UPDATED SPRING 2019
Welcome to my 1977 Trojan Tri-Cabin, M/V WIN. Once christened Sweethearts, and through the years known as Josephine II, Major Compromise, Solace, and Eagles Wings III, she is a cabin cruiser that will serve as, essentially, my summer home on the water.
Those who know me personally know that living on a boat full-time has been a lifelong dream, intensified since I spent the summer on my sailboat almost a decade ago. I'd been considering a houseboat purchase down south, where I could live dockside year-round, but finally concluded that slip rental + insurance would far exceed the costs of a mortgage. That would also mean no more travel... no more cruises... no more fun, really - just working full-time to try to cover my expenses.
In New York my costs are cheap; even with winter haul-out and storage costs my total bill averages $360/month! So for now I'll realize my dream seven months out of the year, spring/summer/fall, and flop at the cottage in the coldest months. As long as I don't have to spend any money on the boat (ha, ha) it should be easy!
If you know me, you know I've actually talked about doing this for more than ten years. I spent most of that time working for a Fortune 500 corporation, landlocked in Orlando, thinking one day I'd get out to the coast. If the company had not outsourced and laid off its social media managers I'd almost certainly still be doing that. Their loss turned out to be my gain. This summer I finally said "fuck it", taking my severance check and some savings and dropping it on a lifestyle change.
I had lots of choices to make over the course of the first year, i.e. regular job vs. freelancing, in-water winter storage vs. a few months of life on land... the list went on and on. It was definitely a big adjustment, a learning experience, and, at times, a challenge, as well.
The biggest choice, though - 'should I or shouldn't I' - was the most difficult choice of all, and that one is behind me. It was scary as hell to pull the trigger on this purchase. So far, no regrets...
If you are in upstate New York and want to come out to visit, message me. For all others I'm a five-hour train ride from NYC and a one-hour drive from four different airports. Between hometown friends, my family, and my new marina family I've had a very busy summer, but I still look forward to visitors, so hit me up - especially if you've got experience captaining a big boat!
Check back often - I'll be filling this space with stories and photos from my time as the latest caretaker of Josephine II, Major Compromise, Solace, Eagles Wings III, and, now, M/V 'WIN'.
(Okay, maybe 'yacht' is a bit of a stretch...)
BLOG UPDATES...
Irony: my boat may have once been one of those I gazed at with envy as a kid. Read more about that here.
Took her out for the first time with the help of some new marina friends - read about my shakedown cruise.
I've moved to New York to live on a boat. I'm about to have an anxiety attack. What have I done?
On a rainy day on the boat, I went through some old family pictures... sharing here.
M/V ‘Win’ has become a floating museum of vintage Trojan Yacht advertising. See it here.
A recent cancer diagnosis leaves me grateful to have been able to live the life I imagined…
Story
Twin Chrysler 280s
#Guzzler
Story
Twin Chrysler 280s
#Guzzler
Ride
Not just a boat...
...a cottage on the water.
Ride
Not just a boat...
...a cottage on the water.
Hike
Trojan Puppy…
…now home to the world’s most adorable dog, ‘Trojan’.
Hike
Trojan Puppy…
…now home to the world’s most adorable dog, ‘Trojan’.