Thinking of starting your own sailing or travel YouTube channel? You're not alone. With more people choosing to document their lives on the water or on the road, YouTube has become a popular platform for sharing adventures, building communities, and—yes—making some money along the way.
But is it all sunsets and subscribers? Let’s break down the pros and cons of starting your own YouTube channel based on real experience.
The Pros of Starting a Sailing or Travel YouTube Channel
1. It’s Fun to Document Your Adventures
One of the best things about starting a YouTube channel is being able to relive your travels. From epic sailing passages to remote beach hikes, documenting your journey turns those memories into stories you can revisit—and share—with the world.
2. You Can Make Money
Yes, it’s possible to earn an income from your YouTube channel. Once you’re monetized, ad revenue, affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and Patreon can help fund your lifestyle. While it’s not fast money, it’s real money—with real potential.
3. Family & Friends Can Follow Along
Want to keep your loved ones in the loop without typing out endless updates? A YouTube channel gives them a front-row seat to your journey, from boat projects to wildlife encounters.
4. You Can Build a Brand
Starting a YouTube channel is a powerful way to build a personal brand. Whether you're all about boat maintenance, ocean conservation, or family travel, your content can attract an audience that aligns with your values and passions.
5. You’ll Connect with Like-Minded People
One of the most rewarding aspects of YouTube is the community. You'll meet other travelers, sailors, and creators—both online and in person. Sometimes, the comments section becomes its own little support group.
The Cons of Starting a YouTube Channel
1. You’ll Be Judged (Sometimes Harshly)
Putting your life online means opening yourself up to criticism. Some of it will be helpful. Some of it won’t. And if you’re a female creator, sadly, you might get judged even more harshly.
2. It’s a Ton of Work
Filming, editing, writing titles, making thumbnails, managing social media, and learning YouTube’s ever-changing algorithm—it’s not just pressing record. You’ll need to learn a bunch of new skills and spend a lot of time behind a screen.
3. Growth Is Slow (At First)
Most channels don’t blow up overnight. It might take months or even years before you reach monetization or see significant traffic. You’ll need patience, consistency, and a thick skin to keep going. MrBeast suggests that aspiring YouTubers should aim to create and upload at least 100 videos before expecting to see substantial growth or success.
4. It Becomes a Business
Once you start making money, things change. Your adventures become content, and that means scheduling shoots, tracking expenses, and yes—filing taxes. If you're doing this seriously, you'll need to treat it like a business.
5. You’re on a Content Schedule
To keep your audience (and income) growing, you’ll need to post consistently. That means editing videos while anchored in a windy bay, or uploading from a marina when you’d rather be hiking. The flexibility of travel life? It tightens up when the upload deadline looms.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
Starting a sailing or travel YouTube channel can be an amazing experience, full of creativity, connection, and opportunities. But it’s also a lot of work, and success takes time, effort, and a willingness to grow thick skin.
If you're passionate about sharing your story and ready to commit to the learning curve, then go for it! Just know that the camera captures the adventure—but also the hustle behind it.
What We Wish We Knew at the BEGINNING:
If we were starting over, the very first thing we’d do is read The YouTube Formula by Derral Eves.
Derral is a powerhouse in the YouTube world—mentor to creators like MrBeast, Jenny Hoyos, and top sailing and travel channels like Adventure Crews and Tread the Globe.
After reading the book, we’d go all in on his Channel Jumpstart mentorship program. It’s intense, but it’s packed with insider knowledge that works.
If you decide to join, tell them Janis Carmena from Onboard Tangaroa sent you—I do get a small reward for referrals, but I only recommend things I truly believe in. And believe me, this program helped us monetize our second channel in just 3 days. It’s a game-changer.
