LATEST EPISODE building a seaworthy compostable toilet, part 1 | S1S12
After pulling out the existing (and old) toilet and plumbing (ew) in our forward head, Dan has started building the compostable toilet that will be replacing it. In part one of our sh*ttiest project yet, he designs and assembles the box that will eventually contain the system that will separate the solids from the liquids while keeping any unfortunate smells out of the boat.
a milestone & a goodbye | minisode
In this minisode, we talk about a major “Chasing Never Monday” milestone and say goodbye to momski for a little while as she heads to Arkansas to start getting ready for her big move back to Europe. We hope you’ll join us next week, as we tackle our shittiest project yet.
2021 promaster van tour aka “the momski van”
The momski van is FOR SALE. In December 2020, my mom, Ewa, bought herself a brand new 2021 Ram Promaster 2500 high roof, 159” wheelbase van that Dan then built into a camper, so she could travel with us as we crisscrossed the western U.S. in our own custom-built Sprinter.
tropical chickens, six-toed cats & 'glades gators | S1E11
Since we only had momski with us for another couple of weeks, we kicked off the new year in super tourist mode with a van trip to south Florida. We started in Key West where we were quickly greeted by the locals and got to pet some some six-toed cats. From there, momski and I hit Miami and the Everglades where we got to experience alligators, Cuban culture and Art Deco architecture all in one day. At the end of our trip, we experienced what I’m referring to as the Miami Miracle.
epic FPV drone footage and alligator babies | S1E10
Since we’re spending most of this week touristing around southern Florida, Dan and I thought we’d let you in on what’s on our minds when we’re sleeping. We shot the “dream sequence” in this episode when we were in Portland, Oregon where we met up with Dan’s cousin, Shane. Shane is an expert first-person view (FPV) drone pilot, which means he’s wearing a virtual reality mask that allows him to see what the drone sees as he’s flying it, in this case, it’s through the trees that surround the mountain biking trails at Sandy Ridge. In the second half of this episode, using a standard GoPro mount, Dan and I hit the trails near our new home base in Fort Pierce where we run into an alligator and her babies.
cats overboard & trouble in paradise | S1E9
After two months living aboard the Never Monday, it finally happened, both of our cats have ended up in the water. First, Pepe. Now, Louie. We talk a little bit about how they reacted to a sudden saltwater dunk and making sure those situations end up being funny stories rather than a tragic loss. Also on this episode, Dan and I are on the same page about our adventures most of the time, but there was a bit of trouble in paradise the last couple of weeks as the boat projects have piled up and the mountain biking opportunities have not. And lastly, it was Christmas after all, which for Polish people means one thing: pierogis.
zu and momski's big adventure | S1E8
This one gets pretty personal and really Polish. You might already know that before we got a sailboat, Dan and I spent six months traveling the country in our converted Sprinter van. What you probably don’t know is that my mom, aka momski, came with us in her own van that Dan also converted into a tiny home. In this video, we explain why. After we climbed aboard the Never Monday in late October, momksi went to visit family Pennsylvania for a few weeks, but now she’s back to hang out with us for about a month, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself, about her, and our big adventure across 10 states.
tightest docking ever? | S1E7
After sailing for the first time ever earlier this month, we couldn’t wait to get out on the water again. Our second sail ever was much calmer with very little wind and almost non-existent swells, which gave us the opportunity to practice adjusting the sails to get the most out of the conditions we had. We also practiced tacking into the wind to get back to the inlet and fit in a “crew overboard” drill before heading back to the marina. A visit from a couple of dolphins rounded out the day. Any time we take out the boat, Dan has to get her parked back in our spot at the dock, which entails backing the Never Monday into a corner between two other boats. It’s a tight squeeze that requires watching both the bow and stern to avoid any collisions.
boat tour, 41-foot 1988 Morgan Classic sailboat | S1E6
After two months of working on our 41-foot 1988 Morgan Classic, we’re ready to show her off. While there’s still plenty to be done before she’s ready for blue water cruising, here’s our tour of the Never Monday. We also explain why we picked this type of sailboat in the first place.
making a vegan thanksgiving feast on our sailboat | S1E5
We had ourselves an activity-packed Thanksgiving weekend that included our first time sailing, so we couldn’t fit it all into one episode, which means here’s a bonus one! It was Thanksgiving after all, so a vegan feast was in order. I made a vegan turkey roast, vegan mashed potatoes, vegan mushroom gravy, vegan pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce, which is vegan no matter how you make it. We also had ourselves a beach day that included surfing, skateboarding and a man o’ war sighting.
dolphins off bow on first sail ever | S1E4
After two months of boat ownership, we go sailing for the first time. And not just aboard the Never Monday, we go sailing for the first time EVER. With a window of calm wind and water over Thanksgiving weekend, we motored out of the Fort Pierce Inlet and started by raising the genoa, which got the Never Monday going at about four knots. Dan then raised the main and promptly got seasick after initially feeling fairly invincible. At seven knots, we continued sailing east before making a 180-degree turn to head back to the marina. On our way home, the Never Monday got a visit from a couple of dolphins off her bow before Dan guided her into the inlet with sails still raised.
new upholstery and upgraded dinghy | S1E3
We’ve spent the last two and a half weeks transforming our salon. When we bought the boat, it came with some pretty hideous cushion covers and we knew they would have to go as soon as possible. At first, we considered getting quotes to have someone else redo the covers for us, but then Zu decided to buy a sewing machine and do it herself instead. Meanwhile, Dan got to work to salvage our dinghy, Always Friday, which wasn’t holding air. After patching up all the holes and leaks, we also decided to get a new outboard motor. A search on Facebook Marketplace allowed us to upgrade from a 5 horsepower motor to a 15, which our dinghy is max rated for, at a fraction of the cost of new replacements.
first time at anchor in new sailboat | S1E2
We’ve officially been on our sailboat for a week. It started with a whole lot of cleaning and hooking up the propane into the galley, so we could finally make meals on the boat. Dan and I also celebrated our three-anniversary by taking the Never Monday out for our first night at anchor to get a very small taste of “life at sea.” The next day we had a chance to practice our docking skills at our new permanent slip at Fort Pierce City Marina and then hoisted Dan halfway up the mast to replace the disintegrated spreader shrouds we had inherited when we bought the boat.
from van life to sailboat life | S1E1
It’s been a whirlwind of a year. In April, we sold most of the things we owned in Bentonville, Arkansas and spent the next six months riding and racing mountain bikes across 10 states. Originally, we had planned to live on the road for quite a bit longer, but then we got to Bellingham where there were a lot of sailboats and our minds started to quickly drift toward a new plan. Before the end of October, we were the owners of a 1988 Catalina Morgan Classic, our new 41-foot-long floating apartment. Over the course of the next year, we plan to clean and fix her up while learning to sail and navigate with the goal of blue water cruising around the world.
never monday sprinter van tour
This was a DIY build that we started after returning from a mountain bike trip in New Zealand. That was also when the pandemic hit so we needed to make use of some time on lock-down. Our van is unique in that it’s purpose-built for two mountain bike racers who live in it with two cats and a rabbit. In the video you will see we have a hot shower, diesel heater, propane stove with oven, compostable toilet, bike repair mount, a massive four-bike slider, solar, and more. Dan did most of the build himself with some painting and staining help from Zu. Everything is custom-built using a mix of poplar, plywood, 80/20 aluminum, cedar, and some other easy-to-find wood.