Is DIY D.Y.I.N.G?
There was a time not long ago when cruisers earned their sea legs headfirst in a lazarette, elbow-deep in bilge muck, and armed with a questionable socket set and the unwavering confidence of someone who read a single forum post about diesel engines. DIY was not only a necessity, it was a rite of passage. You weren’t just fixing a leaking portlight, you were forging character — one stripped screw at a time.
Fast forward to today, where cruising YouTube looks a lot different. Solar arrays are installed by subcontractors, interiors are refit by teams, and bottom jobs are outsourced to the tune of five figures. The DIY spirit hasn’t disappeared, but it is being drowned out by the sound of orbital sanders run by someone else’s hands.
Let’s start with a shining example: the YouTubers of Sailing ‘Avocet’. Chris and Marissa Neely took a tired 1979 Cheoy Lee 41, and through sheer grit (and gallons of epoxy), turned her into a floating work of art. No gold-plated sponsorships, no magic wands — just a couple with a deep toolbox and deeper patience. From stringers to stanchions, nearly every inch of Avocet has felt the business end of their effort. Their story proves that success isn’t measured in dollars spent, but in splinters earned.
Their following isn’t just built on beautiful sailing shots — it’s built on relatability. Because if they can rip apart a cabin sole and put it back better than before, maybe we can fix our leaky chainplate without calling the boatyard.
Then there’s Sailing ‘Uma’. Dan and Kika famously tore out their diesel engine and rebuilt their boat from hull to mast using an electric motor and little else but vision and tenacity. They didn’t just embrace the DIY ethos, they evangelized it. Their channel is a masterclass in doing it yourself even when it might be easier, cheaper and definitely cleaner to pay someone else — or replace the boat entirely. They are living proof that you can go far with less, especially if you’re willing to make a few mistakes, film them, and share the lesson.
And that’s the core of DIY: not perfection, but process.
Another honorable mention? MJ Sailing. Jessica and Matt have been refitting boats for over a decade — sometimes in freezing Michigan winters, sometimes in blazing Florida yards. Their newest aluminum build is a testament to staying the DIY course even when you’re surrounded by yard workers with clipboards offering to “just take care of that for you.” They’re methodical, meticulous and honest about the mess.
Now let’s look at the other side of the anchorage. The “new wave” of cruisers, armed with fat budgets, pre-launch production deals, and little desire to turn a wrench unless it’s part of a sponsored toolkit review.