The Catalina 36
The same 1984 Catalina 36 Mk I prepared in Mission 1 remains the planned boat through the challenge.
THE LONG WAY HOME · MISSION 02
THE TEQUILA RUN.
Upgrade navigation and energy. Test the Catalina on the way to Mexico.
NAVIGATION & ENERGY
Extend the Catalina's capability.
Mission 1 begins the refit and develops experience aboard the Catalina. Mission 2 adds the navigation electronics and solar capacity required for longer, more independent operation.
I’ll use the Mexico voyage to test how the boat and upgraded systems work together, what needs attention, and which procedures need more practice. The Tequila Run gives the mission its name. Building reliable navigation and energy capability gives it its purpose.
$530,000 cumulative net
An additional $25,000 beyond Mission 1, targeting navigation electronics and solar upgrades.
The Mexico proving voyage
Begin learning the expedition boat at sea. Specific ports, passage legs, timing, and weather windows will be developed during preparation.
UPGRADE. TEST. LEARN.
Capability has to work at sea.
Lessons from the Texas run will guide the Catalina’s next upgrades. Each stage identifies weaknesses and addresses them before the difficulty increases.
01 · REVIEW & ASSESS
Apply the Texas lessons
Review the Catalina’s performance, repairs, power use, and navigation needs after Mission 1. Confirm the work before selecting equipment.
02 · INSTALL & INTEGRATE
Upgrade navigation and solar
Add the selected electronics and solar system with attention to reliability, power balance, maintainability, and backup methods.
03 · TEST & PRACTICE
Learn the systems
Test the upgrades locally before the extended voyage. Build familiarity with operation, maintenance, failure modes, and backup procedures.
04 · VOYAGE & REVIEW
Take the lessons to sea
Use the Mexico voyage as the initial proving trip. Document how the boat, equipment, and procedures perform in real conditions. Repairs, upgrades, and lessons identified here feed directly into Mission 3’s offshore preparation.
MISSION 2 FUNDING
$530,000 cumulative. $25,000 for the next step.
The additional Mission 2 allowance targets the Catalina’s navigation electronics and solar upgrades. Final equipment, installation scope, and spending will follow assessment and the lessons from Mission 1.
These are conservative planning estimates, not a claim that every dollar will be required. Actual costs may be lower. Candidate boats, negotiated prices, survey results, and confirmed refit requirements will make the budget more precise.
The campaign’s verified net total accounts for processing fees, refunds, dispute adjustments, and the provisional 25% reserve. The reserve is a planning allowance, not a final tax calculation. View live campaign progress.
Projected costs and actual spending will be identified separately as details become available. A final equipment-specific budget has not yet been published.
MONEY UNLOCKS THE MISSION
Readiness gives the green light.
FinancialCompetenceOperationalVesselExpeditionPassage
Reaching the milestone funds the mission. Departure still depends on skipper competence, required refit work, tested safety and communications equipment, financial reserves, passage planning, and a suitable weather window.
Route preparation will include port and clearance requirements, provisioning, contingency options, and abort and recovery planning. The final voyage must fit the readiness of both the vessel and the skipper.
Current published plan: the Catalina and system-upgrade objectives are outlined here. A departure date, final route, equipment list, and completed readiness checks have not yet been announced.
THE MISSION LOG
From boat search to proving voyage.
This page will grow with electronics and solar decisions, installation updates, test results, photos, and voyage reports. The work and costs will be documented as they happen.
After the Mexico run, the mission report will cover the actual route, distance, duration, costs, repairs, and lessons learned. Those lessons lead into Mission 3: the Bermuda Triangle Rum Run, an offshore rehearsal aboard this same vessel.
Revisit Mission 1: The Texas BBQ Run · Return to all four missions →