Once the dream of living full-time on the water became real to us, the next step was just as important—finding the right boat. Not just any boat, but one that could truly serve as our home. We quickly realized this wasn’t going to be a casual search. This was about balancing practicality, comfort, and long-term livability.

We spent countless hours researching, watching walkthroughs, comparing layouts, and learning everything we could. Joe focused on the systems—electrical, mechanical, reliability—making sure whatever we chose would be something we could confidently maintain and depend on. Sandi had her list of non-negotiables, and they weren’t up for debate. Space, layout, storage, and overall comfort had to feel right. If we were going to live aboard full-time, it needed to feel like home the moment we stepped on.

Time and again, one boat kept rising to the top: the Endeavour 44’ TrawlerCat. It checked every box we both had—stability, efficiency, thoughtful layout, and the kind of livability we had been searching for. It didn’t take long before we realized this wasn’t just a contender… it was the one we’d be measuring everything else against.

By August 2024, Sandi had officially retired, while Joe was still working full-time, which made the search a bit more challenging—but also more exciting. We were inching closer to the life we had been planning, even if we weren’t there just yet.

Then in April 2025, we found it.

An Endeavour 44’ TrawlerCat listed for sale in Marco Island, Florida. From the photos and description alone, it looked like it met all of our shared requirements. It had the layout we loved, the features we needed, and something about it just felt right.

Sandi happened to be working a temporary contract job at the time, but with a little flexibility and a lot of determination, she was able to make a quick trip down to Florida to see the boat in person. What followed was a flurry of FaceTime calls, videos, photos, and real-time walkthroughs so Joe could experience every inch of it from afar.

It wasn’t quite the same as being there together—but it was the next best thing.

Then came the test run.

Seeing the boat underway, feeling how it handled, watching how everything operated—it all started to come together. Everything we had hoped for began to feel real. After all the research, all the conversations, and all the dreaming, we knew.

This was it.

With equal parts excitement and nerves, we made the decision to move forward and put in an offer. It felt like a huge step—but also exactly the right one.

Because sometimes, after all the searching… you just know when you’ve found home.