Couple QUIT their high-flying jobs as architects to travel the world on a boat with just $20 in their pocket (and now have their lives paid for by their FANS)

  • Dan Deckert, 30, and Kika Mevs, 28, met at architecture school in Atlanta
  • They became a couple in 2013 but two years later they got itchy feet 
  • Shunning their lucrative careers they bought a boat Uma for $3,000 (£2,307) 
  • They also set up a YouTube channel and have regular 'patrons' who collectively donate around $1,000 a month (£768) to fund their travels

A couple who quit the rat race to travel the world in a yacht have revealed how their trip has been funded entirely by their fans.

Dan Deckert, 30, and partner Kika Mevs, 28, ditched their well-paid careers as architects to live out their dreams on the ocean, amassing an army of followers on YouTube along the way.

Their enviable lifestyle aboard 'Uma' - which they bought for $3,000 (£2,307) after selling all their possessions - is largely funded by their 'social media patrons' who donate around $1,000 (£770) a month.

The self-taught sailors, who met in 2013 at architecture school in Atlanta, keep their outgoings relatively low by sourcing their own food and using solar power for electricity.

Since setting sail the pair have notched-up some 11,000 nautical miles, criss-crossing the Caribbean to the Bahamas, and exploring the coastlines of Central and South America like Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala.

Dan Deckert, 30, originally from a small town nestled in the Rocky Mountains of western Canada, met Kika Mevs, 28, from Haiti, at architecture school in Atlanta, Georgia, decided to quit the rat race and buy a yacht to travel the world

Dan Deckert, 30, originally from a small town nestled in the Rocky Mountains of western Canada, met Kika Mevs, 28, from Haiti, at architecture school in Atlanta, Georgia, decided to quit the rat race and buy a yacht to travel the world

Since setting sail the pair have notched-up some 11,000 nautical miles, criss-crossing the Caribbean to the Bahamas, and exploring the coastlines of Central and South America like Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala. Pictured, Kika taking a dip in Mexico

Since setting sail the pair have notched-up some 11,000 nautical miles, criss-crossing the Caribbean to the Bahamas, and exploring the coastlines of Central and South America like Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala. Pictured, Kika taking a dip in Mexico

The couple enjoy some light exercise with two local dogs on the picturesque sandy beaches of Bimini in the Bahamas on one of their stop offs

The couple enjoy some light exercise with two local dogs on the picturesque sandy beaches of Bimini in the Bahamas on one of their stop offs

Now Dan and Kika are encouraging others to follow in their sun-drenched footsteps - saying their way of life is achievable to anyone willing to take the plunge.

Speaking ahead of the upcoming TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show, where they'll be chatting to UK supporters about their adventures, Kika explained how their journey began.

'We didn't know we could live on a boat': How it all began

Currently travelling through Florida, Kika said: 'We also thought, like everyone else, you needed $300,000-$400,000 (£154,000-£231,000) to afford a boat. We didn't even know you could live on a boat.

Kika strikes a pose on the colourful streets of Colombia, where a row of bright houses make the perfect backdrop for a picture and a memory of their travels

Kika strikes a pose on the colourful streets of Colombia, where a row of bright houses make the perfect backdrop for a picture and a memory of their travels

During time on shore and away from the ocean the sailing duo take in a beautiful sunset in Guatemala. They plan to sail across the Atlantic to Europe next year

During time on shore and away from the ocean the sailing duo take in a beautiful sunset in Guatemala. They plan to sail across the Atlantic to Europe next year

They sold all their possessions to buy their boat Uma for $3,000 (£2,300) and took to the seas with no previous sailing knowledge. With just an initial $20 in their back pocket they keep their costs low by sourcing their own food and using solar power for electricity

They sold all their possessions to buy their boat Uma for $3,000 (£2,300) and took to the seas with no previous sailing knowledge. With just an initial $20 in their back pocket they keep their costs low by sourcing their own food and using solar power for electricity

'But we bought ours for $3,000 (£2,300). That's all we could afford at the time. A 50-year-old sailboat with a non-working engine is heading to the scrap pile. But it was pure gold to us.'

Dan, originally from a small town nestled in the Rocky Mountains of western Canada, met Kika at architecture school in Atlanta, Georgia, readily admit their experiences couldn't happen without the help of their dedicated fan base, from YouTube, Patreon, and Instagram. 

'We feel blessed': How the couple make a living

They've quickly gained 600 'patrons', many of whom go on to meet Dan and Kika at stop-off points around the world, adding their signature to a legendary chalkboard wall.

Dan said: 'The vast majority of our day-to-day income comes from Patreon, whether the Angels are giving $10 or $200 a month. 

'When we first started out, we set a goal to raise $1,000 a month - to earn $100 passively from ten different methods. 

'We didn't realise how quickly our online community would grow, and we feel blessed to share this journey with so many amazing people.' 

The couple have their trip largely funded by their fans, who donate around $1,000 a month via Patreon. 'Angels' can send them anything from $10 (£7.69) to $200 (£153) a month each 

The couple have their trip largely funded by their fans, who donate around $1,000 a month via Patreon. 'Angels' can send them anything from $10 (£7.69) to $200 (£153) a month each 

On their first sailing trip to Northern Carolina, the couple were in still waters and unable to use their motor. They were lucky enough to encounter dolphins swimming close by and joined them in the ocean

On their first sailing trip to Northern Carolina, the couple were in still waters and unable to use their motor. They were lucky enough to encounter dolphins swimming close by and joined them in the ocean

Dan revealed that they were both complete novices, saying: 'Neither of us had set foot on a boat or gone sailing until nine months after we bought our sailboat.

'We did no courses, had no formal training. But we were confident enough that we knew we could learn as we moved forward.

'Boats sail themselves if you just know the basics. When we chose to first sail around the Caribbean, we left the docks with an anchor, sails and $20. That's it, we were gone.' 

From first dates to travelling the world 

The couple got together in October 2013, but just two years later wanting a new challenge away from their careers as architects, they got itchy feet.  

Kika, born in Port au Prince, Haiti, revealed: 'We'd rather have experiences and a passport full of stamps than a garage full of stuff. And knowing that made it easier for us to leave our old lives behind.'

They sold all their possessions and purchased 'Uma' - a 1972 'Pearson 36' yacht, which didn't have a working motor.

Dan and Kika readily admit their experiences couldn't happen without the help of their dedicated fan base, who they regularly meet with at different points in their journey 

Dan and Kika readily admit their experiences couldn't happen without the help of their dedicated fan base, who they regularly meet with at different points in their journey 

The couple's YouTube channel 'Sailing Uma' now has more than 80,000 subscribers with their videos viewed more than ten million times

The couple's YouTube channel 'Sailing Uma' now has more than 80,000 subscribers with their videos viewed more than ten million times

It's not always smooth sailing for the duo, who had to adapt to the rough seas while crossing oceans and prepare for bad weather like storms and choppy water

It's not always smooth sailing for the duo, who had to adapt to the rough seas while crossing oceans and prepare for bad weather like storms and choppy water

During their journey across the ocean the couple have taken in some stunning sights, like this waterfall in Colombia 

During their journey across the ocean the couple have taken in some stunning sights, like this waterfall in Colombia 

They eventually fitted an environmentally friendly electric engine, in-keeping with their ecological, 'off-grid' ethos. It cost just $100 from eBay and was plumbed in using wiring from other discarded boats.

Neither Dan nor Kika had any sailing experience whatsoever, instead learning 'on the job' with forays into the Florida Keys with help from a knowledgeable friend.

Kika advised: 'When we started our YouTube channel we wanted to show everything from the very beginning. We wanted to show that while it's going to take hard work, time and dedication it's not impossible. We want to inspire people to take their first steps.'

How vlogging led to online fame 

The couple's YouTube channel 'Sailing Uma' now has more than 80,000 subscribers with their videos viewed more than ten million times.

When Dan and Kika made their first major journey on Uma - an 800 mile, five day trip from Florida to North Carolina in 2016 - there was trepidation - and not just about the sail itself, but about the potential strain on their relationship.

Kika explains: 'You live in such a tiny space and you're with each other 24/7, so you deal with every side of the other person - the good, the bad, the stressful. 

There have been some terrifying sailing experiences for the pair, including an encounter with pirates and a bump to the head for Dan

There have been some terrifying sailing experiences for the pair, including an encounter with pirates and a bump to the head for Dan

Neither Dan nor Kika had any sailing experience whatsoever, instead learning 'on the job' with forays into the Florida Keys with help from a knowledgeable friend

Neither Dan nor Kika had any sailing experience whatsoever, instead learning 'on the job' with forays into the Florida Keys with help from a knowledgeable friend

When Dan and Kika made their first major journey on Uma - an 800 mile, five day trip from Florida to North Carolina in 2016 - there was trepidation - and not just about the sail itself, but about the potential strain on their relationship

When Dan and Kika made their first major journey on Uma - an 800 mile, five day trip from Florida to North Carolina in 2016 - there was trepidation - and not just about the sail itself, but about the potential strain on their relationship

'But we've always lived in tight quarters together - we rented a 150 square feet room at a friend's apartment - so we were already used to working well together in a small space. And we're usually calm people.' 

The pair are due to make their first big crossing, from Florida to Europe across the Atlantic, in spring 2019.

And they're contemplating doing so via the 'high route', past Nova Scotia, Greenland and Iceland, and then on to the UK.

Setbacks and dicing with danger 

But their sailing adventures have not been without incident and mishap; in April this year Dan suffered a deep laceration to his head after being knocked off his feet in a storm.

Kika even filmed her gruesome 'repair' of Dan's head, and adds: 'That was the scariest moment in three years sailing. I heard a big bang, looked down on the floor into the cabin and saw Dan on the floor, bleeding. Is he even alive? 

'It made us realise we should not be pushing ourselves so hard.' 

The pair are due to make their first big crossing, from Florida to Europe across the Atlantic, in spring 2019 and they're contemplating doing so via the 'high route', past Nova Scotia, Greenland and Iceland, and then on to the UK

The pair are due to make their first big crossing, from Florida to Europe across the Atlantic, in spring 2019 and they're contemplating doing so via the 'high route', past Nova Scotia, Greenland and Iceland, and then on to the UK

Kika explains that living in close quarters has to be dealt with sensitively: 'You live in such a tiny space and you're with each other 24/7, so you deal with every side of the other person - the good, the bad, the stressful'

Kika explains that living in close quarters has to be dealt with sensitively: 'You live in such a tiny space and you're with each other 24/7, so you deal with every side of the other person - the good, the bad, the stressful'

There was also an incident involving 'pirates' off the coast of Honduras, when they were crossing from Colombia to Guatemala in mid January 2018.

Speaking about her personal highlight, Kika said: 'I think the best moment for me was on our first sail up to North Carolina.

'We were becalmed, and at the time, we couldn't use our electric motor for more than a mile, so when the wind died, there was nothing to do but wait.

'During that time, everything was glossy and flat. You couldn't distinguish the sky from the ocean.

'And then some dolphins showed up. We grabbed a camera and went swimming with them.

'They were a metre from our faces, just following us. It was breathtaking.'

Dan and Kika will be chatting to fans next Sunday (16 Sept) at TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show, which runs from Friday 14 Sept to Sunday 23 September

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.