Learning to live on a boat...?

Question

I want to live on a boat. I am looking into various styles of boats though I don't think I would like wind power. Any suggestions of web sites where I can get information about what to look for in a used liveaboard?

Answer 1

Catamarans are a very popular boat here in Australia that people buy and live on, plus if you want a change of scenery you just set sail to a different location or Island. Most Catamarans have two queen beds on board, a galley, toilet and bathroom and seating with a table.

Answer 2

Before you take the plunge,  try renting a small efficiency apt for a year while you do your research.  You need to find out if you can handle living without a lot of space. One thing you sacrifice while living aboard, is having a lot of stuff.

We lived aboard a 43 foot trawler that was built in a commercial yard.  It was heavily insulated which kept condensation to a minimum, a big concern on liveaboards.  That is the main reason I do not suggest a production boat of any brand without major retrofitting in the insulation area.

Depending on where you live, you will have different obstacles to overcome.  

Like any machine, a boat will be far less trouble the more you use it.  We traveled over 38000 miles in a 4 year period and had 1 repair that cost 200.00.  That was a twenty year old boat.  We were very lucky, but also we diligent in keeping things checked and preventing problems.  Conversely, I now manage a marina and see boats that sit 95% of the time are constantly breaking down.

Answer 3

Only way to know if its for you is to just do it. Most people try it for awhile then move back ashore. I have been living on a diesel trawler 40' for 2 years. Its a great life but not without its share of interesting problems. Its got to be something you really want to do. Its like marriage; " a long series of compromises with its own unique rewards."

Answer 4

it depends on what you want to do if just live on it a house boat will do or if you want to go sailing in it a motor sailor would do or motor yacht like a Flemming or grand banks both semi displacement  if it is your first time looking at boat and find one then you have to get a surveyor to look over it for you it should cost about 2%to 9%  of the value of the boat hope this help you

Answer 5

Your in need of a 35 to 40 ft cabin cruiser . New 100k +. Used as low as 15 to 20k. And most of them have very few hours on them.

My friend just bought a 40ft Well-craft that is 14 years old and it's like brand new. Many people , when they find how difficult it can be to maneuver these large vessels into a slip, almost never take them out again. They party on the dock.

My friends boat is not his primary residence, however weekends in the summer are spent there. He has Dish TV, the boat has a galley and bath. All the comforts of a small apt.

On the water!

He's very good at driving his so we do take it out most weekends.  We tie off with other boats the same size and everyone has a good time. Sometimes we just stay out there until dawn.

Lake people are laid back people. We have met all kinds, some rich, some not so rich. All really nice folks though.

Some figures.

Slip 190.00/mo

Electric <50.00

Dish tv     59.95/mo

Filling that monster with 300.00 usg of gas?

Over 900.00!

Oh, he found his googleing "Cabin Cruisers" and "Yahts".

There are many sites, you can search by zip code. He found his in Houston Texas, it cost 1600.00 to have it brought up to the Dallas Ft Worth area.

Answer 6

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.

My husband and I were real 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.  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.  

If you are alone, a 35 foot sailboat is quite large enough - that is how big our boat was.  You don't need to buy a new boat.  There are numerous used sailboats around especially if you look around boatyards.  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.

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.

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.  Here are a few sites that may help you with your decision.

Answer 7

not knowing where your from,does'nt help,but check out these website's

bowcrestmarine.com

appoloduck.com

Answer 8

I lived aboard my 36ft catalina motor sailor for a couple of years. I really enjoyed it. In fact my wife and I have discussed retiring to live aboard another boat. Living on a pure motor boat is tough, fuel costs are prohibitive, especially when fuel consumption is measuered in gallons per hour as it is on boats. A pure sailboat can be tough as well, because you depend solely on the wind. No wind, no go. My boat was a nice sized sail boat, plus it had a 4 cylinder inboard diesel motor. I could motor out form Ventura harbor to anacapa or santa cruz siland for the weekend, play around moving from dive spot to anchorage and then back to the harbor on about $5.00 worth of diesel. If I had wind, of course the whole weekend was free of fuel costs. as for websites, google "live aboard boats" or "living on a Boat" and get thousands of sites to look at.