Do you live aboard your boat, or hope to someday? Might you live aboard the boat you have, or would you have to go larger? Does the idea of living aboard appeal to you, or are you quite happy spending weekends and vacations on the water, thank you very much? Share your residential preferences here, then vote in this week's Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page.
- Status
Hope to, but not...
sure how many months a year my first mate will tolerate it. We would never plan to cruise and be away for more than three or four months a year, does that qualify as "living aboard"? We bought and are outfitting our H37C for coastal and island cruising within the next few years. But my wife wonders where she would put her clothes! We know couples who are living on their H37Cs, couples planning on it, and couples who have cruised extensively on that boat. And I know from my Navy experience about living in tight quarters and optimizing the use of space. So it can definitely be done. But for all my reading and communicating I'm never sure I'm getting the entire story about living aboard. And my wife, with her three bathrooms and walk-in closets, is another story. I just hope I can get her to leave the grandkids for three months a year(I'll miss them too, almost as much as I miss being on the water)
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sure how many months a year my first mate will tolerate it. We would never plan to cruise and be away for more than three or four months a year, does that qualify as "living aboard"? We bought and are outfitting our H37C for coastal and island cruising within the next few years. But my wife wonders where she would put her clothes! We know couples who are living on their H37Cs, couples planning on it, and couples who have cruised extensively on that boat. And I know from my Navy experience about living in tight quarters and optimizing the use of space. So it can definitely be done. But for all my reading and communicating I'm never sure I'm getting the entire story about living aboard. And my wife, with her three bathrooms and walk-in closets, is another story. I just hope I can get her to leave the grandkids for three months a year(I'll miss them too, almost as much as I miss being on the water)
.We won't go back to land...
We did it nearly a year ago and we won't go back! We are a family of four (two adults, two small children). We moved aboard late summer of last year. Here's the story. We purchased a larger yacht (47') a couple of years ago that needs extensive renovation. We bought it to take a two year voyage on (we're leaving Fall, 2002). We were driving 85 miles all the time from a Northern Virginia suburb over to Annapolis where the larger boat lies. Our grass began to grow so long that the neighbors would finally break down and mow it. Our mailman eventually got used to our long absences, keeping our mail piled up at the post office. As we spent less and less time in Virginia, we finally realized that we were practically living over here anyway. The only attachment we had to our old neighborhood was that our kids went to school there. SO, since our little Hunter 30 had practically become our home already, we decided to take the big plunge. We enrolled the kids in school here in Annapolis and made the switch! I have to admit that we thought we'd be living on the 30 footer for only about 6 months. As most of my projects usually do, the other yacht renovation has taken longer than planned. Here it is May and it's still going to be several more months till the other boat is finished. Yes, my marriage still lives on... We truly love living on our boat though. It's cozy for sure but we've brought a few of the comforts of home along with us. Our v-berth has become the "media room" containing the computer, printer, microwave, vcr, sat dish tuner (dish is atop a piling next to the boat), tv (in the bulkhead) and stereo (also in the bulkhead). I work out of my "home" so we cut off a bar stool and it sits just inside the v-berth forward of the main salon. The wife and I sleep in the aft cabin and the kids sleep in the salon. Is this for everybody? Absolutely NOT! Is it for us? ABSOLUTELY! You talk about QUALITY time with the family? We GOT it! We hardly watch television anymore. I'm an expert at both Monopoly and Life. Our kids walk a block and half to school every day. Sunsets on the water are simply specular and we get them every day. Things we love about living aboard: How close our family has become (literally). Taking the "house" out OFTEN for a drive after a long day at work and at school. Quality time with our kids. The mesmerizing tinkle of the rigging and slap slap of water against the hull that lulls us to sleep every night. Nearly nightly (seasonal) dinghy rides around the harbor to see who's about. The incredible people that we meet in the boating community. Sailing EVERY chance we get. What I don't like about living aboard: Condensation EVERYWHERE in the Winter when the water temperature is near freezing and the inside of the cabin is 70 degrees. The lack of privacy on a 30 foot Hunter gets to me sometimes. The only door on our boat is the bathroom door... The 22" of snow we had this winter (very odd for this area). Did I mention condensation??? I really think this is it for us. We don't plan to return to land. The 47 footer will seem like a mansion when we finally move aboard (real bedrooms and eight, yes EIGHT doors!). If you're planning to move aboard your boat and you need a biased opinion or some "take the plunge" advice, give me a shout! Dave Townley s/v JAMBALAYA
We did it nearly a year ago and we won't go back! We are a family of four (two adults, two small children). We moved aboard late summer of last year. Here's the story. We purchased a larger yacht (47') a couple of years ago that needs extensive renovation. We bought it to take a two year voyage on (we're leaving Fall, 2002). We were driving 85 miles all the time from a Northern Virginia suburb over to Annapolis where the larger boat lies. Our grass began to grow so long that the neighbors would finally break down and mow it. Our mailman eventually got used to our long absences, keeping our mail piled up at the post office. As we spent less and less time in Virginia, we finally realized that we were practically living over here anyway. The only attachment we had to our old neighborhood was that our kids went to school there. SO, since our little Hunter 30 had practically become our home already, we decided to take the big plunge. We enrolled the kids in school here in Annapolis and made the switch! I have to admit that we thought we'd be living on the 30 footer for only about 6 months. As most of my projects usually do, the other yacht renovation has taken longer than planned. Here it is May and it's still going to be several more months till the other boat is finished. Yes, my marriage still lives on...
We truly love living on our boat though. It's cozy for sure but we've brought a few of the comforts of home along with us. Our v-berth has become the "media room" containing the computer, printer, microwave, vcr, sat dish tuner (dish is atop a piling next to the boat), tv (in the bulkhead) and stereo (also in the bulkhead). I work out of my "home" so we cut off a bar stool and it sits just inside the v-berth forward of the main salon. The wife and I sleep in the aft cabin and the kids sleep in the salon. Is this for everybody? Absolutely NOT! Is it for us? ABSOLUTELY! You talk about QUALITY time with the family? We GOT it! We hardly watch television anymore. I'm an expert at both Monopoly and Life. Our kids walk a block and half to school every day. Sunsets on the water are simply specular and we get them every day. Things we love about living aboard: How close our family has become (literally). Taking the "house" out OFTEN for a drive after a long day at work and at school. Quality time with our kids. The mesmerizing tinkle of the rigging and slap slap of water against the hull that lulls us to sleep every night. Nearly nightly (seasonal) dinghy rides around the harbor to see who's about. The incredible people that we meet in the boating community. Sailing EVERY chance we get. What I don't like about living aboard: Condensation EVERYWHERE in the Winter when the water temperature is near freezing and the inside of the cabin is 70 degrees. The lack of privacy on a 30 foot Hunter gets to me sometimes. The only door on our boat is the bathroom door... The 22" of snow we had this winter (very odd for this area). Did I mention condensation??? I really think this is it for us. We don't plan to return to land. The 47 footer will seem like a mansion when we finally move aboard (real bedrooms and eight, yes EIGHT doors!). If you're planning to move aboard your boat and you need a biased opinion or some "take the plunge" advice, give me a shout! Dave Townley s/v JAMBALAYASounds great......
Dave, sounds like you and the family have really found the plus side of living aboard. Although my H25.5 is not nearly as big as your boat, I spend as much time as I can on her. Often my grand daughters are with me. We too watch less tv and enjoy games and reading . We have spent two weeks at a time and have enjoyed the time together. Keep us posted and let us know when you move aboard the larger boat with all the doors. :+] Mayona Rainne K
Dave, sounds like you and the family have really found the plus side of living aboard. Although my H25.5 is not nearly as big as your boat, I spend as much time as I can on her. Often my grand daughters are with me. We too watch less tv and enjoy games and reading . We have spent two weeks at a time and have enjoyed the time together. Keep us posted and let us know when you move aboard the larger boat with all the doors. :+] Mayona Rainne K
I had to read it twice!
Dave.... My hat is off to you! You must truly be the sailing couple that lives in the minds of most "live aboard want-a-be's". My good friends Mike and Mary retired at the early age of 47 last year. They sold their house and most of their "stuff". During this transition, they prepared their C&C 31 to live aboard, installing everything from an air conditioner to bicycles. Last September they followed their dream, sailing off from Rochester, NY heading for Florida via the ICW. Two and a half months later they arrived in Ft. Pierce. After a winter in Florida, they began their pilgrimage back to Rochester. They are now somewhere near NJ, and expect to be "home" June 1st. Mike has communicated with us via e-mail and ham radio, and it has been an adventure for Ruth and I just to read their stories, all of which are published at http://home.rochester.rr.com/kpalmer/. Can we do it? I doubt it. I have that "live aboard" dream, but how do you keep from killing each other? When Ruth and I take a 2 week cruise on Lake Ontario in our H33, the air turns blue. We always kiss and make up (maybe that's the best part!), but getting to that stage is tough on both of us. Thank God we have been married long enough to know what to expect, and possibly prepair for it. Any way, I have digressed a bit. For a couple to live aboard a 30 foot sailboat with 2 children is beyond my comprehension. You surely have something special there! Good luck on your new vessel, and enjoy all the room you will have. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty kpalmer@rochester.rr.com
Dave.... My hat is off to you! You must truly be the sailing couple that lives in the minds of most "live aboard want-a-be's". My good friends Mike and Mary retired at the early age of 47 last year. They sold their house and most of their "stuff". During this transition, they prepared their C&C 31 to live aboard, installing everything from an air conditioner to bicycles. Last September they followed their dream, sailing off from Rochester, NY heading for Florida via the ICW. Two and a half months later they arrived in Ft. Pierce. After a winter in Florida, they began their pilgrimage back to Rochester. They are now somewhere near NJ, and expect to be "home" June 1st. Mike has communicated with us via e-mail and ham radio, and it has been an adventure for Ruth and I just to read their stories, all of which are published at http://home.rochester.rr.com/kpalmer/. Can we do it? I doubt it. I have that "live aboard" dream, but how do you keep from killing each other? When Ruth and I take a 2 week cruise on Lake Ontario in our H33, the air turns blue. We always kiss and make up (maybe that's the best part!), but getting to that stage is tough on both of us. Thank God we have been married long enough to know what to expect, and possibly prepair for it. Any way, I have digressed a bit. For a couple to live aboard a 30 foot sailboat with 2 children is beyond my comprehension. You surely have something special there! Good luck on your new vessel, and enjoy all the room you will have. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty kpalmer@rochester.rr.com
WOW....
My hat's off to you as well.........I have lived aboard a 30 ft. alone for almost a year now and there is no way that I would have room for anyone else. In fact, during the winter, on a few of those cold nights, I cheated and stayed with my girl friend at her house(Plan B). The sunrises and sunsets on the water are my favorite times, but there are also those times like trying to get from the parking lot to the boat after an ice storm had put an inch of glare-ice on the docks, the boat, and especially the ramp from the parking lot to the docks.........it makes life interesting. Good luck to you and your family, Dave.
My hat's off to you as well.........I have lived aboard a 30 ft. alone for almost a year now and there is no way that I would have room for anyone else. In fact, during the winter, on a few of those cold nights, I cheated and stayed with my girl friend at her house(Plan B). The sunrises and sunsets on the water are my favorite times, but there are also those times like trying to get from the parking lot to the boat after an ice storm had put an inch of glare-ice on the docks, the boat, and especially the ramp from the parking lot to the docks.........it makes life interesting. Good luck to you and your family, Dave.
Living space
For most of us Americans with 1500+ sq ft homes, the thought of living in a a boat with maybe a couple hundred square feet seems inconceivable. However, for vast numbers of the human population, living in the environment provided by a 30' sailboat would be inconceivable luxury. In Europe it is not uncommon to see families of 4 cruising in 30' boats, and even smaller. It's all a matter of what you are relatively used to. (Now if I can just convince my wife to change her relative perspective ....)
For most of us Americans with 1500+ sq ft homes, the thought of living in a a boat with maybe a couple hundred square feet seems inconceivable. However, for vast numbers of the human population, living in the environment provided by a 30' sailboat would be inconceivable luxury. In Europe it is not uncommon to see families of 4 cruising in 30' boats, and even smaller. It's all a matter of what you are relatively used to. (Now if I can just convince my wife to change her relative perspective ....)
The 5 year plan
My wife and I are at this very moment on a 5 year plan to sell up and move south. After living in Ohio for almost all of our lives ( my wife all of hers) we want somthing different. We don't want to wait till we retire to do this because we feel life might take a different turn for us. So after the youngest gets out of school (5 Years) we will be ready to make the move. I am a Plumber and own my own business so I don't think I will have to much trouble getting a job after we sell up and move. My wife has worked for Marthion Oil for the last 25 years and should be able to find somthing that will allow us to do this. As I read the post I find it really interesting that people live on there boats up this way. I don't think I could convince my wife or even me to live on the boat here or any where it snows. Nor do I think we could do it on a 30 ft. boat. We are now sailing on our 25.5 on Lake Erieand do it for a week in the summer and feel a just 5 more feet would notbeenough. So will will start our search at the 40 ft range and I am gathering info on the H 40. I hope to find one on Erie to at least get into and talk to the owners and get a good feel for the boat. We really only need what we have to have. Would I trade sitting on the couch watching the same shows for sitting in the cockpit watching a completely red sky at sunset. Yup would I trade the time spent on walks with my wife for a trip to the mall to buy somthing that I think we don't need but she seems to think the wolrd will stop because we don't have it. Yup On the boat I can only think that live would be less confusing and more time spent togather and enjoying life before it's to late or before I am, to old to think of doing this. Also going from a big house to a boat might not be as bad as one might think. If you think about how much space in your house that you really use, we have a typical house and only NEED half of it and only when we have company to we need it all so it does not seem that big of a deal to us to do this. How many of us got our start living in a mobile home I did it was a 1961 10 x 50 whats the beem on a H 40 14 feet . Also since were on a boat we wont need all that crap that after 10 years I wonder what the heck I still have this junk for.(she) Says I need that I'm gonna work on that later.YUP Sure she is and 5 years later we have more of that JUNK stuff. So that is our plan, what do you think. Cliff Ruckstuhl
My wife and I are at this very moment on a 5 year plan to sell up and move south. After living in Ohio for almost all of our lives ( my wife all of hers) we want somthing different. We don't want to wait till we retire to do this because we feel life might take a different turn for us. So after the youngest gets out of school (5 Years) we will be ready to make the move. I am a Plumber and own my own business so I don't think I will have to much trouble getting a job after we sell up and move. My wife has worked for Marthion Oil for the last 25 years and should be able to find somthing that will allow us to do this. As I read the post I find it really interesting that people live on there boats up this way. I don't think I could convince my wife or even me to live on the boat here or any where it snows. Nor do I think we could do it on a 30 ft. boat. We are now sailing on our 25.5 on Lake Erieand do it for a week in the summer and feel a just 5 more feet would notbeenough. So will will start our search at the 40 ft range and I am gathering info on the H 40. I hope to find one on Erie to at least get into and talk to the owners and get a good feel for the boat. We really only need what we have to have. Would I trade sitting on the couch watching the same shows for sitting in the cockpit watching a completely red sky at sunset. Yup would I trade the time spent on walks with my wife for a trip to the mall to buy somthing that I think we don't need but she seems to think the wolrd will stop because we don't have it. Yup On the boat I can only think that live would be less confusing and more time spent togather and enjoying life before it's to late or before I am, to old to think of doing this. Also going from a big house to a boat might not be as bad as one might think. If you think about how much space in your house that you really use, we have a typical house and only NEED half of it and only when we have company to we need it all so it does not seem that big of a deal to us to do this. How many of us got our start living in a mobile home I did it was a 1961 10 x 50 whats the beem on a H 40 14 feet . Also since were on a boat we wont need all that crap that after 10 years I wonder what the heck I still have this junk for.(she) Says I need that I'm gonna work on that later.YUP Sure she is and 5 years later we have more of that JUNK stuff. So that is our plan, what do you think. Cliff Ruckstuhl
The Haven
My life long dream of owning and living on a sailboat, combined with the economics of living in the city of Boston (recently quietly surged by San Francisco as number 2 most expensive in the United States), led my girlfriend, myself, and the cat down the road of purchasing our 84 H40 specifically to live on in Boston Harbor. We could not have a home/apartment and a boat, so we chose the sensible one (for sailors anyway). Quick observations: It goes against the beliefs of our culture that we all DESERVE the utmost in comfort and luxury. You bump into things. You have to get out of each others way all the time. You have to face the fact that you chose to do this to yourself and analyze your decision, every day. And we are only two on a 40 footer with 14 feet of beam, certainly roomy in comparison to some. It is amazingly educational. I can't express all the input that you process wihtout realizing it. Weather, wind direction, fetch, the best way to tie your boat off, etc. You become so in tune with how everything works best and worst, specifically the head and your water system, from inlet to pumps. Interpersonal relationships get stronger. If you have trouble on a two week cruise, then living aboard will force you to figure out why and do something about it. It isn't enough space to be able to work around each other. Everything is out in the open because there is nowhere to hide it, nowhere to go away from the other person. There is no light at the end of the tunnel when things will return to normal and we can kiss and makeup. Whatever causes a problem is addressed, discussed, fixed, and gone. It is hard in many ways, but we have never spent more time around each other content for the moment because there is nothing to dwell on. And by resolving these often trivial problems, in many ways life has never been consistently easier. To sum up, the most powerful thing about living on a boat is how different a frame of reference it gives you. I believe it is an invalueable tool in helping me approach life and how I want to live. Even if it is for a short while, the things you experience change you for the better. You are different, whether you like it or not. Some people will find you endlessly interesting, some will think you are looney. Either way you are dynamic in an often times mundane, status quo world. It is natural, spiritual, wonderful, and hard. And you never know which one of those it wil be. Things break, weather turns, you don't sleep because of a certain wind direction. Then the next night you see the most spectacular sunset you have ever seen. Of course, you have to go to bed immediately after because you didn't sleep the night before. But, in the end, it is something that everyone should do if you love boats. If you hate it, you will learn and grow. If you love it, you will learn and grow, just with a smile on your face.
My life long dream of owning and living on a sailboat, combined with the economics of living in the city of Boston (recently quietly surged by San Francisco as number 2 most expensive in the United States), led my girlfriend, myself, and the cat down the road of purchasing our 84 H40 specifically to live on in Boston Harbor. We could not have a home/apartment and a boat, so we chose the sensible one (for sailors anyway). Quick observations: It goes against the beliefs of our culture that we all DESERVE the utmost in comfort and luxury. You bump into things. You have to get out of each others way all the time. You have to face the fact that you chose to do this to yourself and analyze your decision, every day. And we are only two on a 40 footer with 14 feet of beam, certainly roomy in comparison to some. It is amazingly educational. I can't express all the input that you process wihtout realizing it. Weather, wind direction, fetch, the best way to tie your boat off, etc. You become so in tune with how everything works best and worst, specifically the head and your water system, from inlet to pumps. Interpersonal relationships get stronger. If you have trouble on a two week cruise, then living aboard will force you to figure out why and do something about it. It isn't enough space to be able to work around each other. Everything is out in the open because there is nowhere to hide it, nowhere to go away from the other person. There is no light at the end of the tunnel when things will return to normal and we can kiss and makeup. Whatever causes a problem is addressed, discussed, fixed, and gone. It is hard in many ways, but we have never spent more time around each other content for the moment because there is nothing to dwell on. And by resolving these often trivial problems, in many ways life has never been consistently easier. To sum up, the most powerful thing about living on a boat is how different a frame of reference it gives you. I believe it is an invalueable tool in helping me approach life and how I want to live. Even if it is for a short while, the things you experience change you for the better. You are different, whether you like it or not. Some people will find you endlessly interesting, some will think you are looney. Either way you are dynamic in an often times mundane, status quo world. It is natural, spiritual, wonderful, and hard. And you never know which one of those it wil be. Things break, weather turns, you don't sleep because of a certain wind direction. Then the next night you see the most spectacular sunset you have ever seen. Of course, you have to go to bed immediately after because you didn't sleep the night before. But, in the end, it is something that everyone should do if you love boats. If you hate it, you will learn and grow. If you love it, you will learn and grow, just with a smile on your face.
the secret
we found that the secret to living aboard is exactly the same as the secret to a happy marriage: separate bathrooms. When we moved aboard our 410 two years ago, we expected to go through a major lifestyle change, but found that the adjustments that liveaboard life required were fairly minor. The hardest thing to give up was our fireplace--we'd been burning five cords of wood every year--but we joined a yacht club with a fireplace which helped make that transition. The best part of living aboard is that we no longer do our own laundry; a "flap & fold" does it for us for about $20 per week, and now we're wondering why we bothered to own a washer and dryer during all those land-bound years. Or a lawnmower.
we found that the secret to living aboard is exactly the same as the secret to a happy marriage: separate bathrooms. When we moved aboard our 410 two years ago, we expected to go through a major lifestyle change, but found that the adjustments that liveaboard life required were fairly minor. The hardest thing to give up was our fireplace--we'd been burning five cords of wood every year--but we joined a yacht club with a fireplace which helped make that transition. The best part of living aboard is that we no longer do our own laundry; a "flap & fold" does it for us for about $20 per week, and now we're wondering why we bothered to own a washer and dryer during all those land-bound years. Or a lawnmower.
I don't think so!
I don’t think a live-a-board life would work for us. We tend to acclimate rather quickly to our conditions and living on a boat would soon become just our home and not too much a boat. A large part of the enjoyment we derive from leisure activity come from the difference between those activities and our everyday lives. Keeping it fresh keeps it enjoyable. We enjoy the Rockies in the summer. We love backpacking and I am a true Fly fanatic. Several years ago, we moved permanently to the Colorado Rockies to (we though) maximize our time in the mountains. We soon discovered we were spending much less time packing and fishing than we did before we moved there. We were living there and it was too easy to put off the good stuff because it was just out the door (so to speak). We could always catch it “next weekend”. We have sense moved back to Texas but keep a residence in Colorado which we visit every summer. When we are in Colorado, we focus on what we came for and maximize each Colorado experience. As we get closer to retirement, we’ve been thinking of setting up a place on St Kits (another of our “good” places) and that may in fact turn out to be a boat residence, I don’t know. What ever we do, we will keep our home in Texas and our place in Colorado . Kits. It’s the verity that keeps it interesting for us.
I don’t think a live-a-board life would work for us. We tend to acclimate rather quickly to our conditions and living on a boat would soon become just our home and not too much a boat. A large part of the enjoyment we derive from leisure activity come from the difference between those activities and our everyday lives. Keeping it fresh keeps it enjoyable. We enjoy the Rockies in the summer. We love backpacking and I am a true Fly fanatic. Several years ago, we moved permanently to the Colorado Rockies to (we though) maximize our time in the mountains. We soon discovered we were spending much less time packing and fishing than we did before we moved there. We were living there and it was too easy to put off the good stuff because it was just out the door (so to speak). We could always catch it “next weekend”. We have sense moved back to Texas but keep a residence in Colorado which we visit every summer. When we are in Colorado, we focus on what we came for and maximize each Colorado experience. As we get closer to retirement, we’ve been thinking of setting up a place on St Kits (another of our “good” places) and that may in fact turn out to be a boat residence, I don’t know. What ever we do, we will keep our home in Texas and our place in Colorado . Kits. It’s the verity that keeps it interesting for us.
Liveaboards still have lawns
Difference is, they grown underneath your home. And you only 'mow' it once or twice a year.
Difference is, they grown underneath your home. And you only 'mow' it once or twice a year.
Dream
I would give my eye teeth to live aboard but I would have to abandon my family since they have little or no interest in sailing much less living aboard. As I sit in a house built in 1917 with thousands of board feet of quarter sawn oak it is the closest I will come to living aboard. I could easily chuck all the antiques etc. to move aboard. I have totaled up the net worth of these assets and could live aboard anybody's dream boat but alas I am grounded permanently and will have to satisfy myself with daysailing and the occasional overnight. Sounds depressing but then I look at my family and realize what really counts and take pride in the fact that I have the necessities and some of the luxuries and a grand family to share my life with. To all of you who do live aboard and love it, more power to you. To us dreamers and wannabes, look at what you have and consider yourself lucky that you have the joy of sailing to ease you through life. eric
I would give my eye teeth to live aboard but I would have to abandon my family since they have little or no interest in sailing much less living aboard. As I sit in a house built in 1917 with thousands of board feet of quarter sawn oak it is the closest I will come to living aboard. I could easily chuck all the antiques etc. to move aboard. I have totaled up the net worth of these assets and could live aboard anybody's dream boat but alas I am grounded permanently and will have to satisfy myself with daysailing and the occasional overnight. Sounds depressing but then I look at my family and realize what really counts and take pride in the fact that I have the necessities and some of the luxuries and a grand family to share my life with. To all of you who do live aboard and love it, more power to you. To us dreamers and wannabes, look at what you have and consider yourself lucky that you have the joy of sailing to ease you through life. eric
Moving abord now
I am currently moving aboard my Visoion 32 as we speak. I can relate to the Annapolis people about being on the boat more than in Northern Virginia. I gave up the lease at the house and am living aboard. Just got the Sat. dish set up three days ago. The phone as well. Currently shopping for air condition though. Need to act fast. It's getting hot. The others are right some places your the life of the party and some your just plain looney for living on a boat. I find more think it's intresting. Anyone that has advice let me know. I have been living weekends for about 8 months. Happy Sailing
I am currently moving aboard my Visoion 32 as we speak. I can relate to the Annapolis people about being on the boat more than in Northern Virginia. I gave up the lease at the house and am living aboard. Just got the Sat. dish set up three days ago. The phone as well. Currently shopping for air condition though. Need to act fast. It's getting hot. The others are right some places your the life of the party and some your just plain looney for living on a boat. I find more think it's intresting. Anyone that has advice let me know. I have been living weekends for about 8 months. Happy Sailing
Taking The Plunge Now
We are in the process of having our new Hunter 450 commissioned right now. The plan is to sell our condo on the water, move aboard "Carolina" and live in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD. I haven't retired yet, 4 more years, so we will live in the Inner Harbor until retirement and then "go where the weather suits our clothes" from then on. I work from home so I've had to convert the forward stateroom into an office. It's wired for 3 phone lines and lots of shore side AC power. We also added an 8kw Fisher Panda Genset for those days when the boss doesn't need to know I'm not at the dock. I always forward calls from my office phone to my cell phone when I do the occasional travel so folks never know where I am when they reach me. We looked at a lot of boats for more than a year trying to decide which would meet our needs and we chose the Hunter 450 over all of the others. I am constantly impressed with the innovation, design and value Hunter provides. (Sorry this sounds like a commercial) Anyway, we made most of our decisions about equipment based on one "mantra". This is my home. It certainly put things in a different perspective and made some of the decisions a lot easier. The plan is for us to start living aboard Carolina in mid-June and test the systems for 2 weeks while we are still here in Havre de Grace, MD, where she was purchased and being commissioned. Then, we're taking the last week of June and the first week of July off from work, will cruise the northern Chesapeake for a few days, and then cruise into the Inner Harbor when the Tall Ships are visiting and just in time for 4th of July celebrations. I go to sleep every night thinking about this change in our life style and wake up thinking about it every single day. It was a dream many years ago when we first met and now it will soon be a reality. We aren't "live-aboards" yet and people already react differently to us when they know what we are in the process of doing. Like so many have said here, some think it's wonderful and we are somehow different, while others give us a sense that they are trying to figure out if we are on drugs or just reverting back to our "hippy days". So, the new adventure begins! Hope to see you out there. Mike and Suzanne Pilolla
We are in the process of having our new Hunter 450 commissioned right now. The plan is to sell our condo on the water, move aboard "Carolina" and live in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD. I haven't retired yet, 4 more years, so we will live in the Inner Harbor until retirement and then "go where the weather suits our clothes" from then on. I work from home so I've had to convert the forward stateroom into an office. It's wired for 3 phone lines and lots of shore side AC power. We also added an 8kw Fisher Panda Genset for those days when the boss doesn't need to know I'm not at the dock. I always forward calls from my office phone to my cell phone when I do the occasional travel so folks never know where I am when they reach me. We looked at a lot of boats for more than a year trying to decide which would meet our needs and we chose the Hunter 450 over all of the others. I am constantly impressed with the innovation, design and value Hunter provides. (Sorry this sounds like a commercial) Anyway, we made most of our decisions about equipment based on one "mantra". This is my home. It certainly put things in a different perspective and made some of the decisions a lot easier. The plan is for us to start living aboard Carolina in mid-June and test the systems for 2 weeks while we are still here in Havre de Grace, MD, where she was purchased and being commissioned. Then, we're taking the last week of June and the first week of July off from work, will cruise the northern Chesapeake for a few days, and then cruise into the Inner Harbor when the Tall Ships are visiting and just in time for 4th of July celebrations. I go to sleep every night thinking about this change in our life style and wake up thinking about it every single day. It was a dream many years ago when we first met and now it will soon be a reality. We aren't "live-aboards" yet and people already react differently to us when they know what we are in the process of doing. Like so many have said here, some think it's wonderful and we are somehow different, while others give us a sense that they are trying to figure out if we are on drugs or just reverting back to our "hippy days". So, the new adventure begins! Hope to see you out there. Mike and Suzanne Pilolla
Final results
Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 5/21/2000: Are you, or would you like to be, a liveaboard? 53% I hope to (201) 26% Not for me (101) 08% I did once (33) 07% I do now (29)
Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 5/21/2000: Are you, or would you like to be, a liveaboard? 53% I hope to (201) 26% Not for me (101) 08% I did once (33) 07% I do now (29)
Yes, from the keys to tampa bay
Someone once told me, the time spent on a sailboat does not take away from the alloted time you have on earth, and I agree, living for the past 7 years, N.Y., Key West, Boot Key in Monitor, & on boca ciega bay/ Tampa bay, has been a Joy, the communities are open, friendly, helpful and ammusing. in surburbia, you have neighbors, but when trouble comes, you stand alone, in marina's or on the hook, you have friends, that stand with you, we all have simular interests, concerns, and are there to help whenever they need us, in surberbia, you hardly know their names, forget about interests, give it a try, and you just may put the house up for sail, and with a boat, you can change neighborhoods, just by slipping your lines, though even that is hard to do, everyone wants to throw you a getaway party.
Someone once told me, the time spent on a sailboat does not take away from the alloted time you have on earth, and I agree, living for the past 7 years, N.Y., Key West, Boot Key in Monitor, & on boca ciega bay/ Tampa bay, has been a Joy, the communities are open, friendly, helpful and ammusing. in surburbia, you have neighbors, but when trouble comes, you stand alone, in marina's or on the hook, you have friends, that stand with you, we all have simular interests, concerns, and are there to help whenever they need us, in surberbia, you hardly know their names, forget about interests, give it a try, and you just may put the house up for sail, and with a boat, you can change neighborhoods, just by slipping your lines, though even that is hard to do, everyone wants to throw you a getaway party.
- Status