Please help me save my boat from ending up on the Scrapyard

Hi, I’m Nele

and this is my dog and best friend, Captain Chinook

For the past five years, I’ve poured my heart and soul into restoring my sailboat, Tindra—a 32-foot Swedish folksboat (Marieholm 32 E) that had been neglected for many years before I found her. What started as a leap into the unknown, with no prior boating experience, has become the most challenging and rewarding journey of my life.

Alongside my dog, Chinook, my dream has always been to one day sail her out in to the world and share this experience with friends and people along the way.

I’ve learned everything from fixing the engine to repairing nearly every part of her. I’ve taught myself how to sail, how to handle the boat, and made her my home.

Despite all the challenges, the vision of setting sail with Tindra has kept me moving forward.

The Unexpected Setback

Just when I was getting ready for a crossing to Brazil, I ran into a major obstacle.

While preparing Tindra for the journey, I lifted her out of the water for some final maintenance and repairs.

That’s when I discovered something devastating: the keel, which I had thought was in good condition, was completely filled with water.

I started drilling holes for the water to be able to escape.

In search of answers, I decided to cut a window into the foam-filled section of the keel, hoping to finally discover what was happening inside.

What I found was devastating—massive cracks had formed, hidden from view on the outside. The damage was far worse than I could have imagined, and the boat I thought was ready for the journey was now facing a serious threat.

This damage wasn’t caused by me—it was the result of faulty repairs by a previous owner, who likely ran her aground on to rocks. I had no idea when I bought her. In that moment, everything I had worked so hard for seemed to be slipping away.

A Series of Misfortunes

Instead of sailing to Brazil, I had to find a place to store the boat on land and return to Sweden to work and recover financially.

On my own and running out of savings, I accepted help from locals who offered a place to store her. Now I just had to prepare the land for the relocation.

Every penny I had left went into transporting and securing my injured, troubled sailboat.

And I thought the worst was over...

Now, I’ve returned to my boat in Gran Canaria, only to face an even bigger nightmare: The land where I’ve been storing Tindra isn’t actually owned by the people who helped me. Now the real landowner has demanded everything to be removed within 14 days, or the authorities will seize Tindra, scrap her, and fine me for ‘abandonment’—essentially charging me for the costs of removing and destroying her, despite all the work and love I’ve put into restoring her.

After a week of searching for a new place, I finally found one. It’s a safe spot, and I’ve already worked hard to prepare it

I’ve been clearing away garbage, tearing down fences and vires, and laying gravel to get everything ready for the move.

But here’s the catch: the move isn’t simple. Tindra is 4 tons heavy, and the move requires a crane, a truck, and a crew. The cost for this? €2,200. A sum I simply don’t have and really didn't see coming. For the last month, I’ve been stuck here, unable to work, and watching my bills pile up while trying to save the boat.

Why This Matters: Tindra is more than wood and fiberglass. She represents a piece of cultural heritage, a work of traditional Swedish craftsmanship that I can’t bear to see thrown away and destroyed as garbage.

She is my home, my passion, and my future. She’s a testament to the strength of pursuing a dream despite the obstacles. With your support, I can save her, repair the keel, and one day she will sail into the horizon again, proving that dreams don’t have to sink.

A Final Plea for Help


I’ve done everything I can, but now I need your help. Tindra’s future is uncertain, and if I can’t move her to safety, all the work and love I’ve put into her will be lost. Please help save her and give her the chance to sail the oceans again.

How You Can Help

Donate: Any amount, big or small, will bring me one step closer to saving Tindra. Your support means the world to me.

Share: If you’re unable to donate, sharing this campaign with others can have a huge impact and help me reach those who might be able to help.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and thank you for your support. Every bit counts, and with your help, we can make sure Tindra’s journey doesn’t end here. Together, we can keep her afloat.

https://youtu.be/Nw2R2JhqfWc