Here we are at the end. Our pretty girl is safe and sound back in her home on Texoma. Aside from a couple of hiccups, she treated us very well, and we are thankful to have returned safely.

This trip has been an experience like no other. We learned we are capable of navigating the ocean, we can put the boat in a slip no matter how crazy the marina appears, and I can finally tie some decent knots.

We met a lot of great boaters on this trip, and they taught us so much. We also saw so many types of amazing boats. I think we still want a 60-foot catamaran. They are beautiful, and we can sail anywhere. We can’t wait to retire and spend every day on the ocean.

Dave said he wanted to leave some thoughts from his perspective, and so, without further ado, here are tips from the Captain:

  1. Get a good first mate (hopefully, he was happy with his Gilligan). You can’t do everything yourself; a dock hand isn’t always available, and it is very tight in the marinas.
  2. When you go on the ocean, make sure everything is tied down tight. If you think it is, you are probably wrong. Check again. If it isn’t tied down, you are losing it, or the inside of the boat will look like a tornado hit it.
  3. The Keys are extremely shallow, which is why there are so many ship wrecks (thank goodness we didn’t add to it). Don’t even think of navigating it without paper charts, a navigation system, and a depth finder.
  4. Be very familiar with your boat.
  5. If you are able to slip your boat into a super-tight slip, just leave it. Definitely not worth trying that a second time (hello Key West)!
  6. Some marinas will require a splitter for electricity; make sure you have one.
  7. Make sure to have a filter for your fresh water
  8. Your anchor doesn’t dig in while in the ocean. It is all about weight and chain length, and when it does dig in, you might be screwed because who knows what you have hooked on.
  9. Make sure you have a pen on the boat, so much paperwork!
  10. Tip your dock hands, especially if you want them to help you
  11. You pump your own gas, we have been spoiled on the lakes
  12. Everything will cost more than you think; be prepared.
  13. You think you are in the shade and won’t get burned, but you’re wrong. The reflection will get you. Sunscreen, sunscreen, and more sunscreen, and maybe a UV shirt.
  14. Bimini SHUTS down at 6 PM, and there is only ONE gas station on the whole island.
  15. Get out, explore, and talk to other boaters; you will learn so much.

Thank you all for following along with us on our adventure. Hopefully, it won’t be long until the next adventure! We are going to try to get to Cuba and the Virgin Islands in the next few months!!!