lIVEABOARDS

[JAKEPAD]

My wife and I are hoping to buy a liveaboard in the next two years. We want to use it to sail around the world in years to come. Has anyone got advice on types of boat that would be siutable? We would like to hear about advantages/disadvantages of different boats + any personal experiences of liveaboards/round the world sailing.
KMiller
ps My wife would be interested to hear from other unethusiastic wives who have been 'won over' to retirement liveaboarding!!!!

 

[Guest]

Please buy Geoff Pack's book "Ocean Cruising Countdown". It is one of the best on the whole subject.

 

[Guest]

Do you sail now? Do you have a boat? Does your wife know how to sail? Why is she unenthusiastic? How much experience do you have?

I love cruising, can't imagine a better lifestyle. For some stories of our adventures, you can go to our web page,
www.cruiser.co.za/hostmelon.asp

You will notice that our beloved WATERMELON is what was called a "racer/cruiser", not to everybody's taste, though we have been happy with her all these years. But everybody is different, and level of experience will have an impact on your choice of yacht.

I also host a cruising chat room 0100 Zulu Wednesdays and Fridays. That is much too late for you people in the UK. If you would like to chat with me at an earlier time, please e-mail me and give me a time (I'm on the East Coast of the US right now), and I'll meet you there, or at least let you know if there's another time. I have lots of time right now, and welcome the chance to talk to people interested in cruising. The address is: http://www.cruiser.co.za/chat.asp

Fair winds,
JeanneP

 

[Twister_Ken]

Private space

Just to set out my stall, let me say that I have never 'lived aboard' for more than a fortnight, nor do I particularly want to. So my 2 cents worth may not be worth even that much!

I reckon it would be good to find a yacht that allowed each of you some personal space, so you didn't have to be in each other's company 24x7. That space should be habitable at sea, so not in the forepeak or aft cabin. The only smallish boats that seen to provide this are wheelhouse or pilothouse or deck saloon models which put a cabin partially or wholly under the wheelhouse.

 

[Stemar]

I too dream of this & I suspect my wife has nightmares! For me it's years away, so I've plenty of time to work on her!

Have a look at www.sailnet.com. It's full of articles about long-distance cruising & liveaboard. If you can hack the American bias, there's a lot of useful information.

 

[Guest]

If it is of any help reassuring your wife...an old friend(female) is married to a sailing mad man. They have two children. He wanted to sell up and go round the world, she was very wary about the whole idea and worried about the children and their education. She really did not want to do it, and didnt really like sailing, but did not want to stand in his way. So they agreed to do it for a year, then come back and settle the children back into school. That was six years ago!!! She doesnt want to return, and finds the quality of life far superior. She even enjoys sailing! She reckons that there is so much difference between pottering from place to place in England, mostly in wind and rain, and the life she is now leading, and that there was no way she could have anticipated how good it is. So, it may not suit everyone but it certainly won her over!

 

[Guest]

Contact Bill Dietrich's website address: http://www.geocities.com/bill_dietrich/ChoosingBoatModels.html. Very U.S. biased but excellent information and with helpful guidelines on points to consider.

 

[saltydog]

ps

.. and that sums it up
PS Mrs .. get a life, get a divorce while there is still some cash in the pot!

 

[Guest]

Just a word of warning - I don't want to be a killjoy, but if you ever intend living aboard in a UK marina you might take note of a considerable furore created in a Westcountry town a few years ago when some locals became upset that liveaboards were not paying council tax! There were, at the time, about a dozen boats overwintering in this particular marina. The row went on for weeks, and eventually the marina said that they would not entertain any new berth holding live aboards.

 

[bob_tyler]

I went to look at your site and it is the best "read" I have seen on the net. Perhaps you will write a book one day.

Anyone else reading this have a look at www.cruiser.co.za/hostmelon.asp

Don't expect to read it in 5 minutes.

 

[Guest]

agreed. There is already at least a book there. Really excellent.

 

[Guest]

Thank you for the kind words. I am trying to scan photos that are presently on slides to illustrate some of the other postings I should get put up. The best is yet to come, I hope!

 

[Guest]

Hi,

My partner and I have lived aboard for over 3.5 years - 18 months of which has been in the UK (the rest Europe & Caribbean).

What sort of boat then? For living in Northern Europe we appreciate a good amount of interior space - you cant lounge in the cockpit much a la Caribbean style! Yes, we love having an aft cabin, especially if we haven't done the washing up. The aft cabin also means we can have guests to stay (the forecabin for them) in some degree of comfort. (For all those people who think sailing is all about the "camping" spirit, remember: the boat is now your permanent home, no popping back to the house for a bath and comfy bed. Comfort is everything, any fool can be uncomfortable!)

OK, I'm off my soapbox now. We have a Moody 36 (1979). What would we change if we took it trans-ocean sailing again? A pilot house/sheltered steering position. We get fed up going generating piles of salty clothes when cruising - a problem when fresh water is in short supply. Again, its the comfort factor, standing out in the spray for an afternoon is fun, but not after 20 days!

Read Geoff Packs book as suggested in an earlier reply - its great.

 

[JAKEPAD]

Thanks for the response to our query. Your reply confirms my thoughts that a pilot house/saloon deck is essential. space is also essential so I suppose the bigger , the better! We hope our wallet will expand to embrace our dream! We also hope to go to the Med and the caribbean. Anywhere warm, in fact! Where would you recommend as a starting point inthe Med?
We have ordered the book
Thanks again
Keith Miller ( JAKEPAD)

 

[southchinasea]

Hi
We hope to soon order a Jeanneau 52.2 to liveaboard before sailing to the Med from Asia in a few years time. I have researched the subject ad nauseum with my long suffering wife now refusing to discuss even the most basic items such as electric vs. manual heads!
Everyone is different but some PERSONAL observations during my research (bearing in mind our tropical climate). Feel free to agree/disagree.

1. Buy as much space as you can afford. We will go for a 3 cabin option so our 2 rapidly growing sons or friends can stay in comfort. More cabins generally means less living space. Your choice.
2. In a hot climate cockpit space is seriously important. This is why we like this boat. Centre cockpit boats tend to have better master cabins (aft) but we like the walk though transom and large cockpit.
3. Pontoon mooring/shore power/water etc. essential for long term liveaboard although I know many who claim a swing mooring is fine. Not for us.
4. Spend hours/months! deciding on options. It is your home.
Good luck

 

[billskip]

THERES THEM THAT DO IT ...AND THEM THAT TALK ABOUT IT......