanks! We did know they were for self tailing, but to be honest we have never used them (for no good reason other than forgetting to haha). But we'll make sure to use them next time :D

[@marykamau8403]

I like that 😀 🆒 so good for you guys?? You will get freedom that you look for... Cool Sense

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thank you!

[@robwealer5416]

Find myself waiting for your next episode... kinda like an HBO or Netflix show... good work... good edit.. :)

[@BlueMoonLife]

Awe wow, that is so nice to hear :D thanks!

[@gordieconnelly5844]

here is my french press tip after you stir the coffee put the top on and wait 3 minutes than push the plunger down coffee will be stronger and smoother

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thanks for the tip!!

[@marinoldus]

Time to get the toolbox out and change the fuel filter. Might as well get some spare filters..

[@BlueMoonLife]

Yes great idea! That will be part of our upcoming videos :D

[@marklapierre5629]

I agree, it sounds like a fuel filter issue.

[@BlueMoonLife]

Glad that you agree Mark! We'll be fixing it in this week's video :D

[@freyja4954]

I use the Davis scrubbis kit and a pole with a big 3m scrub pad on the hull. Way better that getting in 10⁰ watter

[@BlueMoonLife]

Oh great idea! Haha yes, it's pretty cold to be diving right now!

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

You should have your main up once you were in a wide enough body of the harbor, the main stops the swinging from side to side, thats what makes people not get sick in sailboats like they do in power boats, just fore and aft rocking, also if the engine quit you can have some control, even if just to circle around. Before I leave the dock I take the cover off the main and hook up the halyard, remove the sail tire closest to the mast. Looking forward to your journey, stay safe.

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

PS I always use the main when motor sailing.

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thanks for the advice! We had discussed that before we left and decided to go with the jib (assuming that it would aid in stabilization). But that's great to know the main is better for the job :D We will remember this for the future!

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

@@BlueMoonLife The main think is you don't have to tack the main, so if you have an emergency like the motor stopping you can just drive around on the main, let flop to either side. If someone is working on the motor, the other person can drive and not have to touch the sails, just slow the main as it flops to the other side of the boat as you tack.

[@tommycheshire5508]

Fuel injectors? Humus, bread and what on your wrap? I am proud of you kids.

[@BlueMoonLife]

If the fuel filter is fine then we'll definitely look at the injectors! We also added a bunch of veggies (lettuce, cucumber, red pepper and cucumber) :D

[@flyfliker]

Fuel filters may need to be changed.

[@dorianzittle7710]

Hello Guys from Dorian and Roxy.

[@BlueMoonLife]

Hello!

[@dorianzittle7710]

@@BlueMoonLife Hope everything is going well

[@johnsherwood6395]

Cool fireplace. How does it work? Is carbon monoxide a concern? How much heat does it produce?

[@aquious953]

I keep spare fuel and oil filters, belts and impellers, etc, on board.

[@BlueMoonLife]

Yes and so will we now haha! I remember some comments on our last video about spare fuel filters, and we learned why this trip! To be honest we thought we had a spare on board but couldn't find it. we'll make sure to have one now though!

[@crashthewaves9636]

@@BlueMoonLife Be sure to bleed your fuel system properly as you replace your filters. There should be two filters; the primary, and the secondary. One is before the engine, and the other is on the engine. If you have never replaced them, you will need to do both. Nigel Calder's "Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual: How to Maintain, Repair, and Improve Your Boat's Essential Systems" will help you get this important regular maintenance work done right.

[@mvconundrum5742]

Was that anchorage the sidney spit?

[@aleroxit]

Are you going to use your sails?

[@BlueMoonLife]

Yes we sailed this video! We explain at the end of the video why we took it easy (we wanted to test the engine to determine how to solve the problem we were having). But we will be doing lot's of sailing in the upcoming videos :D

[@MegaTriumph1]

Stay warm with a kerosene heater 10,500. BTU. Warmth is #1 for survival.

[@BlueMoonLife]

Thanks for the suggestion! We'll look into those :)

[@rawilson7768]

I am not a sailor so I don’t know why stuffing your pants in your socks is necessary. Can anyone explain why Jonas did that. Just curious.

[@BlueMoonLife]

not necessary, just preference :)