I am a US Navy Sailor. I love being on a boat. It is a dream of mine to own and live on a boat. I see all kinds of boats for sail but none for rent My questions are 1) Is it common to see people renting boats for people to live on. 2) about what size would 2 people need. i am single but i dont plan on being single for longer. Any good sites i could visit i see many but all the popular ones always seem to be the ones the search engines find. Thanks
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Renting
I have never heard of a boat for rent as a place for someone to live. What size one needs is dependent on the person. One family of 4 circumnavigated on a 25 footer - most people would find that way to crowded. Lin and Larry Pardey have lived aboard for years on a similar sized boat. Other people feel one needs a boat in the 40 - 50 foot range. Do a lot of reading. Attitudes and Lattitudes is a mag aimed at the live aboard style. Visit your library and read books about cruising couples. This will give you some place to start.
I have never heard of a boat for rent as a place for someone to live. What size one needs is dependent on the person. One family of 4 circumnavigated on a 25 footer - most people would find that way to crowded. Lin and Larry Pardey have lived aboard for years on a similar sized boat. Other people feel one needs a boat in the 40 - 50 foot range. Do a lot of reading. Attitudes and Lattitudes is a mag aimed at the live aboard style. Visit your library and read books about cruising couples. This will give you some place to start.
This is an area of "need versus want".
You "need" a place to sleep, a toilet, a place to cook. You can bathe on deck, wash dishes in a bucket. What you "want" is a list that only you can compile. You can buy a boat that will meet your "needs" for a couple of thousand dollars. People spend tens of thousands for their "wants".
You "need" a place to sleep, a toilet, a place to cook. You can bathe on deck, wash dishes in a bucket. What you "want" is a list that only you can compile. You can buy a boat that will meet your "needs" for a couple of thousand dollars. People spend tens of thousands for their "wants".
Renting an appartment
A boat would be an efficiency apartment in the extreme. Also what would the landlord do with the renter when he wanted to take the boat out or during the winter when the boat is on the hard? You would have to have a second boat and do all the maintenance to keep it up but get none of the pleasure. I can't see anybody wanting to do that or even wanting to rent such a small apartment.
A boat would be an efficiency apartment in the extreme. Also what would the landlord do with the renter when he wanted to take the boat out or during the winter when the boat is on the hard? You would have to have a second boat and do all the maintenance to keep it up but get none of the pleasure. I can't see anybody wanting to do that or even wanting to rent such a small apartment.
Good advice here
Bill, Ross, and Higgs have it right sir. Joe, if you are a pioneer type guy you can live aboard, and YES, there are ladies that love the life, harder the better too. I knew rour Russians that had sailed from the Black Sea, cross the Atlantic, cross the Paciic and were living aboard a 26 ft sloop in New Zealand when I ran into them 3rd time. An Islander 24 can work for a single guy at bare-bones, no frills living. Add a lady and you will likely need a larger space. These small yachts, and others, can be bought for 2K and much less.They sail okay and have a good reputaion for not having major problems all the time, all boats have problems (issues). ONe can buy a boat from a private party when they carry the paper, done all the time, but the insurance needs be inyour name for the marina 'normally' and 300K liabliity is average and easily obtained. I lived abord for years before going cruising, a great life, and mucho fun to have a tender tied up abeam and hop in an go off for adventures and fishing trips, leaving the mother ship tied up safe & sound...;-)
Bill, Ross, and Higgs have it right sir. Joe, if you are a pioneer type guy you can live aboard, and YES, there are ladies that love the life, harder the better too. I knew rour Russians that had sailed from the Black Sea, cross the Atlantic, cross the Paciic and were living aboard a 26 ft sloop in New Zealand when I ran into them 3rd time. An Islander 24 can work for a single guy at bare-bones, no frills living. Add a lady and you will likely need a larger space. These small yachts, and others, can be bought for 2K and much less.They sail okay and have a good reputaion for not having major problems all the time, all boats have problems (issues). ONe can buy a boat from a private party when they carry the paper, done all the time, but the insurance needs be inyour name for the marina 'normally' and 300K liabliity is average and easily obtained. I lived abord for years before going cruising, a great life, and mucho fun to have a tender tied up abeam and hop in an go off for adventures and fishing trips, leaving the mother ship tied up safe & sound...;-)
Latitude 38
Is more of a west coast rag, but they have it in all West Marine stores, free on 1st of the month. Many cruisers, liveaboards read/write this rag...
Is more of a west coast rag, but they have it in all West Marine stores, free on 1st of the month. Many cruisers, liveaboards read/write this rag...
Old Navy battleship for Naval retirees
When I pulled into Avalon last week an old Battleship was pulling out. I asked the harbor master if the Navy was in town. He told me that it was an old ship that had been converted to a retirement home and that it cruises up and down the coast. I haven't been able to find anything about it but sure was cool. Does anyone know anything about it? That would be one alternative, Joe. Frank
When I pulled into Avalon last week an old Battleship was pulling out. I asked the harbor master if the Navy was in town. He told me that it was an old ship that had been converted to a retirement home and that it cruises up and down the coast. I haven't been able to find anything about it but sure was cool. Does anyone know anything about it? That would be one alternative, Joe. Frank
You'd have to look around & read Don Casey
I actually know a couple who owned and lived aboard a large Beneteau. A baby came along and they knew they wouldn't use the boat as much and they didn't want to live aboard any longer nor did they want to sell, so they did rent it out to someone as a liveaboard. So it does happen. But I doubt you are going to find such a setup advertised. You would probably need to get involved somewhere (crewing at a regular-folks sort of yacht club to meet people?) and make some contacts. You should read Don Casey's books ("This Old Boat" and "Sensible Cruising")
I actually know a couple who owned and lived aboard a large Beneteau. A baby came along and they knew they wouldn't use the boat as much and they didn't want to live aboard any longer nor did they want to sell, so they did rent it out to someone as a liveaboard. So it does happen. But I doubt you are going to find such a setup advertised. You would probably need to get involved somewhere (crewing at a regular-folks sort of yacht club to meet people?) and make some contacts. You should read Don Casey's books ("This Old Boat" and "Sensible Cruising")
Joe C, There is another factor to consider.
That being your physical size. It is easy for me to fit in a small boat because I am only 5'5" tall and not fat. I know sailors that are well over 6 feet tall and 250 pounds and a boat that I would find cozy they would find very cramped.
That being your physical size. It is easy for me to fit in a small boat because I am only 5'5" tall and not fat. I know sailors that are well over 6 feet tall and 250 pounds and a boat that I would find cozy they would find very cramped.
Joe...
I sold my 27 to a sailor (Engineering rating) to live aboard in Norfolk and to learn to sail on while not at sea. It was cheaper than rent over the remainder of his tour. He plans to take it to New England to continue his education. There are plenty of similar opportunities in the lower Bay. Contact a broker named Jim Lant in Norfolk--I'm sure he'll be able to help you in your quest.
I sold my 27 to a sailor (Engineering rating) to live aboard in Norfolk and to learn to sail on while not at sea. It was cheaper than rent over the remainder of his tour. He plans to take it to New England to continue his education. There are plenty of similar opportunities in the lower Bay. Contact a broker named Jim Lant in Norfolk--I'm sure he'll be able to help you in your quest.
nothing less than 30'
30' is cramped for 2 people... however it can sleep 6! Go figure. If you don't sail... maybe a "trawler type" is more up your alley. Fuel will be expensive... I have seen boats come in for fuel and wind up with a $500 bill. I have a 2GMF Yanmar... and will be lucky if I go through the 20 gallon tank this season. Have not heard of anyone renting a boat out to live on... maybe a house boat (camper on a float). I would think a 34'sailboat would be the minimim... and at that... after a couple of months you would be climbing the walls. Take a look at (yachtword.com)... there are only 1,000,000 to look at. Later Mate.
30' is cramped for 2 people... however it can sleep 6! Go figure. If you don't sail... maybe a "trawler type" is more up your alley. Fuel will be expensive... I have seen boats come in for fuel and wind up with a $500 bill. I have a 2GMF Yanmar... and will be lucky if I go through the 20 gallon tank this season. Have not heard of anyone renting a boat out to live on... maybe a house boat (camper on a float). I would think a 34'sailboat would be the minimim... and at that... after a couple of months you would be climbing the walls. Take a look at (yachtword.com)... there are only 1,000,000 to look at. Later Mate.
Houseboat or trawler
If you want a place to live a power boat is the way to go. A houseboat would be the best. I met a couple that decided that since they spent almost all of their time on their houseboat that they should sell the house. Of course their houseboat has more floor space than my house. But he said that he just felt better on a boat. He said that they got about 1/2 mile/gallon but that they hardly ever cruised . There are a lot of houseboats at my marina everything fom huge to small. The smallest houseboat has more room than most sailboats. we have a 32' boat and it is comfortable for a couple but if I didn't love to sail I would have a trawler or small houseboat. Climbing up and down the companionway ladder gets real old after a few days. But floor space on a houseboat is much greater for any given length. Attitude is everything. I want to walk the Appalachian trail one day over 2000 miles of walking up and down mountains. To some walking 2000 miles carrying everything on my back is lunacy. To me it would be the adventure of a lifetime. Same with living on a small boat. Some will think that you are crazy. Personally I have no desire to live on a boat as an end in itself. I do want to live on a boat as a way to cruise. Waking up at a different place every week seems like great fun...kinda like living in a tent on the trail. I'd rather be in a nice warm bed but if I have to live in a tent to be on the trail I'll do it. But I sure wouldn't live in a tent in my backyard.
If you want a place to live a power boat is the way to go. A houseboat would be the best. I met a couple that decided that since they spent almost all of their time on their houseboat that they should sell the house. Of course their houseboat has more floor space than my house. But he said that he just felt better on a boat. He said that they got about 1/2 mile/gallon but that they hardly ever cruised . There are a lot of houseboats at my marina everything fom huge to small. The smallest houseboat has more room than most sailboats. we have a 32' boat and it is comfortable for a couple but if I didn't love to sail I would have a trawler or small houseboat. Climbing up and down the companionway ladder gets real old after a few days. But floor space on a houseboat is much greater for any given length. Attitude is everything. I want to walk the Appalachian trail one day over 2000 miles of walking up and down mountains. To some walking 2000 miles carrying everything on my back is lunacy. To me it would be the adventure of a lifetime. Same with living on a small boat. Some will think that you are crazy. Personally I have no desire to live on a boat as an end in itself. I do want to live on a boat as a way to cruise. Waking up at a different place every week seems like great fun...kinda like living in a tent on the trail. I'd rather be in a nice warm bed but if I have to live in a tent to be on the trail I'll do it. But I sure wouldn't live in a tent in my backyard.
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