Reviving Our Dinghy After a Long Alaskan Winter

For months, one question kept coming up: “Why don’t you use your skiff?” Well… today we finally answer that. After sitting untouched through an entire Southeast Alaska winter, our skiff hasn’t seen the water since we first brought it aboard the Alaskan Gypsy in Ketchikan. Snow, freezing temps, water in the battery, and plenty of neglect… not exactly ideal conditions for a smooth launch. But today? No wind. No snow. No excuses. So we: fire up the old two-stroke grease the jet unit (whatever that means 😅) drop the skiff for the first time in 9 months and attempt a full sea trial Will it run? Will it strand us? Or will this finally change how we move through life out here? This little boat might not look like much… but for a family living full-time on the water, it could mean everything. From paddleboards… to possibility. Welcome to life aboard our 4-season sailboat in Alaska. 🎥 New here? We live full-time aboard our steel schooner, navigating remote Coastal Alaska......one day, one project, one tide at a time. ⏱️ CHAPTERS: 00:00 Why we’ve never used the skiff 00:21 Meet the forgotten skiff (9 months later) 00:46 First start attempt + engine prep 01:30 Learning the jet outboard 02:00 Draining carbs + figuring it out 03:02 Launch system setup (ATV winch + davit) 03:57 Almost forgot the plug 😬 05:05 First float 05:23 Engine test in the water 08:25 Uh oh… moment 09:15 Winter neglect reality check 10:14 Time for a sea trial 11:05 First drive 12:23 Running the skiff (finally) 14:15 Scott in full character 😂 16:08 Thoughts on jet vs prop 17:02 It actually works… now what? 19:22 Real-life impact (this changes things) 20:35 Family perspective (huge relief) 21:19 Fuel reality 😅 22:15 Full send 23:26 Pure joy moment 24:08 The eye story 😂 25:09 Final thoughts