Most people assume boat life means parties, booze, and escapism. That’s not our story. We live aboard the Alaskan Gypsy, and our version of freedom looks a little different: clarity, presence, tiny intentional choices, and a whole lot of water (like… a concerning amount of water). 😂 In this video, we share our very different paths with alcohol, sobriety, and why living simply and clearly matters even more when you live off-grid. This isn’t a sermon. It’s not a program. It’s just our real story. If you’re curious about sobriety, intentional living, remote work, or what it actually takes to live this life - welcome aboard. Drop your story in the comments. We read them, and appreciate them. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 “She’s hitting the bottle again” (water edition) 01:10 Why sobriety on a boat is unexpected 03:00 Scott’s relationship with alcohol 09:55 Audrey’s experience with addiction & healing 13:00 Non-alcoholic beer & bubbly water confessions 16:20 Tiny decisions that shape a life 20:00 Why we’re sharing this publicly 24:30 Freedom, money & living differently 30:00 Boat life without partying

We’re sitting down in the wheelhouse of Alaskan Gypsy, our 80-foot steel, triple-masted motor sailer, to answer your comments and talk honestly about what’s next. After a major hull restoration, time in the shipyard, winter storms, and settling back into harbor life in Wrangell, Alaska, we’re entering a new phase: a four-season liveaboard lifestyle in Southeast Alaska. This video is a follow-up to our recent “What’s Next?” post and is part update, part reflection, and part open conversation with this community. We talk about: -Living full-time on a large sailboat in Alaska -Leaving the shipyard after major hull work -Boat life vs house life -Work, income, and creative ways to support a liveaboard lifestyle -Freight hauling, self-employment, and remote work ideas -Physical limits, pacing yourself, and sustainability -Kids, family, and education while living unconventionally -Why we chose this boat and this life If you’re curious about boat life, off-grid living, sailing in Alaska, or what it really takes to live aboard year-round, this one’s for you. Thanks for being here and for all the thoughtful comments. We’re reading them… just not always replying with our thumbs 😉 👉 Subscribe to follow the journey 👉 Drop a comment — we really do read them ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Welcome & Why We’re Making This Video 01:30 – What’s Changed Since the Shipyard 03:40 – Living Aboard an 80ft Sailboat in Alaska 06:00 – Four-Season Liveaboard Lifestyle 09:30 – Work, Income & Self-Employment on a Boat 13:45 – Physical Limits, Health & Sustainability 17:30 – Freight, Remote Work & Boat-Based Ideas 22:30 – Kids, Family & Education While Living Aboard 25:30 – Passenger Trips, Retreats & Why We’re Careful 28:30 – Why We Chose This Boat & This Life 31:00 – Final Thoughts & Community Reflections

We’re currently living aboard Alaskan Gypsy in Wrangell, Alaska, and after a few months out of the shipyard, life is starting to shift again....in a good way. It's as if we've entered a completely new chapter! This video is a real, unscripted update on where we’ve been, how winter boat life has been going, and what opportunities are beginning to open up as we settle into life afloat. From riding out storms and learning the boat, to slowing down after the shipyard and rethinking what sustainable life and work can look like in remote Alaska. We talk about burnout, finances, community connections, and some exciting possibilities - including small-scale freight, remote logistics, project work, and serving off-grid communities in Southeast Alaska. This channel is about real boat life, off-grid living, family, and building a meaningful, sustainable life in wild places. If you’re curious where this path leads , or you live remotely in Southeast, Alaska and this resonates, we’d love to connect. For inquiries or collaborations, you can reach us through our channel or email: audrey@alaskangypsy.com Chapters (exact timestamps may be off) 00:00 Living Aboard Alaskan Gypsy in Wrangell 01:15 Life After the Shipyard 03:05 Burnout, Rest & Winter Boat Life 05:00 New Ideas & Unexpected Opportunities 07:00 Small-Scale Freight Possibilities 09:00 Community Connections 12:00 Old-World Logistics & Sustainability 15:00 Family, Kids & Looking Ahead 16:30 Closing Thoughts

Thanksgiving weekend in Southeast Alaska turned into something unforgettable. Living aboard our sailboat, Alaskan Gypsy, we set out on a remote paddleboard-assisted blacktail deer hunt...no roads, no crowds, just wilderness. This trip marked a huge milestone: Audrey’s first deer ever, and our first successful hunt as a family living this lifestyle full-time. From frosty mornings and glassy water to quiet moments of gratitude and respect for the animal, this wasn’t just a hunt, it was a rite of passage. We call it Blacktail Friday… and yes, it really was a BOGO. This is what subsistence, simplicity, and living in tune with nature looks like for us in Alaska. 🎥 Filmed entirely while living aboard our sailboat 🦌 Blacktail deer | Southeast Alaska 🛶 Paddleboard-assisted access ❄️ Late fall wilderness conditions If you’re interested in off-grid living, hunting, boat life, or learning alongside a first-time hunter - Welcome Aboard! CHAPTERS (timestamps may not be accurate - sorry!) 00:00 Cinematic Intro – A First Hunt Begins 00:30 Growing Up in Alaska (Without a Hunting Background) 01:05 Pirate Beach & the Plan 02:38 First Buck Down – Blacktail Friday Begins 03:05 What “Blacktail Friday” Really Means 06:27 Packing Meat Back to the Boat 08:05 Life Aboard the Alaskan Gypsy 10:40 Audrey’s First Shot Ever 11:31 Emotions, Respect & Reality 13:35 How the Shot Unfolded 15:15 Finding the Deer 16:01 A Message for First-Time & Women Hunters 18:20 Eagle Energy & Gratitude 19:30 Returning to the Boat

We’re inspecting the running rigging on our steel sailboat Alaskan Gypsy, and what we found is honestly sketchy. Some of this line is 15–20 years old, heavily worn, UV damaged, mildewed, and absolutely not something I want to trust while hanging 60+ feet above a steel deck. Before replacing our radar and climbing the mast, we needed to take a hard look at what’s actually holding us up. In this video: • How to inspect old sailboat rigging • Identifying dangerous wear in double-braid line • Why aging lines fail (UV, chafe, mildew) • What sizes we need to replace (½” and ⅜”) • Budget-friendly ideas for sourcing replacement rigging • Real-world Alaska conditions that accelerate wear This is part of our ongoing sailboat refit as we work toward making Alaskan Gypsy a fully functional, safe sailing vessel again. If you have experience with rigging replacement, sourcing overstock line, or favorite marine rope brands, drop your knowledge in the comments — salty wisdom welcome. ⚓️ Brands & sponsors: We’re actively refitting a full-size steel sailboat in Alaska. If you make marine rope, rigging hardware, safety gear, or electronics, let’s talk. ​@USRigging Chapters: 00:00 Inspecting Old Rigging on Alaskan Gypsy 00:35 Why I Don’t Trust This Line 01:25 Examining Wear, Chafe & Thin Spots 02:10 UV Damage, Mildew & Line Degradation 03:00 When Double Braid Loses Its Sheath 04:05 How Much Rigging This Boat Actually Has 04:55 Estimating Replacement Needs & Costs 05:45 What Line Sizes We’re Looking For 06:30 Preparing to Replace Radar & Climb the Mast 07:10 Alaska Weather & Working Window

They said it can power all my 18v tools. Too good to be true? Let's find out. Affiliate link to Ceenr PD Nation Universal Batteries - https://ceenr.com/?ref=mlnelppl

When you’re working far from your shop, battery systems matter more than brand loyalty. I’m restoring a steel boat in Alaska, and after traveling 1,000 miles with a limited tool kit, I made a mistake: I brought the tool… but not the right battery. That problem led me to test something I honestly didn’t think would work - a universal power tool battery that claims to run both Milwaukee and Makita tools (adapters available for many other brands too - DeWalt, Craftsmen, Black & Decker, Ryobi, Worx, Bosch, Porter Cable . . ). In this video, I put the CEENR / PD Nation universal 18V battery through some tests: • Milwaukee and Makita tools • grinders, sanders, drills, impacts, routers, lights, and a vacuum • charging phones via USB • working around saltwater, cold, and remote conditions This isn’t a lab test or a spec-sheet review. It’s what happens when you actually rely on one battery to keep your tools running when replacements aren’t readily available. I’ll show what works, what doesn’t, and why I’m impressed with this system. If you work off-grid, on boats, in shipyards, or just hate owning five different battery systems - this one’s worth a look. Thanks for watching, – Scott I signed up as an affiliate with Ceenr so if you think you want some for yourself click this link and I'll get a few percentage points of your order. They have a lot of interesting battery products breaking the mold of brand entrapment. Thanks! - https://ceenr.com/?ref=mlnelppl Chapters (time stamps are off sorry) 00:00 Why battery systems matter when you work remote 03:00 The problem: wrong battery, right tool 06:00 One battery for Milwaukee and Makita? 09:00 Swapping adapters and first impressions 12:00 Testing lights, sanders, drills, impacts 15:00 Where the battery reaches its limits 18:00 Charging phones and USB features 21:00 Can you charge it with brand chargers? 24:00 Real-world durability and saltwater story 27:00 Who this battery is actually for 30:00 Final thoughts and honest verdict universal power tool battery milwaukee makita battery one battery many tools off grid tools boat restoration tools shipyard work tools alaska boat life cordless tool battery system power tool battery review remote work tools makita vs milwaukee workshop battery solution

In our last video, we shared how we struck a submerged hazard while navigating our sailboat in Southeast Alaska. This video is our response — answering your comments, questions, and critiques honestly. After publishing “We Struck a Submerged Hazard in Alaska on our Sailboat,” we received a flood of thoughtful comments — from seasoned mariners to curious newcomers. Instead of replying one-by-one, we decided to sit down and address them directly. In this video we talk about: • What actually caused the grounding • Navigating close to shore in Alaska • Electronic charts vs raster charts • Risk, judgment, and learning the hard way • Why we still choose this lifestyle We’re not here to pretend mistakes don’t happen. We’re here to share the reality of learning a boat, learning new waters, and owning our decisions — good and bad. Thanks to everyone who commented respectfully, shared their own stories, and contributed to the conversation. This is why we love this community. If you’re new here, welcome aboard. If you’ve been around a while — thanks for sticking with us. Drop your thoughts below, and as always: stay curious, stay humble, and stay safe out there. -Audrey and Scott Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome Aboard & Where We Are Right Now 02:30 – What Happened: Running Aground on a Submerged Hazard 05:30 – Taking Responsibility & Why We’re Talking About It 08:30 – Responding to the First Viewer Comments 12:00 – Navigating Close to Shore in Alaska 16:00 – Risk, Experience, and Personal Judgment on the Water 20:00 – Boat Damage, Scratches, and “Battle Scars” 24:00 – Reporting Hazards: Coast Guard, Charts, and Responsibility 28:30 – Electronic Charts vs Raster Charts (NavyOnyx Discussion) 33:00 – Currents, Logs, and Real-World Alaska Conditions 37:00 – Anchors, Ground Tackle, and Holding Power 42:00 – Careening, Repairs, and Maintenance Reality 46:30 – Learning This Boat While Living Aboard 50:30 – Viewer Stories, Humor, and Shared Sea Experience 55:00 – Lessons Learned & What Changes Going Forward 58:30 – Final Thoughts & Thanks to the Community

What started as one of the most beautiful winter cruising days we’ve ever had in Southeast Alaska nearly turned into a disaster. We were navigating near shore outside Wrangell when our steel sailboat Alaskan Gypsy struck something hard beneath the surface. No warning. No visible marker. Just a grinding impact that turned a calm cruise into a serious event. With one of our children aboard and daylight fading, we began checking bilges, tanks, through-hulls, and systems, unsure if we’d hit ice, a log, or a submerged rock. The next step meant cold water, winter conditions, and an underwater inspection of the hull. What we found surprised us. In this video, we: -Break down exactly what happened -Compare vector charts vs raster charts -Share the underwater footage of the damage -Talk honestly about risk, luck, and lessons learned -Explain why steel boats matter in moments like this -This was our first real “injury” to Gypsy and a powerful reminder that Alaska waters demand humility, redundancy, and respect. -If you boat, sail, or cruise remote waters, this story may help you avoid a close call of your own. Thanks for being aboard. – Audrey & Scott

Merry Christmas from the Alaskan Gypsy. This video follows our holiday travel across Alaska as we bring all five kids together for Christmas. The journey starts in Wrangell, flying through Southeast Alaska to Anchorage, renting a car, driving to Homer to gather belongings, then heading back to Anchorage before flying everyone home to Wrangell. Once back, the kids see the Gypsy for the first time, Christmas lights are up, and the boat becomes home for the holidays. From winter travel logistics to first impressions, refit progress, freezing temperatures, and Christmas morning aboard, this is a real look at a family holiday spent in motion. Thanks to everyone who supported us along the way. More adventures ahead. CHAPTERS 00:00 Merry Christmas from the Alaskan Gypsy 00:03 Flying from Wrangell to Anchorage 00:30 Renting a car and holiday errands 00:41 Driving Anchorage to Homer 00:52 Flying back with all five kids 01:18 Landing in Wrangell 01:46 End of the 18 days 02:30 Preparing the boat for the kids 04:18 Christmas lights on Gypsy 04:23 Kids seeing the boat for the first time 05:26 Refit progress and interior updates 08:16 Winter life aboard 09:28 Kids arrive at the dock 11:06 First reactions inside the boat 15:21 Christmas decorating and gifts 17:30 Christmas morning aboard 19:18 Christmas Day reflections 20:17 First Christmas cruise 21:57 Merry Christmas

This is Day 16 of our "18" Days North series, coming to you from Wrangell, Alaska. Hello! We’re living aboard our steel sailboat through this wild Alaskan winter while working toward a journey north to Prince William Sound. In this episode, Audrey shares a real-time update before heading to Anchorage to pick up the kids, while Scott walks through the ongoing refit work happening below deck. We talk honestly about why we’re not moving the boat north yet, how winter weather and family timing are shaping our decisions, and what it looks like to keep making progress even when the timeline stretches. In this episode: • Day 16 update of our 18 Days North journey • Winter liveaboard life in Wrangell, Alaska • Head and plumbing refit walkthrough • Snow, cold weather, and working conditions • Family logistics, holidays, and timing • Why staying put is sometimes the right call We’re still heading north, just not forcing it. Winter has seriously showed up, and we’re letting the season lead while we get the boat ready. Thanks for being here. We always read your comments, even when the workdays are long! — Audrey & Scott 📍 Wrangell, Alaska ⛵ Steel boat refit & winter liveaboard life ❄️ Real-time journey north Chapters: 00:00 Coming to you from Wrangell 00:45 Day 16 of 18 Days North 01:55 Why the boat isn’t moving yet 03:10 Heading to Anchorage to get the kids 04:10 Inside the head and plumbing refit 06:30 Toilet placement, layout, and tradeoffs 08:45 Winter work, snow, and systems access 10:40 Why Prince William Sound can wait 12:00 Community support and winter gratitude 13:30 Wrapping up and what’s next

Welcome aboard Tangaroa — Blaine & Janis' legendary aluminum trawler-style liveaboard, also known as The Never Ending Sea Trial. We spent the day exploring every corner of this boat: • the extended aft deck packed with fuel, water & storage • their winter-ready enclosed back deck and wood stove • the remodeled galley and pilot house • crew quarters, workshops, and hidden spaces • and finally… one of the wildest DIY engine rooms we’ve ever seen Blaine replaced the original Detroit Diesels with two Cummins truck engines, engineered custom systems, built his own charging setup, installed a huge lithium bank, and created a mechanical masterpiece below deck. If you’re into boats, engines, creative problem-solving, or long-range liveaboard life, this tour is pure inspiration. Go give their channels some love: • Onboard Tangaroa Exploring • The Never Ending Sea Trial Thanks for joining us aboard. – Audrey & Scott Alaskan Gypsy Life Chapters: 00:00 Boarding Tangaroa 00:20 Aft deck tour: storage, gear & layout 00:45 Upper deck freezer, BBQ & winter enclosure 01:20 Wood stove & enclosed back deck 01:40 Galley remodel & opening up the space 02:20 Original 1969 nameplate 03:00 Wheelhouse tour & leak stories 03:40 Navigation system & screens 04:50 Captain’s cabin & crew quarters 05:40 Corrosion issues & forward lockers 06:30 Forward berth & family layout 07:30 Water tanks, storage & long wiring runs 08:45 Laundry room & mechanical spaces 09:40 DC generator & charging systems 10:40 Lithium battery bank overview 11:53 Lower lounge & new reading nook 12:30 Hallway, bunks & storage layout 13:00 More crew spaces & closets 13:40 Workshop areas & electrical planning 15:12 Engine room reveal 15:25 Cummins truck engines installed in a boat 16:00 Original mufflers & custom mounts 16:45 Fuel economy, RPM & performance 17:30 Transmission choices & torque matching 18:20 3,000-mile fuel test results 19:00 Electric drive discussion 20:00 Efficiency, upgrades & future plans 22:56 Inverters, voltage & system strategy 27:18 Turbo & intercooler changes 32:37 Peak efficiency talk 33:34 Considering electric propulsion 42:24 Throttle wiring & shielding 53:21 Starting system & 24V upgrades 54:21 Engine room wrap-up 55:00 Challenge coin gift & closing thanks 56:00 Farewell from Tangaroa

This video is a winter harbor walk through the second half of Heritage Harbor in Wrangell, Alaska, as snow moves in fast and daylight disappears early in Southeast Alaska. We take you dock-to-dock through the Wrangell harbor, sharing working boats, liveaboard life in Alaska, commercial fishing vessels, abandoned boats, and the quiet rhythm of winter settling in along the docks. Along the way, we also share a relaxed Day 18 update on our plan to head north—where things stand with our Alaska boat journey, how winter weather and short daylight are influencing the timeline, and why we’re letting the season lead instead of forcing a Gulf of Alaska crossing. We also run into our friend, a commercial fisherman, processing stripe shrimp on his fishing boat—one of those classic harbor moments that reminds us why we love Alaska harbor life and working waterfronts. There’s no rush here today, other than Scott’s hands nearly going numb and wanting to go grab some professional commercial fishing photos for our friend. We enjoyed the squid (free calamari!), some unexpected dockside conversations, and a peaceful winter walk through Wrangell. If you enjoy liveaboard boat life, winter boating in Alaska, harbor walks, commercial fishing boats, and real-time updates from life aboard in Southeast Alaska, you’re in the right place. Thanks for walking the harbor with us. – Audrey & Scott

Day 5 of getting ready to head north aboard Alaska Gypsy — and this one lives squarely in the in-between. Not a lot of projects are “finished,” but a lot is happening. Small fixes, troubleshooting, electronics decisions, hydraulics gremlins, and the slow realization that the timeline may be tighter than expected. In this update, we talk honestly about: • Why the push north is feeling rushed • Autopilot and hydraulic troubleshooting • Electronics upgrades coming together • Weather windows, winter timing, and Christmas with the kids • Letting go of pressure and forming a stronger Plan B This is boat life as it really happens — progress that isn’t always measurable, but still matters. Thanks for following along, for the comments, and for being part of the process. If you’re new here, we’re living aboard and refitting a steel schooner in Alaska. Some days are big. Some days are messy. All of them are real. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Day 5 introduction 01:00 – Why the timeline north feels tight 02:10 – What’s been worked on (even if it doesn’t feel big) 03:40 – Engine & fuel solenoid issue explained 06:30 – Autopilot hydraulics & coupling problem 09:40 – Troubleshooting electronics & control head 12:00 – AI, hammers, and stuck hydraulic components 15:00 – Why walking away sometimes fixes things 17:45 – Hydraulics back online (for now) 20:00 – New navigation, radar & autopilot upgrades 23:30 – Starlink, wiring, and testing systems 24:10 – Mini sea trial & generator surprise 25:45 – Diesel leak discovery & fix 27:00 – Where things actually stand 28:30 – Letting go of pressure & forming Plan B

DAY 3 — and the emotional weather might be stronger than the Gulf of Alaska. Today we sat down in the wheelhouse to give you a real update… and things got real real. Between Scott wiring up Autopilot 2.0 (and now 3.0), the new Simrad radar system, a wheelhouse full of black boxes and broken wires, and Audrey trying to figure out if Christmas in Prince William Sound is actually possible… let’s just say the “18 Day Challenge” is officially in plot-twist territory. Are we making it north? Is Plan A still Plan A? Did Plan B just become the favorite?? …And why do we accidentally keep talking when the camera is “off”? 😅 This video includes: • Raw honesty about the crossing • Real conversations about safety, timing, weather, and family • The hilarious tension of two people who REALLY want the same thing… but not in the same way • Updates on the new navigation system, radar, and autopilot • Big questions about winter storms, kids, Christmas, and timelines • A growing mountain of boat projects • And YOU GUYS voting in the comments on which plan makes sense This is boat life. Not curated. Not polished. Just two humans trying to pull off something big with an 80ft steel motor sailor, five kids, winter weather, and a deadline that’s coming fast. Stick around. Things are getting interesting. 📍 CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome to Day 3 — Wheelhouse chaos 00:39 The beard, the boat, and the tension 01:20 Autopilot 2.0 & the new Simrad system 02:30 Radar upgrades + Dave’s Welding shoutout 03:40 Autopilot 3.0 arrives 04:15 Talking about crossing the Gulf in December 05:20 Audrey’s love for Prince William Sound 06:40 Did we tell EVERYONE the plan already? 07:30 Realizing the timeline might be impossible 09:00 Emotional updates + nervous system truths 10:30 What’s more important: the crossing or Christmas with kids? 12:20 Safety, weather windows, and the growing list 13:40 Is Plan B actually… better? 15:00 Forecasting, miracles, and the 18-day pressure 17:00 Plan A vs Plan B — which one even is which? 20:00 The emotional storm intensifies 22:00 Boat life vs boat stress 24:00 Why the heart wants certainty 26:00 Could the universe still open the window? 27:00 Supporting each other through the stress 28:30 Reading your comments + kid updates 29:40 Wrapping up — and what we still don’t know