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What do I need to consider to know to decide if living on a boat is a good idea?
I am moving to a small town on the Chesapeake Bay. I have a really great job but the housing market is dismal. Given that I haven't seen a house I like for under several hundred thousand I am wondering if I wouldn't be farther ahead to buy a really nice boat and live on that.
OK, I realize that I need to figure the costs for slip rental with water and electric, regular pump out service, and satellite TV. They have a great marina here with 500 slips so that shouldn't be a problem. Fuel for a big boat is costly but basically I am not going anywhere.
Does this sound reasonable and what kind of boat should I be looking for?
4 Answers
- Capt. JohnLv 78 years agoFavorite Answer
All you ever need to know - and consider - about moving on to and living a-board your boat - cruising or not:
http://www.thefrugalvoyager.com/Liveaboard.html
The above link covers different boats, costs, considerations, what to expect, as well as all the good & bad reasons to do it. . . etc. etc.
Also great points to ponder on this page as well:
http://www.thefrugalvoyager.com/Retirement3.html
As far as I am concerned - the biggest "negative" for you - in the Chesapeake Bay - will be freezing your stern off in winter.
Summer heat is cooler on the water - but winter's cold is colder then an Eskimo's Popsicle.
PS. If you are quite positive you won't be going anywhere, or if anywhere only on very short slow cruises. . . I would look for the big nice "used" Nordic Tug or a Trawler. Short of a houseboat, they are the best for great live a-board space. . . There are some of both on this page:
Source(s): http://www.captainjohn.org/ - ?Lv 58 years ago
If you're mostly going to be in a slip get something heavy that doesn't move much in the waves. Some boats move quite a bit from small wakes of passing boats . Personally I hate boats that fling around while simply sitting there doing nothing.
Definitely get something that you have plenty of headroom with. Over time you'll get tired of being on a boat that you'll have to constantly worry about bumping your head.
Don't get anything with any rot and make sure ALL hardware is properly bedded. Poorly bedded hardware is pretty much a guarantee that you have water going into places that you don't want water going to - boat repairs can be painfully expensive.
Basically, IMHO, liveaboards should be roomy, as dry as possible, not moldy and comfortable.
Avoid wooden boats, get as much plastic/fiberglass as you can - FAR cheaper in the long run.
Good luck.
Source(s): me - fix boats for a living, primarily woodwork - ?Lv 68 years ago
I've lived on my 34' sport fisher/express cruiser for over 7 years.I don't think that I'll ever move ashore again.I've found a nice small marina on the gulf coast,the people are nice and the facilities are clean.Your only problem will be space.I trimmed all of the fat years ago,but my girlfriend didn't see it that way at first.We bought a storage building for all of her "stuff",but we are slowly weeding it out.I hope to sell the building soon.Rent a storage building if you must,decide what you need to keep,and live the dream.