Our family moved to the Dominican Republic from Canada almost 2 years ago. We’ve always had a dream of owning a sailboat and finally got a chance to buy one. We got an older vessel that needed work, we fixed it up, but as usual, it costed a lot more than anticipated.

 

Our plan was to be able to travel around freely, and our first family trip was supposed to be around the Caribbean islands this summer.

 

The boat was moored at Sosua Bay, Dominican Republic until about two weeks ago, heavy wind and rain broke the buoy, and the boat drifted and landed on the shore of Sosua Beach. It lay there while we tried coming up with a plan to move it back to the sea, and finally, with the help of the amazing local community, we were able to get her floating again.

 

However, due to the prolonged time of the boat being on its side, and the way it was pushed back in to sea, the fiberglass had sustained some damage, and the boat started filling with water. We borrowed a powerful water pump, and our plan was to pull the boat to the closest marina, which had a lift, so we could fix the damages under the boat’s waterline. Unfortunately, the boat did not make it a mere 2 miles to the marina and sank at the commercial port of Puerto Plata.

 

Right now, we’re facing a bill of $20,000 in order to lift the boat and move it to a different spot because it can’t stay where it is. The price includes draining the water from the boat and patching it up. If we do not pay, the authorities would move the boat and slap us with an even higher bill.

 

Damages to the engine, the electrical system etc., would have to be repaired separately. However, we got a chance since the boat had not been underwater too long. We do have insurance, but it does not cover situations like this.

 

We are in dire need of your help to assist us in financing this huge bill and recuperate some of the costs that we are facing. Any little bit helps.

 

Thanking you in advance, from the bottoms of our hearts!

 

*** I've added some photos of our family on the boat, as well as photos of it being on the beach. There is also an image of it being at the dock after it sank.

 

*** Our friends from the Youtube channel Barefoot Travel had filmed the ordeal and have released the first episode about our attempts to put the boat in the water, having little to no machinery available. Please watch to have a better understanding of the disaster we have gone through

 

 

ht

 

 

 

 

tps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k6EFA7DUy4