Living Aboard Newbee

[Fire99]

Hi Everyone,

I have recently considered living aboard a boat.
I currently own a Freeman 30 which, yes would be a little cramped for permanent living aboard but since its only me would suffice..

I am considering purchasing a larger vessel for living aboard but would like to be able to use her for cruising round the coast etc..

Im sure this question has been asked a thousand times but does anyone have any good information for a newbee like myself or any good places where i can source information?

I am planning to be moored either just inside a sea-lock on a river or on a drying pontoon on a coastal marina.

many thanks,

Nick


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[mainshiptom]

My advice is just "do it"

I am living on board at the mo and loving every minute of it !

It is very likly that once you are on board diffrent things will annoy you and you will either sort them out of thing about them when you get your next boat !

For instance I love the power on board 240v and city water where I do not have to fill the tanks upo or switch any pumps on !

Tom

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[mike_bryon]

I agree, it is best not to plan too much until you are aboard and it is a great life. Essentials for us (some of the live aboard friends that we have made would I am sure write a very different list) are safe/convenient access ashore, UK postal address, shore power, internet access so we can work from our floating home, nearby laundry, and effective heating (not yet achieved), These items are listed as they came to mind and not in any order of importance.

The switch to living on the boat with no home ashore involved quite a bit of planning especially getting rid of stuff and once aboard getting rid of a whole lot more!!

We have had no regrets and would not go back to a house. Best of luck with your plans.


<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by mike_bryon on 21/09/2004 11:55 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Fire99]

Thanks gents for your replies..

Im currently a home owner too so will have to make arrangements about that but the times ive spent on my Freeman even when not going anywhere have been extremely relaxing and a real pleasure..

And i can think of nothing better than being woken in the morning by a family of ducks swimming past for their breakfast..

thanks,

Nick

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[stretch33]

Nick, New experience for me too. Boat just launched at Ipswich and will be moving on in a few weeks on completion of hse sale, done a lot of the work l think l need to do ashore but reckon more changes now afloat. Only thing is to see how it goes and make adjustments accordingly (Where do you people put your clothes?) That seems my prob at mo ! Phil

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[annphil4]

i've already got rid of half of mine(clothes that is), and i still a few wardrobes full left to get rid of b4 we finally go living aboard next spring.....not to mention all the personal things ...no lofts in yachts

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[roly_voya]

As to size the smallest boat I have met as a successful live-aboard was 19' 6" in Morcobe bay and he had been on board for 3 years, as he said "any bigger nd I would have to work for a living"

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[oorwullie]

We have started to live aboard with intention of long term cruising, best bit of advice we had was to move on to the boat and then decide what you needed and what you have space for. The two do not seem to compatable!! water line needs to be repainted higher up the hull!!
But seriously go for it we are on a Moody 425 and loving every moment of it.

Good luck.





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[mikewilkes]

We have probably all raised the waterline a bit since moving aboard !!!

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[ashley]

Effective heating is a must!

Sort out your creature comforts as soon as possible. Crap heating will change your experience for the worse
We suffered financially and mentally last year due to poor heating and bad or lack of insulation.
As we are moving upto paris next week and my stove has still not been set up, I'm scared already

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[Sea Devil]

Re: Effective heating is a must!

I was coming down the ICW in winter a couple of years ago and used marinas so I could plug in a blow heater to the mains supply - in my 36 ft Moody 1 blow heater on most of the time - in a marina kept the boat dry and warm - mind you it gets really cold in northern france - good luck

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing

 

[Stoker]

living aboard

Have been living aboard a 34' motorcruiser with aft cabin now for 2 years, no complaints only that we keep finding things that are not needed and dispose of them. Originally we rduced all our belongings to fit very comfortably into a transit. Now they would take up even less room.

My wife and I wish to travel so once we have completed the refit (both inside and out) we will be selling up and buying a sail powered boat, and heading west, then South, then east, then north, then west a bit more, and so on.

If I could do it all over again, the only thing I would do different is to buy a sail boat from day one.

<hr width=100% size=1>The wheel is turning, but the hampsters dead