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A quiet walk to the store turned into a life-changing moment—and a complete rethink of how we cruise. When Stephen was hit by a car during a shoreside errand, our family of five had to answer hard questions: How do we keep the dream alive without setting back his recovery? What gets upgraded, what gets cut, and what truly matters when health, teens, and time all collide?

We share the plan we landed on: stretch out our Bahamas months, then spend hurricane season still in one marina so physical therapy wins and motion doesn’t undo progress. That choice cascaded into unexpected moves—car shopping after five years without one to help our teens get licensed, and a wave of boat changes that make everyday life easier. Electric winches now hoist the dinghy, a folding wheel opened the cockpit, and a raised helm perch eased long days on the ICW. We replaced a leaky hot water heater with an 11‑gallon unit, traded our slow Spectra for a Seawater Pro that cranks 30–35 gph, and built a DIY hard bimini topped with nearly 1,800 watts of solar. The rule we live by: reduce strain first, then optimize for comfort.

We dive into sails and rigging choices for in‑mast furling, including why Dyneema‑reinforced cloth beats tropical laminates and how a trustworthy sail rep saved us thousands by spotting worn sheaves before we blamed the main. We talk real water numbers for a crew of five—about 40 gallons a day—and the small habits that make it work. We also get honest about teens aboard: how Georgetown’s community gets them up early to finish homeschool, how one daughter built a paid art and keychain business with vendor fulfillment, and how the oldest is eyeing the seafarers union for paid training and contract work at sea.

There’s the legal mess, too—insurance delays and medical bills that don’t care about weather windows—and the hacks that keep us moving anyway. A budget cockpit enclosure built from repurposed panels turned frigid runs into greenhouse‑warm passages, proving you don’t need perfect to make progress. If you’re weighing slower miles, better systems, and a season that fits your life, this conversation is your blueprint.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a cruising friend, and leave a review—what’s the one upgrade you’d make tomorrow to sail longer and feel better?

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

SALTY PODCAST is LIVE every Wed at 6pm Central and is all about the love of sailing!
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist
Wanna create a Livestream?: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608

GEAR FEATURED IN MY UPCOMING VIDEOS:
🛟 Boat Fenders → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S1PXKKR
⚓ Dock Lines → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS4BNYR9
🧽 Exterior Cleaning Kit → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL533KR7

Send us a text

Planning to sail from Miami to Georgetown without a single overnight? We lay out a proven, day-only route that respects winter weather, leverages the best anchorages, and removes guesswork from every leg. Think Biscayne Bay as your patient launchpad, South Bimini for an easy check-in, a smart pause on the Banks before Northwest Channel, and short, joyful hops all the way down the Exumas.

We start with a simple truth: the Gulf Stream rewards those who wait. Hawk Channel beats the skinny inside route for most boats, and Biscayne Bay offers a perfect rhythm—anchor off Dinner Key when it’s calm, duck to Boca Chita for frontal protection, and stage at No Name Harbor. With a clean window, cross to South Bimini’s protected basin and avoid the current-battered docks up north. From there, run the Banks by daylight, anchor off the rhumb line before Northwest Channel, then slip through at dawn toward West Bay, New Providence, and onward to Highbourne Cay.

Once in the Exumas, the sailing turns blissful: Highbourne to Shroud Cay’s mangrove river and ocean “slide,” a reservation-worthy stop in Warderick Wells for serious protection and scenery, Pig Beach at Big Major with fast dinghy runs to Staniel Cay’s supplies, and Black Point’s laundry, haircut, and legendary coconut bread. We share mooring tactics for strong currents, singlehander tricks for picking up a ball, and why “raging” cuts demand slack water or current-with-wind timing. The final push to Georgetown is a rewarding reach when you time your exit cut and entrance right; inside Elizabeth Harbour, use the moorings near Chat and Chill and consider shifting to the town side when south and west winds arrive. With a vibrant morning net, kid-run Saturdays, and easy side trips to Cat Island, Long Island, Rum Cay, and Conception, Georgetown becomes both a safe haven and a springboard.

Weather discipline holds the plan together. Expect fronts every 7 to 10 days, clocking winds and short periods of punchy west and northwest. Budget an hour each morning for forecasts, models, and routing choices. We lean on Marine Weather Center (Chris Parker) for conservative, cruiser-savvy guidance and combine it with tools like PredictWind and Windy. And a note on etiquette that pays dividends: tip dockhands fairly, protect park seabeds by taking moorings, and use island water with respect. Ready to chart your crossing? Follow, share with a sailor who needs a safer plan, and leave a review to help more cruisers find this route.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

SALTY PODCAST is LIVE every Wed at 6pm Central and is all about the love of sailing!
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist
Wanna create a Livestream?: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608

GEAR FEATURED IN MY UPCOMING VIDEOS:
🛟 Boat Fenders → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S1PXKKR
⚓ Dock Lines → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS4BNYR9
🧽 Exterior Cleaning Kit → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL533KR7

Send us a text

A thousand miles from Hawaii, the chainplate ripped out and the mast went over the side. That sleepless night in the Transpac didn’t just test seamanship—it planted the seed for a weather platform that now helps a million sailors make safer choices at sea. Olympian and two‑time America’s Cup winner John Bilger joins us to share how a jury rig, a weatherfax, and a hard-earned finish turned into PredictWind’s mission to bring pro-grade forecasting to everyone.

We dig into what John learned running Alinghi’s Cup‑winning weather program: why multiple models beat gut feel, how high‑resolution data reveals local effects, and where new AI models are already outperforming traditional physics in short‑to‑medium range winds and rain. John explains AI polars that learn from your boat’s actual performance, motion simulation that flags roll, vertical acceleration, and slamming risk, and how those insights flow into routing that feels like Google Maps for passages. We also get practical about safety tech that matters offshore: over‑the‑horizon AIS with 300‑nm visibility, an anchor alert system that watches wind, depth, and shift while you’re ashore, and a forthcoming man‑overboard feature that turns a lost watch connection into an instant waypoint and alarm.

This conversation is part story, part field guide. You’ll hear about camper‑van regattas across Europe, a credit card read over SSB to hire a tug, and the high‑stakes America’s Cup call that flipped a race. More importantly, you’ll get a blueprint for using ensembles, CAPE for thunderstorm potential, and model agreement to reduce surprises—even in tricky zones like the Gulf of Mexico’s Big Bend. John’s closing advice is simple and actionable: start learning your tools months before departure and aim to avoid the first five days of bad weather entirely. If this helped you plan smarter passages, follow the show, share it with your crew, and leave a review so other sailors can find it too.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

SALTY PODCAST is LIVE every Wed at 6pm Central and is all about the love of sailing!
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist
Wanna create a Livestream?: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608

GEAR FEATURED IN MY UPCOMING VIDEOS:
🛟 Boat Fenders → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S1PXKKR
⚓ Dock Lines → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS4BNYR9
🧽 Exterior Cleaning Kit → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL533KR7

Send us a text

A single upgrade can change the way you move through the water. We just installed a below-deck autopilot and walk through what it means for safety, stamina, and real backup when steering cables or hydraulics fail. From the bypass pin to the rudder feedback sensor, we get hands-on with the hardware and talk about keeping linkages clean, joints aligned, and fuses easy to reach when the sea is bouncing and decisions need to be quick.

We also demystify how a Garmin marine network talks alongside a NMEA 2000 backbone and even plays nice with a Raymarine drive. Think of it like two classrooms with a shared hallway: radar, sonar, SiriusXM, and chartplotters on one side; heading sensors, ECU, and drive control on the other. Then we share the calibration routine that avoids hunting and overcorrection—run the setup wizard, carve big circles in both directions in moderate conditions, and set a mid-level response so the unit stays sharp when winds build.

Routing and weather drive the rest of the game plan. With a storm threading Jamaica and the Bahamas while a cold front presses across Florida, timing is everything. We weigh a sheltered stop at Cedar Key, a calmer push to Tarpon Springs, and when to choose the ICW over the Gulf. There’s practical seamanship throughout: seven-to-one or ten-to-one scope when it pipes up, a second anchor for pet-friendly nights, and the unglamorous but crucial logbook entries that insurance adjusters and the Coast Guard will ask for if your screens go dark. We touch on Hydrovane and other self-steering options, lobster and stone crab pot fields, king tides, and how local knowledge can shave hours without adding risk.

If you sail coastal miles, want clearer electronics integration, or need a smarter approach to anchoring and weather windows, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a skipper who needs a redundancy nudge, and leave a review with your best calibration tip or Gulf Coast shortcut—we’ll feature our favorites next time.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

SALTY PODCAST is LIVE every Wed at 6pm Central and is all about the love of sailing!
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist
Wanna create a Livestream?: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608

GEAR FEATURED IN MY UPCOMING VIDEOS:
🛟 Boat Fenders → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S1PXKKR
⚓ Dock Lines → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS4BNYR9
🧽 Exterior Cleaning Kit → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL533KR7

Send us a text

The docklines aren’t off yet, but the journey’s already begun. From a quiet slip in Orange Beach, we walk through the exact work it takes to ready a 1998 Island Packet 320 for a run down Florida’s Gulf Coast, across the Keys, and over to Georgetown in the Exumas—repairs, routing, weather calls, and the steady courage to go. We start at the masthead with a rigorous rigging inspection: a too‑long Genoa luff corrected with a new head Kringle, a migrating swivel brought back into spec, aging sheaves flagged, traveler cam cleats replaced with Harken 150s, and a fresh VHF cable run down the spar. It’s the kind of preventative detail that keeps a furler smooth and a solo sailor safe when the wind pipes up.

Belowdecks, a routine engine check turns serious: a leaking fuel pump leads to a cracked exhaust manifold diagnosis and a race to source the new part before departure. We talk through why manifolds matter, what a cleaned exhaust elbow buys you, and how to choose a no‑go line that honors both the calendar and the sea. On the electronics side, a Garmin Reactor 40 gets fully calibrated, chartplotter data and Auto Guidance charts are restored, and a remote finally brings the autopilot to the helm—a small shift that pays off across Florida’s Big Bend on a long night to Tarpon Springs.

Routes and weather get specific. We lay out a realistic hop plan—Destin, Panama City, Port St. Joe, Apalachicola—then the jump across, with alternatives based on 15–20 knots on the nose and bridge clearances too close to flirt with. In the Keys, Key Biscayne becomes both staging ground and vet stop for two boat‑curious cats with their Bahamas permit, lifeline netting, and tiny PFDs. Then it’s Bimini, Northwest Channel, and south through the Exumas, with community‑sourced tips like Norman’s Pond in a cream forecast and sensible cuts to reach Georgetown.

Threaded through the checklists is the reason for going. We talk openly about loss, faith, and choosing a busy anchorage over a lonely one; about how a rigging report, a diesel part, and a handful of spares can become a way to rebuild confidence; and about the generosity of the cruising network when you need it most. If you’ve been sketching your own passage to the Bahamas—or you just love the craft of making a boat ready—this is your map, your nudge, and your weather window.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a sailor who’s planning their crossing, and leave a review with your best Big Bend or Bimini tip—we’ll read our favorites on a future episode.

Support the show

SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

SALTY PODCAST is LIVE every Wed at 6pm Central and is all about the love of sailing!
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist
Wanna create a Livestream?: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608

GEAR FEATURED IN MY UPCOMING VIDEOS:
🛟 Boat Fenders → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S1PXKKR
⚓ Dock Lines → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS4BNYR9
🧽 Exterior Cleaning Kit → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL533KR7

Send us a text

Have you ever found yourself desperately checking multiple weather apps before casting off, still uncertain if you're making the right call? In this episode, we dive deep into the technology that's revolutionizing how sailors make weather-based decisions with Karen McMaster from PredictWind.

Karen brings extraordinary credentials to this conversation – she's not just a support team member at PredictWind, but a third-generation sailor who has raced around the world twice and recently took her 17-year-old daughter on her first offshore passage. "I wanted to make sure my daughter had a good experience," Karen explains, "so understanding the weather, routing it, and letting her know what to expect was key."

We explore why using multiple forecast models creates more confidence than relying on a single source. "It's like having six meteorologists sitting around the table," Karen notes, demonstrating how consensus between models helps sailors make better decisions. The discussion covers everything from high-resolution forecasting that reveals wind funneling between islands to detailed comfort parameters like roll and vertical acceleration that can predict seasickness before you leave the dock.

Perhaps most fascinating is how modern technology can learn your boat's actual performance over time, building custom polar diagrams that make routing increasingly accurate. We also discover how over-the-horizon AIS integration allows sailors to plan around fishing fleets or shipping lanes up to 300 nautical miles away – potentially avoiding those nerve-wracking 2AM encounters.

Whether you're planning your first offshore passage or your fiftieth, this episode offers practical insights into using weather technology to sail smarter, safer, and more comfortably. Try these tools on your next passage and experience the confidence that comes from truly understanding what lies ahead.

Support the show

SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

SALTY PODCAST is LIVE every Wed at 6pm Central and is all about the love of sailing!
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist
Wanna create a Livestream?: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608

GEAR FEATURED IN MY UPCOMING VIDEOS:
🛟 Boat Fenders → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S1PXKKR
⚓ Dock Lines → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS4BNYR9
🧽 Exterior Cleaning Kit → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL533KR7

Send us a text

What does it take to completely transform your life? For Brian of Sailing Delos, it was a moment of clarity in his manager's office, staring at a corporate org chart and realizing he wanted something entirely different. After walking away from his software career, selling everything he owned, and buying a sailboat, Brian embarked on what was supposed to be an 18-month adventure that has now stretched into 14 extraordinary years.

This conversation takes us through the remarkable evolution of Sailing Delos—from a single man's escape plan to a global sailing phenomenon that has hosted over 70 crew members, crossed multiple oceans, and weathered storms with 50+ knot winds in the Indian Ocean. Brian shares his philosophy during those harrowing moments: "Let the boat take care of you, she will. It's the crew you got to worry about."

The journey transformed dramatically when Brian met Karin (Kaz) in New Zealand. What started as an invitation for a weekend sail blossomed into a lifelong partnership, marriage, and eventually the birth of their daughter Sierra, who at six years old has already sailed 15,000 miles and visited 13 countries by boat. Her unique upbringing offers powerful lessons in resource conservation, global citizenship, and adaptability that traditional education simply can't provide.

Now, Sailing Delos is undergoing its most ambitious evolution yet—the creation of Delos 2.0, a custom aluminum diesel-electric catamaran being built in Brisbane, Australia. This revolutionary vessel will feature 5,000-6,000 watts of solar power, 54 kilowatt-hours of batteries, and a hybrid propulsion system designed to showcase what sustainable cruising could look like in the future. The rugged, expedition-ready design reflects their desire to explore higher latitudes while incorporating all the lessons learned from years at sea.

Whether you're dreaming of your own escape or simply curious about alternative lifestyles, this conversation offers a window into what's possible when you're willing to chart your own course—literally and figuratively. As Brian reminds us: "If you're not doing something that you love, make time to go out and do it... whatever your life holds, make the most of it."

Support the show

SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

SALTY PODCAST is LIVE every Wed at 6pm Central and is all about the love of sailing!
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist
Wanna create a Livestream?: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608

GEAR FEATURED IN MY UPCOMING VIDEOS:
🛟 Boat Fenders → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S1PXKKR
⚓ Dock Lines → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS4BNYR9
🧽 Exterior Cleaning Kit → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL533KR7

Send us a text

The transformative journey from land to sea captures the imagination of many adventurers, but few make the leap quite like Billy and Lizzie of Two Brits, One Box. In this captivating conversation, they reveal how they traded their RV lifestyle for life aboard their 1980 Pearson 365 sailboat, Stephney Thames—with absolutely no sailing experience.

Their story begins on the highways of Canada and the United States, where their RV adventures took them through the stunning landscapes of Utah, Arizona, and along the Pacific Coast. It was the misty shores of the Oregon coast that rekindled their connection to the sea, both having grown up in seaside towns in England. The pivotal moment came unexpectedly one evening while watching television, when Lizzie casually mentioned she could see herself living on a boat. By morning, Billy was researching how to make it happen.

What makes their journey particularly remarkable is their methodical approach to this dramatic lifestyle change. Rather than diving in headfirst, they researched extensively, viewed numerous boats, and used Vancouver Island as their training ground before attempting longer passages. Their first multi-night sail featured 35-knot winds and accidental jibes—challenges they overcame through perseverance and a willingness to learn.

Now sailing along the California coast and approaching San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, they share candidly about the realities of boat life: the mechanical challenges, the adjustment to living in small spaces, and the incomparable joy of watching whales breach against a sunset backdrop. Their future plans include Mexico's Baja Peninsula and potentially crossing the Pacific to French Polynesia.

For anyone harboring dreams of a similar adventure, Billy offers this encouragement: "If you're thinking about doing it, definitely go for it. But set small, manageable goals and build it up from there. You'd be surprised what you can achieve within a few months." Their journey stands as compelling proof that with determination and a thoughtful approach, even the most dramatic lifestyle changes are within reach.

Support the show

SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

SALTY PODCAST is LIVE every Wed at 6pm Central and is all about the love of sailing!
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist
Wanna create a Livestream?: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608

GEAR FEATURED IN MY UPCOMING VIDEOS:
🛟 Boat Fenders → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S1PXKKR
⚓ Dock Lines → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS4BNYR9
🧽 Exterior Cleaning Kit → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL533KR7