WARNING: May cause sudden urges to quit your job and buy a boat

In Part 2 of this incredible survival story, David’s worst fears become reality. After leaving Venice, Florida to escape Hurricane Ian, David believed he was heading away from danger. Instead, the storm shifted south — placing him directly in the path of the eyewall near Captiva Island. Alone aboard his DeFever Trawler, conditions rapidly deteriorated. His cell phone was nearly dead. The generator failed. Communication was lost. Then the boat began dragging anchor. What followed was a nightmare scenario as the vessel grounded on a shoal before being rolled onto its side by storm surge and violent winds, flooding much of the boat and trapping David inside. After finally escaping to the deck, he endured hurricane-force winds, driving rain, seawater splashing in to his face, and being pummeled by debris. With hypothermia setting in and survival uncertain, David activated his EPIRB — triggering a dramatic Coast Guard helicopter rescue in the middle of Hurricane Ian. Following the rescue, David and Rebecca were faced with the reality of salvaging the wrecked vessel and picking up the pieces.

When Hurricane Ian approached Florida, this captain made a decision that nearly cost him his life. When the storm was forecast to hit Tampa Bay, this Venice Florida couple was forced to evacuate their DeFever Trawler from their marina. What happened next turned in to a life-or-death fight for survival. In this episode, we get their backstory, how they got in to boating, what led them to a DeFever 44 named the Elizabeth Pearl, and the events leading up to their decision to try to escape Hurricane Ian. Unfortunately, hurricane forecasting is not straightforward, and it is impossible to know what the right thing to do is. Unfortunately, their choice in this 50-50 decision ended up leading to a lost vessel and a rescue during the height of a Category 4 storm. Part 2 we will get in to the thick of it with them on what actually transpired following departure from their marina in Venice. We actually owned the exact same make and model vessel named Aqua-Cultured, and we recorded this interview onboard the vessel in St. Petersburg, FL. This was the first time they have stepped aboard a DeFever in 2 years since losing theirs in the hurricane. This episode is part interview, part survival story, and part reflection on what really happens when you face a hurricane at sea.

Current Listing Price: $1,425,000 Boat Trader Listing Link: https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2006-... Note, this vessel is For Sale by Owner. Step aboard this 64’ Hatteras Motoryacht for a full walkthrough of one of the most iconic American-built luxury yachts ever produced. Derry J is hands down the most well equipped and upgraded 64' Hatteras Motoryacht on the market with nearly $1,000,000 in upgrades since 2020. This vessel is currently for sale and is available for purchase. Known for its timeless design, solid offshore performance, and spacious interior layout, the 64’ Hatteras remains one of the most respected motoryachts in its class. In this video, we take you through the engine room, exterior spaces, flybridge, salon, galley, and staterooms so you can get a full feel for the boat and its layout. Powered by Twin 1,400 hp Caterpillar 3412 E Diesels, she can easily cruise between 18-23 knots, with a top end speed of 28 knots!

In our last trip out on the water aboard our 1972 Bristol Offshore Trawler, we experienced one of the most dangerous issues you can have with a diesel engine — a runaway. The engine took off and wouldn't shut down, leading to a very stressful situation. In this video, I walk through what actually caused the runaway of one of our Detroit 4-53 Marine Diesel Engines and the steps I took to fix it. I’ll show the diagnosis, what failed, and what I did to get everything back to normal.

In this video, what was supposed to be a peaceful anniversary anchorage turned into a tense and unexpected situation. While preparing to drop anchor on our 1972 Bristol Offshore Trawler, one of our diesel engines suddenly experienced a runaway—rapidly revving out of control. If you’ve never seen or heard a diesel runaway before, it’s terrifying and something every boater hopes to avoid. We walk through what happened, how we reacted in the moment, and what we learned from the experience. Thankfully, we were able to get things under control safely—but it was definitely not how we planned to celebrate our 2-year wedding anniversary. This also was the first time Captain Butch has ever needed a tow! Fortunately, we were able to enjoy the silver lining of the trip...beautiful weather, an amazing sunset and sunrise, a tranquil time in a gorgeous area, and a relaxing tow back to port.

After an unforgettable few months in Indian Rocks Beach. It was finally time to bring M/V Epoch to her permanent home port in DT St. Petersburg, FL. This short gulf coast journey marks more than a change of marina, its the start of a new chapter for our family and life aboard our 1972 Bristol Trawler. Join us as we prep the boat, give the transom a facelift, have a challenging departure and then cruise down the ICW through the beautiful coastal communities toward Tampa Bay. Once settled in our home port of St. Petersburg, we finally put our new EPOCH name decal on the stern. OH! and we have big news to share to make sure to stay until the end for the drop.