Liveaboard virgin

[gizzy]

Hints and tips after three years living ona boat(40 foot) Alaways keep the boat ready for sea.once you give up this there is no hope,avoid cluttering up the pontoon with your junk/boaty stuff that yu have accumalated from being static and your boat does not have a loft or shed.Make sure you have a proper shore power conection,dont want escaping milli amps.Keep up standards of dress,if poissible wear a tie.

Hi Mogy,

Thanks for your hints and tips. I will definately be keeping the boat ready for sea, because in this way I will not accumulate too much shore bound junk. Also, the purpose is to sail and live aboard. Thanks for the tip about ensuring a proper electrical connection.
Nigel

 

[Csail]

I would get something big, heating and keep it ready to go at any time! i'm off at 0400 spontaniously.!!!!

 

[V1701]

I lived on a 1989 Jeanneau Sun Dream 28 for a year, here's an example for sale, they are advertised usually £20 - £25k. Actually 29.5 feet, beamy, comfortable (double aft cabin, separate aft heads) and sails well, decent sized chart table, easy enough to singlehand. Having a boat pretty much as small as I can be reasonably comfortable on works for me, I changed after a year and now have & live on a 1972 Albin Vega (27), which is better suited to my plans and which I will keep for longer...

 

[TopDonkey]

This is the funniest and best thread on here so far this year, i love the comments !

I've been living on board my 28ft by 10ft beam python twin diesel motor cruiser for 3 weeks now and i love it, it might not be in the river yet ! (still on the hardstanding whilst i refurbish it), but its the best life you can get.

I did buy the obligatory fray bentos pies, 6 of em, but forgot to buy a bloomin tin opener !, so they have sat uneaten for the last week, i must go out and buy one soon !

 

[gizzy]

I would get something big, heating and keep it ready to go at any time! i'm off at 0400 spontaniously.!!!!

Happy and safe sailing !!!

 

[gizzy]

Hi Dj,
I'll be looking for an older craft to live aboard - something I can play with.! What I mean by that is if the chart table's in the wrong place, I'll move it, etc. I appreciate that older boats involve more upkeep, but I've got to have something to do on those days when the weather prevents you from sailing. I also derive as much enjoyment 'fixing up', as I do sailing.
N

 

[gizzy]

This is the funniest and best thread on here so far this year, i love the comments !

I've been living on board my 28ft by 10ft beam python twin diesel motor cruiser for 3 weeks now and i love it, it might not be in the river yet ! (still on the hardstanding whilst i refurbish it), but its the best life you can get.

I did buy the obligatory fray bentos pies, 6 of em, but forgot to buy a bloomin tin opener !, so they have sat uneaten for the last week, i must go out and buy one soon !

Hey TopDonkey,

I understand that Frey Bentos pies are good for redecorating the galley. No need for a tin opener, just stick it in the oven and heat. Stand well back.!!!! As an afterthought, stick 2 or 3 tins in at the same time and you could do the heads at the same time.!!!! lol
I know you mobo's are short of cash (must be all that fuel you have to buy), so I've put a tin opener in the post for you. hehee
N

 

[catmandoo]

taking a leak to the loo

Please remember as you get older you will need to have a pee at night .

If you end up in a marina with strict rules about discharging heads then try to find a berth close to the loos .

I have seen many an old codger wheeling his bike down the pontoon in the morning shore wards with a big plastic container / or bucket of yellow stuff balanced precariously on the pannier hoping it does not spill on the way

 

[Martin_J]

Hi Dj,
I appreciate that older boats involve more upkeep, but I've got to have something to do on those days when the weather prevents you from sailing. I also derive as much enjoyment 'fixing up', as I do sailing.
N

Even a <5 year old boat will fit this bill. Buy one with brass seacocks (see other threads), replace them with brass. You'll be living on the edge and they'll need fixing/replacing all the time!

Seriously.. good luck. Summers are great.. Winters - warm if you have good heating. Oh and ventilation.. I'll let you think about why you need ventilation!
And no it's not due to all those Fray Bentos pies...

 

[mandlmaunder]

Hi Gizzy and crew

What are your long term plans ??

You should set yourself to do by dates.

IE buy boat by end of 2013, have boat ready mid 2014, seek mental health check up every four months.

If you are in love with the idea of living long term on your own boat try going into a marina every month and chucking 300 quid in the sea, when you can do this then you are ready to suffer for your art.

Buy with your heart when it comes to boats as it will be a labour of love every day to keep up with any and all jobs that NEVER stop needing to be done.

As to moving the chart table, if the boat you are looking at has a chart table in the wrong place then this is not the boat for you as moving something as substantial as the chart table will be a huge job especially on a small boat where every inch of space has been optimised by a geek who knows where all the bits fit in that small space.

Look around the marinas you will see many 'project' boats that may never see the water again with their present owner who thought a few minor redesigns wouldn't take long.

Good luck on your search for <30ft perfection. keep us up to speed on your progress.

Mark n Lee and our borrowed boat dog Jackie (8 years on board and loving it)

 

[pagos]

Living aboard

It is a know fact that whatever boat you chose to buy you will certainly grow into it but the most important thing is that it is well built and sea kindly, the rest is just cosmetic. Remember if you are to stay in the uk the winters get cold and very wet and I don't mean outside, so a good heater like the Dickinson would be really useful. If however you plan to move to say the med that of course is a different story. Solar panels and or a 3 blade wind vane are essential as is the aforementioned wind vane it is all about saving electricity and the less you use the better. The most consumption comes from fridge, auto pilots and lights.
So if you need a fridge make sure the insulation is second to none and the whole system will keep things frozen because to be honest a fridge is of no use except for keeping beer cold and when your out at sea fresh meat has to be the issue. Wind vane replaces the auto pilot but itbis important to trim your sails and play with it cause it takes time to learn how to work it in every sea condition. Lights can now be replaced with led the new ones are so good and far more eye pleasing than in previous years , top light is essential but steaming lights to be honest are just a waist of money to replace .
And how do I know this ?
I'm out there and have been for the last 8 years with my wife and two boys. So do it live the dream.....

 

[gizzy]

I lived on a 1989 Jeanneau Sun Dream 28 for a year, here's an example for sale, they are advertised usually £20 - £25k. Actually 29.5 feet, beamy, comfortable (double aft cabin, separate aft heads) and sails well, decent sized chart table, easy enough to singlehand. Having a boat pretty much as small as I can be reasonably comfortable on works for me, I changed after a year and now have & live on a 1972 Albin Vega (27), which is better suited to my plans and which I will keep for longer...

Hi DJBreeze,

I've settled and bought an Atlanta 8.5 - She's 28 ft long and 9'3" wide (actually got more space in her than I have in my flat !!! haha). I believe she was built between 1975/80. I'm having fun 'doing her up', at the moment. I've installed a cooker (with oven), I like me lasagne, a fridge will happen this week - gotta keep the milk cool - and other than that just general tidying up. She has been left abandoned for several years so there is a bit of scrubbing to do. She's a good solid boat and will do me for the years to come. Don't know where you are based but hope to 'bump' into you one day.
Nigel

 

[gizzy]

Even a <5 year old boat will fit this bill. Buy one with brass seacocks (see other threads), replace them with brass. You'll be living on the edge and they'll need fixing/replacing all the time!

Seriously.. good luck. Summers are great.. Winters - warm if you have good heating. Oh and ventilation.. I'll let you think about why you need ventilation!
And no it's not due to all those Fray Bentos pies...

Hi Martin_J

Umm............ventilation.? Wouldn't have something to do with wet underwear due to condensation would it.? haha
Brass seacocks I got, but will be servicing them very shortly and replacing where required. Thanks for your kind wishes...........................

 

[gizzy]

Please remember as you get older you will need to have a pee at night .

If you end up in a marina with strict rules about discharging heads then try to find a berth close to the loos .

I have seen many an old codger wheeling his bike down the pontoon in the morning shore wards with a big plastic container / or bucket of yellow stuff balanced precariously on the pannier hoping it does not spill on the way

I thought for a minute you meant me, Catmandoo.!! Then I remembered.......................I don't own a bike. haha

 

[gizzy]

Hi Gizzy and crew

What are your long term plans ??

You should set yourself to do by dates.

IE buy boat by end of 2013, have boat ready mid 2014, seek mental health check up every four months.

If you are in love with the idea of living long term on your own boat try going into a marina every month and chucking 300 quid in the sea, when you can do this then you are ready to suffer for your art.

Buy with your heart when it comes to boats as it will be a labour of love every day to keep up with any and all jobs that NEVER stop needing to be done.

As to moving the chart table, if the boat you are looking at has a chart table in the wrong place then this is not the boat for you as moving something as substantial as the chart table will be a huge job especially on a small boat where every inch of space has been optimised by a geek who knows where all the bits fit in that small space.

Look around the marinas you will see many 'project' boats that may never see the water again with their present owner who thought a few minor redesigns wouldn't take long.

Good luck on your search for <30ft perfection. keep us up to speed on your progress.

Mark n Lee and our borrowed boat dog Jackie (8 years on board and loving it)

Hi Mark n Lee (and borrowed Jackie),

Sorry it's been a while before my reponse. I've bought a boat.!! She's an Atlanta 8.5 - 28' long 9' 2" wide, and at 6'2" I can stand up in her saloon. She has a yellow hull (um......gel coat is too good to paint, so I've started buying daffodils for decoration, haha) I bought with my heart - she will look a treat when I've finished scrubbing several years of **** off her hull. A good solid boat!! Apart from cleaning and installing a cooker (with oven) and a fridge, and the usual engine service (apparently that's in pretty good nick), seacock service, etc. there is little to do that is not cosmetic. The chart table and various electrical switches (scattered around the boat) will need to be gathered together in one place. But again not a major issue. I'm hoping to be in the water, tied up alongside the marina pontoon, at the begining of July.
My mental health check has shown that I will go doolally staying ashore, much quicker than I will on the water.
Keep in touch
Nigel

 

[gizzy]

It is a know fact that whatever boat you chose to buy you will certainly grow into it but the most important thing is that it is well built and sea kindly, the rest is just cosmetic. Remember if you are to stay in the uk the winters get cold and very wet and I don't mean outside, so a good heater like the Dickinson would be really useful. If however you plan to move to say the med that of course is a different story. Solar panels and or a 3 blade wind vane are essential as is the aforementioned wind vane it is all about saving electricity and the less you use the better. The most consumption comes from fridge, auto pilots and lights.
So if you need a fridge make sure the insulation is second to none and the whole system will keep things frozen because to be honest a fridge is of no use except for keeping beer cold and when your out at sea fresh meat has to be the issue. Wind vane replaces the auto pilot but itbis important to trim your sails and play with it cause it takes time to learn how to work it in every sea condition. Lights can now be replaced with led the new ones are so good and far more eye pleasing than in previous years , top light is essential but steaming lights to be honest are just a waist of money to replace .
And how do I know this ?
I'm out there and have been for the last 8 years with my wife and two boys. So do it live the dream.....

Hi Pagos,
Your message was an inspiration, and I apologise for not responding sooner. To be honest, I'm not ready to be setting off into the wide blue yonder yet. I have bought my boat (an Atlanta 8.5) which I understand to be a sea kindly yacht and is solidly built. I will be based at Port Solent marina and will go off as and when the need takes me, but for now just coastal sailing. It will give me time to set the boat up for singlehanded sailing, as I haven't taught the dog (gizzy) to work winches, yet.!! I will take your advice about LED lights and replace what I have, both inside and out. I am installing a fridge and cooker,at the moment. The fridge will be run both 240v and 12 v depending on whether I am in the marina, or at sea.
Once again, thanks for your advice, and I hope to hear how you are getting on.
Nigel

 

[Chrissie]

What nobody mentions is the loneliness, friends stop phoning or texting, and life becomes very insular. You start to make new friends and acquaintances but they tend to go off sailing

 

[TopDonkey]

Hi Gizzy

Can i ask how much its costing to moor at port solent ?, thats one of the places i am considering moving to once my boat is in the water, and as my boat is 27 foot long and 10 foot beam, the costs would be very similar

Oh, and thanks for the tin opener !!

Thanks

 

[gizzy]

Hi TopDonkey,

It's going to cost about £3,330 for the year, or 2 months up front and £333 quid a month. If you are 'introduced' by a friend then you get a discount of £250, I think and so does the friend. If you decide to come this way I'm sure we can organise something, if you'd like.
How's the boat coming along.? Mine is getting there slowly. I'll hopefully be able to move aboard over the next week or so. I'm hoping to put her in the water begining of July. I like my comfort so it's taking a little longer than normal I guess, hehee.
keep in touch.

Nigel

 

[TopDonkey]

Thanks for letting me know, thats a tiny bit more than the £130 a month mooring costs i pay here in reading centre on the thames then !!.

I think i'll look for somewhere a bit cheaper than that though because i am saving up for a much bigger sailing boat at the moment, buying a motorboat was the wrong decision i think for me, i should have bought a motor sailer instead, the extra £200 a month i save, will give me nearly £2500 extra by the middle of next year to buy my next boat with.

My boat is comming along really fast now, i'm loving living on it, i just bought a 7 foot long sofa for the lounge area so that i get a bit more comfort in the evenings, the standard boat seating is too upright and the foam is too thin for long term use really