YouTube Sailors - Overly Romanticized Or Just Lacking Details?

[edselby]

I was interested in sailing before the explosive popularity of YouTube sailing channels, but I confess that it was Uma, Delos, Vagabond, and Wynns that was able to get my wife equally excited.

Now we are incorporating sailing in our retirement plans, and will likely do a couples live-aboard learn to sail course in the next 6-12 months.

As with anything billed as "reality TV", I am entertained by but skeptical about the content from the YouTube sailors, and I need a reality check from real life sailing veterans.

Who gets it right?

Who almost gets it right?

Who is just full of bilge scum?

[CatNewBee]

try sailing followtheboat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nSvwp3o-D8

https://www.youtube.com/user/spannerheadz

less click bait, but more realistic.

Watch Rubi Rose and Gone with the Wynns Q&A about having Patreons on board while editing videos all day long.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsoU9M-OIWk

It is not just enjoying themselves, it is hard work to create the videos and make the money flow, so they can afford sailing.

BUT: sailing is great, you'll like it.

[CatNewBee]

If you want more reality and a longer track record (30+ years on the water):

https://www.youtube.com/user/sujules

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0AQnLNrB4g

[Mike OReilly]

I have surveyed many vlog channels out there, but pay attention to none on a regular basis. The vast majority are, as you say, ‘reality show’ reality. Too many rely on soft-porn to get the clicks. The longer-term ones do seem to touch on the harder sides of cruising (the actual reality), but just like the glossy mags, they know that isn’t what sells.

Vlogging at the consistency and quality of the big names is serious and hard work. I take nothing away from those who can do it. But it’s not an easy way to make an income.

My view is that, just like the glossy mags, these are not really aimed at actual cruisers. They are designed to appeal mostly to dreamers and planners, not the actual doers. Nothing wrong with that. The market is in the first two categories (mostly the first).

If you want something closer to reality, check out Emerald Steel: https://www.youtube.com/user/sujules

[S/V Alchemy]

I follow very few of these things for a reason. Two I like are "Project Brupeg" and Andy Schell and Mia Karlsson's video work for "59 North", which also involves blogging and podcasts with excellent interviews.

And the Shards, who've been doing it for ages in a documentary style, but they are local to my area and I'm acquainted with them.

[Boatwright]

The dream:

Watch some YouTube. Read a couple of books. Buy an old boat (fiberglass last forever, right?) for less than $50,000. Take a year to "fix her up". Head for the South Seas eatin' coconuts and fresh caught fish, collecting pretty girls in skimpy bathing suits along the way........

The reality:

It took me 500 man hours (3 months of 8 hour days and a very patient wife) to update and rewire the electrical system in our old boat. And I know what I am doing, having made a living as a boatbuilder.

And then the plumbing, rigging, paint, varnish, sails, refrigeration, etc. etc, etc.......

There are the dreamers and the doers. YouTube is fun but it sure leaves a whole bunch out.

[AZUS]

We are a cruising couple, having sailed for a year at a time, done cross-ocean passages on our boat which now lies in the Med. As the Med is a 6-7 month season, we spend the winter in Phoenix.

My wife knows the difficulties and joys of full-time boat living. She knows what is real. Yet during the winter she watches la Vagabond every day. It is real enough to her experience that it gives her her sailing “fix” during the long (to her) months we can’t be out sailing.

[Scout 30]

This couple keeps it pretty real while cruising on a budget normal people can relate to. And they're doing it on an Allied Seawind 30. Classic plastic!
https://www.youtube.com/user/ProjectAtticus

[Macblaze]

Originally Posted by Boatwright

The dream:

Watch some YouTube. Read a couple of books. Buy an old boat (fiberglass last forever, right?) for less than $50,000. Take a year to "fix her up". Head for the South Seas eatin' coconuts and fresh caught fish, collecting pretty girls in skimpy bathing suits along the way........

The reality:

It took me 500 man hours (3 months of 8 hour days and a very patient wife) to update and rewire the electrical system in our old boat. And I know what I am doing, having made a living as a boatbuilder.

And then the plumbing, rigging, paint, varnish, sails, refrigeration, etc. etc, etc.......

There are the dreamers and the doers. YouTube is fun but it sure leaves a whole bunch out.

Awww you're just doing it wrong. These guys bought a boat exactly like yours and took off BC to Mexico with no problems. lol

Of course now its for sale so...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyszdfxdnlE

[brucebach]

As a former cruising sailor, here's two that I like:

Sailing Soulianis - very nicely produced - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRq...cMcxg/featured

The Boat Life - more 'down & dirty' - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrV...wzhMw/featured

[navysurfer]

Two thumbs up for Project Atticus, I had the pleasure of meeting them both here in Sarasota, they did the work and did it well. Very down to earth couple, who are not afraid of the hard work to restore an ole boat.They are in the latest CW mag as well.

I want to mention Stew and Zaia, I meet them in the Pelican Bay Anchorage near Bocca Grande Florida. What a nice couple, they were coming from South Africa on a Wharrem 38. His wife is the first Mongolian to sail across the Atlantic.

I did not realize the time it takes to edit the short vid's, Stew puts much effort in the videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCxMLVawYxU

Cheers
Pop's Tayana 37 Pilot House Fl..

[MJH]

Originally Posted by edselby

I was interested in sailing before the explosive popularity of YouTube sailing channels, but I confess that it was Uma, Delos, Vagabond, and Wynns that was able to get my wife equally excited.

Now we are incorporating sailing in our retirement plans, and will likely do a couples live-aboard learn to sail course in the next 6-12 months.

As with anything billed as "reality TV", I am entertained by but skeptical about the content from the YouTube sailors, and I need a reality check from real life sailing veterans.

Who gets it right?

Who almost gets it right?

Who is just full of bilge scum?

My roundtrip voyage to Hawaii had little in common with the glamorous YouTube videos. There were no exotic meals and few carefree days in the sunshine. More remembered are the tiresome nights working on a four-on/four-off hour shift for almost two weeks nonstop, no showers, living on can goods, a head that wouldn't flush properly, a broken windvane & repair at sea, crew conflict requiring separation, being becalmed three times, and thousands of dollars in repairs on return...But it was worth it.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

[neophytecruiser]

For a quality sailing vlog of a Swedish couple with extensive sailing and video experience, I'd recommend Ran Sailing. Johan began sailing as a young man and did an early trip from Sweden to Antartica with a stop at Deception Island before returning home to Sweden. Currently, he an his wife, Malin, are in the middle of their current journey aboard a custom aluminum, Beason 40. They began their current journey in Sweden, crossed the Atlantic; spent time in the Caribbean; transited the Panama canal; sailed up to Costa Rica; crossed to Hawaii; sailed to Alaska and down through the west coast of Canada; made their way to Seattle and are now on their way, down the west coast to Mexico. Future plans include the Pacific puddle jump before continuing west.

They're a personable couple that put together very watchable and entertaining videos. It gives a good perspective on the joys and trials of a sailing lifestyle.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by MJH

My roundtrip voyage to Hawaii had little in common with the glamorous YouTube videos. There were no exotic meals and few carefree days in the sunshine. More remembered are the tiresome nights working on a four-on/four-off hour shift for almost two weeks nonstop, no showers, living on can goods, a head that wouldn't flush properly, a broken windvane & repair at sea, crew conflict requiring separation, being becalmed three times, and thousands of dollars in repairs on return...But it was worth it.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

That's the reality. This type of bad will always be there. But if you learn to take it in stride and the good outweighs the bad, you'll have a good time.

[john61ct]

Just keep in mind the content is engineered to stimulate and entertain.

Solid information is best sought elsewhere.