Saltwater Heals Everything

In 1998, my grandfather found the hull of a 1970 Aquasport abandoned on his business property. He loved the water, but like many working-class families, owning a boat was not something easily attainable. Instead of seeing an old, empty shell, he saw an opportunity. Over years of hard work, patience, and determination, he restored the boat piece by piece, creating something that would become the foundation of our family's connection to the water.

 

My dad often teased him for taking on such an old, bare shell of a boat, joking that he was putting “lipstick on a pig.” Decades later, my father continues to “put lipstick on the same pig” after inheriting the boat, maintaining and restoring it so future generations can continue to experience the same traditions. What began as a practical act of resourcefulness has become the heart and soul of our family.

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The boat has carried four generations of my family through South Florida waters. Lobster hunting became a tradition that began with my grandfather, continued with my father in his youth, and was later passed down to my siblings, especially my oldest brother, Kenny, who began lobstering with my dad when he was old enough to put on a snorkel mask and fins. Today, my father continues exploring the waters through stone crabbing and sharing these traditions with our family. My nephew, born in December, has already taken his first rides aboard the boat, marking the beginning of a new generation that will one day create his own memories on the water.

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Growing up, my grandfather would remind us after every scrape or bruise, “Saltwater heals everything.” Over time, that phrase became more than a saying. It became a reflection of what the water represents for our family: connection, healing, adventure, and a place where generations come together.

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Through this ongoing documentary project, I am exploring the ways family traditions are preserved through stories, labor, food, and shared experiences. Alongside photographs of life on the water, I am documenting the recipes connected to what we catch and developing new recipes inspired by these traditions, creating a visual record of how memories are passed down through both photographs and meals.

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I am currently developing a self-published cookbook and photobook that explores the ripples created by this restored boat, bringing together family, saltwater, sunshine, recipes, and the memories that continue to be created because of one person’s decision to restore something others had left behind.