The Reality of Living Minimally on a Sailboat in the Caribbean - Sailing Uma [Step 84]

[@jwal1037]

Loved this video. Wife and I live minimally, just on land. I get sea sick on a pond when the wind comes up. I subscribed today. Started at the beginning today. Had surgery on my second eye on Monday, 2 months after the first, got the dressing off yesterday and needed something to do. You working on your boat got me started on an old project last year, a 1965 Grumman-Olsen Chevy Kurb-Van before I lost my eyesight. It was an original factory motorhome. Have redone the whole thing, all modern drive train, axles and suspension, all new house windows, gutted the interior, new floors, all new floor plan, interior walls, queen walk around bed, bath suite, kitchenette and 2 swivel rockers. All aluminum body so I polished the whole thing instead of painting it, reminded me of the prep work to paint your boat. Keep it up, one day at a time doing it your way, enjoy the journey....James

[@bluetickhound16]

It’s amazing how different Uma is now in June of 2020 as opposed to when this video was originally made... she’s a completely different boat!

[@jcbaily5559]

As I continue to catch up on your early videos I am really enjoying the maps you show for your various journeys and getting to watch your repair jobs. Both are interesting and enjoyable to watch...thanks for all the hard work you put into your vlogs.

[@tenthousandtinysteps3497]

I'm so glad you guys spent an episode just showing the simple daily life on the boat. Sometimes it's easy to forget all the work you guys do to make these videos possible. Thanks again and I can't wait to see your next video!

[@simonattwood6100]

My binge is complete. I'm officially besotted, addicted and enthralled by the courage (and occasional belligerence) of you two. But most of all your can do attitude that doesn't let anything knock you down for long. You did it your way.

[@davidwhitslar8333]

I just bought a 38 foot C&C Windquest, and have just about finished updating it. I already ran all new electrical, to a brand new Blue Sea Systems breaker panel. Im currently updating from a tiller arm, to an edson cable steering system. Im going to sailing from the Long Island Sound to the Caribbean in November. Stay safe out there, and happy sailing. If I see yall out there..Id love to say thanks, for all the inspiring videos, in person.

[@nielsbrandenborg-hansen9463]

i have followed your channel from the beginning.it have always been very interestíng, you maneged all the problem in the beginning, keels, engine etc. You are only sailing buy the Wind, no engine when the Wind is low, thacking when necesary. You are real sailors. Yor beatiful smiling personalityes, it is always fun to whats your new episodes. :-)

[@DEMOGarage]

Ahh, that audio thing with the towel was so cute, and the hands. LOL 😁

[@traderman786]

during world War 2 when Guadeloupe was under German control; my Grenadian Grandfather who used to build boats befriended a German officer and convinced him to let him use the boatyard for a weekend. he in the space of a weekend assembled a boat and made his escaped. he sailed back to his family in Grenada .

[@SailingUma]

Wow. That's amazing. Thanks for sharing this story.

[@goutvols103]

Hopefully that German officer never made it off the island. That would have been tough to explain to his CO.

[@carbidegrd1]

Guadeloupe was never under German control. It was under Vichy control but voted to join the Free French to avoid any chance of American invasion. The Americans were concerned an attack on the Panama Canal could originate there.

[@rhett4027]

great history facts

[@anvilhead59]

@Ben Silva The U.S. attacked the Cubans and removed them from the island.

[@scottsmith4612]

Sailing at night. Usually best on the midwatch and steaming independently (not in formation with other ships - a "quieter" watch.). I remember one night in particular somewhere in the South China Sea. The sky was clear with a full moon and the entire sky was covered in these little puff-ball clouds. It literally looked like thousands of cotton balls up there. Some things you never forget. Your videos trigger lots of memories like that.

[@donaldmaywald8937]

I have been watching your Steps from the beginning and always look forward to them. This one is very good the way you presented your live-aboard life and the way you both work together. It is very obvious that you are both living your dream together and really enjoy it. Steer clear of the couches in life and stay safe.

[@tomriley5790]

Great video! Literally Kika can look good wearing a trashbag - Genius idea:-)! Thanks for the hours under the blanket doing the sound track! So much effort must go into these videos yet you make them seem so lovely and relaxed! Brilliantly edited, thanks for the insights into the places your travels have taken you!

[@TonyAnschutz]

Great job again. Now that you have been doing it for a couple years you have a better idea of what you really need and what you don't . Getting rid of stuff is liberating huh? My wife and I have been living out of small backpacks for the last 18 months and it feels great! It makes me consider each purchase from a stuff perspective and of course that also saves us money! Well done chicos!!

[@magicman9486]

Thanks for flying our colours (Yes i spelled it correctly).

[@tomharrell1954]

Great video, love you two. It's really nice when you show the little map and were you start and where you end up. For us land lubbers it helps us connect where you are. Great idea keep it up.

[@hahahshs5169]

Oh my gosh! Now all the narrations I’ll be picturing Kika with a blanket over her head 😂

[@potusuk]

What may appear as a mundane 'day in the life of' video ~ this is what makes the life ~ thankyou for including it

[@kenpole3058]

Latest issue of Gold Old Boat has a fairly laudatory feature about that "Cuban YoYo" hand-lining technique. Fair winds!

[@notfromhere8809]

Great job on flying the colours Dan! Cheers from NS.

[@robertthart6387]

You're really nice people. Lovely to watch you people, nice tattoo bro, bless you two!

[@DavidHaney1]

I took a vacation for 2 weeks on Guadalupe and I’ve visited for a day on a couple of cruises. Each visit was fantastic. it turned out to be one of my most favorite islands for a vacation. Even though no one speaks english, after a few days you pick up enough of the french language to order food. You also have to enjoy the fact that most of the beaches were topless or nude. After a couple of days on the beach, it all seems normal.

[@billb.6109]

Your Videos are getting better and better, We did enjoy seeing the Quiet side of Your life too. Safe travels.

[@ryankc3631]

Get a strong net bag, put a few pieces of laundry inside and tow it behind your boat for about an hour. Bring it in and rinse it in fresh water. Do small batches at a time. Your stuff will be clean.

[@brentparks2292]

I’ve heard of Navy personal washing their dungarees like that! I never did, but those who did swore by it.

[@sil8127]

That’s where the phrase dirty toe rag comes from. But they weren’t clothes being towed...

[@ryankc3631]

@@brentparks2292 That's exactly what I did.

[@TheMorganMonroeShow]

My wife and I really enjoy your show!!

[@MaxRoaldEckardt]

It is so charming to see you two together. If you are with the right people (person) even mundane tasks like getting chores done can turn into refreshing adventures :)

[@mariemorrissey9378]

Hey Kika and Dan have a great day! Glad I know Sailing Uma! ☺😀

[@ZachParks21]

Honestly, I love watching the boat projects and upgrades.

[@raphaelbussy6482]

Love the « Bleu Blanc Rouge » on the black board, glad you got in with no problem !

[@ladoalto2]

I think it´s a good idea to send you guys, as a gift, some tiny voice booth to recompensating Kika´s effort to make us a good audio! By the way, watching this video until the very end was really worthy, just to see Kika in some kind of Mc Hammer pants!! Cheers from Rio de Janeiro!!!!!!!!!! You Rock!!

[@larryoutdoor]

These two just have the time of there lives.

[@chewydog3948]

I've been watching your vids for about a year now. After almost 2 decades living in China, I'm back stateside and finally getting my boat. She needs a little TLC but once complete we are heading South. Hope to meet up with you two. You didn't buy a couch, BRAVO! Cheers

[@RenegadeADV]

Your editing is getting very good, your videos are taking a really professional feel. Keep up the good work!

[@twrayl2002]

Wow. What a change from the latest ones. 🙂 3 years. Still think you guys are the best.

[@WindedVoyage]

Bienvenue en France! Sailing at night must be experienced first hand. I try to describe it in one of my vids, but like you, the feeling can't be filmed. Well done on the living reality on a boat, we (live aboards) can relate. BTW I use two pieces of egg carton foam around my mic for VO recording. You're Canadian! That's why you're cool. Great mix with your lovely Haitian sweetheart. You make a great real sailing couple and a great channel:-)

[@MrTatts64]

Two years you been sailing now! Wow, doesn't seem even half of that as I sit here watching your video. If there was ever a life path I should have taken at your ages, you are sure living it! Keep up the great work guys and thanks for sharing :)

[@carolinabeacher1558]

i agree, wish i woulda took that route when i was younger

[@justinnitsuj7041]

Same....seeing ol' peeps sailing is encouraging with respect to the physical effort to sail...seems something one adjusts themselves....when / where and how one decides to sail.....that said to do it in your 20's, at your peak physical / mental ability while still having those 1st time experience type emotions is pure gold. One thing I do notice is how he speaks to her, and treats her in general...she certainly makes him feel like a king...definitely and "age" thing.

[@cptblack5705]

applause

[@heathersullivan8833]

We stayed in Deshies too. Loved it. Rented a car with our buddy boat and toured the island

[@rockzzzparty984]

You guys are awesome..learn alot from you. Can fullfil your dream even you are not so rich...

[@33eyeman]

Thank you for taking the time and effort to putting out great videos with the blankie.👍

[@davidmg4216]

I'm so happy when you guys upload a new video

[@southernpaths2986]

I’m a longtime sub and it’s a lot of fun to go back to the earlier videos when Uma wasn’t nearly the same vessel she is now. You two have certainly come a long way also, but are still very much the same people, if that makes sense. I’m looking for a Catalina 400 mk II to start cruising the Gulf coast, the Bahamas and the Caribbean…

[@kb1esx]

I really appreciate the effort to try and provide good quality audio! Also, I love how you hands continue to 'talk outside the tent. 😁

[@haroldgjr]

You guys made me laugh, chuckle and grin. Your obvious love warms my heart and brings me back for more. Den, your choice in women is suburb and Kika's choice in Den is pure magic. Thank you both for sharing this life with me and all your subscribers. (Love the sound booth!)

[@noahalexander3607]

Hey! My first boat was a steel 14ft Ontario tinny built for Georgian bay and I named it Uma after a song I listened to. I found your channel a while ago and it reminds me of that boat and those times. Just thought I'd share, and congratulations on the fantastic channel!

[@bondvagabond42]

A good cheap alternative to a gimbaled stove is to get an old pressure cooker, nice water tight lid, so no splashy. They are even safer than a gimbaled stove, because every once in a while you get "gimbal lock" and they can really throw stuff. Great channel, I'm a retired shipwright up in the states, saving my pennies for another boat. If you are ever up in Texas and need help with repairs, drop me a line. Have fun!

[@prankishsquire2663]

This is a clever solution. Most have a cheery whistle when ready.

[@owenirc5139]

FYI washing clothes. Estimates are 80% of the wear and tear on clothes is the agitation and tumble drying of machines. Wash by hand, dry in the sun, they last longer.

[@stephencmullins]

I loved the blanket recording studio. Quite inventive.

[@mattyhode]

she's of course gorgeous and you seem cool enough☺ love the videos. And a hint, from when I was a bit more homeless, on washing clothes. A lid for the bucket. Cut a hole in the top that a plunger handle will fit through. Drill a few holes in the plunger head so it won't stick to the bottom(which is hilarious if you forget) and then churn it like butter. rinse the same way. And y'all keep it up. I'm happily jealous.

[@SailingUma]

We'll have to try that, thanks for the tip :)

[@mattyhode]

don't mix up your plungers ☺ I'm loving watching y'all

[@mmdesmond1]

I used the bucket and plunger laundry method while living in a van traveling through Europe. It worked great. @@mattyhode

[@benniechapman4816]

Love your videos. I feel that am right there with you in your adventures.

[@SailAwayVlog]

Great video as always...love your editing style! By the way, I'm a professional audiobook narrator and loved your blanket solution to flatten the audio! For what it's worth, if you got some cheap audio foam or even egg crate foam, and glued it to three small pieces of luan, plastic or any thin rigid material (about 14" x 14" each) you could make a simple mic shield...like a 3-walled box that sits around the mic and you speak into where the 4th wall would be...lol. They make very expensive versions to buy of course, but the DIY version would totally do the trick for video VO purposes. Anyway, that'd kill a ton of sound reflection, it would store very flat, and you wouldn't have to steam yourself in the blanket...although again, great solution!

[@renatosimoes]

The nature gives you all the best. You guys really enjoy it and that is so nice. So... what about give back to the nature the respect and the love it gives you?

[@frevele1656]

Have binged watch for the last few days, you guys and your story is great keep up the great work

[@michel.montreal]

Ok, Canadian flag and Kika's french accent. I'm in. Allez je vais voir quelques videos pour me familiariser avec cette chaine. A plus !!!

[@MichaelPaulHenderson]

Good wi-fi, great weather, great anchorage...no wi-fi, water or propane...even with all that and boat work you look relaxed...priceless!

[@MrDenis7p]

Thank You for another Great Video! We are Learning so much about Check -In's, Re-Supplying the boat, all aspects of Sailing!

[@spiritualinsight]

I was just binging on your videos, and the new episode came out as I finished you guys leaving haiti

[@matthewwall9489]

Lovely couple..!!

[@NeonsStyleHD]

Here's a good tip for doing it by hand. Make a small pole, at a horizontal handle to the top enough for two hands to hold it. At the bottom of the pole, get two round (or 4) and mount them to the bottom in an X shape. Make sure some of the pole sticks out the bottle of the X. Then put the X into the bucket at the bottom, grab the handle and twist, hand made agitator. :)

[@titustiger27]

I always find it interesting when a vid to completely changes their style

[@SailingSatori]

Love this video guys! Nicely done, love the recording studio! 😎⛵️

[@SamMariassouce]

Nice video, thanks. The principle of a washing machine is to move water up and down. You can secure a plastic barrel (those blue ones as high as your waistline), at the bow of your boat. Put your dirty laundry with a few volcanic rocks inside. Add water, laundry detergent and secure the lid. Go sailing. For rinsing, just change the water and go sailing again. Voila! No more laundry day, only sailing day.

[@kurthubbard-beale5003]

Cute couple. Stay safe you guys. Love from us all in the Gulf of Thailand😊👍🙏😎

[@traderman786]

im so proud of you guys , this is awesome.

[@tedrenard472]

Yaaaay!!! Finally, a cruising video where you start to use a rolling hitch to attach your snubber to the chain when you anchor, like a proper sailor, instead of one of the multitude of metal hooks SOLD IN THE CHANDLERS AS AN 'ESSENTIAL' which just strip the galvanising off your chain, which the CHANDLERS CAN THEN SELL YOU MORE OF AT TWICE THE GOLD PRICE. Looks like, sadly, it might be a bit late for this bit of chain :-( but check for re-galvanising places as you go along, or a paint called zinga, which is nearly as good as galvanising. Both cheaper than new chain, and the old stuff still looks man enough for a while yet. (Should that be 'person enough'?). Go guys, we're cheering you on!

[@AV-qt2sz]

Very cool! Living it! Would like some info on your boat (make, size, etc..) thanks. Happy sails!

[@philipkenneth24]

Thanks for the videos. I really like the minimalist approach where you guys are not trying to replicate a home on the water. (No washing machine, no water maker, no air con, no electric loo all ridiculously stupid things on sailboats) A sealed waterproof bag with a little water and soap in a locker will do laundry brilliantly on passage. Not sure we should be dumping stuff on an island if we can avoid it?

[@christopherfreeman3357]

I just got my sailing Certification. Now, I'm looking forward into buying a sailboat.

[@johnlampe3258]

Come on, Dan! You're Master level of DIY! You don't need a gimbaled stove, you need a gimbaled platform on which to mount your stove! Challenge Received?

[@tedrenard472]

Could be a problem, as the platform the stove is on also has the lid to the icebox. There are a load of gimballing solutions they could put in place there using the stove they currently have, add to that that in some circumstances keeping it as is can be safer than fitting gimbals, as most injuries at sea are to the chef (or cook, in my case ;-)) getting scalded in bouncy weather. On some of these vids, the sight of these lovely young ladies cooking in bikinis turns my blood cold and is a long way from cruising reality, where experienced cruisers (both M&F) wear a plastic apron similar to www.guycotten.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=32_127_128 as dealing with even a minor burn at sea is a real problem. Like the challenge though. Dan is clever enough to come up with something that could help a lot of people.

[@CPTCleoTorris]

I once saw a video where they had a gimble counter top... Pretty cool and it worked great!

[@johnlampe3258]

@ted renard - Agreed. Cooking underway is always dicey at best. You wouldn't pull out your Coleman Stove in the back seat of the Family Truckster during a road trip, and the car is smoothly rolling down a freeway! The most severe burns I've had in my life were from touching a hot pot on a camp stove sitting on stable ground. Doing it on the rocking, rolling sea just seems like you're asking for trouble. But if you are going to try to cook on long passages, a properly designed marine stove would be the best and safest option, absolutely! But Sailing Uma seems to be about pushing the ideas of conventional wisdom. Electric over diesel. Glass food storage over plastic. A storm anchor bigger than their dinghy instead of running for safer port. I would love to see Dan explore other options to gimbaling his existing equipment somehow. He's level headed enough to be safe about it, I think.

[@prankishsquire2663]

I may spell some of this wrong... As a culinary student in the 70's I was taught "Chowder" was a soup always garnished with potatoes. Clam and corn chowder all had potatoes so I accepted this as truth. Wrong. I was heartily laughed at by a Spanish chef from the Andalouse. He informed me, perhaps more correctly, that a "chadure" was any soup, cooked in a "chaldron". ( also French chaudon, again my spelling is abominable) That being the cooking pot hung from the ceiling over a round fire in a Portuguese boat. For many thousands of years, perhaps, cooking on boats has been hazardous as hell? As a chef I would love to give it a shot.

[@ddyck8389]

Love seeing our flag! So many cruising videos I watch are American. Luv your videos!

[@mrdave22]

I am Canadian!!! cool to see the flag on your boat good vid thanks for sharing, thumbs up

[@blueskyredkite]

I can't believe you don't have a gimballed stove yet! It'll make so much difference to your cooking while on passage, you need to do it!

[@SailingUma]

Yeah we're excited to get one soon. Although, so far we haven't really needed it. We're rarely out long enough to need to cook and we've been beating to weather the entire time, so even a gimballed stove wouldn't have helped much. But now we're starting to sail "down hill" so it will be much nicer to cook inside while underway.

[@stub2022]

Sometimes I wish you guys would just hang on a spectacular sunset....just a moment or two longer... for those of us who'll never see that. ✌😁🍺👍🌅💛

[@svthelastchild5001]

We been with you guys since step one :) but just realized our subscriptions were set on private.. :(

[@flashmore3]

Great vid, super cute couple, well done!

[@Gichie16]

Hey... You've guys have got a fan in Jamaica! 😁 Been learning a lot & enjoying the videos, especially the ones about electric motors.

[@charlesjarmanii]

Somehow I always find out well after I started watching a youtuber that they are Canadian. I don't know what it is but I'm somehow always drawn to them. Love following your adventures!

[@JCrook1028]

He is Canadian. She is from Haiti.

[@jacklabloom635]

I really enjoyed this video. Thanks for sharing.

[@davevaughn6293]

Love your channel. Love the energy you both have !!😀

[@bdjm8595]

.........sure hope you have more than one of those Home Depot buckets because I have seen it used for a LOT of different things!!!

[@yoanaerodrone3043]

hey guys sorry we couldn't meet in Martinique i had to work and i dint have wifi. may be next time. love your work the way u take life is diferent nice to see even for a brif moment. hope will meet again

[@SailingUma]

No worries. Glad we were able to briefly say Hi :)

[@terryharms235]

great vid, Thank you so much for sharing Terry

[@lundkpearl]

As usual excellent vid. 12:25 Bubbels going backwards again Lol. have a god one and stay safe.

[@benforman5284]

I think the first town you arrived at in Guadalupe is the same town that the tv show “Death in Paradise” is filmed! Would have been cool to visit the set of the police station

[@imperialservices9892]

I found your channel I think I've watched about 15 of them and that is so cool how you both travel and get along and each video is interesting also noticed if your bored you guys just leave so the viewers never have a boring video keep up the cool sailing I never been on a sail boat people say it's hard I think the scary part is sometimes the boat looks like it's sideways

[@rhett4027]

yeah! I have always been intimidated by the harshness travales bring upon a skipper if there are back to back tests

[@984francis]

I read somewhere that a toilet plunger is great for washing clothes in a bucket.

[@RoscoeJames]

Wife and I are off to the Dominican Republic tomorrow. A week at the beach. We'll see what your oceans are like. Haha.

[@bradputney1373]

I love Guadeloupe, great little island.

[@jonessmith2068]

How about rigging a canvas or plastic tarp over the boom attached to the shrouds with a hose grommet and hose to collect rain water in containers which can be strained through a filter and put in your boat fresh water tanks. to me this would be easier than lugging water from shore and should keep you in fresh water supply longer.

[@photoSIMPA]

Je connais bien la Guadeloupe pour y avoir naviguer... Pointe-Pitre et St-Francois...

[@ajbosin]

Hi there this is my first comment on your videos. i have been watching for about 6 months and really do enjoy them so thanks for that anyway i was curious if you have plans to visit Guatemala i ask because my wife is from there and we would like to move there and maybe start sailing. i have never been and would love to see a video on it and think from what i have learned it can be a great cultural environment but yeah just an idea. fair winds and safe sailing.

[@SailingUma]

Hey, well, welcome to the YT family . and thanks for watching. I dont think we will stop in Guatemala this time around, but we will someday, I am sure :)

[@brianh6666]

GREAT VIDEO.... STARTED FOLLOWING

[@zhubajie6940]

I wished I had had a windlass on my Catalina. One time I had to stay at anchor instead of going to work because we had such a strong wind I couldn't pull the anchor up.

[@michaeldrouin3068]

Your Canadian accent, really come out in this early vidieo.

[@sailorshavemorefun]

Great channel with great content! Keep it going! What is that very nice song before the Laudromat scene? And what is the glue lined rubber tape you used for the mast boot?

[@Jon8M5Musser]

I miss your boat projects on film

[@ChrisMcEvoy]

Great video as usual :) .. Loved the Canadian Flag Dan, I didn't do much on Canada day just enjoyed the day here in Ontario ;)

[@markstewart3551]

Keep up the keep up the good life Keep Safe Keep love in your heart

[@ozzyc7174]

Love your content keep up the good work and ignore the haters😇.

[@alansailing1387]

I have seen people pack a number of wedges between the deck and the mast the mast moving around and breaking the seal.

[@NuffSedEntertainment]

Very much non-sarcastically speaking, it's amazing to see another black person(on youtube) that loves sailing! I don't feel so alone anymore!!!!

[@arottie4097]

I also am " Very much non-sarcastically speaking" When I say that's so weird that what you see is "another black person(on you tube) that loves sailing!" I say this because I have not missed a single Sailing Uma video. All I have ever seen is one Super cool, Awesome Human Being living a blessed life to the fullest!!! Perhaps I need to watch them all again? ;~))

[@vincent7520]

Very much non-sarcastically speaking, it's amazing to read a black person being ignorant that sailing is a matter of culture and money (yes !…) and that a community wh is about 50% on the poverty level has little opportunity to envision, let alone enjoy, that he or she could sail one day. As for black people sailing the art way, that is trying to make a living out of the sea, they are zillions for all continents. PS. I'm white (and angry when reading such blind comments).

[@Keeblly]

Yesss!!! And she looks a bit like me, and I am saving up to live on a sailboat in Curacao, probably in Spanish Water as well :D

[@MaddConnekRecordz]

ILL BE YOUR FIRST MATE LOL :)-

[@waynephillips2613]

I’m black and have a 40 foot power boat. Not many of us out there

[@jakjarsha1107]

Great video, you two are radical.