The Gamble: Buying a Catamaran in Rough Shape
After hurricane Barl left the southern Caribbean islands in shambles, we ended up in Caraku and stumbled upon a catamaran that was essentially stuck in the mangroves, missing engines, and in desperate need of love. The price was right — $110,000 including the crane flip — but it was a huge gamble. The boat had serious damage, looting scars, and full liability on our shoulders before even being flipped upright. Could this disaster turning into our dream boat?
The Reality Check: What We Were Facing
This wasn’t some easy fix. The boat’s interior was soaked with diesel and muddy water, ceilings were damaged, doors forced off tracks, hardware missing, and the electrical mess was overwhelming. Every corner revealed more work — like cutting out fiberglass ceilings to pump out the filth, removing sail drives to patch big holes, and tightly securing a bowed cross beam that supports the whole structure. The list was massive, and it felt like a 24/7 grind just to prep the poor thing for flipping.
Stress, Sweat, and Second Thoughts
With only a couple of days before the crane arrived, we were under intense pressure. Sleepless nights, endless trips between the mangroves and a nearby island for storage, and dismantling as much as possible to lighten the load — it was a full-on marathon. At one point, the crane got delayed, which gave us some breathing room but didn’t ease the stress. We even found saturated diesel under floorboards, making it hit home how bad things really were. There were moments we wanted to throw in the towel, but we kept pushing because sometimes, you just have to bet on your own grit.
Why We’re Still Betting on This Project
Deep down, despite the headache and heartache, we believe this catamaran is going to be our next “Spirit Animal” — a floating condo that’s worth every sleepless night and cracked fiberglass panel. We’ve been through tough rebuilds before and know a dream like this doesn’t come cheap or easy. But owning a 2020 Lagoon 450S for a fraction of the cost? That’s the kind of opportunity you don’t pass up. For us, this is the start of a new chapter that’ll take years, but it’s one hell of a story to tell along the way.
So, if you’re a grizzled old salt wondering if taking on a project like this is worth it—yeah, it is. But be ready for a wild ride.
Watch the Original Video
Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0IkaRuzLmU
