Bimini Waterfront Villa link - https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1247210474256959628?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=746fd6df-a0c4-4fc4-bc35-11873a7627c8 This week in Bimini was UNREAL. From chasing lobsters (and getting embarrassed by one), to dodging sharks, exploring crystal-clear water, epic meals, sunsets, casino nights, and one last spear-fishing mission before crossing to the Exumas… this one had a little bit of everything. We snorkeled, dove, cooked some insane meals, swam with sharks, explored the island, shot photos, drove the Can-Am around like we stole it, and soaked up every second of our time at Ramses beautiful villa. Next stop: the Exumas. 25 hours offshore… let’s go. Thanks for being part of the adventure. SUBSCRIBE to follow the journey! ⚓️🌊 Chapters 0:00 intro 1:33 going out for a dive 2:32 looking for lobstahhhs 4:29 cleaning the catch 5:28 conch fritter time 7:07 morning workout 9:03 Casino night 9:21 Nellie's beach trip 10:51 final spearfishing mission 11:45 sketchyyyyyy stuff 16:13 departure day FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS❤️⛵️ Insta - https://www.instagram.com/sailingzola/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064845617659 #Sailing #Catamaran #Bahamas

After 3.5 months of nonstop work, countless 8–14 hour days, busted knuckles, late nights, and fixing everything imaginable… We finally left the dock. This is the story of our first real crossing, from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini — a 16-hour overnight run that brought every emotion possible: excitement, fear, exhaustion, gratitude, and that surreal “we actually did it” moment. We had perfect weather, glass-flat seas… until our Genaker halyard snapped 60ft up the mast and nearly destroyed our deck. Somehow, it landed in the only spot that wouldn’t have killed one of us. After that? Pure magic. ✨ Bioluminescence. Aliens? Weather buoys? Crystal blue water in 150ft of depth. Our first breakfast at anchor. Nick’s monster mutton. Our first Goombay Punch in years. Hogfish double-up. A dream waterfront villa. Sunsets that didn’t feel real. This video is the beginning of the next chapter for us — living the life we’ve worked for, exploring the Bahamas with our dogs, spearfishing, cooking, adventuring, and trying to soak in every moment. If you’re new here, welcome to the crew. If you’ve been here, thanks for riding with us since day one. We’re exactly where we want to be — it is where we are. 🔥 Chapters (optional — boosts retention) 00:00 Leaving the dock (emotional) 01:10 Perfect weather window 02:20 Genaker disaster at sunset 05:00 Night crossing + bioluminescence 06:20 Land Ho! Crystal water 07:30 First breakfast at anchor 09:00 Spearfishing mission 10:20 New home base in Bimini 12:00 Exploring town + Goombay Punch 14:00 Cooking the catch 17:00 Diving day 2 + double hogfish 21:30 Shark feeding 23:00 Sunset reflections 24:05 “We’re exactly where we want to be” 🔔 If You Enjoyed This Episode… Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and COMMENT — it genuinely helps our tiny crew grow. Drop any questions about the crossing, the boat, spearfishing, or Bimini… we reply to everything! FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS❤️⛵️ Insta - https://www.instagram.com/sailingzola/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064845617659 #Sailing #Catamaran #Bahamas

After months of nonstop boat work, a collapsing weather window, and one very costly mistake (yes… we accidentally pumped saltwater into our freshwater tank 🤦‍♂️), we’re finally doing it — Sailing Zola is officially leaving the dock! This episode is the most chaotic, emotional, and satisfying one we’ve filmed yet. Between ripping out air conditioners, installing a brand-new Seawater Pro water maker, dealing with rigging failures, last-minute wiring, provisioning, cleaning, and help from literally every friend and family member we have… it all came down to one moment: Fresh water finally flowing. The boat cleaned up. Sails raised. Lines off. And Zola heading into the blue. PLUS — we announce the solar arch giveaway winners at the end of the video! 🎉 If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to prep a cruising boat under pressure, this episode is as real as it gets. ⛵ Thanks for being here and supporting the journey. Subscribe to follow us as we kick off the adventure we’ve worked so hard for. FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS❤️⛵️ Insta - https://www.instagram.com/sailingzola/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064845617659 #Sailing #Catamaran #Bahamas

After what felt like forever in the boatyard battling endless projects and problems, we finally splashed Zola back into the water — just in time for a Halloween pirate party 🎃🏴‍☠️. From wild nights with friends and spontaneous ocean days to installing our brand-new Hull Shield ultrasonic system to keep the bottom clean, this week was a perfect reminder of why we love boat life — the mix of chaos, creativity, and calm on the water. Join us as we: ⚓ Celebrate our splash day (pirate costumes and all) 🌊 Take Zola out sailing for the first time 🧰 Install and test our new anti-fouling Hull Shield system 💬 Share some honest behind-the-scenes moments about boat life & storytelling Whether you're here for the sailing, the DIY projects, or the laughs on the couch, we’re so happy to have you aboard. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to keep up with our journey as we get ready to cross to Bimini soon! 🌴 #SailingZola #BoatLife #CruisingCouple #SailingAdventure #CatamaranLife #DIYBoatProjects #SailingVlog FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS❤️⛵️ Insta - https://www.instagram.com/sailingzola/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064845617659 #Sailing #Catamaran #Bahamas

The boat yard stint has felt like it was going to last forever, but we're finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel... Maybe. FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS❤️⛵️ Insta - https://www.instagram.com/sailingzola/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064845617659 #Sailing #Catamaran #bahamas #boatshow #diy #boatprojects #boating

We’re down to the wire. Splash day is in 3 days and our catamaran Zola is still on the hard with a mountain of projects left — from rudder repairs to saildrives, bottom paint, and a surprise invoice that nearly broke us. This week in the boatyard has been one of the most stressful and expensive weeks of our lives, but we’re determined to get her back in the water and ready for the Bahamas. Watch as we push through exhaustion, bad luck, and last-minute chaos to make it happen. ⛵ Boat projects this week: – Replace through-hulls and seacocks – Service saildrives & shaft seals – Custom rudder bearing repair – Sanding & bottom paint – Install underwater lights + AC Airlock units 💬 We’d love to hear your best (or worst) boatyard stories in the comments. Misery loves company 😂 ⚓ If you’re new here, we’re Sailing Zola — a couple (and two dogs) sailing full-time aboard our catamaran Zola. Subscribe to follow our journey as we chase down our dream of reaching the Bahamas before it’s too late. #boatlife #sailingcouple #boatyard #catamaran #diyboatrepair #sailingyoutube #sailboatrefit FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS❤️⛵️ Insta - https://www.instagram.com/sailingzola/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064845617659 #Sailing #Catamaran #Bahamas

$100K vs $500K Boat – What’s the Difference? | Sailing Zola Tour & Comparison We upgraded from our 2006 Beneteau Oceanis 393 ($100K monohull) to a 2020 Bali 4.1 Catamaran worth close to $500k dollars — and in this video, we’re taking you on a full side-by-side tour of both boats to show exactly what you get for the price difference! From cramped cabins and manual sail handling to walk-in showers, air conditioning, full-size fridges, and massive solar setups — this is the upgrade of a lifetime. We’ll walk through: 🚤 Cockpit & storage 🛏️ Bedrooms and bathrooms 🧭 Navigation & helm setups 🛠️ Systems and accessibility ☀️ Solar & electrical features …and why we still think starting with a monohull was the best decision ever. We’re beyond excited to begin our new adventures aboard our dream catamaran. Whether you're dreaming of boat life, already living it, or just love tours of epic spaces — you’ll love this episode. GIVEAWAY - 👉 Drop your guess in the comments: What do YOU think our solar arch cost? 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell to follow our sailing journey to the Bahamas and beyond! 🐾 Featuring our boat dogs: Hercules & Koda 🌊 Welcome aboard Sailing Zola #boatlife #catamaran #sailinglife #liveaboard #boattour #tinyhome #sailingcouple #sailingfamily #Bali41 #monohullvsCatamaran #boatdogs #comparison #sailingcatamaran FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS❤️⛵️ Insta - https://www.instagram.com/sailingzola/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064845617659 #Sailing #Catamaran #bahamas timestamps 00:00 Intro 0:57 Welcome Aboard 3:02 Cockpits 4:20 Kitchens & living areas 9:45 Staterooms and heads 16:19 The Decks 20:03 Outro

What started as a crazy idea 3 months ago has finally come to life — we decided to cover our boat in as much solar power as possible! ⚡☀️ In this video, we take you behind the scenes as we design, fabricate, and install a massive custom stainless-steel solar arch that holds 2,360 watts of bi-facial solar panels. From the first measurements to the final bolt, this was one of the biggest projects we’ve ever tackled. Huge thanks to Alex from Marine Structures for making our wild idea a reality. The result? More power, more shade, and a boat that’s almost ready for off-grid living. 🌊⚓ Marine Structures (754) 273-0895 Mike's Yacht Service's (772) 214-7153 Timestamps 0:00 Intro 0:16 The origin story 1:14 Pre drilling the panels 4:59 INSTALL DAY 7:19 Raising the arch 11:36 Welding 12:56 Putting the panels on FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS❤️⛵️ Insta - https://www.instagram.com/sailingzola/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064845617659 #Sailing #Catamaran #Bahamas #BoatLife #SolarPower #DIYBoatBuild #OffGridLiving #TinyLiving #MarineSolar #VanLifeOnWater

Airlock Discount Code: SAILINGZOLA ⛵️ BONUS EPISODE | Docking Practice, Boat Maintenance, & Something Crazy on the Island! In this bonus video, we take you behind the scenes as we: ⚓ Do some docking practice (with our new headsets 👀) 🛠 Change the oil and impellers on both engines 💨 Install some seriously cool Airlock units to get rid of that classic “boat smell” 🏝 And… stumble across something absolutely wild on the island (you’ll want to see this 🤢) Our biggest boat project starts tomorrow, so stay tuned for what’s next — it’s going to be huge! 💬 Drop a comment if you’ve ever done your own oil change on board — or if you’ve found something crazier on a beach! 📅 New videos every Wednesday (and sometimes bonus ones like this 😉) 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe to join the adventure with Sailing Zola #SailingZola #BoatLife #SailingCouple #Liveaboard #SailingAdventure #DIYBoatMaintenance #CruisingLife FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS❤️⛵️ Insta - https://www.instagram.com/sailingzola/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064845617659 #Sailing #Catamaran #bahamas Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:35 Docking 1:23 Projects 5:42 THE FIND 7:00 Airlock

🌞 Running AIR CONDITIONING Off The SUN?! (Part 2 of Our Off-Grid Solar Boat Build) In today’s episode, we’re diving deeper into our mission to run air conditioning completely off solar and lithium batteries — even through the night, on a sailboat! Last time, we planned out the system, mounted our inverter, and ran more wire than I ever thought possible. This time, it’s chaos (again): we’re ripping off old solar panels, installing our new 120W array, wiring up fresh Epoch batteries, and — of course — surviving a few minor disasters along the way (including one involving stitches 😬). From power tools to panic attacks, this project has it all — and by the end, we’re one step closer to finally running our AC off nothing but sunshine ☀️⚡️ 🎥 In this video: Removing the old, cracked solar panels (and all the glass 💥) Installing new high-efficiency 120W panels Wiring, programming, and syncing our Epoch lithium batteries Overcoming a few... bloody setbacks Prepping for off-grid, full-time sailing life If you love DIY builds, boat life, renewable energy, or just watching someone learn the hard way — you’re gonna want to hit Subscribe and turn on the bell 🔔 because this is only Part 2 of the journey. The next episode gets even wilder. 👇 Drop a comment below: Would you ever try to live fully off solar power — or is this just too crazy? FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS❤️⛵️ Insta - https://www.instagram.com/sailingzola/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064845617659 #Sailing #Catamaran #Bahamas #SolarPower #BoatLife #DIYBuild #OffGridLiving #RenewableEnergy #SailingLife #LithiumBatteries #SolarBoat #SustainableLiving #tinylivingcoach Timestamps 00:00 Intro 0:20 Recap 0:40 The origin story 1:09 Using AI to calculate electrical needs 1:44 Ripping the old solar panels off 3:07 The stitches story 6:14 Finishing the panel clean up 7:09 Priming 7:19 Wire running 9:59 Paint & prime 11:32 Removing the stitches 13:00 NEW PANELS 14:38 Battery configuration

🔋 MASSIVE Lithium Battery Upgrade on Our Sailboat | Off-Grid A/C Powered by the SUN! ☀️⛵ In this episode, we take on our biggest boat project yet — a complete lithium battery upgrade that will transform how we live aboard! 💪⚡ As a young sailing couple chasing the dream of full-time off-grid life at sea, our goal has always been to rely less on fossil fuels and more on renewable energy. And now, we’re finally making it happen! We’re ripping out the old AGM bank and replacing it with a powerful new lithium setup that (fingers crossed 🤞) will let us run our AIR CONDITIONING entirely on solar power! 🌞🧊 Join us for part 1 as we: Pull out our old power system 🔧 Install our brand-new lithium battery bank 🔋 Upgrade our wiring, BMS, and charging system ⚙️ This is a HUGE step toward energy independence, comfort, and truly sustainable cruising. Come along as we sweat (literally) through this upgrade and get one step closer to living the dream! Subscribe for more sailing adventures, boat projects, and life off the grid! 🌊❤️ #SailingCouple #LithiumUpgrade #BoatLife #OffGridLiving #SolarPower #SailingLife #DIYBoatProjects #VanlifeAtSea Mike's Yacht Service's - (201) 264-4201 Timestamps Intro 00:00 Our plan 0:24 Calculations 2:08 Why we chose Epoch 5:43 Doing the work 8:23 How to crimp large wire 13:37

Resort: Coral View Beach Resort on Utila, Honduras Thank you Phnx Hotels for having us! Disclaimer: This was purely our experience at Coral View Resort on Utila with Phnx Hotels. We (Banner and Nellie) can not promise you anything from attending these pop-ups we can only show you our experience.. and during this particular experience, we had an incredible time! We said yes for the adventure and the stories! We had an amazing trip, everything that was promised to us was given, the memories we have from this trip will live on forever!

Our first boat problems.... The South Florida heat is no joke, in this video you'll see us troubleshoot a clog in the AC lines and use Barnacle Buster for the first time. Along with some other problems and some sneak peaks at the big projects we have around the corner!

We finally take ownership of our beautiful 2020 Bali sailing catamaran. In this video you'll see us enjoying our first few days on the boat, taking it out for the first time and doing some projects! Thanks for coming along for the ride. Banner and Nellie Sailboat, Sailing Zola, Sailing Catamaran, Bahamas, Bali, Bali 4.1

We are so excited to be back! We really have missed making videos and interacting with this amazing community. We will be posting videos weekly as we prep to head off on a new sailing adventure. Thanks to our broker Brandon Buckmaster for helping us make this happen!! If you guys are looking for a boat in Florida he’s your guy! +1 (417) 893-9271 Sailing Zola, Catamaran, Bali, Leopard, Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot

In this video we knock out our first oil change on flying Zola! I had a mechanic friend come out and walk us through the process to make sure we wouldn't screw anything up! Stay tuned for the end for some awesome shark diving action!!

My first ever aerobatic lesson! Man, this was a fun one! We had some time to kill while staying in Nashville so I decided to go take an aerobatic lesson and it was awesome! Steve is located at KJWN anyone interested can reach him at (615) 557-2364📞 As always, please like, subscribe, and share with your friends. It really helps us out a ton, thanks guys!✈️

In this video you'll see us do our first ever takeoff and landing in our new experimental RV-6a, man it was intense!! Banner gets to see his dad for the first time in over 5 years and gets to take some family members flying! This video will be the part one of our Nashville adventure, in part two you'll see Banner get his first aerobatic lesson!!

Welcome back everyone!! Sorry for our long absence, we've been slowly getting our lives figured out! We still have SV Zola, but Nellie was ready for some land time. So... we found something to keep us occupied until Nellie is ready to get back out there! Excited to hear what y'all think about this new lifestyle! P.S. I think Nellie is starting to miss that Bahamian water!!