Tightwads on the Loose

Everyone dreams of tropical escape. But what happens when you escape for too long?

Imagine spending 24 hours a day with your spouse in 31 not-so-square feet for years, crossing the Pacific Ocean on two gallons of fuel, and tossing spaghetti marinara around your living room then cleaning it up while bouncing like ice in a martini shaker.

Tightwads on the Loose tells the story of Wendy and Garth, lured to sea by the promise of adventure. They buy a 31-foot boat that fits their budget better than it fits Garth's large frame and set sail on an open-ended voyage, never imagining they'd be gone seven years or cover 34,000 miles at the pace of a fast walk. They live without most “necessities” and learn that teamwork and a sense of humor matter most as they face endless "character-building opportunities."

They make a long-anticipated visit to the island where Garth had been shipwrecked as a teenager, only to find it had become a penal colony. An electronic catastrophe in the Solomon Islands leaves them without navigation equipment, which forces them to trade their free-wheeling lifestyle for one that seems straight out of a '60s sitcom: jobs at a US Army base in the Marshall Islands.

In Asia, they dodge typhoons and ships that threaten to turn their home into kindling. Finally, they endure a grueling 49-day nonstop ocean crossing. None of this prepares them for their arrival "home" to a post-9/11 America which leaves them wondering what had changed more - them or the world.

Tightwads on the Loose offers a fun listen to the armchair adventurer or anyone afflicted with wanderlust. 

Additional Book Format ISBNs:

978-0-9848350-0-3 Tightwads print paperback

978-0-9848350-1-0 Tightwads eBook

978-0-9848350-2-7 Tightwads Audio Book

“Tightwads on the Loose is extremely amusing, written brilliantly with a sense of humor and from the author’s heart, with inspired chapter names that will give a hint of things to come. After the necessary introductions are made, the listener is pulled into an adventure that will take him to exotic locations, vividly described with color and insight. I can’t think of a better actor than who could have brought this story and characters to life. She reads with eagerness, passion and comedic talent, infusing every moment with emotions and a sense of urgency. She is perfect for Tightwads on the Loose as she is blessed to be able to reach a large range of voices and accents. This way, the listener is completely immersed into this thrilling adventure.”
--Audiobookblog https://theaudiobookblog.com/2020/07/09/tightwads-on-the-loose-review/

“I just finished a whale of a tale and I want to recommend it to you. Although it [Tightwads on the Loose] is primarily a recounting of their adventures, the author is at her best when she describes her marriage and how the joys and pains of the voyage help her grow as a person and how they affect her relationship with her husband. I love an author who looks outward to notice the waterfalls and dance festivals, but at the same time looks inward to describe the personal transformation taking place, taking note of the way they both impact and are impacted by the people and places they experience. The book is a joy to read. I cannot wait to start her second book, Sea Trials. Enjoy Tightwads on the Loose. You will thank me.”
--Marianas Variety https://www.mvariety.com/cnmi-local/74-editorial/7697-bc-s-tales-of-the-pacific-tightwads-on-the-loose

Praise for the book in general:

Winner of the Journey award for best true-life adventure story. Selected a Readers Favorite and a top travel book for women. Selected for study in the literature program at Western Washington University.

“A light-hearted tone and unaffected style make this an entertaining tale.”
--San Francisco Book Review

“Tightwads on the Loose is the charming true story of a couple whose big dream is to circumnavigate the Pacific Ocean was not deflated by a small budget. Hinman’s self-effacing style and eye for the hilarious make the seven-year, 34,000-mile tale a pleasure to read.”
--Sailing Magazine

“Dreams of freedom and adventure: For most people, they remain just that — dreams. For certain others, like Wendy Hinman and Garth Wilcox, such dreams are the stuff life is. In 2000 the couple set sail from Puget Sound for a Pacific Odyssey in their 31-foot cutter, Velella. Seven years later, the couple returned home. Along the way, they logged some 34,000 nautical miles, touched 19 countries, endured typhoons, experienced close calls with freighters, potential pirates and phantom night vessels, swam in snake and crocodile infested waters and made do without refrigeration and Internet. A compelling read, Tightwads on the Loose: a Seven Year Pacific Odyssey flows as an adventure narrative with a “you are there” flavor. Ms. Hinman had done plenty of professional writing before the voyage: She’s as competent with the written word as she is at sea. And she clearly has a sense of humor — a necessary, conjugal survival tool within the confines of a 31-foot boat small enough to prevent her husband from standing straight up.”
--Mike Dillon, Magnolia News

“Lively, thoughtful and entertaining, Tightwads on the Loose offers a realistic glimpse into the ups and downs of living the cruising dream. Armchair sailors can enjoy the ride, while aspiring voyagers will appreciate Hinman’s honesty. She aptly demonstrates that like most worthwhile pursuits, long-distance voyaging is far from easy, and that’s a large part of what makes it so satisfying.”
--Three Sheets Northwest and 48 Degrees North

“Alternately hilarious, exciting and thought provoking, Tightwads on the Loose tells what happens when two people with very disparate personalities set out in a too small boat with a too small budget. Tightwads on the Loose will take you on a glorious romp around the Pacific.”
--Elsie Hulsizer, author of Glaciers, Bears and Totems and Voyages to Windward

“In this e-age of shoddy, sloppy sea yarns, it is nice to discover a wordsmith who cares how the words fall upon the page. Wendy Hinman does. She crafts each sentence with care. She is a pleasure to read. I enjoyed this book right from the title. Funny, too!”
--Cap’n Fatty Goodlander, author of numerous books about wandering under sail, a featured columnist in All At Sea and an Editor-at-Large of Cruising World magazine.

“Enjoy a wild ride with Wendy Hinman’s Tightwads on the Loose: A Seven Year Pacific Odyssey. The pragmatist and the dreamer (at one point Wendy likens herself to Tinker Bell) make entertaining travel companions, and the places they visit capture the imagination.”
-- Janna Cawrse Esarey, author of The Motion of the Ocean

More than 160 positive reviews on Amazon and a consistently strong seller.

Consistent appearances at national and international boat shows in multiple locations each year due to strong name recognition as a dynamic public speaker, as well as frequent presentations at libraries, schools, book clubs, yacht clubs, and community organizations. A strong record of radio and TV/video interviews and a reputation for offering engaging interviews full of amusing snippets from her voyages. Comfortable with online presentations and teaching as well, as the situation may require. Regular contributor to a variety of publications.

Active on social media. Inquiries welcome at info@wendyhinman.com