What advice can you give someone who is considering living on a sailboat?

Question

I am an avid sailboat racer including several weeklong offshore races, but I've never lived on a boat before so I'm looking for advice and things to consider. I live in Houston.

Answer 1

Advice to live on a sailboat... well main thing is make sure you don't get sea-sick.  You know the points of sail, the water your around, the tide changes, the max wind speed you can handle, and know how to sail... honestly I wouldn't suggest living on a sail boat... or at least be more specific as to what kind you would like to live on.

Answer 2

Living on a boat is the same as camping. If you like all your stuff constantly wet, dirty, and cluttered you will do fine - seriously! I spend a lot of time living on a boat and while it sounds nice it gets old fast!

Answer 3

Hmmm...  My friend in Maryland did this for years on an 18' catboat with three dogs!  

1. Get used to everything you own being damp and moldy.  Try to keep anything important or valuable (like good clothing) in your car or a storage locker.

2. If you have a health club membership, you'll have a free place to shower.

3. Get used to a lack of peace, quiet and privacy.  Everybody knows eveyone else's business in a marina.

4. Plan ahead for evacuation in really bad weather. Consider insurance if you can get it - hurricanes are getting worse and you could lose everything.

5. Don't worry about seasickness.  Most people readily adapt to sleeping on a boat and it's very relaxing.

6. Unless you buy a really well equipped cruiser or houseboat, forget about cooking inside it.  I'd eat out a LOT!

Answer 4

u cant pop down the shop for some milk

Answer 5

We sailed the world about 7 years ago. My wife and I were able to take a year off. We bought an ocean fairing boat and made sure EVERYTHING was in tip top shape. If you plan to travel like this, you usually have plenty of cash on hand, we started with $40,000 in hard cash, On the boat at any given time. If you plan to stay on a lake. It does get old very quickly. More or less camping on the water. Make sure you have a fridge and a good stove. A/C, heater. Most of the "creature comforts" to eliviate boredom. I have satellite tv on my house boat now and wouldn't give it up. These are just some tips. Hope you have fun

Answer 6

Don't buy anything big or heavy.

Get a GPS.

Cheers!

Answer 7

um...don't. It would be soo boring and the scenery would be the same all the time.

Answer 8

Racing and live aboard don't go together. The weight of all that extra gear is going to slow you down.

Things to consider:-

How much stuff can you live without that you take for granted on dry land?

Can you really get a good nights sleep with those halyards banging against the mast?