From Apartment Life to Living on a Sailboat in Alaska! Sailing & Cruising Liveaboards

Megan and Rob are a pair of adventure seekers who are working hard to create the life of their dreams: living on a sailboat and exploring Alaska, working online and starting their own filmmaking company. All while continuing to actively explore their surroundings on bikes, in kayaks, in wetsuits, and hanging from climbing ropes.
The couple bought a sailboat in April 2015 up in Juneau, Alaska and they've been living on it ever since. For the first couple of years they plan to stay docked in Juneau during the week so that Megan can work at her job as a dental hygienist, while Rob has already secured location independent online work, working for a soil and water testing company. Once they've paid down their student debt, and paid off the boat, they plan to sail around the world. For now, they explore on the weekends and when they're on vacation.
They've made a lot of changes to their boat, a 1979 Cal 31 #10 hull, to turn it into a cozy little home. Megan sewed a canvas bimini top for their cockpit to provide shade, they installed flexible solar panels and a small wind turbine to create their own power, and they added a Kimberly wood stove to keep the boat toasty, warm, and dry in the winter months.
Living on a sailboat isn't without it's challenges. The couple had no idea how to sail when they bought their boat, so they spent quite a lot of time during their first year afloat learning how to sail. They also say the cold weather can be quite challenging because the boat is always damp inside. It's important to be flexible and easy going in order to be successful at living aboard a sailboat, Megan says. You can't have too many expectations or be attached to deadlines.
On a recent month-long trip, Venture Lives had beautiful adventures sailing to Skagway, Glacier Bay, and hiking the Chilkoot Trail.
Megan and Rob have a KZbin channel where they share beautiful footage of their liveaboard adventures. Their channel is called Venture Lives and you can check it out here:
/ lilfreckle2
You can also visit their website here:
www.venturelive...
Thanks for watching!
Mat & Danielle
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STAY IN TOUCH!
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Blog: www.exploringalternatives.ca
Facebook: /exploringalternativesblog
Instagram: @exploringalternatives
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COMMENTS
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We want our channel and our comments section to be an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome to watch and to contribute. For this reason, comments that are inappropriate or hateful will be reported and/or deleted.
Please discuss and debate with respect, and report inappropriate or hateful comments directly to KZbin.
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VIDEO CREDITS
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Music & Song Credits:
All music in this video was composed, performed, and recorded by Mat of Exploring Alternatives.
Editing Credits:
Mat and Danielle of Exploring Alternatives
Filming Credits:
Megan and Rob of Venture Lives

[@0HARE]

Sailboats are the best. A great tiny home with excellent space utilization, beautiful elegant design, and the ability to relocate easily and cheaply to more of the earth than any other mode of travel. Keep up the good work!

[@SailBeforeSunset]

We've been following this couple for a while now. Really enjoy their adventures in Alaska. ALMOST makes us want to sail up there, but the cold!

[@ghgghgyuhkljjijijui]

LOVE IT.You re showing the rest of us to living free and full lives!Great tips.

[@bobleclair5665]

tomterahedrob it’s not free,it’s a marriage,,when the boat needs,it’s,yes dear,it’s a great learning experience

[@veganchaatparty]

Super Superb!! Super Superb!! Super Superb!! Thanks for sharing!

[@TheStickyfingers88]

I just recently lived on a 27 foot boat for 3 days and it was awesome. The gentle waves were such a treat when going to bed while docked.

[@TheStickyfingers88]

Wow you guys replied to my comment! earned a subscriber and daily watcher for sure. Whats it like with the sail do you guys have a motor?

[@TheStickyfingers88]

How far off the coast do you guys feel comfortable? I couldn't go too far with the 27 footer. stayed in Chesapeake bay.

[@clamospro9539]

The Great life i ever seen...far away from busy city than visit alot beaches around the world..i am sure 100% both of you enjoyed the life.

[@mikeskor6230]

Kudos to you for living this lifestyle. Especially in a cold place.

[@farcins]

Nice to see some people sailing in the cold. When you look for alternatives it is always easier when you are in california or in the caribbean. Cheers! from ottawa, Canada

[@a.p1675]

So cute guy's! Wish you the best of luck on your adventures!

[@sailingseapixieadventure6436]

It's so nice to see your footage! We lived 5 years in Yukon Territory and opened a yarn shop called Itsy-Bitsy Yarn shop, now sold to another owner. We visited many times Alaska! So beautiful. I do enjoy the sailing life and the warm island and tropical fruits, but the north is also dearly missed! All the best to you guys, I'll keep checking you out :) Fair winds!

[@bryantford3054]

Great videography. Loved the otter holding her baby. Incredible scenery. 80 degrees in Juneau?!? Spent 8 years there & saw those temps once or twice. Such a beautiful place to live. I loved being rocked to sleep in my dad's charter boat docked in Auk Bay.

[@minnesotasportshighlights5242]

Bryant Ford global warming

[@loosewheels1000]

You're a lucky couple, living the dream of millions, well done,

[@NorthTropics]

Those Alaskan mountains look so beautiful! I thought the boat looked small from the outside but looks like you guys got great space inside to call home. Very inspiring.

[@Deutschtown]

Thanks! Fun to see you out there. Nice also to see you satisfied with your boat. So many people want bigger...which is not necessarily better. Great adaptation.

[@Windlass123]

... good vid ... thanks 4 posting ... fair winds ...

[@coolcatcarolena4951]

Spectacular. I love the unique places and people you feature on your channel. Thank you!

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks so much CoolCat :) :)

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks so much CoolCat :) :)

[@CruisingTheCut]

I love the cat litter tray in its own private compartment ;-) Looks like you're having a great time!

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Yeah it's a pretty clever idea for hiding it :)

[@jessicakirchoff2536]

Agree! Perfect spot for a litter box! (often dead space under there.)

[@sainthuckelberry]

Your videos just keep getting better and better! Seriously awesome channel, folks.

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks so much Paul! Really happy you're enjoying our channel :) :)

[@cq7415]

Interesting about your sailboat and new lifestyle. The scenery shots are awesome but not too many. You need more of them. Good luck and have fun. Thanks for sharing.

[@janccil568]

amazing video! can't wait to switch my life to the boat. thank u

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks for watching and best of luck with your new adventure :)

[@paulsantos914]

You've done it once again Exploring Alternatives..Keep these amazing videos going!

[@jesusalfonsotortoleromarti9233]

Hi. You've a lovely boat and a wonderful life. Sailing and Alaska is an amazing mixture. Greetings from Venezuela!

[@vikingsailor7016]

Amazing couple. Just go for it!

[@freeholdtacticalmed]

Great boat...I’m jealous!

[@vraymond108]

I recognize Auke Bay. Have spent a lot of time there over the past three years. We love the Thai restaurant just across the street.

[@mwashie]

i like the way you enjoy life! and the fishing possibilities

[@Sargam26mj]

Incredible scenery and very nicely explained. Good luck for your future endeavours

[@philipfreeman72]

Love joy peace wealth & abundance for all , I miss AK I taught at Kotzebue & Nuiqsut .

[@norml.hugh-mann]

I am in the process of saving to do the same thing.....i work in seattle and am livingn in my car as practice to living on a confined sailboat, i plan on getting something vert similar to yours and even living in the same area but moving around a lot...maybe i will see yall on the water....happy sailing...yall have a new subscriber

[@SailingAndFun]

Thanks for sharing!

[@jocar3234]

total respect to you, being just a tiny bit more south but way east in Quebec man I hate winter to death. you are very courageous

[@bobleclair5665]

Jo Car plenty of boats in Florida,make sure they have motors and gear,,,plan your vacation

[@TheDavenator7]

Okay, I am so jealous and wish I was younger like the two of you. Nice video.

[@W4ABN]

That boat is well setup. Nice seeing how it is setup for their use in Alaska.

[@albertoflores6920]

That was great to witness!

[@ParadoxdesignsOrg]

My buddy lived in a sailboat year round in southern B.C. and holy cow that thing got cold in winter! This couple has some serious balls to be doing so in Alaska even with that stove. Sailboats act like their own refrigerators just because of how low they sit in the water.

[@garethmiller6791]

love Alaska lived here for 13 years

[@glennkennedy441]

Very interesting....thanks !

[@coldfoot99]

Enjoyed your video. I live a bit up north from you in South Central. Many years living in Alaska but have never made it down to the South East. Been lots of other places though and love this beautiful state. I do work in the travel tourism business so I do get to share some of my experiences and travels with our summer visitors. I'll be checking out your channel.

[@PaulEgges]

Nice to get some background on you two. I've been following your stuff for a few months now.

[@jbibb1963]

Way to go on the video guys! Makes me want to move to where I already live!

[@ecmunpublished]

Good luck to you both on your adventures!

[@shipskepr1]

awesome guys thanks for sharing ,it must be getting colder there now.here we are in first week of nov,and our ac is still running ,I live in Arkansas,fair winds and following seas,,paul

[@constancecondit4349]

Good video!

[@orchidhouse297]

Your CO detector!!!! Our local fire officer moved ours during a safety check in the house. It was too near the ceiling. It is possible in a confined space for a layer of warm air to collect near the ceiling. This prevent the Carbon Monoxide from reaching a ceiling detector. The best place in a place where there is air movement and at eye level. If it has a readout screen then it must be at eye level. I'll go back to the vid now, hoping you are not sparked out. Love the boat. Can you remember where thing are with all that locker storage?

[@waynocook53]

Great job on the cover!

[@zZjak793Zz1]

amazing video as always. love finding cool new people to follow!

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks Jack, yeah these two are on a pretty epic adventure! Some of the footage they are getting in Alaska is just insane!! Thanks for watching :)

[@MerlinMan1579]

Tomorrow I step onto my Compass 28 to liveaboard. I am quite nervous of the unknown, but to see you guys had no experience as I have settles me down nicely, thanks. Did you read a lot of books on Sailing, as I have quite a few ordered to help me with my days ahead.

[@lanceforrest3634]

Good fortune be yours.. and keep out of storms... x

[@VanessaAdam]

This is great! We really wanted to get in a sailboat, especially when we were living in Halifax. The idea of being able to travel with minimal fossil fuel input is very very appealing. Maybe we'll do it after we do van life for a bit, especially after seeing these two do it with no sailing experience!

[@VanessaAdam]

Thanks for the encouragement! We talked about it a lot but neither of us had even been on a sailboat, and then the idea was kiboshed when we moved to Ontario. I haven't heard of any Benko's but that doesn't mean anything. Adam grew up there so he might!

[@VanessaAdam]

yes I can totally see us doing it in the future. We are really looking forward to getting into the van for a bit though. Who knows maybe we'll do 50% van 50% sailboat in the future!

[@allynonderdonk7577]

T hose little drawers are genius!

[@defylifeadventure]

Nice tour of the boat. Got to be heard to keep it warm during the Alaskan winter though.

[@tronalpha9137]

Hello. just came by your channle. I live in Australia on my catamaran. I have been living on boats for over 20 years. I love the lifestyle. when i buy another catamaran, will be startting my owen channel. wish you both good luck. Gerard.

[@rb8607]

Very beautiful and natural...

[@Makemydayoutdoors]

They are living my dream 👍

[@SailingUma]

Nice to see some familiar faces! Good on ya guys!

[@PaulEgges]

Yep. I follow both Uma and VL religiously.

[@efefrfrs]

awesome!

[@murraybarker7724]

Great video guys!! Thanks for sharing.

[@richardroth3700]

Nice. Good video.

[@darrelcdammann]

living the dream 💯👍

[@ExploringAlternatives]

They sure are! :)

[@darrelcdammann]

Exploring Alternatives life goals 💯👍😆

[@BlazinBlades]

This guy is super envious 👍 Extremely cool channel! Cheers BB

[@qristv1912]

really cool thanks for sharing

[@ElizabethTravelsNow]

I'd be so scared of winter! It's crazy you guys manage to live like that :)

[@theWatsons]

Wow! Alaska is so beautiful. Its on my bucket list for 2017!! :)

[@TicklerDude]

the Watsons Come to Anchorage in April. The dirty melting snow, brown grass, trash littered streets, and gray/cloudy skies are just beautiful.

[@tylerl6942]

Did ya do it?

[@jarichardson44]

Nice! I"m also a fellow Juneauite with plans of living on some kind of boat by 2020....if I see you guys in the harbor I'll come say hi and pick your brains. -Justin

[@YakMotley]

Awesome video!

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thank you! :)

[@waltobringer2928]

Thanks!

[@dickiedonnelly4223]

very nice greetings from Ireland

[@jwrappuhn71]

Great job on that vid.

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks so much!!

[@thainguyen-vx4pr]

nice boat and sweet home..

[@shantikeet]

I didn't know you guys were doing video in Alaska! I would have totally done a video for your guys channel of our tiny cabin here on a lake that has all the luxuries of a tiny house. live in it full-time

[@backcountrypreps6171]

I am so close to doing this. when my kids grow up a bit.

[@SVTipsyGypsy]

Love this! These guys make great videos too!

[@Lotuslaful]

Awesome video! Congrats I am curious how you handled the air intake under the Kimberley stove?

[@Lotuslaful]

I see. Great set up, nothing like a fire and a view and adventure and spaciousness. A feast!

[@sergiomainieri2498]

Alaska é fantastico!

[@mdtaylor2274]

I love your cat! You mentioned that you guys are new to sailing. Have you battled with any bad weather on the sea yet? Wishing all three of you safe and happy travels.

[@WaywardLifeSailing]

Love the litter box solution! I also wonder what the benefit is to having an alcohol stove instead of a propane one.

[@FuZandy]

Very cool!

[@Datsyzerberg]

you guys rock.

[@GatorLife57]

Thumbs up...ENJOY....THE SIMPLE LIFE

[@greetjenijdam]

Nice movie. Greetz from Holland.

[@tahoo2121]

Very go overview. You've done some really smart things utilizing the space you have. Thumbs up. wavesfromSeattle Buchan 37'

[@isonovoso8312]

thanks!

[@TrevorMarty69]

Wow, that's pretty cool. I wonder how scary it would be to go out to Hawaii in a boat on your own.

[@JJoeisCooking]

I was wondering how you cope with living on the boat in the winter. Is it really possible to keep it warm enough to be comfortable? Plus isn't there a danger of the water freezing?

[@scdobserver835]

Wow!

[@Ferelmakina]

awesome! what do they do for a living?

[@CHRIS198490]

love the idea in future I will do the same

[@jandradventures]

Im a dental hygienist who likes sailing too! - Jessica

[@RangKlos]

RESPECT!

[@rubennavegante3491]

I've been doing the same thing living abroad for seven years

[@Quodge]

Whow did you guys get rid of the compression post to make more room in the saloon!!? Not an experienced sailor, but isn't that really dangerous? Amazingly inspiring though. I liked how you both still have normal jobs for the time being, just instead of washing money down the drain on rent you're buying your boat. Love it. Also if SHTF you can go anywhere in the world, should you need. Very smart for the future. All the best!

[@1yachtcarpenter]

31' is a little tight, but you guys have her dialed in nicely.. Good luck to you..

[@1yachtcarpenter]

right on.

[@fi-dollashake6149]

I hear those kimberly stoves are very efficient. With RVs and trailers, you need to cut a hole out the bottom of the vehicle to get the air to come through below the floor. Being on a boat, is the ventilation coming somewhere from the side? Cheers :)

[@ChrisMcEvoy]

Awesome video , I also am subscribed to their channel :)

[@SailingBik]

Just subscribed guys!!! loving your vids!!! Keep up the good work :)

[@ExploringAlternatives]

Thanks so much for the positive comment and for subscribing! :) :)

[@1_fishin_magician224]

looks fun ...enjoy 1FM Lake George, NY

[@pjschroeder76]

Sriracha doesn't need to be refrigerated.

[@Shinkajo]

It stays fresher

[@yeetandskeet]

But itll taste better lol

[@martinshow5146]

i saw Sriracha sause :)

[@Sharpslaw]

Are there any monthly boat rentals in Juneau? For those of us that don't want to purchase.

[@elburroadventures]

Inspiring.