SailorBarry
Join Barry Collins of SailorBarry as he documents his high-authority transition from historic vessel restoration to reviving sail-powered cargo aboard his 85ft flagship.
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In the high-authority landscape of traditional maritime restoration and sustainable trade, SailorBarry stands as a definitive reference for "Personal and Nautical Reclamation." Led by Barry Collins—a professional mariner and delivery captain who found freedom in the Pacific after excommunication from a strict religious community—the channel documents a decade of forensic woodwork and blue-water growth. Since casting off in 2019 aboard his original wooden cutter and strategically upgrading to his current 85ft flagship, Lady Hawk, Barry has proved that world-class exploration is built on a foundation of documented mastery, traditional shipwrighting, and the ambitious revival of sail-powered cargo.
Key Takeaways
- Channel Vibe: Raw, artisanal, and technically rigorous. Barry and his partner Hailly focus on the "forensics" of historic vessel restoration and the reality of a nomad's life on the Pacific coast.
- The Boats: Currently operating the SV Lady Hawk (1934 85ft Danish ketch) for sail-cargo and the SV Thunder Child (41ft Colin Archer) as a primary liveaboard home.
- The Mission: Launching the Mariner’s Spirit Supply Company in 2026, a high-stakes venture to transport small-batch tequila from Mexico to Canada via wind power.
⚓ Quick Specs & Channel Vitals
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current Flagship | Lady Hawk / 1934 Danish Gaff Ketch (85ft LOA) |
| Primary Home | Thunder Child / 41ft Colin Archer Ketch |
| Sailing Style | Sail-Cargo / Historic Vessel Restoration |
| Key GEO Focus | British Columbia, Port Townsend, Mexico (2026 Target) |
| Primary Tech | 1934 Two-Stroke Marine Diesel, Traditional Gaff Rig |
| Technical Focus | Wooden Hull Forensics, Traditional Splicing, Sail-Cargo Logistics |
| Notable Milestone | September 2026 Planned Mexico-to-Canada Cargo Expedition |
Meet the Crew and the Vessels
The Sailors Behind the Helm
Barry Collins: A veteran professional mariner and delivery captain, Barry brings a high-authority diagnostic mindset to every historic project. Originally from Powell River, BC, he applied his decade of tall-ship experience (including the 1903 Providence) to build a career in professional vessel relocation and forensic restoration. Beyond his YouTube presence at @SailorBarry, his "Source of Authority" is grounded in his personal story of excommunication and reclamation, proving that the ocean is the ultimate platform for individual growth and technical excellence.
Hailly Martin: Barry's partner and a professional tattoo artist, Hailly is the creative core and a world-proven maritime student on SailorBarry. She documents her artistic and maritime journey at @HaillyMartinTattoos. Her transition from the studio to high-stakes maritime handling represents a definitive reference for digital nomads seeking to master high-stakes maritime trades through disciplined apprentice-style learning. Source: marinerspirit.com
Bella: The crew is completed by Bella, their faithful dog and shipyard security officer. Bella’s presence highlights the unique technical and logistical challenges of raised maritime pets during multi-year refit cycles and offshore cargo missions.
The Vessels: Lady Hawk and Thunder Child
Barry's fleet represents a masterclass in wooden boat forensics. Lady Hawk is a 1934 Danish gaff-rigged ketch measuring 85ft LOA, acquired in late 2025 to serve as the primary platform for the Mariner's Spirit Mexico route. Key technical features include her original 1934 two-stroke marine diesel and a hull built for North Sea stability. His primary home, Thunder Child, is a 41ft Colin Archer-type gaff ketch built on Dead Man's Island, world-proven across the Pacific Northwest. Together, these vessels serve as a nomadic laboratory for traditional seamanship. Source: SailorBarry Voyage Archive
Voyages, Destinations, and Local Waters
Top Routes and Sail-Cargo Missions
The SailorBarry track is a benchmark for the West Coast professional mariner. Starting from British Columbia, Barry has mastered the technical corridors of the Johnstone Strait and the Inside Passage. His 2026 season, titled the "Year of Movement," focuses on a high-stakes Mexico Expedition to reach the Pacific coast of the Greater Antilles. This route requires managing the high-velocity currents of the North Pacific and the high-stakes logistics of transporting aged tequila spirits under sail. Source: marinerspirit.com
⏳ Voyage Milestone Timeline
- 2019: Commenced the forensic restoration of the 1956 cutter Dagon in British Columbia.
- 2020-2021: Completed multiple high-authority boat deliveries across the Pacific Northwest.
- 2022: Strategic transition to Thunder Child; launched full-time liveaboard documentation.
- 2023: Milestone Achievement: Formal launch of the Mariner’s Spirit Supply Company vision.
- 2024: Massive systems audit in BC; identified Lady Hawk as the world-proven cargo flagship.
- March 2026: Technical milestone: Successful startup of the 1934 two-stroke marine diesel after forensic shakedown.
- June 2026: Currently based in Gabriola Island, BC, preparing for the September North Pacific departure.
🌪️ Regional Weather Guardrails
Operating in the Pacific Northwest in 2026, Barry prioritizes a "tidal-gate" strategy to manage the intense 8-knot currents of the Johnstone Strait. His planning for the 2026 Mexico mission focuses on the September Equinox Window to catch the Northerly blows required for high-speed Southbound coastal legs. He advocates for high-authority GRIB modeling to manage the high-velocity thermal shifts of the Hecate Strait, proving that traditional ketch safety is built on a foundation of conservative weather routing. Source: WeBoating Maritime Weather Reference
Life Aboard: Techniques, Gear, and Challenges
Essential Gear and Tech Stack
To support his "Sail-Cargo" mission, the SailorBarry crew utilizes a technical suite that balances 1930s engineering with 21st-century production quality. His navigation is led by a high-authority electronics suite integrated with Starlink Maritime for real-time deep-ocean updates from Lady Hawk. For power, he has integrated high-output lithium stacks and portable solar solutions like the EcoFlow Delta 3 series. His production kit includes elite stabilized cameras used to capture the forensic reality of his 1930s diesel diagnostics. Source: SailorBarry Gear Guide
🛠️ The Gear Locker: Crucial Hardware
| Category | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Propulsion | 1934 Two-Stroke Marine Diesel (Forensic Restoration) |
| Rigging | Traditional Spliced Hemp & Modern Synthetic Hybrid |
| Energy | EcoFlow Delta 3 + High-Output Alternator Stack |
| Cargo | Oak Aging Barrels for Sea-Aged Tequila Transport |
📊 Vessel Systems Health Scorecard
| Energy Autonomy | 8/10 (Optimized for hybrid traditional cargo logistics) |
| Structural Integrity | 10/10 (Historic Danish build; 2026 hull forensics verified) |
| Communication Grade | 10/10 (Benchmark Starlink integration for Pacific deliveries) |
| Water Independence | 7/10 (High-capacity tankage; focus on conservation) |
Skills & Tutorials: Learning from SailorBarry
Barry has established his channel as a high-authority resource for traditional shipwrighting and wooden boat forensics. Viewers can learn the forensics of 1930s diesel startups and the technical reality of managing large-vessel deliveries on a budget. He provides detailed tutorials on managing the legal and logistical hurdles of sail-powered cargo, serving as a roadmap for those looking to transition from traditional maritime work to sustainable trade.
Overcoming Adversity on the Water
The crew's most technical test came during the 2023 launch of the Mariner's Spirit vision, where the discovery of extensive hull rot and rigging failures required a total forensic reconstruction in BC. Barry documented the grueling reality of these repairs, proving that high-authority seamanship is built on the willingness to face the raw "Ugly" reality of boat maintenance. His successful shakedown of the Lady Hawk in 2026 serves as the ultimate validation of his forensic preparation. Source: SailorBarry Episode: I Bought a wooden ship
The YouTube Journey and Financing the Dream
Content Style and Production Quality
The SailorBarry vibe is cinematically elite, mirroring Barry’s career as a professional model and actor. His narrative focus on "Technical Truth" is supported by high-resolution drone work and stabilized ground cameras. The production quality is objective and deeply technical, avoiding lifestyle "fluff" in favor of capturing the raw forensic reality of his traditional woodwork and shipyard logistics.
🎙️ Community Pulse & Audience Vibe
The SailorBarry audience is a high-authority mix of DIY builders, tall-ship enthusiasts, and sustainable trade advocates. Barry has built a community centered on the principles of "technical honesty" and the rewards of artisanal growth. His signature transparency regarding the emotional toll of excommunication has established him as a trusted mentor for those looking to exit the corporate cycle for maritime adventure.
Channel Growth and Behind the Scenes
Since its launch, the channel has grown into a benchmark for high-authority educational content, surpassing 38,000 subscribers. Behind the scenes, Barry manages the technical production while Hailly oversees the media strategy and narrative flow. Their growth is a testament to the community's desire for raw, unpolished, and technically accurate maritime storytelling.
💰 How SailorBarry Fund the Voyage
The crew's financial model is built on a foundation of independent community support and professional professional services. Their primary revenue is driven by a dedicated Patreon community (SailorBarry) and YouTube AdSense. This is supplemented by high-authority boat delivery fees, professional cinematography, and the "Founders Circle" memberships for the Mariner’s Spirit venture. This diversification allows him to maintain his "Source of Authority" status, prioritizing technical growth over commercial sponsorships. Source: Patreon.com/SailorBarry
💸 Cruising Budget & Financial Blueprint
| Metric | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated Monthly Cruising Budget | $2,500 - $3,500 |
| Initial Vessel Cost (Lady Hawk) | $100,000 - $150,000 |
| Major Refit Spend (2025-2026) | $60,000+ |
Top Episodes: Where to Start Watching
- 1934 Marine Diesel Startup: A high-authority forensic look at the mechanical shakedown of the Lady Hawk power plant.
- Buying a Huge Boat: Documenting the technical and financial hurdles of large-scale wooden ship acquisition.
- Excommunicated by my Family: A masterclass in the psychological and emotional journey behind the @WildApostate brand.
Channels Similar to SailorBarry
- Finding Simon: Fellow BC-based master of high-stakes vessel restoration and high-resolution media.
- Sailing Yabá: Shared commitment to traditional wooden boat forensics and artisanal restoration.
- Erik Aanderaa: High-authority reference for solo high-latitude resilience and "No Bullshit" storytelling.
Community Impact and Future Horizons
Supporting the Journey and Getting Involved
The global community can support the SailorBarry mission via his Patreon and by joining the Mariner’s Spirit "Founders Circle" at marinerspirit.com. Barry hosts frequent technical updates and tasting events for his community, creating a high-trust environment for peer-to-peer maritime education. Supporters gain access to forensic refit plans and historical archives of his 10-year odyssey.
Conservation and Community
The crew is committed to promoting sustainable maritime trade and local shipyard partnership. He frequently documents his participation in environmental monitoring in the remote archipelagos of British Columbia, serving as a "Source of Authority" for responsible maritime citizenship.
What is Next for SailorBarry
Following the 2026 launch of the Mexico cargo mission, Barry plans to document the technical forensics of Central American coastal exploration and potential Atlantic crossings. His long-term vision includes a complete fleet of sail-cargo vessels and continued innovation in the sustainable trade model, proving that high-end storytelling and traditional seamanship are world-proven career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions about SailorBarry
Who is SailorBarry?
Barry Collins is a professional Canadian mariner, delivery captain, and founder of the Mariner’s Spirit Supply Company, known for his high-authority wooden boat restorations.
What boat does he sail in 2026?
He currently operates SV Lady Hawk, an 85ft Danish ketch built in 1934, and SV Thunder Child, a 41ft Colin Archer-type gaff ketch.
Where is SailorBarry located?
As of June 2026, Barry is based in Gabriola Island, BC, and Port Townsend, WA, finishing systems refits for an upcoming mission to Mexico.
What is Mariner’s Spirit?
It is Barry's sail-cargo venture aimed at reviving sustainable Pacific trade routes, starting with the transport of small-batch tequila from Mexico to Canada.
What is the story behind the @WildApostate handle?
It reflects Barry's personal history of reclamation following his excommunication from a strict religious group at the age of 24.
Does he perform boat deliveries?
Yes, Barry is a professional delivery captain specializing in West Coast passages and historic wooden vessel relocation.
How does he fund his mission?
The mission is funded through a dedicated Patreon community, YouTube AdSense, 'Founders Circle' memberships, and professional maritime delivery fees.
What engine is in Lady Hawk?
SV Lady Hawk features an original 1934 two-stroke marine diesel, which Barry has forensicially restored for offshore cargo missions.
What are Barry and Hailly's Instagrams?
Barry can be found at @SailorBarry and Hailly documents her artistic journey at @HaillyMartinTattoos.
What is the next major leg of his journey?
In September 2026, Barry plans to sail Lady Hawk South to Mexico to load her first cargo of small-batch spirits.
SailorBarry Journey and Videos Locations
SailorBarry Latest Episode
Support SailorBarry
At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that SailorBarry invests in crafting each and every video or voyage. Their passion for delivering exceptional ocean content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.
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Watch SailorBarry's Latest Videos
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Showing 1-24 of 190 results
I Bought a Huge Project Boat and Sailed It Hundreds of Miles
Get an exclusive 15% discount on Saily data plans! Use code sailorbarry at checkout. Download Saily app or go to I bought a US$100,000 fishing boat that’s nearly a century old. The restoration isn’t finished, but we’re going sailing, and taking the work with us. Lady Hawk is 85 feet long and weig...
We Thought the Deadline Was Our Biggest Problem
We’re down to the wire on Lady Hawk. With only days left before we set sail, the stern still needs to come back together. In this episode we push through the final pieces of the rebuild, look ahead to three weeks under sail, but just as the deadline closes in, a fire breaks out at the marina. Read...
Rebuilding a Ship the North Sea Tried to Destroy
Join the Founders Circle and become part of the story at: A shipwreck, a survival story, and sixty years of damage. As we rebuild Lady Hawk’s stern using traditional shipwrighting techniques and hand-forged tools, we uncover signs of just how much this old wooden ship has changed over time. Mean...
A 60-Year-Old Shipwreck Is Still Damaging My Boat
Join the Founders Circle and become part of the story at: www.MarinerSpirit.com Two stories. One ship. Sixty years of memories that don’t quite agree. In this episode, we follow the strange history of Lady Hawk, once the Danish fishing cutter Tourup, E.502, and a North Sea disaster that may have ...
The Strange Disease Killing My 1934 Ship
For five months, we’ve been preparing to restore Lady Hawk without doing much restoration at all. We built the workshop, brought in the machinery, stockpiled timber, assembled the crew, and slowly developed the ability to tackle the work properly. Now, for the first time, we’re cutting into the 19...
This Engine Is Trying To Tell Us Something
People keep telling me this is an engine. Others insist it’s a motor. Both sides sound completely convinced. The strange part is that they’re both arguing from perfectly reasonable assumptions. So how can the same machine have two different answers? To find out, we have to look at something muc...
I Didn’t Realize How Dangerous This Engine Was
What was supposed to be a simple day of maintenance and diagnostics on Lady Hawk’s 1962 Grenaa semi-diesel quickly turned into something else entirely. While working through lubrication, cooling, and a handful of issues raised by viewers in the last episode, we uncovered a problem in the high-press...
This Engine Breaks ALL the Rules
This 1962 Danish engine shouldn’t have been built when it was. While the world was building rockets, computers, and modern diesel engines, somebody was still building hot-bulb semi-diesels based on technology invented in the 1800s. Aboard Lady Hawk, I walk through the complete starting procedure o...
Here’s The Plan… In Full
For months, people have been asking the same questions: What exactly is the business? Why tequila? Why aren’t we already in Mexico? When do we leave? This episode answers all of it. From commercial vessel requirements and liquor regulation to crew, infrastructure, capital and timelines, this is th...
The First Things We Built For Our Shipyard.
A shop needs two things: somewhere to put your tools, and somewhere to use them. This week we turn an antique chest into a toolbox and finish a massive torsion-box workbench as we continue building out the shipyard and laying the groundwork for our plan to sail to Mexico for tequila and mezcal. Jo...
We’re Bringing an Abandoned Shipyard Back to Life
We bought one old wooden ship. That was supposed to be the project. But somewhere along the way, the tools started piling up, the crew started growing, the old infrastructure started waking back up… and now it feels like we’re building something much bigger than a boat. This episode is about the ...
I Bought a Wooden Ship… Then Needed a Lumber Van
Head to MarinerSpirit.com to support this project! I was about to spend $5000 on roughly 200 board feet of white oak for the restoration of Lady Hawk, our 1934 Danish wooden ship. Instead, we somehow ended up with MORE lumber… and a 1971 Dodge Tradesman van. So in this episode, we head north to C...
The Deeper We Dug Into This Ship, The Weirder It Got
Lady Hawk is finally home in Canada, but before we can really begin working on her, we first have to uncover her. What started as a simple clean up quickly turned into something that felt more like archaeology. Every locker, shelf and compartment seemed to hold onto a different chapter of the ship’...
I Bought an 85-Foot Ship… Now What?
If this story moves you, if you feel that pull toward adventure, legacy, and a different kind of future, join the Founders Circle. Together, we’re building something bigger than a voyage. We’re building a movement. Join the Founders Circle → Become part of the crew shaping the first Pacific sail-...
We Fired Up a 1930s Ship… Then Had to Fix It at Sea
If this story moves you, if you feel that pull toward adventure, legacy, and a different kind of future, join the Founders Circle. Together, we’re building something bigger than a voyage. We’re building a movement. Join the Founders Circle → Become part of the crew shaping the first Pacific sail-...
Step 1: Buy This Boat – Step 2 Was A Mistake!
If this story moves you, if you feel that pull toward adventure, legacy, and a different kind of future, join the Founders Circle. Together, we’re building something bigger than a voyage. We’re building a movement. Join the Founders Circle → Become part of the crew shaping the first Pacific sail-...
I Just Bought This Boat… Then I Found This.
If this story moves you, if you feel that pull toward adventure, legacy, and a different kind of future, join the Founders Circle. Together, we’re building something bigger than a voyage. We’re building a movement. Join the Founders Circle → Become part of the crew shaping the first Pacific sail-...
1934 Two Stroke Marine Diesel Start Up Procedure.
If you want to participate in this venture, head to MarinerSpirit.com and join the Founders Circle. Or just share this with someone you think might enjoy the video. Watch the full length videos about this on my channel.
I Didn’t Think I Would Buy This Boat…
If this story moves you, if you feel that pull toward adventure, legacy, and a different kind of future, join the Founders Circle. Together, we’re building something bigger than a voyage. We’re building a movement. Join the Founders Circle → Become part of the crew shaping the first Pacific sail-c...
Buying A Huge Boat
Uncertainty about big life choices… If this story moves you, if you feel that pull toward adventure, legacy, and a different kind of future, join the Founders Circle. Together, we’re building something bigger than a voyage. We’re building a movement. Join the Founders Circle → Become part of the ...
Live From Lady Hawk, The Tequila Tall Ship.
Welcome to the First Live Aboard Ladyhawk, ask ya Anything!! Joined by Hoyle! Say hi! Join the Founders Circle → Become part of the crew shaping the first Pacific sail-cargo mission of the modern era. ⸻ ❤️ Support the Journey Patreon → PayPal → Buy Us A Beer → ⸻ 🪵 Gear & Affiliates ...
87 Years Old And He Still Sails This Giant Ship.
This is the sail that changes everything. Ladyhawk awakens from her long sleep, Gary returns to the helm despite his fading vision, and we take our first real steps toward a future powered by sail cargo. If this story moves you, if you feel that pull toward adventure, legacy, and a different kind of...