S/V Passage - Refitting a Classic (& Building Our Skills) Before Cutting the Docklines

We are working toward our dream, one step at a time, and are prepared to make mistakes and learn from them so we become better cruisers every day.

Vessel Name: Passage
Vessel Make/Model: 1980 Pearson 365 Ketch #324
Hailing Port: Chicago, IL
Crew: David Cole & Brodi Cole
About:
We started sailing in 2004 when David's dad bought his first sailboat, a 30' Hunter on Lake Michigan. David spent many hours on Lake Michigan and when his dad upgraded to a 42' Hunter, even made several multi-day crossings between Florida and the Bahamas. [...]
Extra:
In early 2010, we made a 5-year plan to pay off our debt, save money, buy a sailboat and take off for the adventure of a lifetime. One year into that plan, Brodi discovered an amazing deal that resulted in us acquiring "Passage"-a 1980 Pearson 365 Ketch-three years ahead of "schedule." We hope this [...]
Home Page: https://www.ouroffbeatlife.com
Social:
14 March 2019
30 May 2012 | Chicago, IL
19 March 2012 | Chicago, IL
16 February 2012 | Chicago, IL
03 January 2012 | Chicago, IL
13 December 2011
12 December 2011 | Chicago, IL
09 November 2011 | Chicago, IL
02 November 2011
01 November 2011 | Chicago, IL
19 October 2011 | Chicago, IL
13 October 2011 | Chicago, IL
12 October 2011 | Chicago, IL
11 October 2011 | Annapolis, MD
10 October 2011 | Annapolis, MD
02 October 2011 | Chicago, IL
20 September 2011 | Chicago, IL
12 September 2011 | Chicago, IL
11 September 2011 | Chicago, IL
04 September 2011 | Chicago, IL
Recent Blog Posts
14 March 2019

A New Adventure!

It's been a while since we posted anything because kids add an unexpected spice to life and our implementation strategy for leaving the rat race has changed a bit. We still plan to 'cut the docklines' and travel the world, but sadly it won't be with Passage.

30 May 2012 | Chicago, IL

Back on the Lake!

The blog may have been quiet lately but we sure haven’t been slacking! After receiving the spring bridge schedule (we can only put the boat in and take it up river on certain days approved by the city), we had a mad rush in April to cut our [...]

19 March 2012 | Chicago, IL

Big News!

We weren't kidding when we said in the last blog post that March would be full of big news...as you may have guessed from the photo, our crew is officially expanding to three! Baby Cole should be joining us around September 2, 2012...just in time to help us winterize Passage! In case you're wondering, [...]

16 February 2012 | Chicago, IL

Winter Update

We haven't been MIA because we're busy with boat projects...sadly it's been the exact opposite. While winter in Chicago has been a bit more temperate that usual, it still hasn't exactly been ideal for boatwork. So we've been focusing on home projects that were neglected throughout boating season...how [...]

03 January 2012 | Chicago, IL

Too COLD for Cruising

We truly thought more boatwork would get done this winter, but now that the holidays are officially over it's hard to motivate ourselves to willingly spend significant lengths of time outside doing boatwork when it's already skipping the freezing point entirely! It's official, January is NOT a good time [...]

13 December 2011

Cool Website

I just found a cool new website, and wanted to share. Love the pic/quote on his main page, too!

12 December 2011 | Chicago, IL

A Month of Updates

It's been a rather crazy month for us, without really any time to even sit down and log our updates. The weekend after our last (and only) post in November we did head back down to the yacht yard to get some more stuff off the boat, and try to figure out our head/plumbing system. Our biggest challenge [...]

09 November 2011 | Chicago, IL

MOTIVATION

Motivation. That one little word has so much "baggage" associate with it, but in my mind truly defines the doers from the dreamers. Ever since Daylight Saving Time ended over the weekend I've struggled to maintain my level of motivation. Between the [...]

02 November 2011

Hump Day, Quote Day!

Well, he wrote the quote anyway...

01 November 2011 | Chicago, IL

Not MIA!

We went down to the boatyard to see Passage on her cradle last Sunday, and it was amazing that it took just 20 minutes to get there! When we got to the boat, we packed up a few things to bring home for the winter as well as started to look at the holding tank to determine how we will remove it. We also [...]

Big News!

19 March 2012 | Chicago, IL
Brodi / Finally Spring!
We weren't kidding when we said in the last blog post that March would be full of big news...as you may have guessed from the photo, our crew is officially expanding to three! Baby Cole should be joining us around September 2, 2012...just in time to help us winterize Passage! In case you're wondering, this does not change our ultimate plan to cut the docklines and take a break from the US rat race culture. We've gotten some questions about this and will take a few moments to address them en masse:

Q: Where will s/he sleep?
A: In the pilot berth in the main salon. We are planning curtains/lee cloths/etc to make it a more private space to relax and nap, so it'll be the perfect spot for our little pumpkin!

Q: You promised I could sleep in the pilot berth when I visit you in exotic places. Where will I sleep?
A: On the settee! It pulls out to a double bed, so you'll be rooming with Baby Cole but it'll work out.

Q: Won't your kid be weird because there aren't other kids to socialize with?
A: If weird means that our kid will see and experience things most adults can only dream of, then yup a total weirdo! There are actually an increasing number of families taking this same type of plunge, and we will make the most of enjoying time with other "kid boats". There might be stretches of time where it's all family lovin' but that doesn't mean our kid will be a-social...it just means s/he'll have an active family AND social life to balance.

Q: What about school?
A: We'll homeschool...well, boatschool anyway. There'll be so much to learn about science, language, and history just through the places we visit that boatschooling will actually be fun...we hope! With chart plotting and wind direction, there'll even be opportunities for real-world math application down the road. Our biggest worry will be writing and penmanship...it can be difficult to write neatly when the boat is surfing the waves! If we stop somewhere for an extended period to work and rebuild the cruising kitty, then s/he will go to the local school for a while...a good cultural immersion experience, too.

Q: Aren't you leaving soon? How are you going to change diapers on a boat?
A: The plan is still to head out in June-ish 2015...with an almost 3-year-old, hopefully potty training will be off the checklist by then!

Q: What about storms? Isn't this is too dangerous to do to a kid?
A: Statistically, sailing a boat is much safer than flying in an airplane or even driving down the highway. By boating smartly and not taking unnecessary risks we can avoid the worst of stormy weather. A little rain won't hurt.

Q: But what about drowning? S/he could fall off the boat!
A: Yes...or off the playground monkey bars or out of the crib. Kids have accidents. It happens. We already have a variety of life jacket sizes, and safety netting on the lifelines...as long as we teach Baby Cole to swim early on and enforce safety protocols, being on a sailboat is really no more dangerous than going to daycare...it's actually MUCH safer.

Q: Has anyone told you that you're totally nuts?
A: Yup. And maybe we are...but both of us lost the urge to achieve stereotypical American goals a long time ago. We want to live our lives our way...it's too short for regrets.
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