Just a few years ago, Todd and Erin Rogers were living a busy life in Texas with little sailing experience and no plans to become full-time cruisers.
Today, they’re exploring the Bahamas aboard Symphony, their Leopard 45 sailing catamaran, alongside their son William.
The transition didn’t happen overnight. Through sailing lessons, charters, certifications, and careful planning, the Rogers family gradually built the confidence needed to leave shore behind and pursue a completely different lifestyle.
In this edition of Ask a Leopard Owner, Todd, Erin, and William share how they went from curious beginners to liveaboard cruisers, what they’ve learned during their first 1,400 nautical miles aboard, and why they believe anyone considering the cruising lifestyle should take the first step.
A Family Adventure Years in the Making
For the Rogers family, sailing wasn’t a lifelong dream.
A series of life changes, combined with shifting work and school dynamics during the pandemic, opened the door to new possibilities.
“We’re not getting any younger. Let’s go have an adventure.”
That simple idea sparked a journey that would eventually take them from Austin, Texas, to the turquoise waters of the Bahamas.
With five children in their blended family, including 17-year-old William living aboard full-time, the decision represented a significant lifestyle change.
Rather than rushing into it, they approached cruising one step at a time.
Testing the Dream Before Taking the Leap
Todd and Erin followed a process many future cruisers can learn from.
Before purchasing a boat, they created a series of checkpoints where they could honestly evaluate whether cruising was right for them.
The journey looked something like this:
- ASA 101 sailing course
- Catamaran charter with a captain
- Additional ASA certifications
- Bareboat charter experience
- Leopard 45 order placement
- Catamaran certification training in Belize
- More bareboat cruising experience
- Professional captain aboard after delivery
“At every step we gave ourselves permission to back out if it wasn’t for us.”
Instead, each experience confirmed they were moving in the right direction.
Why They Chose the Leopard 45
Like many buyers, Todd spent countless hours comparing catamarans and researching different brands.
Several things stood out about Leopard.
Proven Construction
One factor was Leopard’s extensive experience building cruising catamarans.
“They’ve built a lot of boats, and if you do something repeatedly, you tend to get good at it.”
The brand’s history in charter operations also appealed to him. Boats designed for charter service must be durable, practical, and capable of handling heavy use.
Comfort for Liveaboard Cruising
Erin focused on the spaces where daily life actually happens.
Showers, galley layout, seating, storage, sleeping arrangements, and overall comfort mattered just as much as sailing performance.
“You have to imagine yourself actually living there every day.”
Manageable Size
Although they initially considered larger models, the Leopard 45 quickly emerged as the ideal fit.
It offered:
- Plenty of space for family life
- Strong sailing performance
- Comfortable accommodations
- Easier handling than larger models
“For our family, it was exactly the right balance.”
While the Rogers family cruise aboard a Leopard 45, sailors exploring the current Leopard sailing catamaran lineup may also be interested in the Leopard 46.
ANCHOR TEXT: Leopard 46
LINK: https://www.leopardcatamarans.com/catamarans/leopard-46
Living Aboard Is Different Than Living on Vacation
One theme that surfaced repeatedly during the conversation was that cruising isn’t a permanent vacation.
“There are still showers to clean, laundry to do, groceries to buy, and maintenance projects waiting for attention.“
Life aboard simply happens in a different setting.
“You clean the shower while you’re taking a shower.”
Despite the responsibilities, the family loves the slower pace and freedom cruising provides. Instead of being tied to a fixed itinerary, they can adjust plans based on weather, opportunities, and the places they discover along the way.
Life Aboard with a Teenager
For many families, schooling and socialization are major concerns.
William, a junior in high school, continues his studies through an online Texas public school program while traveling.
Erin’s advice? Start early.
“I wish we had started the school transition before moving aboard.”
The adjustment to boat life alone is significant, and introducing a new educational system simultaneously can create unnecessary stress.
While they expected to encounter more cruising families with teenagers, William has found himself spending more time interacting with adults than other teens.
The experience has still been valuable.
Boat life requires responsibility, independence, and participation.
William helps with:
- Anchoring
- Dock lines
- Fenders
- General boat operations
“It’s helping him grow as a young man.”
The Leopard Community
One unexpected benefit of cruising has been the sense of community.
As Todd explains, cruising creates an unusually connected social environment. Friends meet up in anchorages. Boaters help one another troubleshoot problems. Entire social circles seem to travel from anchorage to anchorage.
“We have boats marked on AIS that we know. We see where they are and often end up meeting again.”
That community proved especially valuable as first-time boat owners.
Favorite Upgrades After Delivery
Like many Leopard owners, the Rogers family customized their boat after delivery.
Several upgrades quickly became essential.
Solar and Lithium Batteries
Their electrical system includes:
- 1,500 watts of solar
- 900 amp-hours of lithium batteries
“That combination has been fantastic.”
The system provides the flexibility and independence they were hoping for when cruising away from marinas.
Watermaker
A 12-volt watermaker ranks among their most valuable additions.
“It’s critical.” Instead of carrying jugs ashore or making frequent trips for water, they can produce fresh water whenever needed.
Washer
Living aboard full-time means laundry never goes away.
Having a washing machine aboard significantly improved daily life.
Helm Enclosure
Erin calls this her favorite upgrade.
“I wouldn’t go anywhere without it.”
The enclosure provides protection from both rain and wind while dramatically improving comfort underway.
What They’ve Learned So Far
After their first cruising season, a few lessons stand out.
Take Things Slowly
The family credits much of their success to resisting the urge to rush.
“You don’t have to be frantic. You can pause and figure out the next step.”
The Boat Is Often More Capable Than You Are
One piece of advice from a mentor has stayed with them:
“The boat can do more than you can.”
That’s especially true of the Leopard 45. The family has repeatedly found that the boat handles challenging conditions far better than expected.
Flexibility Matters
Weather changes. Plans change. Cruising destinations change.
Their initial goal included reaching Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands far sooner than they actually did. Instead of treating changes as failures, they’ve embraced flexibility as part of the lifestyle.
“Everything we think we’re doing today will probably change in a week or two.”
Advice for Future Cruisers
Todd’s advice is simple.
“What are you waiting for?”
The perfect time rarely appears. The perfect plan doesn’t exist. The perfect amount of experience is difficult to define. Instead, he recommends taking measured steps toward the goal and giving yourself opportunities to learn along the way.
Erin agrees.
“Try things outside the normal path.”
You don’t have to commit immediately to a full-time cruising lifestyle. Take a course. Charter a boat. Spend time aboard. Build experience incrementally.
The Rogers family’s story proves that you don’t need decades of sailing experience to start pursuing a cruising dream. With good planning, quality instruction, and a willingness to learn, the journey can begin much sooner than many people think.
More Ask a Leopard Owner Stories
For more firsthand cruising stories, owner experiences, and practical advice from Leopard owners around the world, visit the Ask a Leopard Owner hub.
