Sailing Vessel or Home

[Liverboard]

Just an observation, as I subscribe to a few forums, in that I am surprised as to how many different ways a live aboard community is made up eg a few people live permanently on their boats and have a preferred cruising area returning to the same marina each winter, several lay up their boats and return to their homeland for an extended winter winter break, some live on their boats and have settled into a life working ashore, have a car etc.

However, I have met very few people who are cruising live aboards and are slowly but surely on the move ie to many the boat is more of a home than a sailing vessel.

 

[Ludd]

Just an observation, as I subscribe to a few forums, in that I am surprised as to how many different ways a live aboard community is made up eg a few people live permanently on their boats and have a preferred cruising area returning to the same marina each winter, several lay up their boats and return to their homeland for an extended winter winter break, some live on their boats and have settled into a life working ashore, have a car etc.

However, I have met very few people who are cruising live aboards and are slowly but surely on the move ie to many the boat is more of a home than a sailing vessel.

Count me as a true itinerant snail with boat on my back! She's my home ,my hobby and my transport! Mind you I'm in UK for Xmas break,but that's to see the grandkids. Back on board tomorrow.

 

[rivonia]

Count my wife and I as true live aboards and we are movers not settlers. We may move slowly but enjoy the pace of life.
Fair winds

 

[jordanbasset]

Not entirely sure what category we fit into. We cruise April to October'ish, but then settle down in a marina for the winter, slowly making our way east in the med.

 

[NornaBiron]

we're true movers, slow but sure! Currently anchored in Crete for a couple of months but will be off again as soon as it warms up out there!

 

[TQA]

Marina ? MARINA?? UGH nasty noisy and expensive places.

I keep sailing all year round with a week or so on the hard for maintenance every year or two.

Christmas and New Year in Martinique and we are in Dominica just now heading for Antigua.

Trinidad and Tobeago this summer and I keep thinking about Cuba soon.

 

[Liz_I]

WHY oh WHY does this have to raise it's ugly head time & time again. Does one gain more kudos by actually being on the move 24 hrs a day 365 days a year? This is getting to be on a par with the mobo/raggie 'debate'. Should we have a scale of liveaboardness? Perhaps 0 - 10?

 

[Oliveoyl]

See Crete and die?

we're true movers, slow but sure! Currently anchored in Crete for a couple of months but will be off again as soon as it warms up out there!

Thought there was a legend that once one got to Crete, one never left?

 

[Conachair]

Should we have a scale of liveaboardness? Perhaps 0 - 10?

Liveaboardness - a state of mind in which someone living on a boat really doesn't give a sh*t what anyone else thinks, but will still invite them aboard for a glass of vino.

My boat is many things, a home, a sailing vessel, a source of much frustration cos whatever you work on is always just out of reach, a wonderful hobby, a cheap way to live and a million others all at the same time.

 

[ccscott49]

Liveaboardness - a state of mind in which someone living on a boat really doesn't give a sh*t what anyone else thinks, but will still invite them aboard for a glass of vino.

My boat is many things, a home, a sailing vessel, a source of much frustration cos whatever you work on is always just out of reach, a wonderful hobby, a cheap way to live and a million others all at the same time.

Well said, I agree entirely, even with the frustration part!!

 

[mandlmaunder]

So who does care?

Any one who lives on a boat and wants to be pigeon holed has sort of missed the point!

The act of living on our boat is reward enough, let alone the many times we've pointed out Manatee to a curious person or couple and been rewarded with the "you are living the dream" statement.

But for many the reality of living the dream is we still have to make a living, an expensive way to save money this living on a boat thing!.

Mark

 

[Ludd]

WHY oh WHY does this have to raise it's ugly head time & time again. Does one gain more kudos by actually being on the move 24 hrs a day 365 days a year? This is getting to be on a par with the mobo/raggie 'debate'. Should we have a scale of liveaboardness? Perhaps 0 - 10?

I think you're over-reacting. I don't give a tinker's curse what anybody thinks of me ,my boat OR marinas. I answered the OP's question with a description of my way of life. It would be a sad world ,boaty or otherwise if we were all the same.But then NOBODY could be as handsome ,suave and erudite as me----unless they were just as big a lying @@@@ as me!

 

[Liz_I]

Tut Tut Ludd, no-one least of all me pointed any finger at anyone. My view was across the board of 'liveaboard'. We have done it all ways. Continous, summer cruising and wintering in a marina, which we are doing at the moment. Although we have no on land house it's 365 days on board for us. The joy of it all is the freedom, wake up one morning and decide to 'go'. There should be no distinction for liveaboards. But I must say I like my invention of liveaboardness

 

[Ludd]

Tut Tut Ludd, no-one least of all me pointed any finger at anyone. My view was across the board of 'liveaboard'. We have done it all ways. Continous, summer cruising and wintering in a marina, which we are doing at the moment. Although we have no on land house it's 365 days on board for us. The joy of it all is the freedom, wake up one morning and decide to 'go'. There should be no distinction for liveaboards. But I must say I like my invention of liveaboardness

Agree,but I do think it's a fair subject for discussion.Reason I am keeping moving is it tends to cost less(I have a Scots reputation to uphold) and I need the practice!

I didn't assume you were commenting on my initial post,I was just making a point that it isn't important,but it is interesting. Liveaboardness I like!
Would it be measured on the insanity quotient,or the Richer (sic) scale ?

 

[Zanziba]

Now I know that I am making myself look the complete noob that I am but ... If you have a "Pigeon hole" don't you get a better rate (Long term marina rate) and if you avoid marina's altogether then how are you sleeping? At anchor in bays?

I assume this wont work easily around UK due to the large tides and poor weather?

I, unfortunately, will be living and working in the UK as a slave to salary for at least a decade more so I will need a marina to live in unless I am missing something blindingly obvious?

 

[NornaBiron]

Thought there was a legend that once one got to Crete, one never left?

we'll see!

 

[Bobobolinsky]

Then get your self a boat that will go on the rivers and canals, plenty of wide beam canals in the northwest, cheaper than staying anywhere connected directly to the sea, and continuous cruisers don't pay for a mooring. I know of people down on the Lee and Stort, that just cruise between three pubs, the Bermuda Triangle.

 

[Ludd]

Now I know that I am making myself look the complete noob that I am but ... If you have a "Pigeon hole" don't you get a better rate (Long term marina rate) and if you avoid marina's altogether then how are you sleeping? At anchor in bays?

I assume this wont work easily around UK due to the large tides and poor weather?

I, unfortunately, will be living and working in the UK as a slave to salary for at least a decade more so I will need a marina to live in unless I am missing something blindingly obvious?

If working ,your options are certainly limited,not just in UK. There are places you could be on a swinging mooring,but then you need a damn good dinghy if you've got a timetable to work to.You're no less a liveaboard than anyone else,and of course youi need to take advantage of discounted marina rates. But one day---------

 

[lenseman]

Liveaboardness - a state of mind in which someone living on a boat really doesn't give a sh*t what anyone else thinks, but will still invite them aboard for a glass of vino.

My boat is many things, a home, a sailing vessel, a source of much frustration cos whatever you work on is always just out of reach, a wonderful hobby, a cheap way to live and a million others all at the same time.

. . . and your yacht is a bit of a steel too! Just like mine.

or as Ribrage states he too has a (t)rusty yacht.

 

[Liverboard]

Yes, the term Liveaboardness just about sums it up - as for me, well my boat is my home and being a restless soul, I am keen to keep on moving whilst I can. It's a terrific way of meeting people and very cost effective too!