When things go wrong SVEV ep: 80 Sailing the Bahamas

In this episode I leave Bimini Bahamas and sail across the Great Bahama Bank and have to make a tough decision.

[tim]

Well Capt. Mike.
You are learning some hard earned lessons that most sailors have to learn. There is no shame in turning back and regrouping. It's not football where fwd progress is all that counts. It's supposed to be fun with a bit of apprehension, fear and uncertainty thrown in, but most of all fun. You seem to always be pushing fwd. Slow down and enjoy and absorb the islands. Each has it's own spirit and personality. Make friends with other cruisers, they are your greatest resource out there. I bet a week in an Anchorage talking with the other cruising boats that come thru, you would find someone to help fix the outboard, a sewing machine for your sail, and probably a spare inverter. Keep the dream, because without it life is just existing. Hope to see you in the islands some time.

[curtscars]

Man you're living the dream. You may have encountered more problems than some along the way but this is all part of the adventure and learning experience. Keep up the great content, all the best!

[robertwingnall]

Hi Mike. I do not know what I would do in your situation. All one can do is take time to rest, eat good and make your decision and follow your gut feeling.
5 months on your boat, in the Bahamas. The stuff most of us only dream of. You have done well. I have enjoyed your videos and thank you for sharing.
Take care and may you have fair winds.

[hpiplumbing]

Captain Michael! Your videos are amazing! Your showing the truth about sailing! Everyone has made this same mistakes! Your doing a great job! Keep up the good work! Please keep following your dreams! Love the channel! It’s my New favorite sailing channel on YouTube! By far! As a viewer I can feel the emotions your dealing with at the moment you do a great job of showing them through the video! Cheers captain!!

[njvikings]

All I can say having watched episode 79, then about to move into 80. Holy crapola Batman, an inverter problem! Jez! My concept here is that prices in this tropical island must be 250% mark up (probably much more) considering your triple spin over the Gulf Stream!
In standard ignorance one can only wonder what shoe will drop next!
You have enhanced my embrace of getting a sailboat for my own “short” miles venture to obtain salt water for pets/aquariums. Having seen your tenacity, and knowing my own you’ve swung me around past the point of hesitation! Thanks Captain Potts!

[radekdrayco]

Ahoy Captain,

I would suggest, for your next season at least, is to convert any and everything you can to use directly DC. Most chargeable devices like Drones, will have for sale a DC Car port charger unit.
As for the PC, I have found that PowerStream has PSU's that use DC inputs. After all PCs are DC internally, 3.3v, 5v and 12v to various components.
It is more efficient, less conversions taking place and you wont beholden to the Invertor dying.

[joannetaylor]

Hello Captain! I know you're probably bummed that you didn't go as far south as you'd planned, but I believe the distance you've travelled from T.O to Bimini & back & to Bimini & back & to, well you know what I mean, what you've accomplished is phenomenal Captain & you know in your heart what the right decision is. And also what your Dad said;" You've had a hell of a season." You've accomplished what?? Something 😅1000s, even millions of people COULD NOT do in their wildest nightmare. I'm sure it's frustrating as hell not having auto pilot but just think about how they sailed 100-50? ( I don't profess to know the particulars) years ago. You'd be out there every night charting your course by the ✨If I had that much time I'd have had to pack a well stocked city library lol😂I'm sure you were kept busy out there reading any & all sailing paraphernalia as well. And yeah dude, you did awesome good & made memories to last the rest of your life. I think you should think about your end of season 1 finale video, 😊 I'm sure everyone on this channel feels likewise! Gawd it seems like a long time till Sunday, Till then Stay safe, Stay Strong 🍻

[mikenik]

Love your videos.. So honest! But again... you are living your dream!
Thanks for your sharing...

[brodeanjanes]

I love your content learning everyday hounour you for your bravery and your troubles solving your a .an who pays the cost to be the boss love your line in the sand respect

[jd]

The sad truth: if you go out long term cruising, one starts best with a brand new boat or an old one with all new stuff on it. Or you replace stuff piece by piece while underway. For many of us that's just the only way or you have a lot of cash. Heads up to you captain for keep going!

[chhindz]

You can get 400w inverters for about $50. each I have 3 on board, good to have extra fuses.(Walmart, harbor freight, truck stops) There used to be a guy doing mechanics on the beach at Bimini, fixing jet skis for motor yacht cruisers

[dappraiserk]

Engine gender or small portable generator. No sun panel ?

[slory]

Keep going, how much longer do you have on your sailing visa for the Bahamas? I'm feeling your empty pockets but chin up and make it home safe so you can work on creating your next window of sailing. Cheers!

[Tom-lnic]

Another great video Michael. Will be watching regardless what you decide!

[allandavies]

Hey Mike, thanks for the journey so far.If you are on this for the sailing experience only, you could have pushed on and found a way, however if you are a "sailing cinematographer " and that is why you are on this trip, then you need to regroup and equip yourself for that type of journey. Anyway, my 2 cents ( Canadian )

[GBRmedic]

I think you made the right decision.

You made a decision towards safety and longevity... You could have found yourself immobile, stuck where there are even fewer resources, then have to leave the boat exposed to the entire hurricane season.

You were gonna have to put EV up on the hard shortly anyway, right? So thats no big surprise... Your season is closing, cool. Its a few months where you can really put your head down, pay for stuff. Get positioned and leave asap to get really into the thick of it.

Dude, you sailed from Toronto to The Bahamas. Thats awesome!

[nightfarmergaming]

great job my man! Working on that tan!!

[jillianswaine]

I watched your earlier videos when you were on Lake Ontario. You were with friends and your equipment worked and you had money. You were in good spirits! You are having difficulties sorting things out. You said it ‘I’m feeling grumpy’.
You have had great suggestions on here. You also said ‘don’t push it’. Take your own advice. Slow down, call a close friend to talk through your plan. your ‘to do list’.
Auto pilot
Inverter/charging your devices
Motor on dinghy
Put EV on the hard, insure
Getting back to Canada

Take care of yourself first & foremost.

[crazyNCman]

Why would you not have a way to charge a phone on a 12v powered boat? I never had an inverter on my boat and can charge phone, cameras, laptop and everything else I use.

[gordonroseborough]

Hi Mike, Your doing great. Don’t let an inverter get you down. Can you move forward without it until you reach somewhere where you can purchase a new one?