Novice "yachtist" considering life's options

Graham376 said:
Getting experience can be easy if you're willing to pay for it.

When I decided to sample sailing 30+ years ago with no experience, I did a 5 day competent crew course in the Solent and got the bug. When doing that very basic course, other more experienced crew members on the boat were doing more advanced courses so I was given lots of advice about suitable "starter" boats and sailing in general.

Bought a small boat, a Westerly Centaur, and got some on-board practical tuition around the Solent with an instructor and did Day Skipper Theory. The Day Skipper practical course was on the delivery trip (just instructor and me) from Solent to N Wales. Progressed from then on with larger boats and greater distances, now based in Portugal.
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and you dont have to pay much. Sailing courses are incredibly good value. A 5 day course, accommodation, food and instructor, everything included costs about £500, less than it costs to live in London and they're great fun. I would recommend them to anyone looking for an activity holiday.
 
Thank you. all good points and valuable info.

Initially it's going to be weekends and short breaks as I learn and gain confidence, it also allows me to upgrade and refurb anything along with being able to put money in the pot too.. I am unlikely to be able to live on it sooner, unless I can find my work close to where I can tie up... (Certainly not anything as well paid as my "day job" in any case)
I would work my way up to 6 months on and off and then see where that takes me..
There is quite a lot of accumulated "life debris" to discard over the next couple of years too..🤣

Yes, some lessons,t training, certification makes perfect sense too,
I also have a friend that has been sailing a long time that's willing to help. (He's the reason I am looking into this, he's sailed a lot and lived aboard for several years previously).
He is going to take me out sailing in the next weeks, his yacht is smaller than I would be looking at, but it's sailing..

Canal/river boat isn't what I want, I'd be stuck in the UK and restricted to where the waterways go.. not what I am seeking, I would have more flexibility in a large camper...

I would likely adventure further afield (well that's the notion)..
Human contact is not a worry, I spend quite a lot of my time alone in any case. I am quite content on my own..

Address is not an issue, I have options there..
Vehicle, again not a worry, I would likely keep my workshop space for the foreseeable, there are trains and busses and I can always rope my son in to pick me up from wherever 🤣

This isn't a given.. but it's a serious thought and it needs thorough research..

I think that covers most points..

Oh.. 68/78..... Viking burial..... If I last that long...🤔
 
mrtoomanytoys said:
Am I completely mad???
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No, but it helps.

I have a pal who lives onboard a 36 foot boat on a swinging mooring. Life is hard, but doable. In the winter he is on his mooring in the summer he is all over the place.

I 'live' on the boat for up to three months during the summer. As long as you are organised and can find a location with all that you need, shops laundry that sort of thing then anything is possible.
 
Consider a warmer climate.

Before moving to Portugal I posted on here and were contacted by a number of live aboards that resided in Portugal.

After arranging to visit them in Portugal.we visited and met a few to get advice. We then decided to move to Portugal in 2016. Factors were much warmer weather, much lower cost of living and Portugal welcomes immigrants (still does). Currently a big influx of US citizens moving to Portugal, no surprise they are all Democrates!

In 2018 we moved our boat from UK to Nazare marina in Portugal.

When we decided to build a new house, finances dictated we needed to sell our apartment in Nazare. We then lived on the boat in Nazare Marina for some 15months.

Our boat is a 43' deck saloon.

My impression is there is not any problems being a liveaboard in marinas in Portugal.

We recently had old sailing friends visit us in their RV that were driving back to UK after spending their 90 days in Portugal and they have applied for a D7 visa to become a resident of Portugal from their RV site here.

The boat berthed next to ours in Nazare has a couple of UK citizens that are liveaboards and have Portuguese residency. They park their small car at the marina but many make do with electric bicycles or scooters these days.

To our pleasant surprise our annual betting costs were only €1600pa including water and electricity and no council tax. Cheapest living we have ever had.

Good luck with your dream.
 
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Sailfree said:
Consider a warmer climate.

Before moving to Portugal I posted on here and were contacted by a number of live aboards that resided in Portugal.

After arranging to visit them in Portugal.we visited and met a few to get advice. We then decided to move to Portugal in 2016. Factors were much warmer weather, much lower cost of living and Portugal welcomes immigrants (still does). Currently a big influx of US citizens moving to Portugal, no surprise they are all Democrates!

In 2018 we moved our boat from UK to Nazare marina in Portugal.

When we decided to build a new house, finances dictated we needed to sell our apartment in Nazare. We then lived on the boat in Nazare Marina for some 15months.

Our boat is a 43' deck saloon.

My impression is there is not any problems being a liveaboard in marinas in Portugal.

We recently had old sailing friends visit us in their RV that were driving back to UK after spending their 90 days in Portugal and they have applied for a D7 visa to become a resident of Portugal from their RV site here.

The boat berthed next to ours in Nazare has a couple of UK citizens that are liveaboards and have Portuguese residency. They park their small car at the marina but many make do with electric bicycles or scooters these days.

To our pleasant surprise our annual betting costs were only €1600pa including water and electricity and no council tax. Cheapest living we have ever had.

Good luck with your dream.
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Can we get this chap banned for that sort of talk!?

it’s costs more per month for my house than your annual costs! How much capital do you need to invest in Portugal to get your residency? If it wasn’t so sunny today I’d be one more pointless meeting away from jacking work and sailing south after this last month at work?!
 
Getting a residency permit in a euro country would help..
Shame I didn't stand my ground a few years ago when the family and I were resident in France, we came back to blighty early 2008... (Guess what happened that summer!!) It was nearly the end of me.. but somehow I survived...🤔
The place was sold before Brexit, so that opportunity was missed.. it was the final nail in the coffin for the marriage... 🙄

And here I am today.. some further decisions were made and didn't work out.. for me at least.. but have all options open to me.. it's a good place to be.. 😃

Now I am thinking of me...because it's just me I need to think about...
What do i want out of the next 15 years...

I have a friend in Mauritius and another in Montserrat... Maybe I can sail there, if by some miracle in gain enough skills and have a decent boat.. 🤣
 
Portugal seems to be the easiest place to get residency although getting a berth their might prove difficult but there are people on here and the other place with boats their that will give you chapter and verse.
 
Minerva said:
Can we get this chap banned for that sort of talk!?

it’s costs more per month for my house than your annual costs! How much capital do you need to invest in Portugal to get your residency? If it wasn’t so sunny today I’d be one more pointless meeting away from jacking work and sailing south after this last month at work?!
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There is a "Golden" Visa Scheme but its megabucks for us mere mortals its a D7 Visa route where Portugal welcomes immigrants providing they will not be a burden and effectively spending money earned from abroad in the Portuguese economy. To qualify you need to demonstrate a regular income IIRC of some €854pm and health insurance.

Lots of Democratic leaning US citizens are still moving here. Once they declare their residency is Portugal their health insurance reduced drastically, some say by 66%!

Most that live here are retired and pensions cover the financial requirements. We have a very active social life with a variety of immigrants from US, UK and EU countries.

I have written at length to the OP by PM and will post it here for others that are interested but expect it to be deleted by the mods as it mentions the travel limitations caused by Brexit.
 
Wansworth said:
Portugal is not all it’s made out to be…for one they speak Portuguese!They are terrible drivers on the wrong side of the road and sailing is very much up and down the coast with strongnortherlies and some harbour that are dangerous in strong winds
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Portugal is not big enough to have its own Film industry so a lot of TV is UK & US programs subtitled in Portuguese. Combined with pop music most Portuguese have an understanding of English except the very old. English is taught at schools for everyone. We are embarrassed by the ability of the majority supermarket assistants etc to speak excellent english.

Portuguese drivers do have one of the highest accident rates in Europe in spite of having one of the best road networks in Europe. To me they appear impatient, tailgate and many drift over the road central line on bends!

Sailing on the Western coast normally involves greater day trips than say the S coast of UK. The whole of France, Portugal and Spanish Atlantic coast needs caution in bad weather due to inshore swells.
 
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Fr J Hackett said:
Portugal seems to be the easiest place to get residency although getting a berth their might prove difficult but there are people on here and the other place with boats their that will give you chapter and verse.
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Agreed regarding Residency and Visas. Berths are available on the silver coast. Think it may be more difficult on the Algarve.
 
Slightly edited PM I replied to an initial PM from the OP. :-

Many are still obtaining a D7 Visa that gives residency.

If you have mega bucks you can get a "Golden Visa". For the rest of us mere mortals we just need to prove we will not be a burden on the Portuguese social and health system. As such you need to prove a regular income of IIRC some €850pm and health insurance.

Some friends of our are currently applying and as his partner is under pension age they are arranging an Annuity contract paying in excess of that amount pm for 12 months. I hope they get the Visa's issued in that 12 months but he hopes they will be married before the end of 12 months then his monthly income will cover her as a dependant. She will work for cash as a cleaner, carer or hair dresser but that would not be acceptable for the Visa and illegal as she does not intend to pay tax.

An alternative is a Portuguese contract of employment.

You will become a tax resident of Portugal automatically with the Visa and residing here.

Theoretically you can travel throughout Europe as between land borders there is no passport control but not say sailing outside Portugal as marinas outside Portugal will require Passports on entry. The Portuguese Visa permits you to live in Portugal not other European countries. With Brexit restrictions. if you want freedom of movement (without residency Visas) throughout the EU then you need to wait until the UK rejoins the EU or go for a customs union.

D7 Visa are easy providing you are patient and maybe get a Portuguese speaker to help fill in the application form and fulfill the criteria I have outlined above.

We have travelled throughout Europe by car and the 90 days limit is not applied due to lack of road borders but if we flew it would. I suspect things will get tighter when the EU Visa system is finally implemented.

Living in Portugal is cheap compared with the UK with the Silver Coast where we live being approx 60% of the Algarve for both living and property costs.

There are specific websites like the facebook group " British Immigration in Portugal" but a casual itinerate lifestyle in the EU beyond the 90 days in 180 is not permitted for UK citizens post brexit.
 
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Fr J Hackett said:
Portugal seems to be the easiest place to get residency although getting a berth their might prove difficult but there are people on here and the other place with boats their that will give you chapter and verse.
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Berthing prices vary depending on location, the west coast being far cheaper than the Algarve, maybe half the price. Quite a few anchorages along the Algarve so easy to avoid marinas. Algarve marinas generally have space in expensive summer high season but some fill up in winter, often with 9 month contracts starting September. Moorings are in a minority compared to UK, we were lucky to purchase one for €1,500 18 years ago, only ongoing cost being DIY maintenance as needed. Spanish marinas such as Ayamonte, just across the border, are noticeably cheaper and pontoon berths up the Guadiana €10/night including water and elec.

Cost of living may well be dearer than Silver coast but in Faro, we can both have lunch, grilled meat or fish as much as can be eaten, plus a litre of local wine and coffee for about €25, going where the locals go - away from beaches, marinas and tourist areas. Supermarket shops much cheaper than UK, we had a shock in Tesco last week on return home.

Can't help with Visa info, had residence long before B day.
 
+1 for the warmer climate.
When we were based in the UK we would cruise for blocks of two or three weeks at a time, then come home to a house with unlimited hot showers, washing machine, etc etc. So putting up with a bit of damp and hardship was ok because you knew it wasn't going to last long.
We now live full time on a boat but we're currently in the Bahamas, where the temperature is consistently high 20s and the rain, when it does come, tends to be brief, and everything dries out again in minutes.
I know some people do live full time on boats in the UK but I really don't see the appeal. The whole point of a boat is that you have the freedom to go where you want, so why would you stay tied up to a marina or canal bank, watching the rain lashing the windows, and discovering yet another leak where it can trickle inside?
Perhaps you have ties that prevent you from sailing away, in which case I would question whether the complications and difficulties that come with boat life are really worth it.
But each to their own.
 
I agree Sea Change.
I won't be living on it for a couple of years, just long weekends here and there for the first year, while I clean up my "land life"... Put money in the pot, pay for upgrades and improve things.. also learn how to sail and get some experience under my belt.
Then it would be sail a bit further away for a few weeks at a time, gaining experience etc..
Bahamas would be a great goal to aim for.. with living on the boat most of the time I hope..
Only here once and I have wasted an awfully lot of time already..
 
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