A bit of live-aboard

[Guest]

It was suggested there should be a live-aboadr forum. I'm not sure how far that got, but this is for would-be live-aboards. (those already doing so can lie back smugly)

Today, a nice warm sunny day, the first one of the new year. Out came grinders and sanders and we both went at it on skylights and decks. OK, every yachtie does that in fine spring weather. Then Laurel, my mate, cut my hair. We had lunch on deck, our first this year. Not much, because we save our appetite for after work. Just a few prawns and home made mayonnaise with real fertilised egg yolks (try to get them in England). people in boats nearby called over and they were all working too.

Then in the evening we both cooked dinner. We had some lovely roast pork with the skin coated with honey and vinegar to make it extra crisp. Laurel made the pud. Ground up walnuts mixed with eggwhites and beaten furiously. Put into a pie made from pate brisée a buerre, and coated with an icing of icing sugar and armangac (equal parts) and baked for 20 mins in an oven of 200 C. Bottle of red to taste, finishing off with calvados.

Point is one can still live well in a boat. It is not a question of grotty squalor. true, we did not get the silver out, nor the crystal goblets (we haven't got any actually) but it is good living, and we find we spend less than £100 per week on food, fuel, drink and our entertainments.

Our winter's mooring for an 87 foot barge costs us £90 permonth, and includes water. Parking alongside the boat. Telephone line to plug in on the quay. Electricity on a meter is expensive, but not that bad.

So you are off commuting tomorrow morning. Poor sods. Chuck it in. Even my wife thinks it was the best decision we ever made.

William Cooper

 

[jimd]

The liveaboard started last month. Try the main index.

 

[chippie]

Sounds pretty good Bill, but watch the cholesterol!

 

[ccscott49]

Bill, where are you? I know the feeling well, I liveaboard, cruising at present in Portugal, Lagos, off to the ballearics and then Barcelone this year. I don't scrimp myself either and I do have crystal glasses, but they only come out for the port and the malt!! You can live very cheaply even in the uk if you are careful and shop around to take advantage of specials, I even do that in Portugal and Spain, they do have them! Honey AND a little vinegar, I must try that! Enjoy yourselves Bill and Laurel you have it down pat!!!!

 

[tcm]

Re: Dear Bill

Humm. Reading between the lines, I'm not so sure.

Firstly, for anyone with kids, liveaboard forces then into a life either no school, or being a gypsy as they move from school to school. Yup, I'm only at this stage now.

Secondly, "living well" on a hundred quid a week indicates that one has dramatically and probably involuntarily re-calibrated the meaning of the phrase. Those commuters might be sods, but they ain't poor. It's the liveaboards that raise the money issue.

Finally, surely the best advice can't be to "chuck it in", whatever the venture of others, can it? Okay, as a retirement occupation. But it seems a waste of good brains to use them merely to bake pies and sand down skylights. Or was this the calvados kicking in?

 

[BrianJ]

Sounds good Bill.. would love to see a photo of the barge.
BrianJ

 

[claymore]

Re: Dear Bill

I prefer to use my abilities for the benefit of others which is why I choose to work in Education.
I go sailing, skiing, climbing for recreation - its a change from work. I'd be bored witless each week living the life you describe - no thanks, I'm happy with the life I have - oh and by the way, I live next to an organic farm - we've been having eggs, milk, cheese, meat and vegetables from them for around 20 years now.
JS

 

[Chris_Robb]

A cunning plan

I hope in 4 years when the last offspring leaves University to try to get away. I have one major problem: Her in doors does not want to be away for 6 months or more at a time.

Any suggestions from anyone as to how to get the old girl on side? She likes fine weather sailing, is constantly badgering to charter somewhere warm, - but the boat is here in the Solent (which she hates).

My plan is to move the boat to Portugal (Lagos?) where the cheaper flights will allow us to do long w/e. and gradually get her hooked on being away from home.

Anyone who has experience in the art of persuasion - all advice greatfully received.

 

[claymore]

Re: A cunning plan

Hmm
Its your wife's life as well as yours - why attempt to make her do something that she doesn't particularly want to do?
Think of alternative strategies that would suit you both - like selling the boat and investing some of the money in a cheap property and a small boat in Portugal. University doesn't spell the end of Parental Involvement - so being away from home for long periods may not be as practical as it seems - but you may not need a house as large as the one you now have - hopefully you will both live for a good many years yet so its worth having a good open discussion to plan for that and ensure that you are both happy with your plans for the future.

 

[tcm]

Re: A Nice cunning plan

I have friends who spend the summer months in the med on their boat. It seems to work very well, and the extra time means that you can be very careful about the weather.

In Nice, Moorings have taken over the whole of the visitors pontton with their charter boats, and they're all v smart, tho grrr have nicked the visitors spaces. But excellent chance to rent one, and ahem, go hardly anywhere at all - just like liveaboards would do if they found a good spot and the weather was iffy. If it IS good weather, you can anchor round the corner in Villefranche, and bumble about in the dinghy. Worth a try . Lots of people go on med charter hols to "show her what it's like on a boat" when of course, it's not really like that at all in the uk.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Re: A cunning plan

Yes - good advice, and I accept that she has to be part of the decision. A Slow intro by having the boat somewhere warm may let her discover that she likes it. I agree with you entirely that it is wrong to force the idea on her.

Actually she is the one pushing to get the boat to the med asap, so perhaps there is an outside chance.

 

[Guest]

Dear (mooring) Bill

That's an expensive mooring! Our permanent residential mooring costs £220.00 a year for a 100' ship! Water nearby, lay on your own electricity if you need it.

Best regards to you both!

 

[Guest]

I only quote the cost because it is the question we are most frequently asked. The reason we live well, very well, for not mush is because we are not worried about so many of the frills that surround life ashore. Most people think of yachting in terms of the expenses they have with their boat that they keep in an expensive UK marina and have to have maintained by cowboy professionals.

I do not appreciate moral lectures about imparting my knowledge to the young in an educational system that I find appalling. Laurel did all that. I do not have a social conscience about all that. I have paid more in tax than I like to contemplate, way back when the marginal rate was over90%. It does not take many years of that to make you feel you've done your bit.

As for education, I have just heard of the death at 81 of a good old friend. He took his family to sea in a 80 ft MFV about 36 years ago, taking with him 3 sons then aged 12, 10 and 7. They've lived afloat ever since, and they educated their own children. Those sons have grown up into splendid men. One is chairman of a public company in the artificial intelligence field. Another is a very successful architect and the third is a TV producer.

Honestly, if you have intelligent and resourceful parents, you don't need school all that much. Why expose your children to indoctrination by members of the aptly named NUT?

I suppose someone will say I'm OTT again.

William Cooper

 

[claymore]

OTT? - perhaps not, certainly offensive - perhaps its something thats missing in your diet or your wonderful lifestyle.
Keep in touch with yourself
JS

 

[Achilles]

Don't think Bill was at all offensive, honest perhaps. Something we could do with more of.

Best of luck to you Bill.

 

[Bergman]

Well said Bill

Not OTT - think you hit the spot.

I envy your lifestyle and will emulate it ASAP.

Amazing how so many people become affronted by a variation of their idea of the norm.

Enjoy your pork and damn the cholesterol.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: A cunning plan

Just as an aside, you may find the long weekend in portugal a little expensive, the flights are not as cheap as most of the spanish type destinations and they fly from some funny places, like stanstead and the like. But go for it, its not boring, I find plenty to do and occupy my mind.

 

[rex]

I think if I got to the stage of posting when I had a hair cut and the temperature I cooked dinner I would chuck it in - completely!

 

[VMALLOWS]

Re: A cunning plan

Chris,
Very similar, boat in Solent, would like to get South. Wife not that keen, especially the cross biscay bit (done the channel loads of times).

We took a 6 week AirTours package to Portugal Jan/Feb ...cost £342 all-in self catering for 2
...saved more than that on heating at home.

Result: Wife decided she's not staying in England for another winter!....particularly liked Lagos marina.

Strangely a lot of people go south for the summer and come back for the winter.......it's the other way round for us.

 

[ccscott49]

I get your point! Watch any good telly tonight? chortle chortle