Living aboard a boat with a family?

Question

Has anyone lived aboard a boat with a family? Tell me experiences and web sites to check out. Thanks

Answer 1

I lived on a "houseboat" on a well known lake North of Atlanta.  Local laws state you cannot use your boat in the marinas exclusively nor claim as "permanent residence".  To this day, my guess, 75% with "houseboats" use permanently and never has a "fine", "violation", etc. been issued.  Point, check local laws and people already there where you would like to live as well.

You want to insure "utilities", phone hook up (everyone I know use cell only), water supply, etc., are available to your boat.  If a "marina", request a "slip" as far away from shore as possible, just in case "drought" lowers water levels as we, in Atlanta, are having now.  

A HUGE issue, kids!  Every marina I have lived, visited, etc. is "Kid Friendly" on weekends, visits, but ADULT COMMUNITIES,  Understand the "marina" rules on this issue.  If YOUR children are OK, you MUST visit and talk to the "permanent residents", they may or may not welcome children, permanently.

Another consideration is what YOU and YOUR WIFE can and cannot tolerate.  Marinas are PARTY PLACES and can get loud, go through the night, lots of drinking, maybe illegal intake, everyone knows each other as in any community and would never call the "police" or complain, just the way it is.  YOU must visit a place considered on a weekend night to see what to expect.

If purchasing, regardless of "use" it is considered as "Recreational" and can be difficult to acquire a loan to some.  You can find from visiting marinas those "for sale" but not advertised.  Why?  As I indicated before, this is a community and a "seller" wants to insure a "buyer" will "fit" in.

Understand, living arrangements are "close quarters", you will not see this as a possible problem until you live on a boat a couple of days.

  

Hope this helps.  It may seem exciting, adventurous, but give this idea a lot of thought.