Exploring Charleston, South Carolina While Living On A Sailboat

A lightning storm rolled over Charleston while Sailing Banana Pancakes anchored in the harbor. Around 1:00 in the morning, Steve shot out of bed when he heard a commotion on deck. Easton had snuck out to fish in his underwear and caught a small shark, remarking, “I fish at night just to get the bait. Well, bait’s not out in the day.”

Exploring the Harbor and South Carolina Aquarium

After paying $5 to park the dinghy at the dock for the day, the family set out to explore Charleston. Kami explained, “Whoever gets ready first gets to pick what we do today.” Carver won the race and chose the South Carolina Aquarium. Inside, the family admired the exhibits, stopping to observe various fish and sharks. Examining a slippery dick fish, Steve noted, “20 cm, I already knew that 8 in was 20 cm cuz I looked it up.”

Walking Tour of the Historic Walled City

After visiting the aquarium, the crew walked through the old walled city of Charleston to map out their surroundings. Logging more than 10 miles on foot, they explored clean streets, historic architecture, and local churches. Kami noted that aside from St. Augustine, it was the first big city they had visited on their voyage, leaving them thoroughly impressed by its safety and charm. Along the way, the family encountered Charleston’s wild high tides, which flooded roadways with water. They even joked about finding fish flopping in the streets during peak tide. Later, Easton and Carver practiced cast netting off the dock, while Easton worked on voiceovers for the boys’ new YouTube channel, *Stay Lost*.

Ghost Tour and Dungeon Visit

To wrap up their time ashore, the family braved a ghost and dungeon tour in the historic district. Kami noted, “All is good. Our dinghy will be sitting here. We’re going to wrap this day up cuz it was a heck of a day.” Back on the boat, Steve and Kami enjoyed a date night complete with chocolate chip pancakes. As the family prepared to weigh anchor for the Bahamas, their anchor retrieval line got tangled, providing yet another reminder of the unpredictability of full-time cruising.

Boat Projects and Homeschooling

Living on a sailboat means tackling constant maintenance. Steve worked on fixing a twisted and sagging cabinet drawer by installing support screws and pads. Meanwhile, the boys started their online school program accredited through Idaho. While the boys focused on their homeschool coursework, Steve replaced the motor on their water maker to ensure a better setup for their upcoming passage, bringing his list down from 27 items to 26.

Date Night and Moving to Charleston City Marina

During their stay, Steve and Kami planned a special date night out in Charleston, walking through historic cemeteries and enjoying dinner at a rooftop bar. Kami observed that Charleston felt like “college girl Mecca” with its youthful charm and beautiful historic architecture. Later, needing to wash clothes and fill tanks, the family pulled into the Charleston City Marina and Dock, paying $300 a night to secure shore power and fresh water.

Additional Harbor Explorations and Sailing Preparation

The family spent time enjoying the local scenery, watching the towels blow from left to right in the anchorage, and discussing the pros and cons of staying in a marina versus anchoring out. Steve demonstrated his calm demeanor at the helm, moving the boat into the slip in slow motion while the kids called out lines and fenders. Carver proudly noted that he threw his first line and set up all the buoys perfectly today. After plugging into shore power and filling their water tanks, the crew looked ahead to their upcoming two-day passage toward the Bahamas, reminding viewers that they are only a couple of weeks away and encouraging everyone to subscribe.

More Charleston Adventures

The vlog captures additional moments of family life on the water, including humorous banter between the crew members, discussions about local history, walking through historic streets, and enjoying beautiful sunsets over the Charleston harbor as they get ready for their next major ocean crossing.

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