Our Real Tangible Needs
Beyond our general support needs, there are specific pieces of gear and equipment essential to living and serving safely on the water. Each item below represents a real, tangible need — and you can see exactly how your gift will be used, down to who it equips and what it protects.
Safety Gear
Crossing large bodies of water by boat requires specific safety gear for each member of the crew. Please consider helping outfit each crew member with the proper safety gear
To be properly outfitted each crew member needs:
These lights attach to your life vest to illuminate the bladder, increasing your visibility especially at night.
These are water activated and flash to aid in rescue should one fall overboard.
$23 each
Please put “VEST LIGHTS” in the comments section of the giving form to indicate your gift.
PLB or Personal Locator Beacon is an emergency satellite locator beacon. When activated it transmits your location to emergency responders
One of these should be attached to each crew member’s life vest.
$400 each
Please put “PLB” in the comments section of the giving form to indicate your gift.
A tether attaches the harness of the crew member’s life vest to the boat during passages.
This is a stretchable tether designed to attach one end to your safety harness and the other to the vessel.
$169 each
Please put “TETHER” in the comments section of the giving form to indicate your gift.
A properly fit, offshore rated, inflatable life vest is absolutely essential for each member of the crew.
These vests will automatically inflate should someone fall overboard. They also integrate a full harness and attachment points for a tether to keep the individual attached to the boat.
$250 each
Thanks to all who gave!
Please put “LIFE VEST” in the comments section of the giving form to indicate your gift.
Essential Gear
This gear is essential to have on board for safety, communication, and comfort.
Essential Gear Needed:
Foul weather gear is essential for living on a boat. As weather is the mode of propulsion it sometimes comes with exposure to the elements.
Full waterproof gear is essential to keeping you warm and dry when sailing in adverse conditions. We are in need of a set of foul weather gear for each crew member.
$400 set
Please put “FOUL WEATHER GEAR” in the comments section of the giving form to indicate your gift.
Radios are essential for communications between crew, other boats, and shore stations.
These particular radios the Standard Horizon HX891 also have built in GPS and DCS calling in case of emergency to share our position. There are cheaper radios but they lack the safety features. We could use 2 of these for the crew.
$250 each
Please put “Radio” in the comments section of the giving form to indicate your gift.
Jack lines are straps that run the length of the boat that you clip your tether to. The purpose is the keep you in the boat while sailing should you slip and fall.
We need one set.
$100 each
Please put “JACK LINES” in the comments section of the giving form to indicate your gift.
Past Trips and Answered Prayers
A look back at trips the Lord has provided for, and the ways you helped make them possible.
Past Trips:
Dec 2025, Guatemala Trip
In November 2025, Kim, Tim, and Evelyn flew to Guatemala for an exploration and intel-gathering trip with Hope Fleet as they began operations in Rio Dulce. It was Evelyn’s first overseas mission trip, and she got to experience firsthand what God is doing through Hope Fleet’s work in the region. Tim and Kim’s costs were covered by Hope Fleet, and thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Evelyn’s expenses were covered too.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this trip possible — Evelyn won’t forget it, and neither will we.
This Trip was 100% funded.
thanks to those who helped us reach 100%
June 2025, SVG-GRD Trip
In June, Tim and Kim flew to St. Vincent to crew a 48-foot vessel on a sail to Grenada. The trip provided valuable offshore sailing training and the opportunity to connect with potential Hope Fleet partners across St. Vincent, Union Island, Carriacou, and Grenada — relationships that will help shape future ministry in the region.
This trip was fully funded by our supporters — thank you for helping make these connections possible!
This Trip was 100% funded.
thanks to those who helped us reach 100%
Frequently Asked Questions:
Simply add the item name in the comments section of the giving form — for example, “LIFE VEST,” “PLB,” or “JACK LINES.” This tells us exactly where your gift should go.
Absolutely. Many supporters choose to cover a full category — like all five vest lights — or split a gift across several needs. Just list each item in the comments, or reach out and we’ll help you sort it out.
We update this page as gifts come in, so fully funded items will be marked accordingly. If you’d still like to give toward that category (for replacements, spares, or future needs), just reach out and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Yes. All gifts are processed through Maritime Ministries Inc., a 501(c)(3) ministry, so your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
We’d love to hear from you! Reach out through our contact page and we can talk through other ways to support the mission.
Every Need, Big or Small, Moves the Mission Forward
From a single tether to a full set of foul weather gear, every item on this page represents a real step toward making Doulos safe, capable, and ready for full-time ministry in the Caribbean. Whether you choose to fund a specific piece of safety equipment, contribute toward the Boat Fund, or simply share this page with someone who might want to partner with us, you’re playing a direct role in this mission. Thank you for considering being part of the story God is writing through Sailing Doulos.