About Us

Our Story

We are a family of four with two young children. We are just wrapping up our sabbatical cruise to the Caribbean aboard Tropicalia, our Voyage 500 catamaran. This is the second Caribbean cruise. This boat has been our home, our classroom, and the backdrop to some of the best years of our lives. We homeschooled our kids aboard, explored dozens of islands, and learned every system on this vessel by living with them daily.

Why This Particular Boat

We spent over a year searching for the right catamaran before finding Tropicalia. The Voyage 500 stood out for several reasons: the proven Simonis Voogd hull design, the spacious 3-cabin Owner’s Version layout, and the build quality of the South African factory. Tropicalia was the last Voyage 500 ever built, and her original owner was an aerospace engineer who specified her to the highest standard — including an extended rear deck, hot-and-cold showers in both sugar scoops, a bonded auxiliary dinghy gas tank, and other custom details you don’t see on production hulls.

Why the Hull and Build Quality Matter

Compared to the newer production catamarans we looked at, this one is lower, sleeker, and built more like a boat than like flat-pack furniture. The bulkheads are fiberglassed and tabbed into the hull — not glued and screwed — so the whole structure is one piece. You don’t get the creaking and flex that so many modern boats develop after a few seasons. You also get less windage, a better motion through waves (the 50-foot waterline really moves), and more bridgedeck clearance so you don’t get that severe pounding under way.

The interior is clean and practical — not a fussy show boat. No dark wood to absorb moisture or get tired. It’s held up beautifully and is easy to keep clean with kids aboard.

Captain’s Credentials

Eric holds a USCG 100-ton Master captain’s license and has logged thousands of offshore miles across the Caribbean, including passages between the US East Coast and the Virgin Islands.

Why We’re Selling

Our family is transitioning to our next chapter ashore. This boat deserves owners who will use her as she was meant to be used. We want to find the right people and make the transition as smooth as possible.

What You Get from a Direct Sale

When you buy from us, you are dealing with the people who have lived aboard this boat and maintained every system. We will give you an honest assessment of her condition, walk you through every system in detail, and provide a thorough handover orientation. No broker can offer that level of firsthand knowledge.