After several years with OpenCPN and a couple of years using qtVlm as our primary navigation software across the Pacific, we're sharing what made us switch, what qtVlm does better, what it doesn't, and who we think it makes sense for. A quick disclosure: We donate to the qtVlm developer because the desktop version is free and funded by donations. There are no affiliate links in this video, and nobody paid us to say anything about either product. CHAPTERS 00:51 Our Experience Using OpenCPN for Sailboat Navigation 04:56 What Is qtVlm? Sailboat Navigation Software Explained 05:24 Sailboat Route Planning with PredictWind and LuckGrib 06:03 OpenCPN vs qtVlm: Which Is Better for Cruising? We talk about the stability problems we ran into after OpenCPN moved to Flatpak, why the plugin system eventually stopped working for us, and what it's like when support depends on individual plugin developers. We'll also cover something that matters to us: OpenCPN has never had an iOS version. On the qtVlm side, we discuss having everything in one program, setting up instruments, and the Data Exchanger, which lets us push routes and gauge layouts to all the devices on the boat. The tablet version is the full application rather than just a viewer, which has been a big plus for us. We also show how satellite imagery helped us navigate reefs where the official charts turned out to be wrong. But qtVlm isn't perfect, and there are some real trade-offs. It's not open source, it's developed by a very small company, the interface can feel pretty dense, and the mobile version requires a one-time fee to unlock. qtVlm: https://www.meltemus.com OpenCPN: https://opencpn.org SignalK: https://signalk.org ⛵️ Subscribe to our website for helpful documents, tech details, practical guides, and unfiltered stories from our travels. Join here: https://svsabado.com/#/portal/signup 📸Follow us for daily #boatlife posts on Instagram: @sv_sabado Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/svsabado

Two things have really changed the way we live at anchor this season. The first is our custom anchor alarm, which means we can both sleep easier at night. The second is the new shade over the bow. Together, they give us more comfort and peace of mind while living at anchor. When we arrived at the anchorage, Holly handled the windlass while I talked through how we set the anchor. We’ve also got the anchor alarm running on a split screen, so you can see it working in real time, including when the alarms go off. The anchor watch is a custom Home Assistant setup that takes GPS, depth, heading and wind data from Signal K. It calculates our swing radius using the amount of rode we’ve put out and the depth, then keeps an eye on the boat for any signs that we’re dragging. If the boat moves outside the area it should be in, both our phones get an alert and the onboard siren sounds, whether we’re awake, asleep, or simply not paying attention. That’s really why we built it: for peace of mind when we’re anchored. We’ve put the full write-up on our website, and Crew members can download the integration and map panel code. Read the write-up: https://svsabado.com/building-a-custom-anchor-watch-system-with-home-assistant-and-signalk/ Get the code: https://svsabado.com/documents/ The second part of this episode is our first impressions of the Sunrise Shade System over the bow. The trampolines are great to sit on until about ten in the morning, and after that, nobody really wants to be up there baking in the sun. The shade has given us that space back for the rest of the day. We already had Sunrise trampolines and Sailor’s Pillows, so we knew the build quality before we started. The custom bow shade is an investment, but so far, we are thrilled. https://multihullnets.com CHAPTERS 01:43 Our custom anchor alarm and what it watches 06:49 How we set the anchor on a catamaran 10:41 Installing a bow sunshade on a lagoon 42 19:03 Anchor alarms going off __________________________________________ ⛵️ Subscribe to our website for helpful documents, tech details, practical guides, and unfiltered stories from our travels. Join here: https://svsabado.com/#/portal/signup 📸Follow us for daily #boatlife posts on Instagram: @sv_sabado Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/svsabado

Between the two of us, we’ve been sailing for a long time. We know the theory. We know where every piece of distress equipment on this boat is. We don’t skimp on insurance policies. But when an emergency actually happened, none of that seemed to matter. What we had was a pounding heart, a serious injury, and one very simple question: What do we do first? So we built something for that moment. It’s called Overboard, it’s a free app, and it’s available for anyone who wants it. It’s still difficult to talk about what happened, but we share another piece of our story in our latest YouTube video and show you how our new system works. We’ve also posted the details and download link on our blog. Add it to your home screen on all of your devices so it’s there when you need it, but we hope you never do. ❤️‍🩹 #sailing #medicalemergency #travel #liveaboard #boatlife

Between the two of us, we’ve been sailing for a long time. We know the theory. We know what a MAYDAY call sounds like. We know where every piece of distress equipment on this boat lives. But when an emergency actually happened, none of that seemed to matter. What we had was a pounding heart, a serious injury, and one very simple question: What do we do first? So we built something for that moment. It’s called Overboard, it’s free, and it’s available for anyone who wants it. There are three buttons: red, amber, and green. Each one takes you through a short list of what to do next, in the right order and in plain language. There’s a MAYDAY script you can read out loud, with your vessel name, call sign, and MMSI already filled in. There’s a PAN-PAN version, your position in the formats you’re likely to be asked for, a casualty log, and contact information for CIRM Rome, who provide free medical advice to vessels anywhere in the world. And it works with no signal at all. There’s no login, no account, no signup, and nothing leaves your phone because there’s no server. Add it to your home screen on all of your devices so it’s actually there when you need it. If you’re on an iPhone, you’ll need to add it using Safari rather than Chrome. Then put your phone in airplane mode and open it once to make sure everything works offline. You can find all of the details here: https://svsabado.com/free-offline-emergency-app-for-cruisers-built-after-our-own-medical-emergency-in-fiji/ We built this because we learned the hard way that knowing what to do in theory is very different from knowing what to do when someone is hurt. And if it helps even one boater in that moment, it will have been worth building. Also in this episode: we’re back in Fiji, together, and finally get around to installing the bigger bilge pumps that have been on the list for a while. :) ——————————————————————— ⛵️ Subscribe to our website for helpful documents, tech details, practical guides, and unfiltered stories from our travels. Join here: https://svsabado.com/#/portal/signup 📸Follow us for daily #boatlife posts on Instagram: @sv_sabado Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/svsabado

I’m surprised by how difficult the emotional part of my recovery has been. Even though I’m back on the boat, one month later, I can’t seem to shake the bad dreams and catch myself hesitating over movements that used to feel completely natural. I’m determined to rebuild my confidence and get back to feeling like myself. If you’ve been through something similar, I’d love to hear about your experience. What helped you regain your confidence and trust yourself on the boat again? #sailing #catamaran #liveaboard #boatinjury

What starts as a perfect day in paradise quickly turns into every cruiser's worst nightmare. We make a short hop to a beautiful mooring in Fiji, explore the local fresh market, and settle in to enjoy the sunset. Then Holly suffers a medical emergency that changes everything. With the local hospital unable to provide the care she needs, Holly has to fly back to the USA for emergency treatment. That leaves me to solo sail Sabado on a three-day passage to a safe marina, where I can be ready to fly out if she needs me. Thankfully, Holly is receiving excellent medical care, and considering the circumstances, her injuries could have been much worse. She is recovering well, and we're looking forward to getting reunited as soon as possible. If you've ever dreamed of cruising the world by sailboat, this episode is a reminder that life at sea isn't always palm trees and sunsets. Sometimes the biggest challenge isn't the ocean at all. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://svsabado.com/#/portal/signup ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 💻Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/svsabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray *As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases* Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure!

We built an electronic logbook that automatically sends daily updates to our emergency contacts and Passage Guardian, adding an extra layer of safety when we’re offshore. Traditional paper logbooks have their limits. Going digital means every entry is searchable, graphable, and securely backed up. Even better, it can automatically pull data from our instruments at 2:00AM, when it’s dark, and you’re tired. Smarter logging. Better data. Safer passages. What do you think? #boatlife #sailing #homeassistant #logbook #marineelectronics

What is an offshore passage really like? Join us as we sail from New Zealand to Fiji on an 8-day offshore passage, sharing the day-to-day reality of life at sea as a short-handed crew. Beyond the beautiful ocean views, this is what our routine actually looked like: standing watch, preparing quick meals, tracking our progress, and settling into the rhythm of life offshore. In this episode, you'll see: - Our watch schedule for sailing offshore as a crew of two - The simple meals that keep us fueled underway - Ray's DIY electronic logbook built with Home Assistant and how it automatically reports our position to Passage Guardian (https://passageguardian.nz/) for added safety - The routines, challenges, and rewards of an 8-day ocean crossing - Our arrival in beautiful Fiji after more than a week at sea Fair winds, Holly & Ray ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://svsabado.com ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/ #OffshoreSailing #BluewaterCruising #Sailing #NewZealand #Fiji #OceanPassage #Liveaboard #SailingLife

If you’ve ever wondered what boat life is really like, this one’s for you. After completing a major refit, we finally set sail again for the first time to test our new rig and mainsail. We cruised along the stunning rocky coastline of New Zealand, with light winds, perfect conditions, and incredible scenery. Once we arrive in the Bay of Islands Marina, we decide to switch things up. Instead of taking you through another passage prep and marina routine, we head down the docks to meet fellow cruisers and hear their stories. We interviewed three cruising couples who live aboard full-time, asking them about their backgrounds, biggest challenges, scariest moments at sea, best memories, and the advice they’d give to anyone dreaming of living on a sailboat. From grounding incidents and offshore storms to moments of awesome beauty and human connection, each couple shares honest insights into what life at sea is really like. Watch our previous cruiser Q&A video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5XkGbQkqlw ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://svsabado.com ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

We are thrilled to be back on the water after completing our major catamaran refit! As we settle back into life aboard, we're busy fine-tuning our new systems, testing upgrades, and getting everything dialed in for the adventures ahead. In this video, we reveal what might be the best upgrade of the entire refit: our onboard workshop. We transformed our port forward cabin into the workshop we've always dreamed of, creating a dedicated space for tools, spare parts, and future projects. Ray is already putting it to use & experimenting with the best ways to organize everything for life at sea. We also take you along for his latest project as he integrates the generator's oil pressure and exhaust temperature sensors into our monitoring system. Once complete, the system will automatically alert us to any issues, giving us greater confidence and peace of mind while cruising. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

After completing our extensive catamaran refit, we spent some time tied up at a nearby dock fine-tuning our setup before finally heading out to put our new systems to the test at anchor. In this episode, we troubleshoot a transducer issue, recommission our watermakers, put the dinghy through its paces, and test our new ground tackle and anchor alarm system. With a major storm approaching, we seek refuge in a more protected harbor, where we'll continue pushing our systems and building trust in the boat we've worked so hard to transform.——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray *As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases* Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the South Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referra...

Join us for the final stage of our MASSIVE catamaran refit! In this episode, we tackle hatch issues, install a brand-new Northern Lights generator, carry out a minor fiberglass repair, and re-step the mast before finally launching the boat back into the water. After months of hard work, we’re back afloat and ready to put our new systems to the test, fine-tune the setup, and settle back into life aboard. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the South Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

Now that we’re back in the water, we’re starting up our new Northern Lights generator for the first time on our Lagoon 42 sailing catamaran.

We’ve been hauled out in New Zealand for a while now, working hard on upgrades that will give us more freedom, comfort, and confidence once we’re back out cruising. In this video, we share the latest progress on several major refit projects: ⚓️ Rigging Issue & Fix: What we discovered and how we’re planning to address it before heading offshore again. ⛵ Power System Upgrade: A complete overhaul of our electrical setup to help us live off-grid more comfortably and reliably. 🔧 Cabin-to-Workshop Conversion: We’re transforming our port-forward cabin into a full-time workshop so we can handle repairs and projects anywhere in the world. Each one of these refit projects brings us closer to our goal: turning a standard production catamaran into our fully customized liveaboard dream boat. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/e

We’re FINALLY doing it! After years of dreaming and months of planning, we’re starting the process of converting our port forward cabin into a functional onboard workshop so we can tackle all the future projects boat life will throw at us. In this episode, we start the demolition and rebuild process, removing the built-in furniture, clearing out the old cabin, and even taking down the mast as part of our major refit in New Zealand. It’s a massive job, but we’re keeping our eyes on the prize. When we’re back on the water, Sabado will be better than ever! ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

We’re back on the hard this week, making major progress on our refit and addressing one of the biggest safety concerns for catamarans: escape hatches. In this video, we dive into what makes them so risky, vent a little (okay, a lot 😅), and show the changes we’re making to keep our boat safe. While we’re at it, we also start rebuilding our bed base, where our new electrical system will soon live, fix a critical handhold near the helm steps that was barely hanging on, and remove the sails to prep for pulling the mast next week. Join us for another busy week on the hard: a mix of problem-solving, planning, and a few choice words for boat builders everywhere. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

Join us as we continue making progress toward our dream electrical system! 🔋 In this week’s catamaran refit update from New Zealand, we finish the demolition of the starboard aft cabin— the future home of our new lithium battery bank, air conditioner, and other critical electrical components. We’ve been designing this system for a while, and now it's finally starting to take shape. There’s still a lot of planning, wiring, and installation ahead, but we’re excited to bring you along for every step of the journey! ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

We’ve officially hauled Sabado out of the water at Port Whangarei Marine Center in New Zealand, and the refit has begun! In this video, we take you through a day in our new routine: starting the morning at our rental house, commuting to the boatyard, and diving into our first big boat projects. We kick things off by tearing apart our bed to prep for a major power system upgrade. We also give you a tour of the yard facilities, and remove our cockpit fridge to make way for a new one. It’s a strange feeling seeing the boat on land with empty cabinets, but we’re excited (and a little nervous) about what’s ahead. Big changes are coming — and this is just the beginning. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

After waiting out a storm on anchor in Minerva Reef, we set off toward New Zealand — but a drastic shift in the forecast, rough seas, and a vicious counter-current quickly turned this into one of our most challenging passages yet. With another storm closing in, we were pushed to make tough calls under pressure. In this video, we share our mindset, the decisions we made underway, and what the conditions were really like during our six-day passage. If you're preparing for an offshore sail or just want an honest look at life at sea when things don’t go as planned — this one’s for you. Mentioned in this video: Our blog: https://www.svsabado.com Passage Guardian: https://passageguardian.nz/ ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🛒Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

Join us on our journey South to New Zealand! In this video we prepare to leave Tonga: stocking up on provisions, triple checking the weather and saying farewell to the local wildlife…🐋🪼🦑 From there, we set off on a 3-day passage to Minerva Reef, facing rough seas along the way and adding a few new items to the ever-growing repair list. Once safely anchored in the remote atoll, we shift focus to brace for an incoming storm. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🛒Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/