My boating journey sort of began with Theo Toko three years ago. I had just returned from living in Japan and was disenchanted by the thought of paying rent for an apartment that I couldn’t upgrade, or owning a house that would take a lifetime to finance. Having recently fallen in love with the ocean in Japan, I figured that living on a boat would be much more fun than #vanlife or, for that matter, any other land-based living.

BEGINNINGS

I went in with very little knowledge of smaller-craft boating. With a few years of experience at sea as a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy, I knew the ocean was where I wanted to be and had lots of knowledge of ship-handling, weather and route planning, but I soon became enamored by the all-encompassing reality of living aboard a vintage trawler.

THE BOAT

My requirements were simple: a comfortable living space, simple systems that I could understand and maintain and repair on my own, and a price point that wouldn’t cripple me if boat life turned into a failed endeavor. Theo Toko was the first boat that I looked at in San Diego, and everything just felt right. It was one of those rare times in life that everything was pointing in the same direction: to this Monk 36 on F dock. I forced myself to check out a few other trawlers of the same vintage, but I already knew it would be Toko for me.

COMMITMENT

She has become my life. As a full-time liveaboard and now 200-ton captain for hire, I consider her my home, office, entertainment and advertising. Everything I have learned aboard has become a marketable skill as I continue to pursue my dreams at sea. Whether it’s varnishing, diesel maintenance or trips to the Channel Islands, each day aboard has been personal and professional paradise.

WISH LIST

She has a single Ford Lehman 120, and was basically a blank slate for the style and functional upgrades that I soon began making. My next project is a hardtop to go in place of the canvas bimini top, complete with solar and a dive platform. Paired with the solar, I’d like to replace my battery charger/inverter, and add modern monitoring features. The list goes on, with cruising upgrades like more anchor chain, a watermaker and offshore communication systems.

THE LIFESTYLE

I am pursuing freedom for the things I love rather than freedom from anything in particular. Re-entering the civilian workforce after finishing my time as a naval officer truly feels like a return to the lifestyle I always enjoyed before the service, and it is amazing to have the opportunity to choose this lifestyle again.

WAYPOINTS

Theo Toko has ventured farther and deeper in the past three years than she had in over a decade (maybe even more) before that. She’s a regular on San Diego Bay for dinner cruises and weekend anchorages, but she is happiest en route to Catalina Island, chugging along at 6 to 7 knots with friends, surf and dive gear, and no scheduled return date. Future plans include further exploration in the Channel Islands and, eventually, Mexico.

NEXT BOAT

I think Theo Toko will be the boat for me for quite some time, but if life brings me reason to make changes, I think I would bump up to something in the 42- to 44-foot range, maybe a Europa-style trawler or raised pilothouse-style vessel. I also have visions of a classic wooden cruiser, or converting an old tug or fishing boat, but those are probably dreams for years down the road. Until then, I’m incredibly happy aboard my little Monk. 

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This article was originally published in the March 2023 issue.