Sailboats are, of course, designed for sailing. Yet most boats will accommodate one or more people overnight. A look at modern sailboat designs suggests that accommodations may be becoming even more important to buyers than sailing ability or performance. Which is understandable, because part of the fun of owning a sailboat is the ability to sail it to a destination and spend the night there. Some sailors enjoy the experience so much they'll sleep aboard in their home slips. There are even some owners actually sleeping on their boats on the hard in the middle of winter! How often do you get to sleep on your boat? And when you do, where is the boat? At your home marina? In your favorite local gunkhole? As far away as you can get? Do you prefer to swing at anchor or use a marina? Tell us about how often you get to sleep overnight on your boat and then take the Quick Quiz on the homepage. (Quiz topic by Warren Milberg)
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Everyweek, all year round, this week at home
slip on the fourth after the fireworks, Friday at a dock in harbor downcoast (pizza delivered to the boat by dinghy on weekends), Saturday at home dock. Leaving Tuesday for a few days at Catalina, our prime motivation for seeking a bigger boat in the near future is the ability to sleep aboard & cruise for longer periods. I can only take a few days on a foam pad & crave a real mattress, I'm pretty much solo in the winter without heat for the wife, and with some refrigeration won't need to keep hunting for ice. In order of preference, at anchor, on a mooring, at the dock. Pretty good sleeping on a moving boat when conditions are right too.
slip on the fourth after the fireworks, Friday at a dock in harbor downcoast (pizza delivered to the boat by dinghy on weekends), Saturday at home dock. Leaving Tuesday for a few days at Catalina, our prime motivation for seeking a bigger boat in the near future is the ability to sleep aboard & cruise for longer periods. I can only take a few days on a foam pad & crave a real mattress, I'm pretty much solo in the winter without heat for the wife, and with some refrigeration won't need to keep hunting for ice. In order of preference, at anchor, on a mooring, at the dock. Pretty good sleeping on a moving boat when conditions are right too.
Most Weekends...
...in the summer. Usually head for a destination and spend 1-2 nites there. Also sleep at the dock when the partying has continued too long. Each year the marina has a complimentary cook-out and evryone usually stays on board that night (no need to drive home).
...in the summer. Usually head for a destination and spend 1-2 nites there. Also sleep at the dock when the partying has continued too long. Each year the marina has a complimentary cook-out and evryone usually stays on board that night (no need to drive home).
Summer House and Then Some
Kathryn is our "other" home. From the time she is in the water at the end of April until the end of October you will normally find us there from Friday through Sunday and ofcourse the vacation times. We are fortunate enough to have a mooring in addition to our slip so we normally arrive on Friday night and motor out to the mooring then start our weekend to where ever from there. If the weather gets too bad will still stay aboard but normally return to the slip. Home is nice but there is nothing like the boat
Kathryn is our "other" home. From the time she is in the water at the end of April until the end of October you will normally find us there from Friday through Sunday and ofcourse the vacation times. We are fortunate enough to have a mooring in addition to our slip so we normally arrive on Friday night and motor out to the mooring then start our weekend to where ever from there. If the weather gets too bad will still stay aboard but normally return to the slip. Home is nice but there is nothing like the boat
A 4 hour drive to boat
Our boat is 4 hours from home - we leave on Friday nite and return on Sunday afternoon. Staying onboard overnite is a requirement and a necessity. Only 1636 days to retirement.
Our boat is 4 hours from home - we leave on Friday nite and return on Sunday afternoon. Staying onboard overnite is a requirement and a necessity. Only 1636 days to retirement.
More than at home
Nov - June every night, July to Oct, weekends only. In the winter we head south to the Bahamas. In the summer we leave the slip every Friday and go to an anchorage nearby. Life on the hook is much more peaceful than being tied to a dock.
Nov - June every night, July to Oct, weekends only. In the winter we head south to the Bahamas. In the summer we leave the slip every Friday and go to an anchorage nearby. Life on the hook is much more peaceful than being tied to a dock.
Every Weekend
Our boat is docked only 10 minutes from home and we spend every weekend on the boat whether day sailing from the marina or away for the weekend. It's like a mini vacation every weekend.
Our boat is docked only 10 minutes from home and we spend every weekend on the boat whether day sailing from the marina or away for the weekend. It's like a mini vacation every weekend.
Often as Possible
and this weekend we brought our 3-month old boy out for his first overnight! I don't know what he liked better - the diesel banging away or the gentle rolls while on the hook. He got the best sleep ever! Rob
and this weekend we brought our 3-month old boy out for his first overnight! I don't know what he liked better - the diesel banging away or the gentle rolls while on the hook. He got the best sleep ever! Rob
Both
I sleep in the slip and on the hook. Just about every weekend when it's above 70* (March - Nov).
I sleep in the slip and on the hook. Just about every weekend when it's above 70* (March - Nov).
Now I understand 2 foot-itis
Did an overnight on my boat (Oday 23) for the first time this past weekend. Just me and my brother-in-law on a boat that was advertised as "sleeps five". Yeah sure. Once we had our gear, food and bedding below, one had to get creative to make space. I had only done daysails before, so I never had to confront the cabin space issue much. Plenty of room for an afternoon nap on the hook or to eat or make sandwiches, but not to spend a lot of time. Bottom line: my family won't be overnighting aboard all together. Two adults on a once or twice a year overnight will be the norm.
Did an overnight on my boat (Oday 23) for the first time this past weekend. Just me and my brother-in-law on a boat that was advertised as "sleeps five". Yeah sure. Once we had our gear, food and bedding below, one had to get creative to make space. I had only done daysails before, so I never had to confront the cabin space issue much. Plenty of room for an afternoon nap on the hook or to eat or make sandwiches, but not to spend a lot of time. Bottom line: my family won't be overnighting aboard all together. Two adults on a once or twice a year overnight will be the norm.
3 nights a week and weekends
I sleep aboard Tranquility 3 nights a week because if I stayed aboard more my wife would leave me. It's docked in the marina 6 blocks from the office so my commute is shortened from 75 minutes to 15 minutes. Weekends, I sail out Friday night and return Sunday if schedule allows or at least sail to a nearby cove and anchor. Picture attached from the July 4 raft up off Sandy Hook.
I sleep aboard Tranquility 3 nights a week because if I stayed aboard more my wife would leave me. It's docked in the marina 6 blocks from the office so my commute is shortened from 75 minutes to 15 minutes. Weekends, I sail out Friday night and return Sunday if schedule allows or at least sail to a nearby cove and anchor. Picture attached from the July 4 raft up off Sandy Hook.
Whenever the wife starts snoring
Oh Boy! That's gonna get me in trouble!!! Of course we also have loud mouthed parrot that likes to pitch in too. Thankfully, the boat is ten minutes away in season and twenty minutes away off season.
Oh Boy! That's gonna get me in trouble!!! Of course we also have loud mouthed parrot that likes to pitch in too. Thankfully, the boat is ten minutes away in season and twenty minutes away off season.
As Often As We Can
My wife and I spend every weekend we can on board, mostly in our slip. We sail all day into the night then back to home port for refreshments and the night. We have even stayed on board in the winter on the hard with friends on their boat right next door. Crank up the heaters because winter in New Hampshire is usually quite cold......but fun.
My wife and I spend every weekend we can on board, mostly in our slip. We sail all day into the night then back to home port for refreshments and the night. We have even stayed on board in the winter on the hard with friends on their boat right next door. Crank up the heaters because winter in New Hampshire is usually quite cold......but fun.
every weekend
Luckily my wife loves our boat as much as I do so we go every weekend and stay aboard. We sail a lot but enjoy the boat as a second home as well. I lived aboard for four years when I was younger and plan to live aboard 50% of the time after retirement. It is, without doubt, my favorite place to be.
Luckily my wife loves our boat as much as I do so we go every weekend and stay aboard. We sail a lot but enjoy the boat as a second home as well. I lived aboard for four years when I was younger and plan to live aboard 50% of the time after retirement. It is, without doubt, my favorite place to be.
whenever [possible
whenever a week-end is free from obligation we head south to Toms River forked River on Barnegat Bay. My wife and I and our black lab enjoy the solitude...
whenever a week-end is free from obligation we head south to Toms River forked River on Barnegat Bay. My wife and I and our black lab enjoy the solitude...
Once - so far!
Picked up the boat last March - still very cold. My daughter and the dog and I slept aboard on the trailer overnight, before dragging it home. Very enjoyable for me, except for the fact that the dog wanted to sleep on top of me, instead of beside me. She wasn't too sure what was going on. Still waiting for a good opportunity to spend the night on the water. Tried once in May, but the wind kicked up a bit too much, and we were on a lee shore, so we put it back on the trailer and dragged it home again. Found a nice, protected launch area that should be good - maybe this will be the weekend!
Picked up the boat last March - still very cold. My daughter and the dog and I slept aboard on the trailer overnight, before dragging it home. Very enjoyable for me, except for the fact that the dog wanted to sleep on top of me, instead of beside me. She wasn't too sure what was going on. Still waiting for a good opportunity to spend the night on the water. Tried once in May, but the wind kicked up a bit too much, and we were on a lee shore, so we put it back on the trailer and dragged it home again. Found a nice, protected launch area that should be good - maybe this will be the weekend!
The question is when do we NOT...
We live aboard so we're on her all the time. Went up to San Fran over 4th of July, stayed in swanky hotel laughed so hard 'cuz we didn't hit our noggins when we sat up in the bed and had ample moving room in the bathroom!
We live aboard so we're on her all the time. Went up to San Fran over 4th of July, stayed in swanky hotel laughed so hard 'cuz we didn't hit our noggins when we sat up in the bed and had ample moving room in the bathroom!
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