This week, I take you through island life from the saddle of a motorcycle, the deck of a sailboat, and a story that changed everything. It starts with a beach walk on Vancouver Island, asking a simple question: how can I catch more seafood without a boat? Shoreline foraging is on my mind as I think about living closer to the land-simpler, more self-reliant, and in rhythm with the tides. Then I revisit a critical rigging failure while crossing the Strait of Georgia-when I lost my forestay mid-crossing. A moment that reminded me that the ocean doesn't care if you're ready. You either are, or you aren't. Finally, Mary returns to the boat-and we each tell the story of how we met (separately)! Just real life, and the story of the moment I knew everything was about to change. Timestamps: 00:00 - Beach Walk: Sourcing Seafood 04:25 - Dream Life on Mayne Island 05:42 - The Day I Lost My Forestay 06:55 - Return to Mayne 09:46 - Mary's Back Onboard 13:27 - Fire Extinguisher Brackets 15:03 - When Mary Met John Comment below: Where would you go to live a simpler life? Sailboat? Off-grid cabin? Motorcycle and a map? How did you meet the love of your life? ? Subscribe for more: - What is it like to live on a sailboat! - Sailing & lessons learned - Real life on the coast - Adventures in self-reliance - Honest stories from the edge - Wild food and self-sufficiency - A love story

The beginning of my adventure travel playlist. Fly fishing a remote canyon in the backcountry. This was a wonderful backcountry motorcycle adventure. My friend, Kevin Kossowan put this reel together for me. He is the award-winning creator of the web series, From The Wild. www.fromthewild.ca Enjoy a tranquil day of fly fishing in a beautiful river setting, showcasing the art of fly placement and a successful catch. This video features the beauty of fly fishing and the satisfaction of landing a fish using a fly rod. See the excitement of trout fishing and the skill involved in being a fly fisher, emphasizing the joy of connecting with nature through this timeless sport.

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What's it like to live on a sailboat with the love of your life? Here's the whole story so far. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDLZJ5v1wVfBab4iCZ07j3vnJy_I6nJQM&si=OazxZwCfZoPzMAHv In this video, I sit down to share the raw truth about boat life with Mary - my partner, my crew, and my heart. We talk about the highs, the lows, and what it's like to live in 200 square feet with the ocean as your backyard. The second half of this video shifts into slow TV - real-time footage of us working, tidying, and doing boat chores. No voiceover, just the sounds of the sea, tools clinking, and life unfolding aboard. Whether you're dreaming of boat life or just curious how a couple survives (and thrives) in such a small space, this one's for you. ?? Includes: - Honest interview about boat life - Slow TV of cleaning, organizing, and working together - Peaceful scenes of real off-grid living ? Filmed aboard our Vie Sauvage ? No script. Just us. ? Come along for the ride - subscribe for more sailing, slow living, and life afloat. ? Instagram: @johnfraserwildlife 00:00 - What's on the agenda today? 01:34 - John's last name change 03:44 - When I changed my life 04:56 - Honest answer - life in a tiny home with my forever person 07:09 - What is holding soace for her? 09:03 - The best parts of living in a tiny home with Mary 09:58 - Slow TV: Real-time boat chores & clean-up #SlowLiving #SailingCouple #BoatLife #MinimalistLiving #OffGridLifestyle #TinyBoatBigLove Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG6diCN-nm_nUS-BS-hJHTA/join

We dropped anchor in the southern Gulf Islands, gathered beach wood for a fire in the wood stove, and unplugged for a peaceful night aboard. The next day, we hiked across this wild, mossy island-one of BC's most magical marine parks with a surprising history, Portland Island, Canada. Wrestling the tender onto the dock went horribly wrong? but we still set sail and found peace in Princess Bay. Cozy fire and candlelight dinner, wild hikes, and off-grid life in BC's Gulf Islands. ?? Sailing to Portland Island | Tender Almost Fail + A Cozy Night in Princess Bay This adventure did not start smoothly? I wrestled the tender onto the dock, nearly lost it back into the water, and had to scrape it clean before we could even leave. After the chaos, Mary and I set sail through the Southern Gulf Islands to beautiful Portland Island, a remote gem off Vancouver Island in British Columbia. ? Watch to the end for the full hike and a look at our off-grid sailing lifestyle. ? Where we went: - Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia - Princess Bay, Portland Island - Gulf Islands National Park Reserve ? In this episode: - (Almost) Failing to lift the tender - Sailing to a remote anchorage - Building a beach fire - Hiking through Pacific Northwest rainforest ? Subscribe for more sailing, island adventures & off-grid living: [channel link] ? Follow John on Instagram for his venture #ReWildTheMan @johnfraserswildlife ? Drop a comment-there has to be a better way to clean this dinghy bottom! #SailingBritishColumbia #PortlandIsland #BoatLifeCanada #TenderFail #GulfIslands #OffGridAdventure #SailingLife #CruisingBC #GulfIslandsNationalPark #LiveaboardLife Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG6diCN-nm_nUS-BS-hJHTA/join

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What does it take to leave everything behind and start a new life on the water? In this emotional and inspiring interview, Mary-my partner and the love of my life-shares what it was like spending her first winter living on a sailboat. Mary opens up about the bittersweet decision to leave her home, friends, and family to embrace the challenges and rewards of full-time sailboat life. She talks candidly about the emotional highs and lows of adjusting to liveaboard life, the process of organizing our small space, and how this transition helped to heal old wounds. One of the most powerful parts of this interview is Mary's message to women and anyone who feels like they've waited too long to chase their dreams. Her story is a reminder that it's never too late to choose yourself, take a leap of faith, and design a life that truly fulfills you. Whether you're curious about the realities of boat living, exploring a minimalist lifestyle, or looking for inspiration from women who've reinvented themselves later in life-this video is for you. ? Topics Covered: First winter living on a sailboat Downsizing and organizing small spaces Emotional impact of leaving home and loved ones Embracing change Inspiration for women over 50 Lessons from a life lived differently ? Leave a comment if Mary's story resonates with you-we'd love to hear your journey too. ? Like & Subscribe for more real-life stories from our sailboat adventure. #LiveaboardLife #SailboatLiving #WomenOver50 #PostMenopauseJourney #MinimalistLiving #BoatLife #LifeAfter50 #TinyLiving #WomenOnTheWater Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG6diCN-nm_nUS-BS-hJHTA/join

Anchored in a quiet bay, the wind has gone still. The only light comes from flickering candles and the soft glow of our little wood stove. Mary stirs dinner on the galley stove while the fire crackles beside her. This is our version of home. No traffic. No noise. Just peace. We're living full-time on our sailboat, embracing off-grid life, slow living, and all the small moments in between. Nights like this remind us why we chose this life-a cozy anchorage, a warm meal, and each other. If you love sailing, tiny homes, off-grid living or just calming content, you're in the right place. Subscribe for more slow life at sea. #boatlife #sailinglife #offgridliving #slowliving #tinyhome #woodstove #cozylife #vanlife #minimalism #asmr

There's something magical about arriving at Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring Island - the calm waters, the welcoming charm, and the sense that you've made it to somewhere special. Every time we approach from the ferry's bow, we're reminded why we chase this life. It's not just a destination? it's a feeling. #saltspringisland #travelbc #miniadventure #oceanview

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Life on a sailboat doesn't stop when the snow falls. In this episode, we share a winter day living off-grid aboard our sailboat on the west coast of British Columbia. From snow clearing on deck to cooking a cozy pot of chili, and then heading over to Piers Island for a FireSmart BC community forest clean-up, we're all in for winter weather and wildfire prevention. We joined the amazing residents of Piers Island to help remove forest debris and fallen logs to reduce wildfire risk during the dry season. It's all part of keeping our local islands safe, sustainable, and resilient. Whether you're into sailboat life, off-grid living, or FireSmart BC initiatives, this vlog is packed with real moments from life on (and off) the water. ? Learn more about FireSmart BC: https://firesmartbc.ca ? Filmed on Vancouver Island & Piers Island, BC ? Recipe Request? Let us know in the comments if you want Mary's chili recipe! ? New videos weekly: Subscribe and join us for the ride! #livingonasailboat #tinyhouse #sailboatlife #johnfraserswildlife Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG6diCN-nm_nUS-BS-hJHTA/join

Almost two years ago, I made a decision that changed everything. I packed up, drove to the Pacific coast, and bought a sinking $1,500 sailboat. Crazy? Maybe. But I saw potential. Now, after countless hours of hard work, I live aboard with the love of my life, restoring her back to full sailing glory and chasing the dream of full-time adventure at sea. ?? This is just the beginning-follow for more sailing, boat life, and off-grid living inspiration! ???? ? New episodes on YouTube! Subscribe to SV Vie Sauvage and join the journey. Link in bio! ?? #SailingLife #Liveaboard #BoatRestoration #SailingCouple #OffGridLiving #OceanAdventure #BoatLife #PacificNorthwest #SVVieSauvage #SailingJourney

Wild otter caught red-pawed! ? This sneaky little guy was feasting on a crab on the back of a boat in the marina-until I got too close! Watch as he scurries away without his seafood snack. Ever seen an otter this close? Drop a ? in the comments! #OtterEatingCrab #MarinaWildlife #BoatLife #PNWWildlife

Our Sailboat's Hull Was a Marine Nightmare! ?" You won't believe what's growing under our boat! From vibrant sea life beneath the dock to a hull covered in mussels and algae. But don't worry-we've got a plan! Watch the full transformation in our latest video. ? Subscribe for more sailing adventures! ??

There's nothing like the simple joy of brewing coffee on a sailboat. As the waves gently rock SV Vie Sauvage, I start my morning with a hot cup and the sound of the ocean. ?? Follow along for more sailing adventures, boat life tips, and breathtaking moments at sea! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more content from John Fraser's Wild Life! ?? #Sailing #SailingLife #BoatLife #Liveaboard #Adventure #CoffeeLovers #OceanVibes #Travel #Explore #VanIsle #Sailboat #MorningRoutine

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Sailboat Haul-Out, Maintenance & Troubleshooting: First-Time Experience in the Rainy Cold! | Boat Maintenance Tips Join us on our first-ever sailboat haul-out as we take our boat out of the water for essential maintenance! In this video, we tackle a variety of tasks despite the cold, rainy weather, including pressure washing the hull, replacing corroded zincs, and troubleshooting our engine. After lifting the sailboat, we pressure washed the hull to remove mussels and algae, making the bottom look brand new again. But the challenges didn't stop there-we had to replace worn-out zincs and even hotwired the engine due to severe corrosion on the connections! Watch as we power through these obstacles and share valuable boat maintenance tips. Key Highlights: First-time sailboat haul-out - Watch as we experience the process of hauling out our boat for the first time! Hull cleaning - Pressure washing to remove algae and mussels for a fresh bottom. Zinc replacement - Essential maintenance to keep our boat's hull safe from corrosion. Engine troubleshooting - How we hotwired our engine after corrosion damaged the connections. Lessons learned - Tips and tricks for sailboat maintenance on a cold, rainy day. This video is packed with practical tips and insights for anyone who owns a sailboat or is interested in boat maintenance. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or just starting your journey, don't miss out on our lessons learned along the way! Don't forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more sailing adventures and maintenance tips. Hit the notification bell so you won't miss our upcoming videos! ? #SailboatMaintenance #BoatHaulOut #ZincReplacement #SailingVlog #BoatTroubleshooting #SailingTips #PressureWashingBoat #BoatEngineRepair #SailingLife Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG6diCN-nm_nUS-BS-hJHTA/join

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A decade of being on-screen with the @fromthewildca franchise. I am extremely grateful for the places we visited, and the food we've eaten. #wildfood #flyfishing

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