After purchasing a 60-foot expedition trawler for just $35,000, Maxx Powell discovered extensive hidden hurricane damage, launching a 17-month restoration project documented in his latest YouTube video.
FLORIDA – Maxx Powell has released his latest YouTube documentary, covering the 17-month restoration of the 60-foot former Florida research vessel he bought for $35,000, which has now left its dock for a boatyard.
After years of working as a firefighter and EMT at a busy department, Maxx Powell knew one thing: he simply couldn’t wait until retirement to start living the life he’d always dreamed of.
Having witnessed firsthand how unexpectedly life can change, Powell eventually left firefighting, built a digital marketing business, and set his sights on an unconventional adventure: purchasing an expedition trawler, moving his family aboard, and exploring the coastlines of the Americas.
But there was one problem.
The 60-foot former Florida research vessel he purchased for just $35,000 was hiding far more damage than anyone anticipated.
Behind the walls, beneath the floors, and throughout the flybridge, extensive rot and deterioration had compromised significant portions of the aging ship. What was supposed to be an affordable path toward a life of adventure quickly became a massive rebuilding project.
For the next 17 months, Powell found himself tackling structural repairs, rebuilding walls, floors, exterior gunnels, the flybridge, bowsprit, and anchor windlass, all while documenting the project’s unexpected challenges on YouTube.
Now, after more than a year of extensive work, the vessel has finally left its dock and been moved to a boatyard for the next phase of restoration.
Powell’s latest YouTube documentary, “We Bought America’s Cheapest Expedition Trawler… 17 Months Later,” takes viewers through the setbacks, repairs, and progress of the family’s ambitious project.
Watch the 17-month restoration project:
An Affordable Expedition Boat With Expensive Problems
The family’s vision was ambitious but straightforward: restore the former research trawler into a comfortable floating home and eventually cruise the East Coast of the United States, the Caribbean, and South America.
For Powell, the vessel represented an opportunity to combine family life, adventure, and a longstanding passion for the water.
At $35,000, the aging expedition trawler seemed to offer an unusually affordable entry into long-range cruising. With its substantial hull, spacious interior, and twin diesel engines, the vessel provided a foundation for an ambitious conversion.
However, once work began, the true extent of the problems became apparent.
Years of water intrusion and previously unaddressed hurricane damage had left significant portions of the vessel’s wooden structures deteriorated. The damage extended well beyond cosmetic concerns, requiring extensive demolition and reconstruction.
Rather than simply repainting and refurbishing the boat, Powell found himself rebuilding much of its living spaces and exterior structures.
The project included replacing rotted flooring, reconstructing interior and flybridge walls, rebuilding exterior gunnels, and restoring the damaged bow assembly.
Each completed repair seemed to reveal another challenge.
For someone without formal shipbuilding experience, the restoration demanded considerable research, trial and error, and the willingness to learn unfamiliar skills.
Seventeen Months Later, a Major Milestone
Throughout the restoration, Powell has documented the process on his YouTube channel, sharing the experience of tackling an unusually large DIY boat project.
The videos capture everything from unexpected structural damage to hands-on repairs, difficult decisions, and the satisfaction of seeing previously deteriorated sections of the vessel rebuilt.
The latest episode brings together 17 months of that work, offering new viewers an opportunity to follow the restoration from its earliest discoveries to one of the project’s most significant milestones.
After spending more than a year rebuilding the vessel at the dock, Powell and his family watched as the trawler was finally moved to a boatyard for inspection and maintenance.
The move marks an important transition, although considerable work remains before the vessel can begin its planned cruising adventures.
For Powell, the project’s lengthy timeline has not changed the larger ambition that inspired the purchase.
A Family’s Dream Beyond the Dock
Powell and his wife hope to eventually move aboard the restored trawler with their two sons and explore destinations along the East Coast, throughout the Caribbean, and eventually into South America.
The family intends to document the experiences through their YouTube channel, sharing not only the destinations but also the realities of maintaining and living aboard an aging expedition vessel.
The project reflects a philosophy Powell calls “Don’t Forget to Live,” a reminder that meaningful experiences do not always have to wait until retirement.
His years in emergency services helped shape that outlook, and his transition into entrepreneurship provided a different path toward pursuing it.
Today, the ongoing restoration represents both the challenges and possibilities of choosing an unconventional lifestyle.
The family’s adventure is still in its early stages. Before they can begin exploring distant coastlines, there are more repairs to complete, systems to inspect, and preparations to make.
But after 17 months of rebuilding, the dream of transforming a neglected research ship into a family expedition vessel remains very much alive.
Viewers can follow the continuing restoration and the family’s future adventures through Maxx Powell’s YouTube channel.
About Maxx Powell
Maxx Powell is a former firefighter and EMT, entrepreneur, and filmmaker. He is the founder of Outsiders Media, a digital marketing agency specializing in outdoor recreation businesses. Through his personal brand and YouTube channel, he documents the restoration of his family’s 60-foot research trawler, their pursuit of an unconventional lifestyle, and the philosophy behind “Don’t Forget to Live.”
YouTube documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoeFgSJm1Wo
Contact Details:
Business: Maxx Powell
Name: Maxx Powell
Contact Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.maxxpowell.com
Country: United States
