Starting the liveaboard life - some advice?

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riskybusiness

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I'm fresh to the world of sailing and very excited by the near limitless possibilities. Having just turned 27 and after grinding it out in the City for a couple of years I was fed up of living vicariously and took the plunge by quitting my job. I now live in Copenhagen where I'm learning carpentry. While doing the day job I did a wee bit of sailing on the Thames and have learned the basics, completing the RYA competent crew and Dingy level II. It's my dream to live aboard and now is the time to start turning the dream into reality.

I want to use the coming months to get a real experience of living aboard but I'm not sure how to go about this. In my hour of confusion I have turned to the internet and the generous and good-natured YBW members for advice! I have an open mind and lots of time to spare so I would really appreciate whatever advice you can give me.

Right now I am thinking of a few options. Doing sail training on tall ships and then doing some intensive RYA courses, I'm thinking that the Yachtmaster with UKSA would set me up quite well... http://www.uksa.org/career/yachting/sailing/commercial-yachtmaster.asp. Or just going for it, buying a cheap boat and living aboard this summer.

I am really curious as to how you make the leap into liveaboard life.

Any stories or advice about getting started would be very welcome.
Cheers,
James
 
Hello James, we are just about to start our own liveaboard life after five years of dreaming....we move onto our boat on Friday! Once we decided that this is what we wanted to do, we devised a plan. Hubby did the DS theory followed by the practical, followed by the YM/Coastal theory. I did the DS theory and practical the following year. We chartered in the Solent, we also spent all of our summer holidays chartering each year in a different area of the Med (Ionian, Cyclades, Turkey x2). The more we sailed and read blogs, forums, books, videos etc..the more we knew we would not be happy until we'd at least given it a go. As fate would have it both of us lost our jobs within a year of each other so the decision was brought forward. Hubby went on Crewseekers and did long passages from Azores to UK, down the east coast of America etc to get more experience.
Last year we bought our own boat, an Oyster 406. We sailed her to the Channel Islands, lived on her for most of the summer and knew, just knew that what we were doing was right for us...now!
This might change. We may hate it long term, but we hope we don't! We have rented the house, and on Friday we move ourselves, all our remaining stuff, and our cats onto our boat. Our first plan is to go up to Scotland, but if the weather remains as bad as it has been we may head for Cornwall instead. Or Ireland! No concrete plans - the only plan is to spend the summer as 'liveaboards'. We will winter on the south coast, also as (cold) liveaboards before perhaps heading to the Med next year. We may sail for 3 years, 5 years or 15 years but we only know at the moment that we need to follow this dream and see if it works for us. We hope and think it will!!!

Good luck with your plans
Lorraine and Marco
 
riskybusiness said:
Right now I am thinking of a few options. Doing sail training on tall ships and then doing some intensive RYA courses, I'm thinking that the Yachtmaster with UKSA would set me up quite well... http://www.uksa.org/career/yachting/sailing/commercial-yachtmaster.asp. Or just going for it, buying a cheap boat and living aboard this summer.
Click to expand...

The latter option sounds best. All that training and paperwork... I dread the thought.

What sort of size are you looking at?
 
Welcome to the forum.

There is no one simple answer. If you scroll down this forum you will find the topic comes up regularly and you will be able to read all the different ways of "living aboard" which vary from existing in a tiny boat up a creek somewhere to keep costs to a minimum and maybe working when necessary to retiring on a big new yacht and sailing off into the sunset. For some it is the living bit - but not in a fixed place or on land, for others it is the sailing that is important.

None of these is "easy". The minimalist is living on the edge of society and putting up with the constraints of size and difficulty of finding somewhere to moor the boat. The sail of into the sunset can be done with a low level of resources but you need a high level of skills and/or confidence in your own ability to survive, but to live without working requires an alternative source of funds, not always available to younger people.

The low risk strategy is to get as much sea time as possible if it is sailing that interests you and then make your choice. If you like taking risks, jump in wherever you feel you can survive and learn by your mistakes and watching others.
 
I also did a stint working on wooden boats, and quickly formed the view that wooden boats are lovely; for other people..

Having done the basics, a couple of years sailing a 22ft'er and a dayskipper the process for me was:

* Buy a boat on impulse
* Move aboard
* Learn how to fix decrepit diesel engines
* learn how to sail the thing..

Probably not the recommended route, but it worked for me

Best

Sam
 
To be boreing I would go for getting qualifications that can earn you a living.Already papers are needed for most work afloat and countries like to see certs and stuff;so a few years or fasttrack some qualificarion at the same time learning how to do stuff.Many people in their 50 60 learnt sailing from their dads so basic stuff comes naturally but if you dont know the best way should be at a sea school.Not personal convinced that the liveaboard life will suit everybody even if from the outside it looks wonderful .
 
If you have the money and the time then the yachtmaster course has to be the way forward for a chap of your age. You'll have far more fun and options at the end of it than sitting on some **** little boat for 5 months. At the end of the course you may decide that you still want to buy a **** little boat but at least you can make an informed decision and in the mean time you might get offered a job on a superyacht.
 
Start by reading lots of books about the lifestyle. Lots & lots to choose from.

Probably the most well known book is Sell Up & Sail by Bill & Laurel Cooper ISBN 0-7136-7403-2

It has been said they alone are responsible for more people taking up the lifestyle than anything else :D
 
Here a taster .

We been sitting on our anchor for the last three days in Corfu , the weather to day been as normal , sunny and warm , the forecaster is for this evening and over night is a NW 2 going light , at 0530 LT just as we was about to walk the dog the whole sky turned black , within mins the seas picked up and the wind was hitting 30 kts rain started to poor down and lighting lit the sky follower in by loud bang , the anchor that been well dig in now decide it want to move , so in all this weather we now have to lift up the anchor and move out into the bay to relay more chain . As I write this we bouncing so much that it hard to stand up our dinner was on the floor but now it in the dog and to make it worst it looks like this could go on all night .
But would we return to living on land ? To hell we would .
This is our 4th year as live aboard .

www.bluewatersailor4.webs.com
 
Hi and good luck. My wife and I have been planning this for about five years. We plan to move aboard next winter. Everyone we speak to says "go for it". Qualifications are good but they are only badges. The most important qualification is sea time. That will lead to learning and confidence. I have the RYA YM but I don't think that in itself will give real earning opportunities. As soon as you can safely do so I'd recommend spending time on board and learning through mistakes- everyone makes them and gaining your confidence. Take your time and always remember safety- the best skippers I've sailed with are always more cautious than me. Be fussy with your choice and size of boat and read several books - its a cheap way to learn. Good luck whatever route you choose but enjoy the journey both +ve & -ve.
Fair Winds
Adam
 
I did a fastrak course back in 2007 in Gibraltar (great school and nice weather in january-March but not very tidal but you get a tidal certificate!). Previous experience included a comp crew/day skipper prictical and theory, a couple of flotillas and the odd weekend on a friends boat. After the fastrak course me and my wife did a couple of charters in Turkey/Croatia and a years or so later decided that we wanted to go cruising. We bought a Westerly Fulmar and sailed her around the solent for 10 months or so and then spent two and half years sailing down to the Med. via Biscay/Portugal with just the two of us on board. My wife had little previous sailing experience. I still had loads to learn when we started and still do now but we made the escape and loved the life. We have been back three years in work and already starting to plan the next get away. So I guess it worked for me.

On a separate note most of the guys/gals who passed the yachtmaster exam (not all finished the course) and wanted to work in the industry went on to find work and seemed to do doing quite well the last I heard of them.

I know there are sailors who really hate these courses and I had a couple along the way screaming at me over a beer that I shouldn't be off sailing without 20+ years of experience but on the whole most people were very supportive and helpful and we made some great friends along the way who we still see regularly.
 
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sailaboutvic said:
But would we return to living on land ? To hell we would .
This is our 4th year as live aboard .
Click to expand...

Living on the land again ! husha yo mouth what a terrible thought :D We cannot see circumstances which will ever make us want to do so again. Certainly not in the UK.
The hassle, stresses and strains, pressures and pace of life..............................no thanks.
 
sam_uk said:
I also did a stint working on wooden boats, and quickly formed the view that wooden boats are lovely; for other people..

Having done the basics, a couple of years sailing a 22ft'er and a dayskipper the process for me was:

* Buy a boat on impulse
* Move aboard
* Learn how to fix decrepit diesel engines
* learn how to sail the thing..

Probably not the recommended route, but it worked for me

Best

Sam
Click to expand...

Definitely - everyone should have a good friend who owns a wooden classic yacht!
 
I recommend doing boat deliveries. You get to sail with different skippers who do things differently to each other, and you get to sail different boats with different layouts/sail plans. Absolutely best advice I could offer, other than spending 75% of your budget on the boat and saving the 25% for repairs, parts, modifications etc. Oh yeah, and buy a boat abroad, somewhere hot!

Good luck. Keep us posted with your progress.
 
Hi James

I didn't take the plunge until I was 35 and I absolutely wish I had done it at your age.

My wife and I had eight years living aboard in the Caribbean/Med and USA and will go again.

I packed up a good London career in advertising and now run a yacht brokerage and my wife packed up a career in television to write sailing articles and followed up with a book www.sailawaybook.com

If I was in your shoes UKSA would be my first port of call and then the USA and Caribbean.

You might find www.Dockwalk.com useful too.

Go for it and best wishes
 
jonic said:
Hi James

I didn't take the plunge until I was 35 and I absolutely wish I had done it at your age.

My wife and I had eight years living aboard in the Caribbean/Med and USA and will go again.

I packed up a good London career in advertising and now run a yacht brokerage and my wife packed up a career in television to write sailing articles and followed up with a book www.sailawaybook.com

If I was in your shoes UKSA would be my first port of call and then the USA and Caribbean.

You might find www.Dockwalk.com useful too.

Go for it and best wishes
Click to expand...

Read the book - big fan , and helpful organising my year cruising starting in Sept.
Did you plan to go away for 8 years or was it one year year by year extended to 7?
I've just agreed a one year sabbatical with my employer which I find slightly frustrating as my sailing area will be limited, but at the same time to have a well paid job in London on return is also quite a nice thing to have... Confusing! :confused: If you planned to go for 8 years from the start may I ask how you emotionally deal with all the future uncertainty and life planning (where to raise kids, will you get a new job, etc, etc)!
 
eagle160 said:
Read the book - big fan , and helpful organising my year cruising starting in Sept.
Did you plan to go away for 8 years or was it one year year by year extended to 7?
I've just agreed a one year sabbatical with my employer which I find slightly frustrating as my sailing area will be limited, but at the same time to have a well paid job in London on return is also quite a nice thing to have... Confusing! :confused: If you planned to go for 8 years from the start may I ask how you emotionally deal with all the future uncertainty and life planning (where to raise kids, will you get a new job, etc, etc)!
Click to expand...

Glad you like the book.

We planned for a year and stayed for eight, having two children along the way.

Forget the job it might not be even there when you come back and there is always another choice.

Cruising will teach you that.

The beauty of the lifestyle is it will also teach you total self reliance and that the world is truly your Oyster.

We found we really got into the groove in the Caribbean.

The hardest emotional part ended up being coming back and dealing with the total madness most people call the real world.

Have a great trip.

It will open up new possibilities for you.

One life, enjoy it. ;)
 
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http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/advert/colvic-watson-24-sloop-titchmarsh-marina/39786299

Buy this move aboard and learn. You will get plenty of people telling you to pay for lessons in this and that. The watch word is common sense. I started sailing 61 years ago I have probably sailed the equivalent of 10 circumnavigations. I have never lost anyone overboard or been overboard myself. I have had a life time of fun and met loads of interesting people. Go on try it if you remember common sense it will not kill you. Best of luck. Remember time is the one thing you can not get back so dont waste a second.
 
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