Case Studies & Interviews
Alison Major
Interview Date
July 2024
Current Location
Oriental, NC
Age Range
Between 40 & 49 years
Profession
Software Engineer,
Adjunct Professor,
Founder of
Loop Life Academy
How long have you been
working remotely from your boat?
One year.
What type of boat do you live and work on?
⛵️ Beneteau 423
(3-cabin layout)
Workspace Setup
Describe your typical workspace setup on your boat.
When I worked full-time as a software engineer and attended many daily meetings, I almost always sat at the nav desk workstation. We’ve added an external monitor and a seat cushion for support at that desk.
With my current tasks, I’m often at the salon table, sitting in the cockpit, or even at a nearby library or coffee shop with our kids. I’ve kept my workstation portable to explore an area, and when we have some time to sit somewhere, I’ll get a little work done.
When I am going to be sitting in one spot for a long time, I put my laptop on a stand to raise my screen to eye level. I use a split keyboard and a trackpad to improve my posture. For headphones, I use Aeropex Aftershokz (bone-conducting headphones).
LINKS
What productivity tools or apps do you rely on?
I’ve used many different tools over time, and they’ve served their purpose when I needed them.
As an engineer, I sometimes used Pomodoro apps to help me focus. I jotted down my daily priorities in a text app and checked items off my list as I completed them.
As a manager and leader, my day was structured more around meetings, so productivity was managed through calendar apps, note-taking apps, and paper & pen.
I like to try new apps and see what works for me, and I am happy to iterate and change over time as my needs change.
What internet solutions do you use to stay connected?
I primarily use Starlink through our Pepwave router.
I will switch to my phone's low-data hotspot if Starlink doesn’t give me a clear connection (due to storms or swinging on anchor).
If I’m at a library, coffee shop, or boater’s lounge, I will use their wifi or my phone hotspot.
LINKS
Pepwave products come from Peplink (peplink.com)
Many boaters will use the Starlink Roam (starlink.com/roam) options.
What communication tools do you find most effective for remote work?
When working with my engineering team, I was usually in Slack for our team chat rooms. I would use Slack huddles for quick video calls or Zoom for formal meetings.
As an adjunct professor, I communicate with my students entirely asynchronously. I post announcements on our university’s online classroom platform and use emails for other communication. If I need to have office hours with any students, I use Zoom.
For Loop Life Academy, communication is often via email, forums, and social media. When I meet with my students online, I often use Zoom.
Work-Life Balance
What strategies do you use to manage your time effectively?
My family and I look at our passage plans for the week and get a rough idea of the weather and what days we might be traveling.
We also look at the working adults' meetings on the schedule and how they might impact any passage days.
By having an idea of the week ahead, we can make rough plans that are not too strenuous for what we have going on.
Then, at the beginning of each day, the first thing I do is create a list of the tasks and meetings that I plan to get done that day, make note of any schedule changes, and have an idea of what to expect and how to flow my work schedule with our boating plans.
How do you balance work and leisure time while living on your boat?
I try to have regular work hours.
When I have a flexible workday, I can help with boat tasks if we’re on a passage. This might mean holding lines while we’re in a lock, helping with docking, or taking over the helm when I have openings in my day or am taking a lunch break.
To fit leisure time in, I keep firm work-day end times. When my computer is closed, I’m done working. I can help with dinner, play a board game with the kids, walk, etc.
If we’re at anchor, I might use my lunch break to walk with one of the kids or eat lunch in the cockpit, enjoying the weather and the scenery.
How do you handle business travel or meetings that require your physical presence?
Once I know when I need to travel, I plan for the airport, and where we can leave the boat.
I look for larger cities that might have an airport or car rental facility. Then, I check the area for reasonable anchorages that my family could stay in or a marina if that is more appropriate for this trip.
If the family is staying on the boat, I also check for local activities within walking distance: libraries, playgrounds, ice cream, and restaurants. If I’ll be gone for a week, it’s important for their sanity to have a few activity options off the boat.
Challenges & Solutions
How do you overcome these challenges?
Working in a small space with family requires patience and lots of communication. When I had formal presentations that couldn’t be interrupted, I’d either be direct and clear with my kids so they knew what to do if they had needs or questions (“Ask Dad!”), or Chris and the kids would leave the boat and find an activity in town to keep busy while I took care of work. I also wear Loop earplugs to reduce noise and the stress caused by overstimulation.
Working while underway took some trial and error. I had to figure out where to take calls if we had the engine running. Once Apple updated the microphone options to have automatic voice isolation, that fixed my problem, and I didn’t need to move anymore. I also figured out what conditions I could work in while underway and what tasks I’d be able to achieve. This meant that sometimes we didn’t move during the week because of my work commitments, so I wouldn’t have to take time off to move the boat.
LINKS
What are the biggest challenges you face working remotely from a boat?
Family can make it hard to focus. My “office” is in the main salon area. When I was in meetings, it wasn’t always easy for my kids to know when it was a casual huddle or a formal presentation.
Moving the boat while working can be stressful. If I have meetings while underway, I have to wonder if my internet will be consistent or if I will have to move to the V-berth for a call to avoid engine noise.
I also deal with motion sickness. Traveling on rivers and canals wasn’t too much of an issue for me, but when sailing in open water, I have to focus on low-energy tasks or take the day off.
Can you share a specific incident where you had to troubleshoot a major issue related to remote work on your boat?
The biggest thing for me was figuring out how to optimize my internet connections depending on my task.
We worked through phases with our Starlink to get it in the best position, minimize power consumption, and work around changing angles when moving on anchor or underway.
I use an app called TripMode, which allows me to choose which apps can use bandwidth and optimize Zoom. I can turn off video feeds or limit data to get the best experience.
I also learned that my low-data phone hotspot worked great with Zoom, so if there was a hint of an issue, I just switched to using my hotspot instead of Starlink for a better experience for my team.
Figuring out the best settings for each task helped me create a smooth experience for myself and those I was working with. Thankfully, my entire team was remote and happy to give feedback as I tried new settings and moved around my boat to figure out the best options.
Personal Experience
How has this lifestyle change impacted your personal and professional life?
I transitioned away from my career in software engineering (for now) due to health issues that made it challenging to meet the demands of a corporate position. This would have been the case regardless of whether I was on land or water.
I can still teach software architecture to online graduate students at the university I work with, so I haven’t completely left the industry.
Now, I’ve started my own business, which offers the flexibility to take time off during flare-ups and allows me to prioritize my kids and family time. And I still love visiting new places and meeting new people!
What do you enjoy most about working remotely from your boat?
There are new places in our backyard every day! Every area we visit has new sights, people, and a unique personality. I would love to experience that and share it with my family.
I love visiting new places but can still return to my bed and space at night.
Working on the boat allows me to do just that now, not wait until “someday.”
Do you have any tips for others considering remote work from a boat?
Plan but be flexible. If you are cruising with a partner and plan to move often, it’s really helpful if one person can be the leading “cruiser” while you work full-time. Otherwise, you’ll need to stay put during the week or find a balance in your work flexibility.
Boat life can be stressful. You’ll have a lot of really great days. But there are also days when you’ll get tired of the extra effort that everything seems to require on a boat. Even getting groceries takes more effort than on land!
It’s okay to go at a slower pace and live life a little slower.
Future Plans
Would you recommend this lifestyle to others? Why or why not?
Yes! It can be hard work, but I've really enjoyed it.
There has always been a strong nomadic spirit in my family, threading through the generations. Despite my homebody nature, this lifestyle has been a nice balance. I love having my own space, my own cozy home, to return to each night after exploring somewhere new. It’s just a fantastic way to live.
And working remotely while doing it helps support this lifestyle for us.
What are your future plans for continuing to work remotely from your boat?
I continue to teach graduate students through online university courses in software architecture, which are offered during the fall and spring semesters, leaving my summers free.
Additionally, I started Loop Life Academy. With my husband dedicating more time and effort to his business, I’ve taken on the lead “cruiser” role on our boat and am responsible for homeschooling our kids. These experiences provide me with valuable insights and resources to support other families and remote workers interested in cruising and traveling America’s Great Loop.
We plan to cruise as a family for at least one more year. Then we’ll see what comes next!
Anything else you want to share?
You can do this with a bit of planning and a good dose of flexibility!
Maybe it’s easier to cruise America’s Great Loop once you’re retired. But having the opportunity to do it now, to live this life right now, has been amazing.
“Someday” doesn’t always come, and I’m so glad we found a path to open up this option for us to travel the Great Loop as a family.