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Buying a boat isn't just a transaction—it's the gateway to freedom, adventure, and a lifestyle that many dream about but aren't always prepared for. Sisters Melanie and Carolyn Neale from Sunshine Cruising Yachts bring their extraordinary background as lifelong sailors and yacht brokers to this enlightening conversation about what it really takes to find your perfect vessel.

Check out Melanie's Books:
Boat Buying Basics: https://amzn.to/4ez2vUP
Boat Girl: https://amzn.to/4l99CWq
Boat Kid: https://amzn.to/3GsOgUU

Having spent 19 years growing up on a sailboat, these sisters offer insights you simply won't find elsewhere. "A boat is not an investment," Melanie candidly shares. "It's an investment in your dreams, quality of life, time, and joy." This refreshing honesty permeates their approach to guiding buyers through the often complex journey of boat ownership.

The conversation unpacks crucial aspects of the buying process that potential owners frequently underestimate, from the true costs of maintenance (expect to spend roughly 10% of your boat's value annually) to the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies this major life decision. The sisters break down the typical four-to-five-week timeline from making an offer to closing, explaining the importance of thorough surveys and proper representation throughout.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is their perspective on family dynamics in boating. Having shared a V-berth with only a curtain separating them as kids, they understand intimately that "everybody needs their own space" on a boat, especially children. Their advice for couples considering the cruising lifestyle is equally thoughtful, emphasizing the importance of both partners feeling included and competent in handling the vessel.

Whether you're actively shopping for your first boat, dreaming of upgrading, or simply curious about the cruising lifestyle, this conversation offers practical wisdom delivered with warmth and authenticity. From navigating the current market conditions to avoiding common pitfalls, Melanie and Carolyn's insights might just save you from making an expensive mistake—or help you find exactly the right boat to launch your adventures.

Ready to turn your boating dreams into reality? This episode is your first step toward making informed decisions that will have you sailing confidently into the sunset.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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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

PODCAST TOOLS:
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What happens when a 60-year-old retired teacher decides to sail solo from New England to the Bahamas? Deborah Hammett's remarkable journey proves that our boldest chapters can begin exactly when society expects us to slow down.

After three decades teaching on Martha's Vineyard, Deborah traded lesson plans for navigation charts and sailed her 36-foot Jeanneau "Mavia" over 1,500 miles - mostly alone. Her transition wasn't without challenges. From anchoring alone near Harlem at night to fixing mechanical failures with no prior experience, Deborah faced countless moments where panic and fear threatened to overwhelm her. Yet each obstacle became a lesson in resilience and self-reliance.

Throughout our conversation, Deborah reveals how sailing transformed both her mindset and capabilities. She describes mastering diesel engines and electrical systems through YouTube videos, learning the rhythms of docking and navigation, and discovering a generous sailing community that defied her expectations. Perhaps most powerfully, she confronted long-held beliefs about herself and others, finding that her preconceptions often limited her more than any external challenge.

Beyond the practical aspects of her journey, we dive into the profound emotional growth that comes from pursuing a dream that others might consider impossible or impractical. Deborah argues passionately that retirement should be viewed as an opportunity for bold new beginnings rather than a winding down. Her experience suggests that actively learning complex skills might even help stave off cognitive decline, while the physical demands of sailing have motivated her to maintain strength and fitness well into her 60s.

Whether you're contemplating your own sailing adventure or simply wondering what might be possible in your next chapter, Deborah's story will inspire you to reconsider the boundaries you've set for yourself. After all, as she reminds us, "People do what they want to do." The only question is: what adventure are you putting off?

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

PODCAST TOOLS:
Livestream: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608
Create AI Clips: https://klap.app/?via=SaltyAbandon

Send us a text

The moment Jerome Rand set sail from the United States in his 1975 Westsail 32, he entered a world few modern sailors will ever experience. For 271 consecutive days, battling the planet's most treacherous waters completely alone, Rand wasn't just testing his sailing abilities – he was discovering the very edges of human resilience.

What makes Rand's journey uniquely compelling is his deliberate choice to forego modern sailing advantages. Selecting a heavy, full-keeled vessel over faster alternatives and eschewing sponsors or significant media attention, he sought the authentic experience of circumnavigation from the golden age of solo sailing. As he drifted past Point Nemo – Earth's most isolated spot with 1,600 miles of empty ocean in every direction – Rand wasn't just geographically removed from humanity; he was experiencing a psychological journey equally as profound.

The Southern Ocean was definitely challenging. For four and a half months, Rand battled 30-foot waves and sustained 55-knot winds, listening to the terrifying sound of white water slamming against fiberglass during violent knockdowns. Yet the physical challenges paled compared to the mental battles. "You become a student of what's going on up there," Rand explains, detailing his practice of "control thinking" – focusing on just one ocean, one day, or even one immediate problem rather than the overwhelming entirety of his journey. This mental discipline, coupled with his remarkable ability to find humor in suffering ("This is going to make for a pretty funny story"), carried him through moments that would crush most sailors.

The wisdom Rand gained transcends sailing. His discovery that true disconnection from our hyper-connected world leads to a childlike state of presence – where watching clouds becomes profoundly satisfying – offers a powerful lesson about modern living. Perhaps most inspiring is his message about resources: extraordinary achievements don't require extraordinary means. "You can do these huge things and you don't need every resource on the planet," he insists. "You can start really small and do really big stuff."

Has the chaos of modern life disconnected you from what matters? Listen now as Jerome Rand shares how 30,000 miles of solitude revealed truths about resilience, perspective, and what humans can accomplish with limited resources but unlimited determination.

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

PODCAST TOOLS:
Livestream: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608
Create AI Clips: https://klap.app/?via=SaltyAbandon