Cruiser Blog 'Mar Azul' Follows Couple on Multi-Year Voyage

Author:: MARK FUSCO
Publish date:: Dec 11, 2013

With the beast of retirement creeping over the horizon, longtime boaters Bob and Elaine Ebaugh found themselves yearning for more than a brief vacation could provide.

While serving rewarding careers in Florida, Bob a pilot and Elaine working as a hospital administrator, the couple took the time to reevaluate the things they wanted most; and in 2009 the couple bought their next home, Mar Azul.

"We concluded there are no guarantees in life and boating can be hard work, so why not live our dream now," writes the couple on their blog.

After purchasing, the Ebaughs set about refurbishing Mar Azul, a 1985 DeFever 44 with the goal of cruising the water s of the Caribbean and Central America full time with their dogs Lady and Bandit.When the Mar Azul was ready, the couple sold their house, left behind their careers behind, and moved aboard the DeFever full-time.

Now, several years into their journey the Ebaughs have compiled a detailed blog that Bob and Elaine have maintained since leave the docks of St. Petersburg in April of 2011.

"The goal of our blog is to keep family and friends updated on our whereabouts and to share our experiences aboard as we spend several years traveling in the Caribbean," write the Ebaughs. "We will try to post our current location as often as we can, and will upload details and pictures when we find good connections."

Read about their first month aboard, "Mar Azul: Florida's West Coast Through the Exumas" and look for more updates in the Destinations section of PassageMaker.com under cruiser blogs.

You can also check in by visiting the couples web site here.

We hope you enjoy following along!

The Vitals of Mar Azul

LOA: 44 feet

Beam (width): 15 feet

Draft (depth): 5 feet

Speed: typically 7 knots (about 8 mph) max

Sleeping quarters: 2 cabins – 1 queen berth, 1 double v-berth

Heads (bathrooms): 2, one with a small shower

Galley (kitchen): small 3 burner stove & oven, 2 small refrigerators, ice maker, microwave; small freezer and gas grill on deck

Helm stations: 2, one on the flybridge, and one in the main salon below

Sundeck: our favorite place – a large shaded patio of sorts where we prefer to hang out whenever possible