The End of Boat Life
It’s official, we are no longer the owners of Curiosity. Moving out of the boat that has been our home for the last 6 years is bittersweet. Because we’re not just saying goodbye to the boat, but to almost all our possessions. We’re only taking what we can carry onto the plane…which isn’t much.
The long process of cleaning and carefully choosing which items to pack left us feeling a little out of sorts. So many memories, feelings, dreams, and goals have all been made aboard this vessel.
Luckily, we’ve got three weeks in middle earth (The South Island of New Zealand) to revive ourselves and prepare for the exciting times ahead. And nothing does that better than diving deep into nature.
South Island Road Trip (join us!)
Help us plan the ultimate 3-week road trip from July 18 – Aug 8. Or better yet, show us how it’s done (kiwi style)! If you live on the South Island and want to show us something we could never find (or do) on our own, shoot us a message: [email protected] The wilder, the better!
- See The Trip: gonewiththewynns.com/south-island-road-trip
🎥 CAMERA GEAR USED TO FILM THIS VIDEO
🎶 MUSIC IN THIS VIDEO:
- Source – Artlist, Get 2 Months for FREE: https://bit.ly/artlist-GWTW
- Artists – Cayson Renshaw, Paper Planes, Low Light, Claire Kelly, Luna Keller
Amanda
Kiwi local here – I really suggest you take the highway 8 from Timaru and then turn onto the highway 8a to Wanaka, and then the back road through Cardrona, Arrowtown into Queenstown.
Good luck and look forward to following your trip 🙂
Mark D.
Have a safe and happy road trip, thanks for all the videos and laughs.
Jeanette Brennan
Can’t lie – I cried a little…but, onwards and upwards to your next adventure. Curiosity has served you well – many treasured memories made. Thx for sharing all the adventures with us all. Here’s to many more ‘Sunday Fundays’ when you take off on your new boat. Really looking forward to the videos. Enjoy the South Island – explore and decompress. See you next time!! Stay safe and curious! 🌟⛵️✨🙏💫💓
Mary Van
It’s hard for me not to get teary eyed! So many great memories!
Dale
Look forward to your next adventures on the new boat!
Patrick Burneson
i wish you both fun and adventure in your new Cat. I look forward to picking you up on the future video’s. stay safe and healthy.
Patrick/ Columbia Mo.
CDR Mike
You didn’t ask, but I vote for the Bali colors. 🤓
Richard Sparks
Always fun to watch your videos — the end of one era and (after transition) the beginning of another!
We have our own 3 week trip (in the US) at exactly the same time as yours! But we’ll be watching your updates and enjoying them.
All best for the next period of time before the new cat!
Richard & Kathryn
Rich
Sometimes I hate owning a boat. We are currently on month 3 of a 3 week haulout with our sailing cat. It is hot and humid and I am no longer 20 years old. so the long days of physical work, in tyvek, is wearing on me. I’m a big guy, with 3 fused vertebrae. And stuffing my inverted body into a bilge to reach a screw I can’t see, leaves me sore, and with bruises. But, we don’t have the money to pay for the work, and much of what I hear from other owners can be summarized as “Don’t hire this guy, or that guy, or that yard (the one we’re in right now), because of poor work.” So, we do everything ourselves out of necessity. It is not easy. I am 59 years old, I worked like this at physical labor jobs from the age of 15 through college, but I can’t anymore. I keep saying that this is my last haulout. I can’t do this anymore.
On the other hand, I think of what would happen if I followed through on the threat to sell. Seeing you leave Curiosity, reminded me of that. I would feel like a failure. Like the boat had beaten me. That I couldn’t keep it seaworthy.
Our cat is the same age as Curiosity. We have owned it since 2018, and have lived aboard since them. We have not gone nearly as far as you, and I don’t think we ever will. We are too old. We have a grandson.
You guys are in a different situation, with so much to look forward to.
Alan Solomon
Yes. It is true. We will all miss Curiosity because that is where we saw you both in comfortable and familiar surroundings. You were both safe and happy in Curiosity and that made us feel safe and happy because you both have grown on all of us\ these past years.
I came quite close to tearing up when you said goodby to Curiosity for the last time. Thanks for the memories.
I hope you do go and find Singa 🐈 and give him his blanket back. By the way. The hat you are taking is cool. You wear it well.
I know there are way better times and adventures ahead for you both and for all of us. Thanks for including us.
Happy, Joyous and Safe Travels,
Mary Van
I think seeing Singa is at the top of their list! If I was betting, Singa will see them before mom does! 🥰
Steve Gibbons
Thanks for sharing. A massive next step which reminds me of a great quote. It is better too travel than to arrive.
Happy trails. I hope a stay in Wanaka maybe Hotel Wanaka and a trip up the hill to Cardrona for a ski and some amazing views will be good for your souls!!!
Jeff Forgey
Awesome video. You may be down to a few possessions but You have a LOT of memories. Thought the burps after sipping the Champagne was the best. We laughed till we cried on that one. What a run with Curiosity. Relax on the South Island.
Pam McClure
Me too a bit sad. But oh the adventures ahead. Thank you.
K
How hard it must be to move and leave almost all of your things behind! Nikki – do you mind sharing your burgandy shirt and black jacket – the brand? thanks.
Bill Berry
Now you are just a pair of Vagabonds! Nice video and showing the transition to being on the move. I am sure (if it has not happened already) you will wake up sometime and the ole mental memory will kick in and you be dazed wondering where you are and why isn’t Curiosity rocking, or why you cannot find the head where it should be! Looking forward to the future and wish the best to you both.
Pat
Safe travels you two….sad to see you leave but happy for your future. Travel safe
Michael
What a wonderful end to a wonderful journey! We’re all going to miss the old boat, but look forward with much anticipation to the new one. it only gets better.
Thank you so very much for all the years of wonderful sharing of your lives with all of us. It means a lot. As you close this chapter, we know the new one will be ever more interesting and well worth looking toward.
We pray that God will continue to bless you and take care of you for us all, and eventually lead you to the final shore where we can all be together forever. Never having to say goodbye to anything or anyone ever again.
Thomas Fuller
I always assumed you towed a second boat behind yours to carry all of Nikki’s clothes! I don’t think in 10 years I’ve ever seen her in the same thing twice!
Jeni
Haha! I agree! She has so many get ours!
Jeni
Outfits (autocorrect😩)
Jon Deck
What are you specifying for the heads on the new boat? A composting head and an electric, two composting? If you are keeping an electric (or manual) with a mercator will the new boat have a holding tank or are you planning to only use the second head while at sea?
Sandra & the 2 Spaniels
Wow-you 2 have come a long ways. I remember the first HGTV RV show, where you guys purchased your first RV. Been following you ever since! This was bittersweet, but life is full of adventure if you willing to go. I am SO impressed on how scaled down your belongings became. I am working on it, but sheesh! I still need a moving truck. Cannot wait to see the new things on the boat. I like the color choice but get them to round that table! My kitchen has sharp edges and I hate it.
Stacy
Hiya. South Island must dos.
Marlborough wine tour, & if you’ve got time stay at night at the bay of many coves in the Marlborough sounds. I worked there it’s incredible.
Nelson is beautiful.
Queens town is okay but I think time could be better spent exploring Milford and doubtful sound.
Caitlin’s costal drive is incredible my favourite part of the island.
Pancake rocks
West coast, have a look at the glaciers.
I could go on for hours.
Jim Lindsey
Ok, y’all have done Land and Sea so perhaps it is time for an Air adventure. While waiting for your next boat consider taking flying lessons! Looking forward to seeing the South Island.
Anne Quigley
Enjoy your down time and return to sea life well energized. Looking forward to your continued adventures. Hugs
Melissa
We just sold our house to buy an RV. Watching you close the doors one last time and that finally look while walking away gave me all the feels. 😢 it’s ok, on to the next adventure!
Jenn McFarland
May your new adventure be full of every good thing and the transition be peaceful and joyful. 💜
Ember
Wow! The end of an era! I’m so proud of you two! Glad to hear you are taking a couple weeks off to process all this. I love the way you take care of yourselves and each other. I’d go anywhere with you. Can’t wait for the next chapter of your adventure. Happy trails! We’ll see you soon.
Roy E Hardcastle
congratulate on selling your boat. keep doing what you enjoy doing. most people settle for the hum drum life. Roy H
Mary Van
Yours is not so hum drum! Almost 90 and you still have your hands in si many things! ❤️
Craig
I love your adventures from your RV experiences and all your travels around the world in Curiosity. I think in 20 years your next adventure will probably be giving us your new life in colonization of Mars😁
Jeff Forgey
maybe the moon as it is closer:)
Dawn
1. can you link the tracking pods? 2. I like the first design with the wood…it looks more mid century modern….also …if you go with the darker colors….would they not get a salty whitish filmy dust coating?…and also …black and dark colors show everything speck of dirt, lint etc …so might want to reconsider that…prayers for your new journey…
Mike Priaro
Curiosity’s dining table and food counter both had large radius soft corners – a good idea on a high seas boat.
The new catamaran’s main table is sharp cornered – a bad idea – according to the sales literature shown. Hope you get them to change that non-seaworthy design.
Don’t be afraid to hold their feet to the fire based on your seagoing experience!
It can only make their product better.
Michael
Damn straight!
Rich
Yup, boatyards turn out lots of bad installations. We have friends who bought a new cat and they had so many problems getting them all fixed, and fighting over warranty coverage, that they ended up selling it.
Stay engaged during the build. Make visits to the yard as often as possible, get a rental and stay for a while. Watch them build it. Ask questions. Take pictures. Get an electrical schematic from them. Insist on it. Make them put real backing plates on critical items, not just fender washers. Plate thickness should be 30% of the fastener diameter, 40% for high load critical hardware like cleats and jackline anchors. Make sure they use good bronze below the water line (throughhulls) Some builders (in Europe) used crap with too much zinc.
Think about improvements. Even if you pay for them yourselves for the builder to install. Before all the interior in done when things are easy to reach.
Make sure they adhere to ABYC for the electrical system. Builders skimp in wire support and chafe protection. Make them use grommets anywhere wires pass through bulkheads, etc. Make them support the wires according to ABYC. This is important. Boat fires are mostly electrical. I’m convinced that comes from bad installation. Do it during construction, because it will be nearly impossible later. Make them label both ends of every wire, as per ABYC.
Hire a surveyor to inspect the boat.
Good luck.
Michael
What great advice!
Sid
Hi y’all
I’m excited to see what is up for your next adventure. I’ve been with you from your first excursion thru the USA, but this is the first I’m actually sad to see come to an end. I’ve become attached to Curiosity and your many great and troublesome times.
Stay safe and enjoy your trip. I’ll be awaiting the videos of the South Island and return to Texas. Be ready it’s very hot here with multiple days over 100 including up to 108 here southwest of Fort Worth.
Terry Sullivan
When will the next boat be ready and what will you name it ?
PS, I do click the little “Save my name” etc button but it doesn’t.
Steve Riplinger
Queenstown is worth a stay
Louanna Davis
I’m so excited for you two. God’s speed and enjoy the next two weeks to recharge, remember that when one door closes, and another door opens. So, love your videos.
Pat
I can’t even imagine the emotions coursing thru you both as this video left me teary. Safe travels wherever you roam.
Jan
I’m sitting here crying happy and sad tears. So many memories along your travels. And here’s to many many more!!! Be safe and have a super duper time until we see you again.
Brian Hall
Out of this amazing adventure you call your life, which did you enjoy more, the land (RV), or the sea (Curiosity)? Which part of your adventure posed the biggest challenge? In conclusion, you two are amazing! I started following you when you were land lovers, and waded right out into the deep blue when you took to the ocean. You have inspired me to chase my dream and take to the road and become a part of the RV community (The deep blue is too scary. I will stick to dirt). Keep the videos coming, and keep inspiring!
Gerry Donaldson
Is this a hiatus or a permanent change of life? What happened with plans for your energy-independent yacht? I was a high school teacher who did adventure travel every summer. I loved vicariously following your life for a few years. It enriched my life. I know that you guys will continue to have an adventurous life. I hear that Elon Musk is looking for volunteers to be the first colony on Mars. Thanks for the memories.
Kathy Donaldson
They have a solar powered cat on order and is being built!
Jim
Sad and Happy…be safe…
Mike Miller
I’m sad too about this move, we all gonna miss Curiosity! Take care and God Bless.