Couple turns 78ft rotten yacht they found hidden under a tarp into their dream home

A couple who found a rotting 78ft yacht stashed under a tarp in Alaska have spent months – and hundreds of thousands of dollars – converting it into their dream home.

Blaine and Janis Carmena have always enjoyed being on the water and even first met while working as yacht crew members. 

After tying the knot, the couple settled on dry land and started a family welcoming son Josh and daughter Izzy. 

However, with their two kids now grown up they decided to ditch bricks and mortar for a life on the water. 

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They bought the rotting 78ft yacht for $140,000

With their hearts set on a new adventure, the couple began the hunt for a suitable boat in 2019. 

They eventually came across a 1969 78ft powered yacht for sale in Wrangell, Alaska – with a price tag of $350,000. 

But after heading out to see the boat they discovered it was in pretty bad shape and had been left rotting, moldy, and covered in barnacles under a tarp on the Alaska coast. 

The boat’s less-than-ideal condition meant that the Carmenas were able to barter the price down to $140,000 and quickly set about restoring it. 

By 2020, the boat – named Tangaroa – was in a suitable condition for them to move into while they continued to restore and refresh it. 

The couple estimates they’ve spent around $200,000 on getting the boat ship shape and told the Daily Mail that figure could double before all the work is finished. 

While that may sound like a huge chunk of cash, it’s still a whole lot less than the $1.8 million the yacht is now estimated to be worth. 

The couple are setting off on a 10-year voyage

The Carmenas – who document their life on their Onboard Tangaroa: The Neverending Sea Trial YouTube channel – are now gearing up to set sail in the summer. 

They plan to embark on an epic 10-year voyage traveling to Siberia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. 

The couple have zero regrets about taking on such a mammoth task as the restoration and are even quick to recommend a life on the sea for those who might be interested. 

“It’s a wonderful lifestyle and I wouldn’t tell people to shy away from it,” Blaine told the Daily Mail.

“You just have to do your research, and make sure you get a boat suited to your skills that you’re able to maintain.”