First impressions of St Martin - Sailing the Caribbean

Before buying a boat, I crewed across the Pacific Ocean on a variety of different boats for the duration of about a year. I then thought I knew enough about boats, but really, I didn't. Looking back at these solo sail experiences, before setting off on long solo voyages, it would have probably been better to first get some more boat ownership experience close to shore. Which would be my advice to you. Nevertheless, I hope you learn something from the struggles I had to go through in these videos, in my learning process of becoming a comfortable boat owner
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365 days I crewed on sailboats from San Diego, USA all the way down to Panama, stopping in Mexico and Costa Rica. After Panama crossing the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand stopping at islands like the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, Tonga and Fiji
45 days I traveled through New Zealand from the Northernmost point to the Southernmost point, then
100 days I traveled by motorbike through Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, then
365 days I traveled in my self-built campervan from Kyrgyzstan to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, then
365 days I traveled with this van through Iran and Pakistan, then
180 days I built an off-grid log cabin in the woods in Spain, then
180 days I restored an old sailboat in Guatemala, then
180 days I traveled with this sailboat from Guatemala to Honduras, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and the Dominican Republic
Currently I am #boatlife while being a #solosailing doing #sailingcaribbean

[@oceanwoods]

When you travel by yourself, your never alone. Your bringing all of us along!

[@julestburt]

I have been loving your videos, particularly your how to sail videos - really, really cool. I also loved how you started off sailing doing, everything wrong (heading East!) from the start...and learning as you went. Really love it - thx for sharing. Sorry about the relationship change...hope things evolve to something new, soon enough, Watching from North Vancouver, Canada. Regards, Jules.

[@HuubVlogs]

Thanks Jules! Yes, definitely started off doing everything wrong! But im getting there!!

[@paulboden7850]

Huub, you actually look a lot better and healthier since your breakup! lol

[@HuubVlogs]

😅

[@graemelliott3942]

Hi Huub! This is a wonderful video! You make much better quality videos when you’re single! I think a bigger boat will come your way soon!

[@HuubVlogs]

It will! I don't know when yet, but it will!

[@ProspectingMonkey]

Thanks for keeping it real! Love your honesty!

[@abelricardo9664]

Dear Captain, I am retired from a shipping company, I´ve lived more than 20 years in an island, and watching thousands of sailing videos and belived I can tell you Huub that yours are the real thing. You sail , walk, buy, fix, etc by NO MEANS alone. You have more than 158 k suscriptors and in this video you have walked along with more than 1000 partners till now. I´m 73 and you have awoke me (again) the sailing taste. Thanks and keep going with the big one... you will need it in a near future (always !!)

[@HuubVlogs]

Hi Abel! That are some great inspirational words there! Thank you for that! Im happy to have you onboard!!

[@ericdelevinquiere9902]

Trust me, a small boat is like an accelerated time capsule for relationships. Find the right girl then do what ever you guys want! i.e, don’t waste your money!

[@SBAtmost]

Mate, remember your joy comes from “KISS” not bigger, more, longer, spacious or whatever. Landlubbers, may have acres of land, but can never find the joy your voyage could bring. My 2 cents on the idea of getting a “bigger” boat 😊

[@sailingelectricgitana1286]

If you get cordless power tools you don't need to worry about input voltage because the battery chargers should work on either 110 or 220. You will also be able to recharge the battery packs off your inverter and you'll be able to have power tools while at anchor for doing work on the boat. This is what I have done.

[@HuubVlogs]

Hi Matt! That is true. However my boat had a lot of water leaks and tools kept breaking as they got covered with salt water. And cordless tools are expensive. Thats why until i know i can keep things fully dry, i stick with cheaper solutions... Have fun in China!

[@nicksearle9400]

Thanks for the tour of St Martin. enjoying your vids!

[@bdvbdv7228]

At least you’re back in boat maintenance mode without feeling guilty of inadequate quality time with your significant “other”. You will know when you have found the right girl….when life on the boat will just flow in synch…no matter what size the boat is…you both will be on the same page when it comes to priorities 👍❤️🙏✋

[@davidnichols147]

Fabulous.

[@Gyp527]

I second that! It's about the right girl, not the boat! In fact I'd recommend having a smaller/shitier boat until after you find her.. it helps weed out the field. I have many years experience living aboard with the wrong girls.. 3 yrs now with the right one (a beautiful Swiss girl 13 years my junior). We got married after a year of cruising and are in the DomRep now but getting ready to head off to St. Martin soon. See ya out there brother! We're on a 1978 35' Sparkman & Stephens (Persephone).. cost us all of $4k in Florida.❤️🌊⛵

[@DLBard-bv2nd]

Great video of St. Martin. When I was there on my sailboat and loved the French bakeries. 🍰 They had the best bread, cheese and wine. I'd love to return there sometime. ⛵ Thanks for sharing your journey. 🪴

[@HuubVlogs]

Yes! They are the best indeed!

[@meceiza5575]

Wow!!… the water there is beautiful!! I hope to go there one day! Thank you for your video! It’s always a pleasure to join you on your adventures…😊

[@lawrencecanright2541]

Enjoyed the video and the music

[@hedleyjackson5131]

Always good to have friends close to hand when you need them all the best young man, you seem to attract lovely young ladies one that likes the lifestyle is sure to come along.

[@kasgol-zl9xo]

The industrial park are water desalination plants. St Martin has no source of water and have to make its own water.

[@louis220558]

THANKS HUUB

[@reginehelo4378]

Wonderful video as always. Great job with the winches. Thanks for sharing your feelings😊

[@meceiza5575]

Thanks for the video!

[@mikebourke1185]

When you can Afford it maybe a 12 metre centre Cockpit ... Stay Free and Safe Travels 👍😊

[@katepolloway5314]

Thanks for the tour😊

[@sunnoble6380]

I was really hoping that you would find some Dutch food. Your adventures make me want to go to all the places you are going. Great video Huub!

[@HuubVlogs]

Me too!!!

[@asailboatnamedroxy696]

There is Dutch store called the Amsterdam cheese and liquor store, you can get all kinds of Dutch food over there! Ook kaas broodjes uit de oven die zijn erg lekker 😉

[@martiguesmarc819]

stay on your own sail on your own have fun on your own and just have fun

[@mariemorrissey9378]

Very nice video about this island! ❤ Not loosing pieces during maintenance must be nerve wracking!

[@HuubVlogs]

Haha it often is nervwracking Marie!

[@shaneparrish9991]

Morgan 38 and up. Solid, roomy and reasonably priced

[@SailingAlbinBallad92]

Thanks Huub for a little taste of St. Martin 😀

[@kylecarscaden3953]

You have a nice channel, I always enjoy a realistic approach to sailing.

[@HuubVlogs]

Thanks Kyle! Didnt grow up in it, but doing my best!

[@anthonykarakas6391]

Hope you go to Anguilla next..

[@jimmyschantz4941]

great video.. I really enjoyed watching your videos

[@jimmyschantz4941]

you are keeping it real, and that's great

[@waltervanderboor]

Having sailed for many years I strongly suggest 43-50 ft when you live aboard. Having lived on 50 ft for over a decade we now start to look at bigger again but anything bigger comes at a high price. Purchase as well as maintenance marinas etc. Bust life puts a magnifying glass on the relationship

[@HuubVlogs]

Haha it does put a magnifying glass on that! I indeed think that around 43 would be nice. although on my budget it would be a big project boat!

[@ferrucciovb]

My advice is to look for an aft cabin boat.

[@erikj.3796]

The boat i see for you is a wharram tiki catamaran, good spacious,one hull for you the other hull for paying guests. Take them cruising,teach them the basics of sailing. Maybe build it yourself?

[@elka_futura]

Thanks✨🌟💫👍🏻👏💖🙋

[@elizaandalisa]

Job well done let's get those subscribers up Mate you deserve a fair go cheers n beers Marty Australia

[@HuubVlogs]

Thanks Marty!

[@cohall46]

Great video today. I appreciate hearing about the good and bad of the flora and fauna of the places that you visit. enjoyed seeing your wench and auto pilot rebuilds - some of this gears were really small. You said that the quality of life on the French islands is really good, I wonder why that is?

[@HuubVlogs]

I think its because they are still supported by the french government. So there is a big import export thing going on. So stock is good And prices are kept low...

[@hesseldijkstra5327]

I case you happen to be able to obtain a center cockpit yacht say between 35 and 39 feet someone can have their private space.

[@TheDunkie]

Hey Huub I actually must say I enjoy your videos when you are alone more ..and I will know when you do meet that right girl who will compliment you for the rest of your days...she is out there be sure but in the meantime you can count on me to follow your exploits with much gusto...and more of how you feel about things you encounter as it is very enlightening for me:-)

[@chrisgeorge2717]

Wow, can't believe you walked that!! You probably know by now, the small busses are only a few bucks. Love St Maarten!!

[@HuubVlogs]

Haha yeah! Found that out later!

[@chrisgeorge2717]

@Huub Vlogs if you're still there and haven't found out yet, Soggy Dollar has $1 beer at happy hour! Keep up the great videos.

[@gregyohngy]

I would stick with 110 V tools if possible. There are many more countries in the Western Hemisphere with 110 volts. What type of inverter do you presently have 110 or 220? If you buy an inverter, only get a Pure Sine Wave type or the electric motors won't be happy. Have a solution. Get rechargeable tools. They usually can charge using 110 v or 220 v like my Ebike charger.

[@curacao11]

😎

[@johndavis5970]

see chasing latitudes subscription here for past reasonable boat prices.

[@jonhalas2306]

Try Turkey in the winter. Always the Winter....

[@ghost-writer]

Nice job on the wench... and the winches, too. I used to clean mine the same way, except I could never get rid of the aftertaste. Regarding your initial perspective on getting a new boat to suit, I got this flash parody image (with audio) of Sir David Attenborough explaining how the female weaver will repeatedly reject the male's attempt at nest building until it fulfils her every whim... or he gets booted.

[@HuubVlogs]

😅😅😅

[@elmhaven]

The French side, definitely ... in my youth, the Dutch side. I throughly enjoyed this video Huub, it's the format I've come to love and enjoy. A little sightseeing, adventure, food and beautiful scenery. It would be easy to make St. Martin's a permanent anchorage. Hopefully you'll realize your dream of owning a larger boat soon. Who knows, maybe a friend will win the lottery!! 😂 Be safe my friend.

[@HuubVlogs]

Hahaha, keep trying! Yes, it has everything to work on a boat! Of course I could also keep sailing the Caribbean and buy a boat in Florida, boats and boat parts will be even cheaper there!

[@elmhaven]

@@HuubVlogs - That works too. I know you love the "Limonada," but I do worry about your safety. I promise to keep trying! Fingers crossed. 🤞

[@stevenschwagel8029]

You are full of knowledge, that's very attractive.

[@HuubVlogs]

Hi Steven, thank you very much, also for the donation. I really appreciate it. That's really nice of you :)

[@alexwild4350]

Alot has changed since I was in St Marten as a liveaboard cruiser. The major road bridge across the inner lagoon wasn't there, nor even started construction. The harbour on the French side was but so much gravel. We used to hang out at Lagoonies on the Dutch side, close to FKG Rigging, MarineMart, and on the south side was a tiny little bar called Shrimpy's. There was also Ricks Place, which was never that busy and just up from there a small bar, always packed, that the mega yacht crews drank at. It cost just $10 per week for a 35' boat back then, about 2008. Sadly not even KZbin was that great a thing back then as it was invented in 2007 I think ! How times have changed. There was a major hurricane that hit St Marten, I can't remember when exactly, perhaps 2015 that totally wrecked the place. There were many boat yards on the French side full of old dead bodies of boats in various states of decay, including some very 1970's tourist submarines complete with totally appropriate interior furnishing for that time that were oh so dated in 2008. Worth seeing just for that. Regarding girls and being alone, I went 'alone' back then sailing single handed with a boat I bought over the Internet, sight unseen [but surveyed professionally at my expense] in Puerto Rico. I ended up meeting a few girls in the BVI's, which is a place I described as not a place to be single. Everyone there was with someone. However if you develop your man skills in reading and talking to people you'll begin to see not everything is what it seems, and the single girls will make themselves known. The size of your boat has little to do with it, least the girl I ended up with was quiet happy living with me on the 35 foot boat out there, or for the seven years we were together, my 21 foot boat in the UK - Summer or Winter depending on what we were doing in the UK at that time, we both had families back here.. I bought a 35' boat because I could see this was the cut off point beyond which the wetted area of the hull basically doubles [it cost $550 to anti foul my 35 foot boat back then], the size and weight of the rigging quadruples in cost, the cost of replacement sails balloons, etc, and being a man who had to work for a living, all this cost I had to bear. Also, mooring or dockage charges rise too. I put my boat ashore in Virgin Gorda from time to time, and everything has to be paid for - consider that before you part with your money. Back then it was about $350 per month, and the UK/USA exchange rate was 2:1, so it was about £175 per month to keep my boat ashore in the Caribbean. But its not like this any more with the exchange rate being something like 1.2:1. The place I look for boats is Florida. There is something for everyone there, with it being said, over one million boats of all types and sizes. You can always deregister a USA vessel and register it somewhere else, but be very careful [or not as some people are] with EU laws. When you get into law concerning ship registration and EU law, if your bright, you soon uncover how the world really works. The Channel Islands geographically are between France and the UK in the English Channel, so are right next to the European borders, but legally are not in the EU at all. Conversely St Marten is 3,500 geographic miles from the EU as the crow flies across the Atlantic Ocean, but are they in the EU ? Yes they come under the EEA, European Economic Area. You can as an EU citizen buy and sail a US registered vessel out of the USA, but you cannot without a B1/B2 visa sail her back. If your intention is not to return to the USA because you want to sail anywhere else, that's not a problem. But turning up in European waters on a USA registered vessel with a European citizen aboard is not an issue for the citizen, but the max time the USA registered vessel can remain in European waters without paying import tax is, or was them, 18 months. But then anything you buy in Europe for the USA registered boat is actually considered 'for export', so you can claim back the Value Added Tax part of a retail transaction because what you bought is being 'exported' on to a foreign [non EU] registered vessel - USA. I gets interesting doesn't it. The one thing you have on your side which you'll completely under value is your age that your doing this. I was around my early forties then and now nearer sixty years old, I wish somedays I had time on my side to do it all over again. It seems it is considerably considerably considerably more expensive now than it was then, save that the bus to Phillipsburg was $1, and now in your video it is $1.50. It was nice to see an old London Bus going down the street in the video :)

[@HuubVlogs]

Yes! I am really happy i started this lifestyle young and I try to motivate others who want this lifestyle to do the same...

[@meandmybuddy964]

Go to Somalia and give the Pirates $10,000 and they will get you a new boat😂

[@ellelyn2000]

Yes so awesome 👍

[@Diver420420]

Great video. You’ll meet your perfect girl, no worries.

[@Guevara1015]

Here are a few boats I really like, I don't know what prices you can get them for, but they aren't super expensive: Colvic victor 40, (It's what Teulu Tribe on YT have and I think it's brilliant for the interior space it gives you, I think they paid around £40k) Moody 37 or 376 (You can sometimes find a very good price one) Catalina make some decent boats which tend to be affordable, it's worth hunting around for them Hunter legend 40, I found one for 40k euro for sale in Ireland. If you want to find boats in the UK/Ireland then the best site in my opinion is Apollo Duck, you can find some real bargains on there but it would mean going back to Europe. Good luck Huub!

[@mikebourke1185]

Huub if you've got a Compatible partner then the Boat size shouldn't be an issue . 🤔 but yes when you can Afford it may

[@MocroPlay]

Misschien is het handig om een vouwfiets of een stepje te regelen voor het afleggen van zulke afstanden. Maar kerel serieus, jij bent echt een volhouder, hats off sir.

[@HuubVlogs]

Hey dankje! Ja dat soort dingen staan zeker op de planning voor de volgende boot die wat meer ruimte heeft :)

[@joesambrano7634]

🖐😎

[@24hourtravellers]

Look for a boat hereeeeeeee in MALAYSIA and THAILAND. It's where cruisers start and end. Come look here!!!

[@HuubVlogs]

Would love to sail that area!

[@24hourtravellers]

@@HuubVlogs reasons to start in Malaysia: 1) Low Cost of Living 2) Not many sailing KZbinrs 3) Boats are Tax Free 4) Langkawi is Duty Free 5) Just 20 NM between Langkawi and Koh Lipe Thailand 6) Currency is low so whatever you earn on KZbin goes further here. 7) Fuel is cheaper than most countries worldwide. 8) Several haul out options from Malaysia to Thailand. 9) Cheap to rent a motorbike and road trip through to Thailand for visa runs to other low cost of living neighbouring countries such as Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. 10)Buy a cheap secondhand Van for less than 5K USD abd convert it into a camper so you can rotate between boat life and van life. 🙂

[@theumbrellastudent411]

Onze eigen Henry Rothmann! 😅🤣🤣 Watch -50 First Dates - 50 times! 😜

[@ZwervenmetJuKi]

Zou mooi zijn als je wens uitkomt om een grotere boot te kopen, we duimen voor je👍👍⚓😊

[@HuubVlogs]

Hey!! Dank julie!

[@rikvandervaart2601]

Live on boat AND relationship? Get a 60 foot Cat. 😂 Grote boot, grote kosten. Mooiste zou zijn klein huisje ergens, en een kleine boot zodat je niet MOET samenzijn, maar altijd beide de keus hebben.

[@HuubVlogs]

42ft. Fulltime op boot. T gaat lukken ;) groetjes!

[@elysiumsailing]

I think you are making the "beautiful dinghy" comments at this point just to see if I will respond! 🤣 Nice Video Huub!

[@HuubVlogs]

hahaha, you indeed started it!

[@doekle-janhaisma3508]

Das jammer geen frikandelletje speciaal of broodje kroket met mosterd natuurlijk. I know what you mean I live in NZ alhoewel er is wel een nederlands zaakje in Christchurch die dat wel verkopen dus als je een keer hier bent👍

[@HuubVlogs]

Ooh lekker!! Goed idee

[@sigridgreven1981]

Nice video. About maintenance of winches or autopilot or whatever parts: NEVER EVER use ACETON. It ruins all your parts, too agressive, only good for paint applications. You clean winches by soaking the parts in fuel, gasoline or diesel, for 1 night. Then brush them with that tootbrush, rinse with fresh water, let them soak in water with autoshampoo for another night, rinse again, let them dry and grease them. Assemble. Do this at least every 6 months.

[@HuubVlogs]

Good to know! Ill use acetone less...

[@erikj.3796]

158k followers...when did that happen?

[@HuubVlogs]

Over the course of the last 6 years... :)

[@mesflyer]

Least beautiful only because the island was stripped clean by big hurricane a few years ago.

[@maraelaine7360]

I think you need to look for a woman with her own boat so you can travel together - she would already be a sailor and each of you would have your own space 😃

[@rafaelarrieta3532]

It’s more dray

[@rvz3215]

Ik denk dat je ook naar bestemmingen zou kunnen gaan waar anderen zeilers niet komen. Op die manier krijg je meer volgers en dus meer inkomsten voor een tweepersoons zeilboot. Gr. uit de Flevopolder

[@HuubVlogs]

Die zijn er niet veel meer... japan klinkt leuk

[@meandmybuddy964]

You need a wharram catamaran

[@ericshayer]

Westsail 43

[@HuubVlogs]

Beautiful boat!

[@Freetheworldnow]

I do not sign in to listen to this kind of music. Why!?

[@carsonc1272]

Huub... I want a Limonada shirt but the logo needs to be big and on the back of the shirt. It's a great logo... Make it bigger!

[@HuubVlogs]

Let me see what I can do... i need a bit of time though !

[@carsonc1272]

@@HuubVlogs The "Huub Vlogs" thumbnail that you have on KZbin is cool too. You should put it on a shirt. I'm happy to see that you're finally getting a little merch out there.

[@jamescapstick916]

i think you should find yourself a rich woman

[@HuubVlogs]

Any recommendations 😅

[@saylaveenadmearedead]

@@HuubVlogs France has the world's largest number of sailing women per capita and many were drawn there by racing opportunities... just saying. Go to locations where the most sailors congregate like Chesapeake bay area first. Find a better boat or crew to the Mediterranean and find a better boat.... your boat is very popular with the American people so sell it.

[@bigman1969firebird24]

Dude you can’t keep a chick 😂