I am planning to move to the South LA area (torrance) in a couple of months. I am beginning to look into living aboard in the general area and am curious what would be the "best" boat for that in the 32-38 ft. range. Any comments on living aboard on LA would be great too.
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Depends on if you want to sail and how fast
There are some very room boats in that range - Morgan Out Islands come to mind, but then they don't sail the best. (At least the 33's are not my favorite.) What you think of as Best may not match my idea of Best. What you should probably do is look at and maybe sail on a few boats in that range - there is also a lot of price difference. A 34 ft Pacific Seacraft will cost more than a $100,000. Others will be much less. You should also decide what your budget is, and remember that the purchase price is not the last bit of money you will spend.
There are some very room boats in that range - Morgan Out Islands come to mind, but then they don't sail the best. (At least the 33's are not my favorite.) What you think of as Best may not match my idea of Best. What you should probably do is look at and maybe sail on a few boats in that range - there is also a lot of price difference. A 34 ft Pacific Seacraft will cost more than a $100,000. Others will be much less. You should also decide what your budget is, and remember that the purchase price is not the last bit of money you will spend.
This is just another...
...what's "the best wife for me" question. Whats' the "BEST?"::::::::::::: anchor, light, dinghy, motor, computer, car, house, college, windvane, alternator, windsock, airplane, country, government........ It goes on and on. Maybe, I'm missing the point and all they are asking with these BEST questions, is: What's Your Opinion. Heck, then why can't they just ask THAT? "In you opinion, what is YOUR personal preference in wives?" BTW - I have the BEST wife, admiral and boat going, no opinions required. Stu PS wonder what the second most hits on the archives would be after BEST - anchors or cetol ???? (-
...what's "the best wife for me" question. Whats' the "BEST?"::::::::::::: anchor, light, dinghy, motor, computer, car, house, college, windvane, alternator, windsock, airplane, country, government........ It goes on and on. Maybe, I'm missing the point and all they are asking with these BEST questions, is: What's Your Opinion. Heck, then why can't they just ask THAT? "In you opinion, what is YOUR personal preference in wives?" BTW - I have the BEST wife, admiral and boat going, no opinions required. Stu PS wonder what the second most hits on the archives would be after BEST - anchors or cetol ???? (-
smart as replie's
if you can't be helpful and kind to this person you should keep your smug unkind thoughts to yourself!!!!!!!!!!! have a nice day) by the way a simple "best" is always a personal preference ,good luck and enjoy ,remember not all boaters are rude! JOHN from Annapolis ,MD. ) )
if you can't be helpful and kind to this person you should keep your smug unkind thoughts to yourself!!!!!!!!!!! have a nice day
) by the way a simple "best" is always a personal preference ,good luck and enjoy ,remember not all boaters are rude! JOHN from Annapolis ,MD. ) )Best is only right for you
Everyone has an optinion of what they want in a boat, what "must haves" very about the same as what options are needed when buying a new car. Some people like a boat with that sails fast but doesn't have a lot of creature comforts. Others like a large slower boat that has a TV, VCR, Freezer, AC, Satillite dish, etc. As far as sizes, there is a family of 4 living on a 28 foot boat in Long Beach. I have met a couple that are living on a 45 footer. Each say it's great for them. My suggestion is find people with the sizes of boats you are looking at and try to stay a weekend. You might have better luck chartering for a long weekend or week on boats of the size you are interested in. That way you can see how they sail, what things you like and don't like. After all, it is you that is going to be living onboard. What is good for me, might not be good for you. Best of luck!
Everyone has an optinion of what they want in a boat, what "must haves" very about the same as what options are needed when buying a new car. Some people like a boat with that sails fast but doesn't have a lot of creature comforts. Others like a large slower boat that has a TV, VCR, Freezer, AC, Satillite dish, etc. As far as sizes, there is a family of 4 living on a 28 foot boat in Long Beach. I have met a couple that are living on a 45 footer. Each say it's great for them. My suggestion is find people with the sizes of boats you are looking at and try to stay a weekend. You might have better luck chartering for a long weekend or week on boats of the size you are interested in. That way you can see how they sail, what things you like and don't like. After all, it is you that is going to be living onboard. What is good for me, might not be good for you. Best of luck!
A houseboat
Is the best live aboard!!! Probably a J-30 is the best sailboat for speed and lively performance. You must decided what you want in between. If you just want to live aboard go the houseboat route. No sailboat can compare. We bought a Pearson 323 for cruising. For a couple it is big enough and sails pretty well. But I wouldn't want to live aboard her tied to a dock. Too hard to climb aboard or in and out of the cabin. Not enough room etc etc. Friends had a big houseboat and that was great. Family room, several bedrooms, full kitchen, satelite TV, big diesal. When it rains he drives from inside perfectly comfortable and dry!!! I really appreciated how that must feel one cold rainy day shivering in the cockpit of my sailboat as a houseboat went past. The owner drinking coffee and sitting in a comfortable looking chair. An older used houseboat would be in the price range of a nice 30' sailboat. We want to cruise and have sacrificed comfort for sailing ability.
Is the best live aboard!!! Probably a J-30 is the best sailboat for speed and lively performance. You must decided what you want in between. If you just want to live aboard go the houseboat route. No sailboat can compare. We bought a Pearson 323 for cruising. For a couple it is big enough and sails pretty well. But I wouldn't want to live aboard her tied to a dock. Too hard to climb aboard or in and out of the cabin. Not enough room etc etc. Friends had a big houseboat and that was great. Family room, several bedrooms, full kitchen, satelite TV, big diesal. When it rains he drives from inside perfectly comfortable and dry!!! I really appreciated how that must feel one cold rainy day shivering in the cockpit of my sailboat as a houseboat went past. The owner drinking coffee and sitting in a comfortable looking chair. An older used houseboat would be in the price range of a nice 30' sailboat. We want to cruise and have sacrificed comfort for sailing ability.
I Agree With Everybody!
Tom's comment: A houseboat is the best liveaboard boat. Greatest square footage and cubic footage for the length and typically not that costly. Get some fiberglass pontoons or a workboat barge hull and build a stick-frame superstructure. Maybe a bridge on the second deck? Doesn't sail too well but then the poster didn't say he wanted something that sails. Debra: Basically depends on what you want in a boat. Since this is sailboat forum maybe we're being presumptuous that the original poster wants a sailboat. Stu Jackson: Just another BEST question.... Boy, seems like we get a lot of these! People spend lots of time posting answers not knowing what the poster has in mind. Wonder if Phil could program things so when someone sends some key words "what is the best" they get an automatic return list of criteria to complete. John: We should maintain a degree of decorum as this is a friendly place to post. I agree, essentially, if you can't say something nice, don't say it. Bill O’Donovan: Best wife? Well, after thinking this one over maybe I over spoke a little bit here - this one's too tough to answer.
Tom's comment: A houseboat is the best liveaboard boat. Greatest square footage and cubic footage for the length and typically not that costly. Get some fiberglass pontoons or a workboat barge hull and build a stick-frame superstructure. Maybe a bridge on the second deck? Doesn't sail too well but then the poster didn't say he wanted something that sails. Debra: Basically depends on what you want in a boat. Since this is sailboat forum maybe we're being presumptuous that the original poster wants a sailboat. Stu Jackson: Just another BEST question.... Boy, seems like we get a lot of these! People spend lots of time posting answers not knowing what the poster has in mind. Wonder if Phil could program things so when someone sends some key words "what is the best" they get an automatic return list of criteria to complete. John: We should maintain a degree of decorum as this is a friendly place to post. I agree, essentially, if you can't say something nice, don't say it. Bill O’Donovan: Best wife? Well, after thinking this one over maybe I over spoke a little bit here - this one's too tough to answer.
too little wind
By the responses I would say that there is too little wind this time of year. I hope you all get some puffs soon. clif
By the responses I would say that there is too little wind this time of year. I hope you all get some puffs soon. clif
Hunter 34 works for us
Hi Jeff Here are my two cents, coming from someone who lives aboard, in California. My girlfriend and I live quite comfortably on an '86 Hunter 34. Lots of space for the size of the boat, the aft cabin is really nice for having guests stay. For its generation it has the best layout of any boat I looked at. As for sailing, the boat is fast - a little bit of a handful in the bay somedays, as winds average 18+ knots. It is great on the coast in the lighter winds (10+knots), would be great for so cal- I have seen lots in San Diego. I also have a friend who has a Morgan out-island 33' great live aboard for one person - no aft cabin for storage though. If you are tall, it has a HUGE V-berth, can sleep someone 6’4”. The boat has lots of headroom throughout. As Debra said the boat is a little slow (heavy + full keel), but super stable with a bomb proof hull. None the less, it is still fun to sail. A third friend (we have a grad school liveaboard community going) has a Hunter 37-C. He has been doing lots of work on it and seems pretty happy with it. Not quite as good of an interior layout as our boat, but in my opinion the 37-C has better blue water potential than ours. It also has a separate shower stall! Nice. Pretty fun sailing the cutter rig, nice in heavy weather. Long and the short of it is, living aboard is all about compromises, I wanted a Valiant 32, but that wasn't practical for two of us to live on for 4 years. When school is done we will sell this boat and get something like the Valiant. If I had the money I would strongly consider the new hunter 356 (switching to 36 next year) - great layout, great sailor. You are going to have to balance livability with sail-ability. All the boats I listed, save the Valiant 32, are pretty reasonable to live on, but still fun to sail. As for living in Ca - it never rains, but find a slip before you find a boat! -Adam
Hi Jeff Here are my two cents, coming from someone who lives aboard, in California. My girlfriend and I live quite comfortably on an '86 Hunter 34. Lots of space for the size of the boat, the aft cabin is really nice for having guests stay. For its generation it has the best layout of any boat I looked at. As for sailing, the boat is fast - a little bit of a handful in the bay somedays, as winds average 18+ knots. It is great on the coast in the lighter winds (10+knots), would be great for so cal- I have seen lots in San Diego. I also have a friend who has a Morgan out-island 33' great live aboard for one person - no aft cabin for storage though. If you are tall, it has a HUGE V-berth, can sleep someone 6’4”. The boat has lots of headroom throughout. As Debra said the boat is a little slow (heavy + full keel), but super stable with a bomb proof hull. None the less, it is still fun to sail. A third friend (we have a grad school liveaboard community going) has a Hunter 37-C. He has been doing lots of work on it and seems pretty happy with it. Not quite as good of an interior layout as our boat, but in my opinion the 37-C has better blue water potential than ours. It also has a separate shower stall! Nice. Pretty fun sailing the cutter rig, nice in heavy weather. Long and the short of it is, living aboard is all about compromises, I wanted a Valiant 32, but that wasn't practical for two of us to live on for 4 years. When school is done we will sell this boat and get something like the Valiant. If I had the money I would strongly consider the new hunter 356 (switching to 36 next year) - great layout, great sailor. You are going to have to balance livability with sail-ability. All the boats I listed, save the Valiant 32, are pretty reasonable to live on, but still fun to sail. As for living in Ca - it never rains, but find a slip before you find a boat! -Adam
What you're saying, Clif
is we all nedd to get out more. Couldn't agree more as another thuderstaorm rides in on the calm. Don't know about other people, but I would be very happy living aboard our center cockpit O'Day 37, IF we were cruising. I can't imagine two people living aboard a boat of that size if it is only to be tied up to a dock 95% of the time. We have freinds who boughtv a 47 footer, sold their home and went to Florida, planning to live aboard 100% of the time. Well, two years later they still have the boat but they have bought a condo ashore and that's where they live.
is we all nedd to get out more. Couldn't agree more as another thuderstaorm rides in on the calm. Don't know about other people, but I would be very happy living aboard our center cockpit O'Day 37, IF we were cruising. I can't imagine two people living aboard a boat of that size if it is only to be tied up to a dock 95% of the time. We have freinds who boughtv a 47 footer, sold their home and went to Florida, planning to live aboard 100% of the time. Well, two years later they still have the boat but they have bought a condo ashore and that's where they live.
So. Cal
Seems you got a lot of answers from everywhere but the LA area! Boats, like women and booze are a personal choice. There are a lot of good liveaboard slips in the San Pedro/Wilmington area, but the number is limited to a certain perecentage of total slips in a marina (can't remember what that is right now). I am familiar with the Cabrillo Beach area. The marinas are clean and have great facilities. Weather is great. Restaurants near by. Markets fairly close, and Marine supplies within walking distance. I have a 30 ft boat and currently pay $8.75 per ft. per month plus electricity.
Seems you got a lot of answers from everywhere but the LA area! Boats, like women and booze are a personal choice. There are a lot of good liveaboard slips in the San Pedro/Wilmington area, but the number is limited to a certain perecentage of total slips in a marina (can't remember what that is right now). I am familiar with the Cabrillo Beach area. The marinas are clean and have great facilities. Weather is great. Restaurants near by. Markets fairly close, and Marine supplies within walking distance. I have a 30 ft boat and currently pay $8.75 per ft. per month plus electricity.
Take a look around
Jeff You might want to take a look at some various boats and create a list of 'must haves'. Do you need two heads or will one do? Will you sail frequently or hardly at all? How much storage will you need? You can develop this list while you are looking into boats. Use dealers for this. You can look at new boats even if you're really going to buy a previously sailed one. You'll become familiar with the level of quality of the makers and how they each deal with systems and creature features. You might also want to consider looking at some 40 footers, because as length increases, the interior volume goes up significantly. You also might want to get some recommendations from friends about several local dealers you can begin to work with, they should be really helpful in helping you refine your 'list'. Finally, visit some marinas and see what live-aboards there have and also be aware that not all marinas permit live-aboards.... Enjoy your search, let us all know what you decided......
Jeff You might want to take a look at some various boats and create a list of 'must haves'. Do you need two heads or will one do? Will you sail frequently or hardly at all? How much storage will you need? You can develop this list while you are looking into boats. Use dealers for this. You can look at new boats even if you're really going to buy a previously sailed one. You'll become familiar with the level of quality of the makers and how they each deal with systems and creature features. You might also want to consider looking at some 40 footers, because as length increases, the interior volume goes up significantly. You also might want to get some recommendations from friends about several local dealers you can begin to work with, they should be really helpful in helping you refine your 'list'. Finally, visit some marinas and see what live-aboards there have and also be aware that not all marinas permit live-aboards.... Enjoy your search, let us all know what you decided......
Mike you're right about women and booze
boats too. We are just pointing out that a Las Vegas show girl might not be the best wife to homestead with in alaska!!!! As for booze almost anything will work if you are mixing it with cola, almost any tequila will be OK in a margarita but if you like it straight get the good stuff.
boats too. We are just pointing out that a Las Vegas show girl might not be the best wife to homestead with in alaska!!!! As for booze almost anything will work if you are mixing it with cola, almost any tequila will be OK in a margarita but if you like it straight get the good stuff.
non sequitur
Just got around to reading this thread and don't want to be confused with the john of a previous post here. Thanks.
Just got around to reading this thread and don't want to be confused with the john of a previous post here. Thanks.
Hunter 40
Hunter 40 is something to look at. Lots of room, sails well, very moderate prices, nice looking boat.
Hunter 40 is something to look at. Lots of room, sails well, very moderate prices, nice looking boat.
Buy the boat you like
And find an air cond. storage unit nearby. You will need it!! Been there,done that.
And find an air cond. storage unit nearby. You will need it!! Been there,done that.
Vanishing Live-aboards in LA
Jeff - I'm currently living on my boat in King Harbor in Southern California. It's a great spot but there are restrictions on the number of live-aboard slips. I have tried for years to get a 38' slip but none are available so I bought a new Cat 320 mostly because it fit in my existing slip and gave me adequate space down below. Your best bet is to find a current live-aboard boat for sale and work a deal with the owner to first make you a "partner" which will eventually let you take over the slip in your name. Hope this helps. Jeff Walker
Jeff - I'm currently living on my boat in King Harbor in Southern California. It's a great spot but there are restrictions on the number of live-aboard slips. I have tried for years to get a 38' slip but none are available so I bought a new Cat 320 mostly because it fit in my existing slip and gave me adequate space down below. Your best bet is to find a current live-aboard boat for sale and work a deal with the owner to first make you a "partner" which will eventually let you take over the slip in your name. Hope this helps. Jeff Walker
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