Welcome Aboard MV Freedom
We’re Shawn & Elizabeth, and we’re thrilled you’ve found us and want to learn more about our journey to MV FREEDOM (MV = motor vessel). But first, a proper introduction is in order since what you see on the #gram and on the #tube doesn’t always tell the full story. We’re a couple of Midwesterners turned Pacific Northwesterners because of our mutual love for boating and our burning desire to be on board our vessel year-round.
Circa 2005 - The cockpit of boat #1, our 24’ Glastron, leaving McKinley Marina in Milwaukee, WI.
After getting married in 2004 in Milwaukee, WI, we traded in our Harley Davidsons for a 24’ Glastron that we aptly named Tide the Knot. While we had minimal boating experience at the time, mostly on jet skis and open bow boats 20’ or smaller, we both had and still have a mutual love of being on the water and soaking in the sense of freedom it provides.
After 7 years aboard Tide the Knot cruising Lake Michigan, we decided it was time for a bigger boat to more comfortably enjoy our time aboard with friends and family. We decided on a gas powered 36’ Carver Sport Sedan (360 SS) that we named Gigi II (named after our beloved ferret, Gigi, who passed away before she could enjoy her very own state room). Gigi II served us well for nearly 4 years on both Lake Michigan & on Puget Sound after our move to Seattle.
She made the incredible move with us from Milwaukee to Seattle in 2014 only after getting split in 2 and trucked across the country. She arrived safely in about a weeks time and was happy to splash into salt water for the first time in her life. It wasn’t long before she was able to cozy up in her new home at Elliott Bay Marina.
Circa 2013 - Our 36’ Carver Sport Sedan in Pentwater, MI on our 9th wedding anniversary.
After moving to Seattle, we enjoyed a full summer of cruising around Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands and north into Canadian waters in beautiful British Columbia. As we cruised through some of the most magical waterways and took in sights of wildlife and landscapes that are second to none in the world, we knew that we were in love with the Pacific Northwest and wanted to spend every waking hour on the water. The sea had cast a spell on us and was beginning to hold us in her wonder forever. We knew we wanted to live a less ordinary life where we could see and experience the truly extraordinary. And that’s exactly what we set out to do!
MV Orca, our 2007 40’ Searay Sundancer, posing for a shot at the Alderbrook Resort & Marina down the hood canal in Union, WA.
Next up for us was diesel power! Most boaters can attest to the longevity, efficiency and durability that a diesel engine provides, so we sadly sold the Gigi II and became proud owners of Orca, a 40’ Searay Sundancer. She was a truly incredible boat and gave us 3 years of unforgettable experiences on Puget Sound, the Hood Canal, Lake Washington, Lake Union, the Strait of Georgia (BC) and even circumnavigating Vancouver Island, British Columbia (Canada). MV Orca was a beautiful beast who never let us down, and we were surely sad to set her free a few short years later.
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting!” - Paulo Coelho
Throughout our years boating and exploring, we become infatuated with the Nordhavn brand and the idea of being able to go wherever we want to go with the stability and efficiency to cross an ocean if we so choose. After all of our years on the water, our move to Seattle had proved to be a turning point and one that would lead us to realize our dreams of owning a boat that can safely and comfortably take us around the globe.
Nordhavn was now our North Star and we were determined to reach it. The only way to make that dream a reality was to save money, live as minimally as humanly possible, sell our condo, sell our useless crap, set Orca free and set out on our search for “the one.”
Circa 2018 - Shawn grinning from ear to ear having found “the one” on his Birthday (3/25).
On March 25th, 2018, two weeks after officially saying goodbye to Orca and officially being sans boat, we went to see a 43’ Nordhavn for the second time in 3 months. This time was different. Not only was it Shawn’s birthday, but something about N4303 Endurance felt right. She felt more spacious, clean and ready for us to call her our own. The stars were aligning in our favor (timing, price, etc.) and we knew that the time to take action was now. We put in our offer and the rest is history. At the end of April, we got our keys and became proud Nordhavn owners! The time for adventure had begun, and our dream of exploring the Pacific Northwest and beyond was becoming a reality.
We named her Freedom.
