Buying livaboard in Florida....

[rustybarge]

Hi All,

I'm fed up with the winters in the Med. My daughter spent a month out in Florida this winter starting in the Keys, and then driving up the east coast all the way to NY.

Beautiful sunny weather and very cheap, what's not to like; and The Keys came in for some very positive remarks.

So Florida is the chosen destination this winter, but which coast, which marina's, which area's to cruise?


And now the boat to purchase?

Stumbled upon the Mainship 34' trawler.

Built in the 80's in large numbers [c.900]
Single Perkins engine 160hp to 200hp
8kts cruise on 3gals/hr, max about 14kts
Seaworthy design, many go offshore to the Bahamas.
Solid grp hull, but cored deck that can get soft.
$20k to $50k.

Seems easy to maintain, repair and run.
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1983-Mainship-34-Mark-III-102091508
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1979-Mainship-34-Motor-Cruiser-101812293

Sounds too good to be true?

 

[AndrewB]

The secret to Florida is a shallow draft, not more than 4': Bahamas too if you are that ambitious. With a trawler-yacht you couldn't go wrong. Personally I'd keep away from Miami and Fort Lauderdale as bases, otherwise there's loads of choice. Marathon gives you the run of the Florida Keys. Vero Beach I would pick for the ICW. On the west coast Naples/Marco Island gives access to the southern Everglades, an interesting area but preferably with the minimum draft. I'm not so familiar with further north.

Downsides? Don't forget Florida is in the hurricane belt, so is best cruised out of the summer season, when you may like to find a secure place to lay up particularly if you are on the east coast. For this reason you won't find quite as many permanent liveaboards as you might expect.

 

[rustybarge]

The secret to Florida is a shallow draft, not more than 4': Bahamas too if you are that ambitious. With a trawler-yacht you couldn't go wrong. Personally I'd keep away from Miami and Fort Lauderdale as bases, otherwise there's loads of choice. Marathon gives you the run of the Florida Keys. Vero Beach I would pick for the ICW. On the west coast Naples/Marco Island gives access to the southern Everglades, an interesting area but preferably with the minimum draft. I'm not so familiar with further north.

Downsides? Don't forget Florida is in the hurricane belt, so is best cruised out of the summer season, when you may like to find a secure place to lay up particularly if you are on the east coast. For this reason you won't find quite as many permanent liveaboards as you might expect.

Thanks for the info.
So do you have to haul your boat out onto the hardstanding in the hurricane season, or could you liveaboard in a sheltered spot on the ICW? I'm just thinking that many yards won't allow you to stay aboard on the hard, and then there's the problem with the holding tank and how to empty it?

 

[miyagimoon]

Hi All,

I'm fed up with the winters in the Med. My daughter spent a month out in Florida this winter starting in the Keys, and then driving up the east coast all the way to NY.

Beautiful sunny weather and very cheap, what's not to like; and The Keys came in for some very positive remarks.

So Florida is the chosen destination this winter, but which coast, which marina's, which area's to cruise?

Is it really that safe???

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/31/most-dangerous-cities-florida_n_4524866.html

Scaremongery!!!

Touche!!

 

[rustybarge]

For anyone interested in the Mainship 34' trawler, here's a link to the forum:http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s11/

 

[PlanB]

You should check how long you are allowed to stay at a time - I have a sneaking suspicion there is a fairly short limit, something like three months. The other thing to research is whether there is a big choice of marinas etc which allow liveaboards as have heard there may be some resistance.

 

[rustybarge]

Is it really that safe???

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/31/most-dangerous-cities-florida_n_4524866.html

Scaremongery!!!

Touche!!

According to some on this forum, Florida has to be much safer than the west Indies, where Yotties seem to get murdered nearly every week.

 

[rustybarge]

You should check how long you are allowed to stay at a time - I have a sneaking suspicion there is a fairly short limit, something like three months. The other thing to research is whether there is a big choice of marinas etc which allow liveaboards as have heard there may be some resistance.

My son just got a 6 months visa for the states, he had to go into the embassy for an interview; told them he wanted to tour around the states with his motorbike.

No problem if you have an EU passport, they want your dollars.

 

[Gerry]

Can't comment on the boat that you are looking at.
You will need to get a 10 year tourist visa and then you can stay for 6 months at a time. There are many. many liveaboards in Florida. From 'bums' in dilapidated old wrecks anchored out to fabulous floating palaces in full-service marinas, and everything inbetween.
Do not underestimate the hurricane risk. From May to November you are at risk although the weather reporting is pretty good and early warnings are good. Savannah, in Georgia, claims to have not had a hurricane for decades............
We spent a year in Florida/Georgia. Never found it to be unsafe, cheap high quality food, friendly people.
Downside is very volatile weather. We had a number of tornados which were pretty scary and lots of lightning. 20% of boats in Florida are hit EVERY year according to the University of Florida.
Places we loved included Green Cove Springs Marina on the St John's river. Great place to hau; out and do the work yourself. Hammock Dunes marina, full service at $250 a month including power, ice and water! Lee Shore Marina Savannah, old shrimp dock no facilities but cheap with a great community...

 

[rustybarge]

Can't comment on the boat that you are looking at.
You will need to get a 10 year tourist visa and then you can stay for 6 months at a time. There are many. many liveaboards in Florida. From 'bums' in dilapidated old wrecks anchored out to fabulous floating palaces in full-service marinas, and everything inbetween.
Do not underestimate the hurricane risk. From May to November you are at risk although the weather reporting is pretty good and early warnings are good. Savannah, in Georgia, claims to have not had a hurricane for decades............
We spent a year in Florida/Georgia. Never found it to be unsafe, cheap high quality food, friendly people.
Downside is very volatile weather. We had a number of tornados which were pretty scary and lots of lightning. 20% of boats in Florida are hit EVERY year according to the University of Florida.
Places we loved included Green Cove Springs Marina on the St John's river. Great place to hau; out and do the work yourself. Hammock Dunes marina, full service at $250 a month including power, ice and water! Lee Shore Marina Savannah, old shrimp dock no facilities but cheap with a great community...

Wow, those prices are only what we can dream of on this side of the pond.
The US is starting to make more and more sense.

Did you haul out for the hurricane season in north Florida, at the marina charges you have quoted it must be very cheap to stay on the hard standing.

So the best plan seems to send 6 months in Florida, then get the boat hauled out for safety sake.

Here's a really stupid question: What's to stop your boat getting wrecked by a hurricane when it's hauled out and propped up on the hard?

 

[rustybarge]

Here's some possibilities:
250hp Perkins....
http://www.denisonyachtsales.com/ya...nits=Feet&access=Public&listing_id=74486&url=

200hp perkins....
http://www.denisonyachtsales.com/ya...nits=Feet&access=Public&listing_id=59909&url=

rebuilt engine...
http://www.denisonyachtsales.com/ya...nits=Feet&access=Public&listing_id=76514&url=

seems to be dozens for sale in Florida.


Volvo 260hp powered version:http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/198.../Ft.-Lauderdale/FL/United-States#.U0xnM_QW01I

She's cruised the east coast and she's cruised the Bahama's. If you want a sea-kindly experienced cruising yacht, this is the boat for you. Outstanding fuel efficency, but a good turn of speed when needed. 7.5 knots at 2.2gph, 14.2 knots at 9.0gph, and tops out at 17.5knots at 13gph. She'll go the distance and get you home safely. Tons of little owner installed modifications to make living and cruising aboard "No Tact" a real pleasure.

 

[chinita]

Just to clarify what gerry said about a visa.

You need a B1/B2 visa. This will be stuck into your passport so try to co-ordinate the dates of the two for maximum benefit. Valid 10 years and essential if you are coming in or going out of the US by private boat.

Costs a few bob and involves trip(s) to the US Embassy. I got mine after three visits to their Embassy in Lisbon.

 

[chinita]

What's to stop your boat getting wrecked by a hurricane when it's hauled out and propped up on the hard?

You beat me to it! Up until you asked that I thought you knew something we didn't.

 

[AndrewB]

She's cruised the east coast and she's cruised the Bahama's. If you want a sea-kindly experienced cruising yacht, this is the boat for you. Outstanding fuel efficency, but a good turn of speed when needed. 7.5 knots at 2.2gph, 14.2 knots at 9.0gph, and tops out at 17.5knots at 13gph. She'll go the distance and get you home safely. Tons of little owner installed modifications to make living and cruising aboard "No Tact" a real pleasure.

Personally I'd stick with the idea of a displacement trawler-yacht rather than a semi if you intend to be a liveaboard during a lot of travelling, poking around the ICW and other creeks, and spending time at anchor.

We got round the 6 month limitation by quick trips to Canada - the clock got reset each time we came back, though this isn't officially so.

They know how to lay up yachts ashore in Florida. Note the only yacht still standing below!

 

[rustybarge]

Personally I'd stick with the idea of a trawler-yacht rather than a semi if you intend to be a liveaboard during a lot of travelling, poking around the ICW and other creeks, and spending time at anchor. Check out the reasoning here: http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s3/why-semi-displacement-semi-planing-652.html.

We got round the 6 month limitation by quick trips to Canada - the clock got reset each time we came back, though this isn't officially so.

They know how to lay up yachts ashore in Florida. Note the only yacht still standing below!

http://www.yachtsentinel.co.uk/AAAMISC/cycloneyachts.jpg[/im[/QUOTE]

Holy 5hite!!!!
You've answered my question.

Seems like it might be just as good an idea to leave your boat in the water.

 

[jonic]

I had a fantastic time making trips to the Bahamas followed by trips up the ICW and onto New York...and then doing it all over again.

But you do have to watch the weather - we had Hurricanes in Chesapeake Bay and threats of them as high as New York, but forecasting is very good.

Here's a lightning storm we sat through in New York

But even with the odd bit of extreme weather I would do it again and again.

Going to Canada or the Bahamas for 14 days resets the 6 month clock and you can work it around the Hurricane season.

Don't miss the new river near Lauderdale for good value long stays.



And sailing into NY harbour is magic.





Our blog is still live and you can follow it from Florida to NY here http://theyachtseraphim.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/florida-part-one_11.html

:encouragement:

 

[chinita]

Holy 5hite!!!!
You've answered my question.

Seems like it might be just as good an idea to leave your boat in the water.

Keep digging and you might find, from our cousins, that the only answer is to leave your boat under the water.

 

[rustybarge]

Personally I'd stick with the idea of a displacement trawler-yacht rather than a semi if you intend to be a liveaboard during a lot of travelling, poking around the ICW and other creeks, and spending time at anchor.

The model of mainship 34' i'm looking at has a draft of only 2'10, so looks prefect for shallow creeks.
The specs are listed here:
http://www.denisonyachtsales.com/yacht-broker-listings/used-mainship-boats-for-sale/

 

[rustybarge]

Keep digging and you might find, from our cousins, that the only answer is to leave your boat under the water.

:........ :ambivalence:

 

[rustybarge]

I had a fantastic time making trips to the Bahamas followed by trips up the ICW and onto New York...and then doing it all over again.

But you do have to watch the weather - we had Hurricanes in Chesapeake Bay and threats of them as high as New York, but forecasting is very good.

Here's a lightning storm we sat through in New York

[video=youtube;PRS_7wckZdc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRS_7wckZdc[/video

But even with the odd bit of extreme weather I would do it again and again.

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