How to fund a boat refit or passage with your followers

New rigging, a haul-out, an ocean crossing — the people who follow your voyage want to help make it happen. Here's how to run a fundraiser that actually reaches the number.

Big boat projects are expensive and rarely optional. The good news: if you share your cruising life at all, you already have an audience that's invested in seeing you get to the next anchorage. A well-run Propeliu fundraiser turns that goodwill into a funded project — and because it's keep-what-you-raise, you never walk away empty-handed.

Step 1 — Pick one clear, concrete goal

"Support the boat" is vague. "Re-rig Airspeed before the Pacific crossing — $6,000" is a mission people can rally behind. Name the project, the number, and the deadline that makes it real. A single, specific goal outperforms a general tip jar every time.

Step 2 — Tell the story, not just the spec sheet

Backers fund people and voyages, not invoices. In a few short paragraphs, cover:

• What the project is and why it matters now (safety, a passage window, the end of a season).
• What happens if it gets funded — the crossing you'll finally make, the film you'll shoot, the season you'll sail.
• A photo or two of the actual boat and the actual problem. Real beats polished.

Step 3 — Share the link where your voyage already lives

You get one clean link for your boat. Post it wherever people already follow you — your channel, your logbook, the marina bulletin board, a QR code in the cockpit. Backers give in two taps, and they don't need an account. The lower the friction, the higher the total.

Step 4 — Bring backers aboard

This is where crew-funding beats a plain donation link. When someone backs you on Propeliu — part of Master's Mate — they start following your boat live on the map. They're not just a name on a list; they're along for the passage. That connection is what turns a one-time gift into a following that backs your next project too.

Step 5 — Post updates and finish strong

Momentum comes from proof. Post short updates as the work happens: the old rigging coming down, the haul-out, the first sail. Every update is a reason for your crew to share the link again — and a signal to new backers that this is a real voyage, transparently run. When you hit the goal, thank your crew publicly. They earned it with you.

What it costs

There's no monthly fee and no setup cost. Propeliu keeps a single 3–7% (card processing included), dropping as your boat earns trust — so 93–97% of every dollar goes to the project. Compare that to the 10–15% most donation and patronage platforms take once tips and processing are counted. For the full breakdown, see the Patreon alternative built for sailors.