Simon, a young man who used to live in a van traveling to different places, decided to make a radical change: to abandon terrestrial life and build his own self-sufficient home at sea. To do this, he bought a 1976 Wharram Oro 47 catamaran, known as Old Dog, which had been abandoned for over a decade.
He paid 5,000 Canadian dollars for a boat that seemed in ruins but had a solid structure. With patience and vision, he transformed it into a self-sufficient refuge capable of sailing without relying on fossil fuels.
Total Reconstruction
The remodeling was profound:
- He replaced the keels.
- Removed hundreds of kilos of paint.
- Renovated every inch of the deck.
- Reinforced the hull with plywood, cedar, epoxy, and fiberglass.
Simon describes the experience as if the boat had been “built by being rebuilt,” a work that ended up being more his than the original shipyard’s.
Solar Energy as a Motor
The most radical change was removing the diesel engine and replacing it with an electric system powered by 16 solar panels of 330 watts each, capable of generating 5,280 watts of power. These charge a lithium battery bank of 20 kWh, sufficient to:
- Propel the boat with a 12 kWh electric motor.
- Power appliances like an induction oven, washing machine, and water production equipment.
The propulsion is limited: it reaches between 3.5 and 4 knots before the batteries are strained, equivalent to about 7 or 8 horsepower. However, it offers autonomy and energy discipline.
A Self-Sufficient Home
The catamaran features:
- 4 berths.
- A spacious kitchen.
- Living area.
- Mechanical room.
- Bathroom with washing machine.
In summer, the photovoltaic system generates enough electricity to sail up to 50 km through the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver without depleting battery reserves.
Philosophy of Life
For Simon, living at sea is more than an adventure: it is a statement of autonomy. His project questions the dependence on fossil fuels and proposes a lifestyle that respects nature, harnesses its resources, and reduces the environmental footprint.
The Old Dog is not just a restored boat but an example of how innovation and personal conviction can transform an “ugly duckling” into a symbol of sustainability. Simon demonstrates that energy self-sufficiency and living in harmony with the environment are possible, even on a catamaran from the 70s.
