The coastal skipper Hein Butendörp marries his Alma head over heels because there is a baby on the way. The parents of the girl from a "better family" are bitterly angry about this "improper" liaison: they had completely different plans for their pretty daughter. Butendörp and his young wife live in an old boatman's cottage. Hein saves as much as he can to replace his outdated ship with a modern coaster. But for all her good intentions, the young sailor's wife Alma is getting in over her head with housekeeping. Soon she has run up so many debts that the bailiff is at the door. In dire need, she asks her parents to visit her. Then Hein Butendörp returns unexpectedly from the sea. Her mother-in-law is determined to get even with him...