As a sailing family, we’re used to adapting, but this past week?
Well, it felt like we were camping… but with the house!
Imagine being home but only allowed to use your bed and clothes. Everything else? Off-limits. That’s been our reality while our catamaran is out of the water for some much-needed maintenance.
Initially, we thought we’d be out of the water for four days, but—surprise!—it’s stretched to eight, and of course, the costs have doubled. No shock there, right? 😉
With no compatible power (110V vs 220V), no toilet, no shower, no laundry… it’s just us and our stationary boat. But hey, there’s a charming marina nearby with all the amenities. The catch? The marina and the shipyard aren’t exactly best friends.
Full payment to one, a symbolic fee to the other, and we’re all set.
Walking five minutes to use the bathroom? Well, it’s just part of the experience! 💩
Why Do We Go Through This Hassle?
Good question!
Every now and then, the boat needs some TLC. This time, we needed to repaint the bottom and pamper the propellers (yes, even the one that cut my foot two years ago... but I’ve forgiven it 😅). Plus, since the electrician was nearby, we decided to replace our batteries before they left us powerless.
But this process means no power from the boat or shipyard, so no fridge, no device charging, no internet—none of life’s usual comforts.
But wait!
We’ve got an extension cord with 110V, and, to our surprise, quite a few things actually work! The freezer? Check. Starlink? Check. Phones and laptops? Check. We moved some cold stuff to the marina’s fridge, so we’re surviving just fine.
What About the Toilets?
Yes, we have holding tanks for all the 💩, but the boat’s toilets rely on seawater to flush, and without seawater access, we’re stuck. So, thank goodness for the marina’s symbolic fee that grants us access to functioning bathrooms!
Surviving the Cold
Our generator and engines also need seawater, so we can’t use our heater, and with nighttime temperatures dropping to 6°C, it’s been cold! We’ve been bundling up with layers and socks—it’s camping, but with the house!
We’ve got fresh water, but everything from the sinks and showers drains straight outside—not exactly ideal when there are workers beneath the boat. So, we’ve resorted to disposable dishes (after 2.5 years without them, shipyard camping finally broke us) and marina showers.
Glamping on the Boat
Despite the chaos, it’s not all bad. The marina showers have endless hot water, the laundry comes out warm and fluffy from the dryer, and there’s a pool, swings, and even a little study corner for the kids. The neighbors are friendly, and the crew is professional. And in the end, we’ll have brand-new batteries, a freshly painted bottom, and shiny, energized propellers, ready for smooth sailing.
So, was it worth the double price? I’d say so… wouldn’t you?
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