The CREW
We're Tom and Andrea an empty nest couple married for 34 years. We met at a Newport Beach, CA, restaurant where Tom was a valet and Andrea was a hostess. Within months of meeting we knew we'd spend our lives together!
We are proud to have raised two wonderful boys who have become men we admire. Both are married (we finally have daughters!), and our eldest and his wife have blessed us with an adorable grand daughter.
We raised our boys in Texas but relocated to the California several years ago. We brought our little Sea Doo jet boat along with us, hoping we might get it out on the water on the coast. On one of our first trips to San Diego, we met a couple who was selling their "starter" live aboard boat... a cute but humble 32-foot, 1983 Bayliner. Six weeks later, we were bigger boat owners! As an homage to our love of the South, we christened her Sea Y'all!
We quickly discovered the live aboard life was DEFINITELY for us, and we began the search for Sea Y'all, version 2.0. We looked at exactly three boats, all in one day. When we first laid eyes on this 1988 DeFever 44 (boat tour number three that day), we instantly fell in love and knew she was meant to be ours!
Looking back over these past five years, we feel incredibly blessed. We dreamed big and then chased that dream until it became reality. Our mission is to inspire other couples to do the same... dream big, find their "thing," and run hard after it. Act two of life — the empty nest years — can be the best adventure ever!
TOM
The captain of our life adventures. He grew up bi-coastal, Rhode Island and Southern California, and has enjoyed a 30+ year career in the hospitality industry. Tom loves the New England Patriots, paddle boarding, playing the ukulele, and skippering Sea Y'all!
ANDREA
The first mate, chef, and party planner on Sea Y'all. A native Louisianian, she brings southern cooking and culture to The Sea Y'all Life. Andrea's multi-passions have led to careers in graphic design, event planning, women's ministry, blogging, and social media marketing. She loves home (and boat!) decorating, creative, healthy cooking, and entertaining on J Dock!
ROWDIE
A 12-year-old West Highland Terrier. He enjoys the boat life, but his main concern is just being with his people. Rowdie pretends to care very little for his sister, but we'll let you in on a secret... he's so attached to her that if he needs to go to the groomer when she does not, she tags along as his official therapy dog.
ROSIE
"Sassy, classy, and a bit smart assy." That's how we describe our spunky, adorable, five-year-old Cairn terrier. She has more personality than any dog we've ever met. While Rosie can be large and in charge, she is equally cuddly and humble. She adores the boat life and paddle boarding with her dad!
The BOAT
Sea Y'all! is a 1988, 44-foot DeFever born in Koahsiung, Taiwan. Weighing in at 44,000 pounds, she has a heavily built displacement hull with a tall, flared bow. Arthur DeFever made this boat for long distance cruising, as well as convenience and comfort.
The DeFever 44 is the ideal live-aboard boat for the Sea Y'all gang. She features a large and open galley/salon area, a lower helm, v-birth, aft cabin with plenty of storage, and a spacious fly bridge and deck that make this boat ideal for living, entertaining and fun on the water!
Sea Y'all travels smoothly, low and slow, powered by twin Ford Lehman engines that are a beautiful, shiny red, even at the age of 33. Those beautiful engines reside in a spacious, walk-in engine room that's pretty amazing. In fact, Tom says that if it had a tv, a small refrigerator and a cot, he might not ever leave that room.
