So true! Still trying to solve the ice "problem" on our boat, however!For me, hot water at the turn of the knob and ice in my refrigerated beverages define living on a boat as opposed to camping on the water.
Coastal cruising equipment and accessories
- Thread starter Don Lucas
- Start date
As I said before I think it's good plan.
BUT, I would suggest that if you don't have to, don't sell the house. We kept our place and have a rental agency take care of it. We are lucky that it's a VERY good agency that just deals in rental, not sales. As it turns out, it now rents for more than the mortgage payments, so it's making us money every month.
Just an idea.
Greg
How long have you allowed this agency to keep watch over your house?As I said before I think it's good plan.
BUT, I would suggest that if you don't have to, don't sell the house. We kept our place and have a rental agency take care of it. We are lucky that it's a VERY good agency that just deals in rental, not sales. As it turns out, it now rents for more than the mortgage payments, so it's making us money every month.
Just an idea.
Greg
About 15 years now, may be a bit longer. It was tight $$ at first, and I had to go through a couple of guys who said they would handle it.
One big benefit is that when we are cruising, it takes no effort on our part and they have dedicated contractors to do the work. They once told me about a job that was required, I got 3 bids, they came back and apologized at the high bit they gave me. It was LESS than half of the lowest bid I had gotten!!
Like I said, just an idea. We have met a number of people who were trapped on there boats. The boat could not sell for any where close to what had been spent on it, and they could not get into a house. Got to have a bailout plan, just in case.
Having said all that, GO FOR IT!!!! Cruising for us was/is better than we expected.
Greg
Selling the house to go cruising into the proverbial sunset, unless you really know what you're doing, could prove a regrettable action. As mentioned & I'm sure we've all seen it. Friends 18 mo after selling out and hitting the coastal cruising scene (east coast) were done--back looking for a home w/ a (big) boat they no longer really wanted. The guy went back to work out of retirement for a few years, etc.; sold the boat-essentially out of boating. I'd probably do a "trial run" of a year. If still good to go after that--then happy sails to you!
Well done, finding a reputable agent for your home. That business is fraught with shysters and potholes.
"GO FOR IT!!!" Couldn't agree more. Fear of the unknown causes paralysis.
We are currently doing what you are planning. We bought the boat and lived onboard in Portland Maine full time for 4 years before leaving. We did 2 week cruises every summer and would sail weekends from May 1 to December 1.
One of the best websites for a lot of the little things folks have talked about is www.theboatgalley.com. Reading other cruiser's blogs also helped.
BTW, we left last May, cruised Nova Scotia and then down the east coast and over to the Bahamas which is where we are now. We are currently at Great Harbor Cay which is one of the Berry islands. Very beautiful, undeveloped and some of the friendliest and helpful locals we have ever met. The feeling of community in the marina is great. There are at least 3 or 4 group activities every week many of which are organized by the local Marina staff. It is one of those rare finds you want to tell everyone about but also keep it a secret.
One of the best websites for a lot of the little things folks have talked about is www.theboatgalley.com. Reading other cruiser's blogs also helped.
BTW, we left last May, cruised Nova Scotia and then down the east coast and over to the Bahamas which is where we are now. We are currently at Great Harbor Cay which is one of the Berry islands. Very beautiful, undeveloped and some of the friendliest and helpful locals we have ever met. The feeling of community in the marina is great. There are at least 3 or 4 group activities every week many of which are organized by the local Marina staff. It is one of those rare finds you want to tell everyone about but also keep it a secret.
To each his own I suppose. It's not a bug sprayer though. It's custom built for Duckworks, with a real shower wand on it. Having worked on boats with below decks showers in warmer climates, and seen the MASSIVE mildew problems they can cause, and repaired the rotted wood, no way I want one below decks, particularly on a boat like my 25 footer. Larger boats may work better.
Now I have some cruising friends, 30 year liveaboards on an Irwin 37 ketch, who have a black tank on the cabin top just aft the mast. They pump it full, gravity provides the pressure, sun heats the water, and a pump empties the sump. Of course, this is in Florida. Might not do so well up north. He won't have pressure water aboard as he claims that uses water twice as fast.