Couple Shares Unfiltered Reality of Sailboat Life - Including Costs, Challenges & More

Living on a sailboat isn't always easy. After living on their boat for a year, and sailing 3,000 nautical miles, Joe and Flick from Sailing Nendaz are sharing an unfiltered look at the rollercoaster they've experienced, including the highs, the lows, the costs, and more.
If you want to find out more about Joe and Flick's liveaboard life, you can follow them here:
/ @sailingnendaz
/ at_the_hansons
/ sailing_nendaz
Their boat, Nendaz, is a 1989 GIB-SEA 402 and measures 40' long x 12' wide, and has a draft of 6'. After some important renovations, like repairing the engine and replacing all of the plumbing and wiring on the boat, they were finally ready to set sail. The couple has now sailed from the UK to Morocco, and then over to the Mediterranean.
When they decided to rent out their house and move onto a boat, Joe and Flick didn't want to burn through their savings, so they've continued working part-time while on the boat. Joe works as an accountant for small businesses, and Flick works as a marketing consultant for small retail businesses.
While living on their sailboat has certainly been a blast on some days, the couple has also experienced some terrifying challenges like hitting a rock, grounding their boat, hearing about Orca attacks nearby, losing their mainsail, flooding the engine with salt water, and more.
We really appreciate the fact that Joe and Flick shared a lot of their behind-the-scenes experiences, challenges, and costs, and we hope you found it helpful!
Thanks for watching!
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Website: www.exploringalternatives.ca
Facebook: / exploringalternativesblog
Instagram: / exploringalternatives
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COMMENTS
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We want our channel and comments section to be an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome to watch and contribute. For this reason, inappropriate or hateful comments will be reported and/or deleted.
Please discuss and debate respectfully, and report inappropriate or hateful comments directly to KZbin.
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CREDITS
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Music Credit: Exploring Alternatives
Editing Credit: Exploring Alternatives
Filming Credit: Joe and Flick from Sailing Nendaz
/ @sailingnendaz
#boatlife #livingonaboat #liveaboard

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks for watching! You can follow and find out more about Sailing Nendaz here: www.youtube.com/@sailingnendaz instagram.com/at_the_hansons www.tiktok.com/@sailing_nendaz

[@thinkplanetearth2946]

Such a refreshing video. So often we only get to hear and see the glamour of a nomadic lifestyle thereby not giving a true representation of all of the challenges that come with this choice as well. Being self reliant, (handy), is clearly such an important factor. And I like that they addressed how they earn income by renting out their property as well as each of them having jobs that they can do remotely in order for them to afford to do this. Making a living strictly from your KZbin channel I'm sure is quite the challenge and I would venture to say not a lot of people are successful at it. I really appreciated their honesty and candor. I will now look up their channel.

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks for your comment, I'm really happy you found this video helpful and informative! We're so grateful that Flick and Joe were willing to share their experience :)

[@sailingnendaz]

Thank you 😀 KZbin is really hard work and I am in awe of anybody that can make it work as their primary income. We find it so stressful trying to keep releasing regular videos, to the point that we have sort of just agreed to slow it right down now and stop putting so much pressure on ourselves. Glad you enjoyed the video and our open and honest conversation.

[@monsieurVi]

The way they use this boating adventure to become ‘more self-sufficient and take that back to land’ is something of exemplary that I find very valuable in deed. Bravo!

[@sailingnendaz]

Thanks 😀 we have learnt so many skills and life lessons that we will carry with us forever.

[@tjitjo]

The west leeches off of almost every other country in the world, especially smaller players who can't defend themselves. Calling anything in the western sphere/economy self-sufficient is an affront and an insult to human beings world wide.

[@Sir-Complains-a-Lot]

Love the openness and honesty!

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

👍 Thanks for your honest feedback about living on a sailboat.

[@sailingnendaz]

Thanks Nicole! Glad you found it useful 😊

[@davidpoepping955]

This is the realest, and most comprehensive review of what it’s like to live on a sailboat that I’ve seen. I’m thinking about this lifestyle, and appreciate the work you put into this video

[@fullpulse2000]

Thanks for sharing Joe and Flick, you'll made a great update of an older boat. Smooth sailing for you both.

[@sailingnendaz]

Thank you! We have worked hard on her, she ain't perfect, but she is an old gal!

[@TheGreyGhost_of43rd]

Flick N joe? ❤

[@katinatsallas1523]

Thank you for sharing! I love the idea of sailing around Greece!

[@emilybh6255]

It s nice to hear young people featured on this channel that don't "uptalk" at all! What a pleasant video it makes this to listen to! It is about time!

[@sailingnendaz]

That is very sweet thanks Emily 🙏🏼

[@GregCurtin45]

Wow...! I've learned more in this one video than I have in 98% for the videos I've watched in 2023. Educational, honest, and inspiring. Congrats to you both on charting your own future while making your dreams come true. I am sure there were a lot of naysayers telling you not to do this but you did and you have obviously succeeded. It's a great time to this before having any children (should you choose?). This was incredibly inspiring and thank you for sharing your preferences with all of us. Thank you Mat and #ExploringAlternatives for providing such quality content.

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks for your comment, I'm so happy you found this video helpful and inspiring! Have a great day :)

[@sailingnendaz]

There will always be naysayers, that is for sure! If you listened to everyone then you'd be frozen without action, as everybody has a different opinion. We just try to follow our hearts but are always mindful of other people's opinions, sometimes we can learn from them, even the negative ones.

[@kulaniwarner7262]

Startlink is amazing. I lived in a motorhome for over two years and it didn't matter where I was, I always had internet. It was my favourite upgrade and I'm so grateful it existed when I travelled. Living on a boat sounds like a lot of fun.

[@sailingnendaz]

Our generation is extremely fortunate in that sense. This is the first time in history that people can be literally anywhere in the World and have open access to the endless, free information available on the internet. It enables us to work remotely, but also problem solve, fix things, and learn new skills that would a few decades ago required vocational courses and cost money!

[@TheGreyGhost_of43rd]

@@sailingnendaz it can also be a curse if not used in moderation. People get consumed by the internet quite easily.

[@greatboniwanker]

So inspiring to be able to work, I mean, *really remotely* and live your best life (on the good days). ❤

[@markbuskens6070]

Very good video 👍I subscribed and want to watch you living on your sailboat.great explanation of what it’s like being on the water all the time.like you boat too,keep it up 😀

[@drsmbrownlee]

This is great! I love that this channel includes the pros AND CONS of different ways of living; that's rare in an age of superficial Instagram-style sales pitches. Thanks so much!

[@harri7416]

Great vid. Thanks.

[@russellneville7145]

Hi guys. Super awesome that you are able to do all those things without having to sell your home etc. This is a very good down to earth video. Don't give up the dream. Your both so fortunate that you can live this life style & still earn & work 👍. Keep up the good work 💪 SV Kiwi Lady Opua Bay of islands New Zealand.

[@sailingnendaz]

Thanks guys 😀

[@cathylynnpietranton]

It was nice to hear the good and bad experiences living on a boat. My husband and I would never live on a sailboat. Neither one of us like the ocean. Most people will laugh at me because I worked for a cruise line for 20 years and never took a cruise. Thank you Matt and Danielle for sharing their story. We wish them safe travels ❤

[@newmankidman5763]

The sea, with the exception of the beach, is NOT for me either, and I love the fact that it is not for me, because it is one more potentially hazardous environment I get to avoid

[@Jeditilt]

Awesome video. Awesome Life! Thanks!

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your comment :)

[@sailingnendaz]

Thanks 😀

[@leemelbourne3297]

Really insightful.

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks for your comment, so happy you found the video helpful :)

[@OHANA-Beach-Suites-CDO]

Best of luck on your journey!

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thank you!!

[@sailingnendaz]

Thank you!

[@BobCollins42]

Great video!

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks! Happy you enjoyed the video :)

[@jnapp1215]

Excellente vidéo !

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Merci :)

[@gallopingg1]

Amazing couple, uk

[@yorukkizigeziyor]

Very nice video 😊👍

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks for visiting :)

[@fishnewmarch2764]

Great video guys. How is your van? Been following your channel for years but not sure if you're still in the van.

[@sailingnendaz]

Thanks for featuring us guys 🥰

[@ExploringAlternatives]

It was great working on this video together and we're really happy to share your experience! Thanks so much :)

[@keilimcevilly5995]

Thanks for sharing! Do you have a video that goes more into depth about having a dog on board?

[@jvan6582]

Very cool lifestyle

[@warrenthorp]

Great video guys (new subscriber). How are you managing the Schengen shuffle?

[@barbosberg]

Yup need to take this in chunks. Back in an hour.

[@rodellwilliams871]

Awesome all the best 🙏🏽 🌞 👍🏾 👌🏾

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks for the visit, happy you enjoyed the video :)

[@Coleen_West]

Interesting looking sailboat - I have never seen this model before. Is this a 40 foot boat? How long and wide is it?

[@aa-kh9ex]

A very interesting and honest video. However, why didn't they sail away from the summer heatwave in Sardinia? Was it just too hot everywhere?

[@sailingnendaz]

It was brutally hot everywhere! But Sardinia was a bit of an epicentre. Sometimes you are stuck in one place because we live by the weather. If there is no wind, we would have to motor, and this obviously gets expensive as you burn fuel (diesel). On the flipside if it is too windy it can be uncomfortable with seasickness, and in some cases dangerous or life-threatening.

[@morgidvmw0mdv]

Have you thought of living on the canals here in Britain. My Wife and I have had lots of canal holidays and we love it.

[@ke2delight]

I am sure they find it very boring and uneventful and wanted to go to nice weather and beautiful scenery.

[@ExploringAlternatives]

That does seems like it could be a nice option for them! Wish we had canals like that in Canada! Thanks for watching and all the best to you and your wife :)

[@sailingnendaz]

We've watched other KZbin videos of the canals, they look like a really peaceful way of life. I'd love to do a canal holiday in the future for sure!

[@kadirsuyabatmaz]

It is a great life style and thank you for sharing your story. I couldn't handle it with some type of partner though :)

[@ExploringAlternatives]

It's true it could be a great lifestyle for some people but its definitely not for everyone. Happy you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching :)

[@daleunderdue6935]

Wow! What an adventurous lifestyle! Exotic places, people, culture, languages. I'm glad that you guys are living your dream and in your moment. Thanks for sharing your incredible lifestyle. Stay safe and Blessings 🙏 to you.

[@sailingnendaz]

@@daleunderdue6935 thanks 😀

[@carlroland3947]

great advice! i want to buy a 10m sail boat, i have NO sailing experience and im useless or have never tried DIY! Is the set for failure? im booking a sailing course this week and i thought maybe electrician course and pluming just for the basics, is that a good idea?

[@stanleybest8833]

If you can find the watts fod air conditioning, stick to a camping setup like the Panasonic/ BougeRV 2890 BTU unit, not a water cooled nightmare. A boat windmill offers important night and cloudy charging. I have an air cooled Chinese 168F diesel, which turns an alternator well with a 7 inch pulley and weighs 44 LBS. An American/world band CB radio is fun and much utility for long range talk. 12 volt chest freezers are way cheaper than real boat fridges. Run yours on ECO for longest life. Keep those extra limes in case you get shipwrecked.

[@sheryllilke657]

Such an interesting video! Unfortunately I had to turn it off 2/3 of the way through because I was getting motion sick. I don't think the sailing life is for me. Safe travels!

[@sailingnendaz]

Haha ooops!

[@RisiCheshire]

Ahahahaa I said to myself "he looks like an accountant" the second I saw him.

[@genglandoh]

I would recommend you have a easy and safe backup stove. Try the Sterno stove $10 with Sterno fuel. Sterno is the canned jelly (alcohol) fuel. Very easy and safe to use.

[@annetakubiak3374]

Very brave and awesome couple, they are living a fantastic adventure 👏🏆👏💯....if not now than when , when they are in their 80's 😜😂. Negative people always have to say negative things, get a life pessimists 😅 your own life and judge your life 🥳😜

[@fabolous4438]

I was reading lot of comments, i just wanna say this .. this life is not easy, sailing is life itself with all the storms and the sunrises etc ,is never gonna be easy , most people decided to go back to the confort zone ..bet few decided to live like this forever

[@joanneganon7157]

Thanks for the truth! JO JO IN VT 💞

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Happy you enjoyed Joe and Flick's story! Thanks for watching :)

[@SoCalFreelance]

They would adapt well to off grid tiny house living.

[@markbuskens6070]

You have got an unreal amount of views 🎉you two are unique and both very smart.Please post a new episode so you subscribers will grow and you can make more money 💰 and we enjoy selling what you’re up to .

[@jodyeyre9840]

❣️

[@momentsintimess]

very interesting 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 good guys! if they left the water as the girl says, where would they want to live?)

[@sailingnendaz]

We are from the United Kingdom, so I think we would go back there. We love it. From there the location will be led by where we can afford! UK property prices are quite expensive. We don't need a big house, but we would like some land to be able to run a small off-grid homestead, grow some of our own fruit, vegetables and meat. That is really the long-term goal, and I think where our KZbin channel may eventually shift, if we can keep up the motivation to continue it. 😀

[@catherinemoore9534]

👍💯

[@billsheehy1]

Great video. The two best days of my life was purchasing a Catalina 38 footer in San Diego. After six months of living abroad and sailing around the West Coast, the next and even better day was when the fucking money pit sunk. The third best day was receiving by check from the insurance company. NEVER again. Same sentiment for owning an airplane. Endless money sucker, same as having a Russian wife. Total disaster.

[@Wagalipon]

The guy looks a lot like Beavis!

[@rebeccacartier153]

Am I the only one worried about pirates?

[@leudast1215]

Safer than walmart parking lot

[@heather333]

The wife set down some very sensible ground rules. They still have their home and work.

[@d4ve587]

Fantastic buoyancy aids..... On the woof 🤣

[@sailingnendaz]

Haha - yes, not the best example of his buoyancy aid in the video. But we promise he does wear it whenever the sea state builds.

[@JayPerrypersonal]

You said that you anchor for 6 months, what about the other 6 months? We live aboard full time and don’t go in marinas either, even in the winter we still live at anchor

[@sailingnendaz]

When we left the UK in September last year, you spent a lot of your time in what we call 'compulsory' marinas when along the Spanish/ Portuguese Atlantic Coast because there are very few anchorages due to the exposed nature of the coast. We didn't really get to live fully off-grid for a significant period of time until we got onto the Algarve coast where there are many more protected anchorages, and then we wintered in Morocco in order to reset our Schengen visa, where anchoring overnight is illegal.

[@JayPerrypersonal]

@@sailingnendaz what are your plans this winter?

[@YeshuaAgapao]

Starlink for internet!

[@tamaraosasosifo5006]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks for watching, happy you enjoyed the video :)

[@onehappyoldgoat7124]

WHAT BREED IS YOUR BEAUTIFUL DOG

[@Britbabe53]

She said he was a vizsla

[@onehappyoldgoat7124]

THANK YOU@@Britbabe53

[@brew8204]

Last

[@Appleloucious]

Depressing af thumbnail 😂🎉

[@bjoernandersen8287]

You need to be strong and confident to live on a sailboat, if you don't have any experience at all but think it's romantic and challanging you should stay home in your appartment like 99% of the worlds population.

[@TomBedlammusic]

Or just go get some experience? Otherwise nobody would do anything. But yeah maybe go learn and take things a bit slower than 0 to "let's live on a sailboat"

[@sailingnendaz]

It is a pretty full-on lifestyle especially when living all your days on anchor. You live by the weather forecast😀 and you can never truly relax 100%, you always have to have one eye open in case the weather changes, or for any number of reasons. We are living in a hunk of plastic that is our home, and with all the problems that homes have, but its also a sailing boat, and a motor boat.

[@marilynschmidt6400]

I would think the boat would cost more to fill than their car/s

[@sailingnendaz]

There is a 120 litre diesel tank, and we carry two 20 litre jerry cans, so we have 160 litre capacity, and in Europe the fuel is around 1.80 euros per litre so it costs around 288 euros for a full tank. But that tank of fuel will last us around 3 months. So fuel costs for us end up around 95-100 euros per month. But it will fluctuate wildly depending on how many miles we travel in a given month.

[@loneventhorizon]

Sea sickness 😂

[@sherchap1427]

Sorry, im thinking they all need life jackets on, including the dog.

[@sailingnendaz]

Lifejackets are worn whenever the sea state is poor. 🙂

[@newmankidman5763]

This life style, I am very happy to say, would NEVER be for me. I have always felt that the sea is for fish, and the closest I allow myself to it is when I go to the beach. When I was a kid, I did make 4 boat trips in total, each of which lasting about one day in the sea, with one lasting two days. It was an absolute nightmare. I felt extremely dizzy and unwell the whole time. The sea is for fish, but I wish you safe travels

[@Paperbutton9]

so the dog lives on a boat....? seems cruel

[@TomBedlammusic]

Many dogs live on sailboats. And most sailors visit land extremely regularly

[@melodioushaste]

I do not have what it takes to live on a boat. Hell, I won't even go on a cruise. I hate flying and I think I'd hate the boat life for the same reason. I"d feel claustrophobic.

[@anubis1949]

You both look super stressed out. Almost not thrilled with each other? Be honest has this strained your relationship?? Also in the end you all except for the heat, you will be greatful for the experience

[@sailingnendaz]

We are closer than ever, living on a boat is a high stress lifestyle compared to the baseline of land living. You are also just living in a very small space together. And it has taught us a lot! Mostly it has taught us better and more open communication, and we are more in tune with each other than we have ever been 🥰

[@anubis1949]

I wanted to mention look into getting a gyrosphere

[@drissaudia1323]

Nice, but no thanks. I’d get sea sick!

[@MyFriendlyPup]

The wife clearly would sell and move back to land. Her story was traumatizing. 3 months of ptsd at port for her husband to convince her to go back. What a nightmare life

[@jtorola]

Yep. Seems like a very one sided relationship honestly

[@TWROC96]

@@jtorola How on earth is it one sided. She's never been sailing until they bought the boat but agreed with pretty damned smart conditions- don't sell their home which they are now making income from to support their sailing life and she didn't want to give up her business/job which she has built up over time and which is also supporting their sailing life and he too has started a remote business since moving on the boat. The running aground and losing the main sail could be traumatizing because you realize that the person in charge of sailing the boat/captain is pretty inexperienced or rusty at his job. It seems like they took on a big challenge and they are still learning their way around the lifestyle. Full-time sailing is not van life; it takes skill and practice to work as a team. But your sexist attitude will probably not acknowledge these realities.

[@andrea-gh5ql]

Thought the same

[@ke2delight]

Very sexist opinion. Very disappointing.

[@sailingnendaz]

The wife has a name, her name is Felicity. And yes, Felicity was traumatised by some of the problems we have had. Unless you have experienced it you cannot understand the emotions that run through your head when you hit a rock on a very remote part of the coastline on the Atlantic Coast of Spain, or lose your prop shaft and now have a 1-inch hole gushing water into your boat. We stayed in Morocco for 3 months over Winter because our Schengen visa for being in Europe was fully utilised. We had to leave Europe for 90 days in order to reset our EU Schengen visa. It is a wonderful life, but definitely not for everyone. It is a pretty full-on lifestyle especially when living all your days on anchor. You live by the weather forecast and you can never truly relax 100%, you always have to have one eye open in case the weather changes, or for any number of reasons. We are living in a hunk of plastic that is our home, and with all the problems that homes have, but its also a sailing boat, and a motor boat and each of these has its own set of problems.

[@ConquerCollin]

Way overpaid for that thing

[@MyFriendlyPup]

Not really.

[@sailingnendaz]

We bought the boat in the UK, during COVID times. Not sure where you are based in the World but most boat prices inflated through COVID as lots of people had a similar realisation that they wanted to pursue this type of lifestyle. Ultimately a boat is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. There weren't many options available in the UK at our price range, so in our eyes, it was totally worth it. Sure we could spend another 6 months or a year searching for a cheaper boat, but it would be a fallacy. By buying a boat quicker and moving onto the boat as soon as possible it meant we could rent out our house quicker, reduce our bills, and start receiving rental income. There is a lot more to consider than the price of the boat when ascertaining what is best financially.

[@stuartsutherland7664]

Surely they could've left the dog on terra firma with relatives! They might've made the choice of cruising but the dog didn't. It's pretty much a privileged lifestyle, this sort of cruising. One needs the wealth for this life. Having skills that can be sold online helps I guess.

[@sailingnendaz]

We are definitely privileged, but being on a boat is entirely achievable for most people. It just depends how badly you want it and what you are prepared to compromise on. Walter goes on more walks in more varied and wonderful places than we would ever be able to offer him at home. He is an extremely lucky dog.

[@canyoudoitagain7978]

Well clearly boat life is not for you two.

[@sailingnendaz]

We love it 😁

[@emjay6011]

A Hungarian Vizsla on a boat. 🙄 I stopped watching after 20 seconds.

[@DD-ih7wn]

Duality: a metaphor for life. We must all learn to stay equanimous and detached from both good and bad times. This world is one of duality ie. night & day, etc. We are spiritual entities, be IN this world but not from this world. 🙏🏻✌🏻🫶🏻💪🏻🤟🏻