Role in LifeProfile login
Aerial view of the Bocas’ white catamaran in clear turquoise water.
We’ll share our world with you. We hope you’ll bring more of yours aboard.

Caribbean · 51 foot catamaran · 4–12 weeks

Come share life aboard.

This is a paid, short-term exchange with our family: you experience the life we have built, and bring your own interests, stories, skills, and perspective into it.

See what life aboard is like

A real exchange.

Meet Your Hosts

SV Unbound mark: a globe, sailboat, and freehand Unbound lettering.

We are the Bocas, a family of five who live part of the year on a boat. There are kids, chores, weather calls, dinners, and ordinary days in close quarters.

Life aboard is an invitation into our world, and it only works if it changes ours, too. We hope each person who joins us brings an interest, a story, a skill, or a way of seeing things that becomes part of the chapter.

The Boca family of five together on a beach at sunset.

A family of five, making a home on the water.

Before you introduce yourself, we want you to have a feel for who you would actually be living alongside: two parents, three kids, everyday routines, and a shared curiosity about the places we go.

A voice from aboard

Whitaker’s podcast: Kid Life Afloat

Whitaker has his own podcast, Kid Life Afloat—a window into life on SV Unbound from a kid’s point of view.

Listen on Spotify

More individual introductions are coming next—names, ages, interests, and what each of us cares about.

The Role, in context

An Eastern Caribbean chapter.

Change your role in life for a while: follow the trade winds, make a home between islands, and see ordinary days from a different horizon.

Illustrated map of the Eastern Caribbean cruising areaA north-to-south geographic plot of the Lesser Antilles from Puerto Rico through the Leeward and Windward Islands, drawn as a decorative hand-illustrated map with a catamaran marker.Puerto RicoUSVIAnguillaSt Kitts &NevisAntiguaGuadeloupeDominicaMartiniqueSt LuciaSt VincentGrenadaSV Unbound
Illustrated cruising area · routes shift with weather, season, and family plans.

The Role

A paid stay in a shared home.

A boat is a shared home. Plans can change with the weather, space is limited, and everyday life includes ordinary tasks as well as exploring.

Pay
$750 per week
Length
4–12 weeks
Responsibilities
  • Care for children ages 2–7
  • Help with meals, cooking, cleaning, and errands
  • Work as part of the team and adapt when plans or weather change
Location
Caribbean
Experience
Individuals and couples
Selection
Introduction → conversation → details

Availability

Weeks aboard, at a glance.

We open dates in small, confirmed windows. December is the first month on the calendar; later months will be released as plans settle.

Available to discuss Unavailable Not yet released

December 2026

  1. 1–6Available to discuss
  2. 7–13Available to discuss
  3. 14–20Available to discuss
  4. 21–27Unavailable
  5. 28–31Unavailable

December 21–31, 2026 is unavailable.

January 2027

  1. January datesNot yet released

February 2027

  1. February datesNot yet released

Dates for January and February are not yet released. If your timing is flexible, tell us in your introduction form.

Life aboard, in moments

From ordinary mornings to time in the water, this is the kind of family life we hope to share.

Follow along at @sailingunbound
Three family members smiling together aboard the boat.
A child using binoculars at the helm.
SV Unbound at the dock beneath a sunset sky.
A waterfall in a lush landscape during a family outing.
A child playing on the catamaran with the sea behind.
A child jumping into the sea from the boat wearing a life jacket.
Three children smiling during a tropical shore outing.
A scuba diver underwater giving an OK sign.
A child wearing a snorkel mask above clear blue water.
Child standing beneath SV Unbound’s sail, which carries the boat’s mark.

Past guests

Meet The People Who’ve Done It

Past guests have been part of the story—joining ordinary days, big crossings, and the small moments in between. We hope every visit feels thoughtful, mutual, and genuinely shared.

A group of adults and children standing together on a waterfront deck at sunset.
Shared time ashore

Guest profile

Katie

Two adults smiling together on a bright beach with turquoise water behind them.
A day by the water

Guest profile

Julie & Larry

An adult and child smiling aboard a sailboat, holding a small fish above the sea.
A catch at sea

Guest profile

Gary & Cornelia

3 photos

Three people relaxing together aboard a boat at sunset in a marina.
An evening aboard

Guest profile

Deana

How it works

  1. Introduce yourself.Answer a few short questions—no CV required.
  2. Meet the family.Shortlisted people may be invited to a video conversation.
  3. Agree on the details.Make sure the stay works for everyone before travel.
Have questions?

Questions, answered

The important practical things.

Is this a long-term role?

No. Rather than hiring a long-term nanny, we hire people for stays ranging from 4 to 12 weeks. We have found that this arrangement brings more variety to our lives and lets us share life aboard with more people. Variety is the spice of life.

Who does this work for?

This works well for someone looking to try out our lifestyle, who is enthusiastic about sharing their talents with us and helping on the boat. You could be a grandparent, a sailor, a world-school teacher, a science teacher, a pilot, a violinist, a spearfisher, or a mechanic. You just need enthusiasm for life.

What will my job be?

You will help care for our children (ages 2–7), cook, clean, run errands, and pitch in with daily life aboard. You need to be great with kids and comfortable working as a flexible team.

Will I be paid?

Yes. We pay $750 per week. You are responsible for getting to and from the boat.

Do I pay for my way to the boat?

Yes. You are responsible for your travel to and from the boat.

Could my trip be cancelled because of weather?

At sea, anything can happen. It is unlikely that your trip will be cancelled, but we may need to adjust the dates slightly or change the location. We encourage guests to book into Miami and stay open about which island we will be on. Plans change a lot, so please do not get your heart set on one particular island.

What are your requirements of me?

Mostly, that you are fit, can swim, are great with kids, do not smoke or use drugs, and have something you can share with our family. We will share the islands and our way of life on the boat.

Can I work another job while here?

No. It is not feasible with the rhythm of life aboard, and it takes the fun out of the experience for you and for us.

Where will I sleep?

You will have your own cabin and bathroom.

Is there Wi-Fi aboard?

Yes. The boat has Wi-Fi.

The vessel

SV Unbound.

A 51-foot catamaran is the shared setting for this chapter: part home, part passage-maker, and the place where daily life happens between islands.

Name
SV Unbound
Type
Catamaran
Length
51 feet
Year
2025
Model
Fountaine Pajot 51
Cabins
4

Follow along

Follow SV Unbound from afar.

For family and friends who want to see where the boat is between chapters.

Open PredictWind tracking Open Garmin MapShare

Interested?

What would you love to share?

Start with a few questions. You can include a short video if you would like.