sailing nahoa catamaran

Sailing Nahao: Net Worth, Boat, Ages and YouTube Income (2024)

Everything you always wanted to know.

Joshua Smith

Founder and Editor at Cruising Freedom

This is the definitive guide on Sailing Nahao for 2023.

Over the last few years, I have spent 75 hours watching and researching everything I could about Sailing Nahao as their channel is so captivating.

Because I really am *that* obsessed with Ben and Ashley!

If you want to know:

➔ How Ben and Ashley afforded their boat

➔ How they make their money today

➔ What boat do they have and its upgrades

➔ How you can start crossing oceans

Then you’ve definitely come to the right place.

Many consider this site to be the Wikipedia of the YouTube cruising community.

Before we start, a quick introduction from me…

The Cruising Freedom Author

Ahoy, Matey! I’m Joshua from Australia.

I’ve built the perfect business to sail the world.

A business model which can allow me to:

➜ Own a catamaran debt-free

➜ Go for weeks without WIFI

➜ Create semi-passive income

➜ Inspire others to dream big

But more on that later… 🙂

Sailing Nahao FAQs (2024)

Sailing Nahao, previously named Marheva.

Crew Members

Ben Stobbart (age 40)

Ashley Stobbart (age 42)

Willa Stobbart (age 4)

Their son Bodhi Stobbart (age 2)

Nahao is a 2005 Lagoon 410.

This often isn’t consider a blue water cruising catamaran as it’s best for the charter market.

And yet, Ben and Ashley have made it work for their cruising adventures.

Fellow YouTuber David Shih has a similar boat and is planning a world expedition with his young family too!

Nahao has had many upgrades:

➔ A Code Zero and Main Sail

➔ 1200w of solar panels + D400 mount

➔ 3000W Victron inverter

➔ Iridium Go + Antenna

➔ Badelf GPS puck + iPad for navigation

➔ New Dacron Sailbag which Ashley made herself

➔ New Hardtop custom-made by Just Catamarans

➔ 10ft Inflatable Dingy with 15hp outboard

This video explains some of their favorite gear:

They are in Africa:

Past Cruising

Nahao has been sailed extensively to:

➔ North America

➔ Venezuela

➔ The Panama Canal

➔ The South Pacific (Coconut Milk Run)

➔ New Zealand

➔ Papua New Guinea

➔ Indonesia

Affording It

After the loss of Ashley’s father, Ben and Ashley worked hard, invested and sacrificed plenty for 7 years to afford their catamaran. The boat cost approximately $320,000 and required additional work to be cruiser-ready.

YouTube sailing channels are often multi-millionaires…

Here in 2024, Sailing Nahao has an estimated net worth of $1,900,000 USD . This is based on the value of their boat, online income and stock portfolio.

However, they hold very little available cash.

Making Loot

In 2023, Sailing Nahao makes money on YouTube with:

➔ YouTube advertising revenue

➔ Affiliate links on their website

➔ Patreon memberships (600+)

➔ Substack memberships (this is new!)

➔ Selling sailing fan merchandise

➔ Brand sponsorship with Precision Sail Loft, OceanRodeo, Steiner Optics and Brnkl

It’s estimated that Sailing Nahao makes $12,000/month which is enough to allow them to keep sailing.

They discuss how they make money in this episode:

Collaborations

Sailing Nahao hasn’t collaborated with any YouTube channels, however, they have a close connection with Sailing Zatara .

Big Moments

Sailing Nahao’s remarkable moments in cruising:

➔ A video on defending against pirate attacks

➔ Catching some seriously big fish while sailing

➔ Coming across a sinking catamaran on an Atoll

➔ Assisting with an amazing boat build in Indonesia

➔ Crashing into a rock after 4 years of cruising

➔ Being approached at sea while cruising

➔ Almost getting arrested in the Maldives

This is perhaps their scariest encounter where they were almost boarded in Seychelles:

Future Plans

Sailing Nahao are cruising Africa and will venture into Europe next year.

Key Takeaways

There is much we can learn from Ben and Ashley:

➔ Living on a catamaran is normal

➔ You can cruise and work remotely

➔ A production catamaran is still fine

➔ Affording a boat requires some sacrifice

➔ Work hard so you can live your dreams

In the wise words of Ben and Ashley: Never grow up.

I look forward to seeing their adventure continue with their two children too. This would be the ultimate #worldschooling experience.

Create Your Own Cruising Freedom

Hey! 😃 it’s Joshua again…

I’ve been very inspired by [Channel Name] and their travels…

Some say I’m obsessed, but sailing the world is my childhood dream.

They’re living the dream, but that dream isn’t actually that far away.

I mentioned earlier about discovering the #1 cruising business model.

With this exciting opportunity, I’ll be able to:

➜ Generate a sustainable full-time income through learning basic skills

➜ Fund the purchase of my first sailing catamaran without any loans

➜ Do it without selling to friends and family (I found a better solution!)

➜ Share my lifetime passion for sailing, cruising and global adventures

Keen to discover more? Jump on the free training right now. 👨🏻‍💻

(I share more about it on the next page…🙂)

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Sailing Nahoa

Sailing Nahoa YouTube

They started out on a sabbatical to sail the world, but that has morphed into a cruising career thanks to the success of their vlogs on YouTube.

Sailing Nahoa are Ashley, Ben, Willa and Bodhi. They did a great stint in the Philippines if you are researching those cruising grounds

They have already completed their first circumnavigation (well mum and dad have) on their trusty  Lagoon 410 , and are now in the process of designing and building their next catamaran which will be an aluminium yacht – the Nahoa 55 – for the next lap around the planet as they raise their kids aboard.

@SailingNahoa

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Sailing Nahoa Newsletter

We Sailed Around the World!

Nahoa 55 update.

This newsletter is being fired off from Canada. The leaves are turning yellow. The air is crisp and fall is making itself known. The west coast of Canada is where we call home. The mountains meet the ocean. You can go golfing in the morning and skiing in the afternoon. It’s an incredible little spot on this planet. We’ve polished our resumes, sprinkled them with a dash of desperation and flung them into the inboxes of a generous handful of companies. That’s right, folks, we’re dusting off the office chairs and diving headfirst back into desk jobs. Because nothing screams adventure quite like spreadsheets, water coolers, and the sacred coffee break. Wish us luck!

Just Kidding….about the desk jobs..…golf. But we are indeed in Canada.

Let's dive right into this newsletter. Here’s what you’ll find:

Ridiculous Side Note

What happened to the circumnavigation.

Annapolis Sailboat Show

We don’t really “do” instagram but occasionally we’ll post something there. Last month we posted what we thought was an innocent video of our family going about our evening routine while offshore. Nothing special. Took a few minutes to post. Raw and simple. Just kids running around the trampoline. 22 Million views later and 20K+ comments we seemed to have stirred the pot. Apparently our life is a bit out of the ordinary and our kids are either going to die or be a fearless leaders.

The Comments:

Social media… you can’t really take it too seriously can you?

We left you last time in the middle of the Atlantic. Since then, we've quietly pulled into Grenada shortly after midnight, sipped some champagne to celebrate the circumnavigation, and that was that. It might seem wrong — and honestly, it feels a bit off not having a grand celebration. All of the “round the world” races do. Competitors cross the finish line with crowds lining the shores cheering and fireworks lighting up the sky. However, that's not the case for most cruisers who’ve just sailed around the world. We quietly drop anchor, maybe post something on social media, or not, and then go about our lives. Some of us return to life as we knew it prior to embarking on boat life. Most do not. The status quo is typically shattered. We’ve seen too much and realize there is more to life. We now know there are many ways “live” life.

It's not about the finish line. Rather, it's about the past 3, 5, or 8 years during which a sailor has transformed, shedding their old self. It’s about the challenges overcome, the storms battled—emerging on the other side often battered and bruised, but victorious. It's about the distance created from conventional society, gaining new perspectives. It’s about the cultures they’ve been immersed in and the thoughts they’ve taken away from those experiences.

The finish line is just an imaginary boundary— an incredible achievement, but merely the tip of an iceberg encapsulating everything that’s transpired over the past decade.

Many of us circumnavigators start new ventures. Friends of ours are launching a RV rental business in New Zealand, while others are starting a new Aeronautical business. And then there are those of us who simply keep sailing... Which brings us to our little family. Going back to desk jobs has never entered our discussion. Buying a beach shack or building a new boat….Now, that’s a conversation we’re having!

The Nahoa 55 is the next great leap forward for us, reminiscent of our initial bold decision to sell everything, quit our jobs and set sail. Anything worth having, takes time and effort. A lot of effort and uncertainty.

The Nahoa 55 project continues to progress behind the scenes. Below, we’ll touch on the current status and then delve into specific features.

Current Status

The 3D structure model is complete, with every frame, bulkhead, hull plate, handhold, and toe rail meticulously added. This is a massive achievement, a step which allows us to now go forward and request quotes from the various potential builders.

There's one crucial thing we were entirely oblivious to when we initiated this process. The job of a naval architect doesn't conclude once the plans are set in ink. In reality, that moment marks the commencement of the next phase. This is the phase in which a proficient naval architect will begin engaging with boatyards, initiating dialogues about pricing and construction timelines, and providing guidance to potential builders on an array of issues. These range from material cutting methods—whether plasma, CNC, or waterjet—to precautions for preventing contamination with other metals. As we transition to the actual build, David will be indispensable, addressing a multitude of questions related to the intricate details of the build process.

We're really happy we chose a naval architect who has not only “designed” but also successfully brought many vessels from the drawing board to production. Communication is crucial, and we're in good hands!

Play vs Performance

When sailing around the world, you spend approximately 80% of the time at anchor. Leaning too heavily towards performance is a double-edged sword; Performance implies less space aboard. So you arrive at destinations even earlier, subsequently spending more time at anchor, all while having less space.

We envision the Nahoa 55 as a platform for exploration. Sailing to new places and then exploring them through fishing, diving, kiting, and swimming. However, there's typically one area that remains underutilized: the space between the two hulls at the aft of a cat. To maximize this space, we've decided to incorporate a swing-down platform for when we're anchored, which can retract while we're underway. This clever feature not only provides rear access to various compartments when lowered but also effectively expands the vessel’s usable real estate and utility, boosting its overall functionality. (Note the davits that swing up to not knock your head off while walking across the platform).

Wine Glassing

We’ve kept this under wraps, but let’s uncork this feature: the delightful 'wine-glassing' of the hulls. Speed on a sailboat is influenced by several factors, with one significant one being the wetted surface area (i.e., drag). Simply put, the more surface area underwater, the slower the boat moves. That's why high-performance catamarans tend to be very narrow, while modern cruising cats are notably (double) wide.

The 'wine-glassing' of the hulls is a compromise that allows for reduced wetted surface area while still creating more interior space. If you examine a cross-section of the hulls, you'll notice they flare outwards above the waterline, mimicking the shape of a wine glass. This design not only minimizes drag but also maximizes usable space inside, striking a delicate balance between speed and space.

Deck Layout & Sail choice

Let’s be honest. We’ve sailed a Lagoon 41 around the world—it's not exactly a performance boat. And our expertise in designing? Limited! But what we can do is lean on experts in the field. This approach helps ensure our vision of an expedition catamaran is successfully realized, rather than ending up as a home-built mess.

As part of that, Shayne Young have come onboard to help advise on sail selection and deck layout. Shayne has delivered almost all of the Gunboats and HH catamarans, and has raced some of the best Chris White designs. He’s also currently working for the French America’s Cup team. The knowledge Shayne brings to the table is invaluable, particularly when it comes to sail selection and ensuring the sail-ability of this vessel with a short-handed crew. Shayne and Anna run their own YouTube channel called Young Barnacles.

This approach will apply to every aspect of the Nahoa 55. We are not experts in electrical system design, electronics or steering systems (and basically everything in life). We are sailors through and through. Having experienced life at sea, we have a vision for the ultimate expedition catamaran. Our goal is a vessel that is low-maintenance, robust, and high-performing, giving us more time to enjoy the destinations.

Here's a quick bit of boat porn for those who haven't caught it on social media yet. We might be super biased, but isn't she a sexy, utilitarian expedition machine? We’re going to bypass the $50K paint job and celebrate the aluminum look. If you happen to drag anchor into us, you’ll be the one regretting it! We won’t even give it a second thought. Bunch more renders on our website here .

Are you coming the Annapolis Sailboat Show? David de Villiers as well as us (Ashley and Ben. No kids). If you haven’t already purchased tickets you can do so using the code NAH23ABS and you will get a $5.00 discount off each entry to the show. Tickets are available here: https://annapolisboatshows.com/tickets/

We really look forward to seeing you in person for the first time in a long time!!! It's been 8 years since our last boat show when we first set sail.

We’ll keep you posted on everything going on in the next months. It’s ramping up to be a super interesting 2024!

Ben, Ashley, Willa, Bodhi

Discussion about this post

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17m Aluminium Expedition Catamaran Nahoa – Design #242

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