Anyone live on their boat? Pros and cons?

Question

Whats life like living on a boat?

Answer 1

I don't live on a boat now, but I used to live on a boat.  Living on a boat is not for everyone. It is a lifestyle that can be great fun and very relaxed, but you have to work a little harder to be comfortable.  Do you want to be a real live aboard and cruiser or do you want to be a party boater, not interested in real cruising? The needs are different. Will you be single handing or with a companion/crew? Different boats suit different people.

You have to make arrangements for water and to have your holding tank pumped out. Most people go ashore for water - sometimes to a marina dock. In a very few places there is water delivery to boats, but in my experience that is not the norm. I have never seen that happen. When we anchored for longer periods my husband and I often dinghied 5 gallon jugs of water back to our boat on a regular basis - every time we went ashore.

What about power? Do you want to have electricity? If so, you need to think about wind generators or solar panels, depending on where you live. How about refrigeration? That is the biggest consumer of energy on a boat. There are options that use less power, but they tend to be more expensive. Do you want to be able to have a hot water shower on the boat? Is it hot enough where you live to use a solar bag/sun shower to heat your shower water each day or will you need a water heater?  We used two small solar panels for power - just enough to charge the batteries enough to start the engine after a day of charging. Wind power is the way to go - a wind generator - it can take care of most needs, especially if you are willing to forego refrigeration.

How about cooking? If you have a propane stove, especially a Force 10, two burner with oven, that will be great, and many people also have a BBQ in the cockpit. With propane you should have a propane detector in your cabin and bilge as propane sinks if it is leaking, and could collect in the bottom of your boat and cause an explosion.

If you anchor, you have to dinghy ashore everyday. You may need to lock your dinghy when you go ashore, depending on where you are anchored. Will you have a vehicle on shore? If so, that will make life easier, as you will not have to backpack laundry, groceries, etc. If you are depending on getting ashore by dinghy to get to a job, what about the days when it might be too rough to get the dinghy ashore?

Do you want to have TV and Internet on your boat? We used a cell phone to have Internet access when we were anchored. Sometimes we were fortunate enough to be able to receive an unsecured wireless signal. For TV, you might be able to receive the free channels from you boat if you put an antenna high enough. The reception will of course vary with the movement of the boat.

Depending on your location, you may need to protect all you clothing from humidity and mildew. We rolled all of ours and packaged everything in airtight ziploc bags to keep the moisture out.

Some people who live on boats choose to rent a slip at a marina and then they can have most of the conveniences of a land based home while living on a boat. Not all marinas allow live aboards.  My husband and I were  live aboards. We lived on a 35 foot sailboat. We rarely went to a marina - we anchored most of the time and dinghied ashore. We walked to do laundry , carrying it in backpacks and also sometimes pulling a little cart with us, and also walked for groceries. We carried bicycles with us on our sailboat, and dinghied them ashore when distances were too great for walking and when there was no public transportation.

To live on a boat you have to be able to live a simple life in a small space. You must be comfortable with your own company, and willing to give up some things, at least some of the time - conveniences, internet, TV, unlimited supply of water for showers, etc. - unless you want to live at a marina - in which case you are not really living on a boat - you are living at a marina.

You have to learn to get rid of stuff you don't need because there is not a lot of storage space.  So we didn't keep magazines, old clothes, knickknacks, etc.  They took up valuable storage space we needed for essentials.  It is harder to live on a boat if you need to go to a land based job everyday, because then you need clothes for work, and so on.  However, if you live on a boat you won't likely have to pay council taxes or property taxes, and if you don't like the scenery you can move without having to pack.  While there is not a great deal of living space on a boat, the whole world is your backyard.

When living on a boat you often have to learn to become more creative with food, particularly canned and dried food if you are cruising.  But you will also be able to take advantage of the fresh catch of the day wherever you are, and buy only the fruits and veggies you will use in a day or two.

Living aboard a power boat is a much more expensive proposition than living aboard a sailboat and is a different way of life, so that is something to think about.

How much do you know about navigation? About boat handling? About boat maintenance and repair? About radio operation and etiquette? About anchoring, because no matter what your plan, eventually you will need to anchor and it is a special skill.

I would live on a boat again in a flash if the opportunity presented itself with the right person. My husband and I enjoyed it immensely and had wonderful adventures. We were happy vagabonds. We were both retired though, so we did not have to worry about getting ashore for work, etc.  Living aboard is a wonderful life, but it is not for everyone. It is hard work, but very rewarding. Keep in mind that one of the definitions of "cruising" is "fixing things in nice places" - my husband and I fixed many things in very nice places. I hope you find what you are looking for.

I hope I have given you some food for thought.  Here are a few sites that may help.  Best of luck.

Answer 2

Biggest advantage is not paying the rip-off called council tax if you change location every so often.

Answer 3

Its about the only thing in life you can d without paying taxes! Cant pay proprty taxes when you dont own the property right? Other than that though I have never lived on one but I think it would be cool. Just make sure you get everything while you are at the store cause there wont be any more 5 minute trips!

Answer 4

You need to "talk" with "Happy Murcia" (2nd on the Leader Board) who is an experienced liveaboard boater.  Give him an e-mail - he's very approachable.

Answer 5

Hello fellow boater!! I have a 30 ft house boat in Ontario Canada. I live on the boat most of the summer. Its on a river which is accually the Trent canal system, that runs through Peterborough The system starts at lake Ontario and goes to Georgian bay to the north. You can go as far as Chicago and then some. My boat has propane stove, tv with a dish, head, microwave, sleeps 6, 55hp johnston, kitchen, sink, all the comforts of home. Where are you now?? I love it on the boat, its a great life. Have you got a boat?I am retired so have lots of time on it!!Peterborough has the highest lift lock in the world!! Other people have cruisers and house boats here too so we have a lot of fun!!

Answer 6

If you have the opportunity, go for it. You must have the interest in boating, which is the most important part.

My wife and I lived abord our 34 ft (10m) power boat in Puget Sound for almost a year while looking to buy a house.

Pro:

- You are on the water.

- Leave and go where you want.

- You will make friends who share similar interests.

- Probably lower overall costs.

Con:

- If you live with your mate, you will quickly find how comparible you REALLY are (close quarters!)

- You need all the amenities of a house or apartment (cooking facilities, bathing, fresh water, heat) or after a short time it will no longer be fun.

- During a cold winter, even with heat, there will likely be a moisture condensation issue.

Good luck!

Bill

Answer 7

It's brilliant!

Having said that it does depend upon where you live.

You asked for pro's and con's

PROS

Self sufficiency, no one can cut off your gas for example

If you rig your vessel right; with wind and solar battery chargers to match your consumption, then your power is free.

Get up and go factor is priceless

you choose your neighbours

you choose your country or sailing area

When cruising you make lots of friends

The friends you make are worthwhile people

Freedom, total freedom. NO ONE TELLS YOU WHAT YOU CAN OR CANNOT DO! There is no meddling from nanny states.

You evolve into a natural environmentalist.

If you have children, they will have a working knowledge of seven or eight languages, see and interact with creatures/things that other kids only look at in pictures in a stuffy classroom, experience many cultures and customs and be nobody's fool - all before the age of 10!

CONS

Condensation

Life is governed by the weather at times

Lack of space can be a problem

Can't think of any more cons

Try it

When you get your boat and before you go cruising, please read the free information on my cruising website

www.sailingunlimited.net

Best regards,

Geoff

Answer 8

con- wouldn't want to entertain too many guests. bad for family get togethers,  Pro- privacy

Answer 9

um well it can b very lonely and dangerous.the good thing is that u can jack off in private and watch the sunset