New Liveaboard

SouthernComfort · Aug 10, 2009

Congratulations and nice boat. I bought my 1987 O'day 322 32' sailboat in May of '08 and have lived aboard ever since. It was alittle scary at first, thinking what did I get myself into, but soon learned that living aboard was not the compramise that I thought it would be.
I have found that sacrificing the v-berth and using it as storage/closet is a must. I have two hanging lockers and use a suitcase to house my folded shirts in the v-berth. I keep about 9 days worth of clothes (including work clothes) in the boat and do not miss having more.

I went into this wanting a 37' or bigger boat and ended up with my 32 footer, now after over a year, I am content with this size of boat. Plus, this size of boat makes singlehanding very easy.

You will figure out the systems on your boat in time by fixing most yourself wheather you like to do it yourself or not hehe.

Again congratulations on the boat. Catalina builds a nice boat.

Ross · Aug 10, 2009

butchrobbins said:
also posted on Catalina 310 forum

I am now going to be living aboard a 2001 Catalina 310 and I would appreciate any help on how to make that work. There is not a lot of storage, and I any references would be of help. I will also have lots of questions as I get to know the boat better.

Thanks in advance.

Please tell us a little more. Do you cook by choice or by need? Do you still work for a living? Do you live alone or with a partner? Do you read or prefer electronic entertainment?

Franklin · Aug 10, 2009

Best advice I can give you, go buy some ear plugs. There will be times where it's near impossible to sleep without them. They help against hull slap when at anchor too.

Next bit of advice, if your boat doesn't already have a way to plug your dock hose into the water supply, then go to west marine and ask for a part to do that (I forget the name) and then run some pipe to connect it. You'll be very glad you did.

Make sure you have a good 3 stage charger or you'll go through batteries quickly.

Last advice....sail south below highway 10 for the winter...way too cold up there

wonkodsane · Aug 11, 2009

butchrobbins said:
I cook by need (I could eat out,but $$$$), but at present I have a pit stop available to cook some in advance and take to the boat. Since I live alone, I doubt I will do any real cooking on the boat. I see lots of TV dinners, etc. in my future. Yes, I work for a living and it is a 12 hour shift-so I work a couple, then off a couple. So, the days I work, I am away from the boat 14hrs and only eat "breakfast" on the boat and really don't have to do that.
I do read alot, but I prefer the electronic. The biggest thing is I have always gone to sleep with the tv on and now, guess what-no TV, and not likely to get one any time soon. Cable is not available at my slip. I hope to tape (yes-I said tape) some recent tv shows that have been recorded at my pit stop. I did have success last night with the radio and reading.

Gotta love the Kindle, or the eBook Reader.

zeehag · Aug 11, 2009

the satellite radio is excellent--works even underway, i have been advised----i donot yet have that. just down size. warter noises are important part if living aboard--water is going to tell you what is happening fsarther pouyt and what you will have to do to keep your boat safe--you can actually hear the differences in water actions while on board at night. you WANT to hear those. i hjave lived aboard since 1990....sailing is as much part of residing aboard as is getting the money to pay for the boat, unless ye arent planning on cruising. be ready to take boat out at a moments notice---you will not be living on land--have to be ready to relocate if emergency.
downsize
there isnot much room on a boat for stuff and stuff.
figure out what clothing you really need to keep and what you will realistically wear, get rid of the rest.--i used to keep work clothing on th eland and my boat clothing in theboat--that way when done working i didnt need to add the land based clothing to the contents of the boat. people with marina slips are able to use tv sand such things as they are used to using on land even a microwave. if there is a shore power cord, the usage is only restricted to the amount coming in. i use only solar in san diego--i am limirted to the amount of battery storage and amount of daily in from sun....have to count the necessary usage intrinsic to the boat as well as your personal usage. if the bilge pump is on all the time in a dry boat and using electricity, you can count , with a 500 gallon per hour pump, rule brand, on using 1.9 amps /ho for that alone. if you are getting 20 amps / hour into the boat----with 20 amp service--you cannot live in a cold climate--you cannot use heater and bilge pump and tv and fridge and....and.....and.....have to add your usage and figure the amount needed for use before buying the appliance. or supplement with a generator. in a marina is different than at anchor or moored.
if you are using propane for cooking and have an oven you are golden.
have fun--there is a lot to learn!!! those are important things no one ever thinks about when moving into a living on board situation. in a marina a direct tv dish is use able--mount it on a piling so it doesnt move lol..and may that be the least of your wiorries about living on board. goood luck. have fun......

Hermit Scott · Aug 11, 2009

I just looked up the 310. The C310's layout is far superior to the C30. The Vberth actually is a forward cabin with a real bed. My vberth already feels like a storage compartment that I am sleeping in. I can see why people convert them to storage.
I didn't see a nav station though. I don't think I need my nav station. I would rather have a nice sized refrigerator in it's place. You have a very comfortable looking boat.

I see the nav station now. It's a small triangle tucked behind the range.

Steve Dion · Aug 11, 2009

I would not suggest a permanent water hose hook up unless you can figure out a way to make it shut off automatically. This is one of the best ways to sink a boat that there is. Most of these boats used Qest pipe that can spring a leak at any time.

http://www.polybutylenelawsuit.com/pictures.htm

zeehag · Aug 11, 2009

i recommend placing 2 regulators on your hose --one at the fixture and one at the boat---if possible--and ALWAYS turn OFF the water before leaving for the day----pressure water sinks boats .....donot learn the hard way.....

Chuckbear · Aug 11, 2009

Franklin said:
Next bit of advice, if your boat doesn't already have a way to plug your dock hose into the water supply, then go to west marine and ask for a part to do that (I forget the name) and then run some pipe to connect it.

Bad idea. The first time you go off and don't turn off the water and a line comes loose in the boat it will sink it at the dock. I have personally seen this happen so do this at your own risk. Chuck

BobM · Aug 11, 2009

They do make devices for things like washing machines that will turn off a water supply if the sensor, typically conductivity based, is activated. Also, you should see whether or not you get wifi at the slip and if so you can simply go to hulu.com to get many recent shows. Barring that you may wish to invest in a wireless wifi connection.

zeehag · Aug 12, 2009

BobM said:
They do make devices for things like washing machines that will turn off a water supply if the sensor, typically conductivity based, is activated. Also, you should see whether or not you get wifi at the slip and if so you can simply go to hulu.com to get many recent shows. Barring that you may wish to invest in a wireless wifi connection.

you can invest in a wireless wifi connection or if you wish to have a bit more dependability, you also are able to buy a broadband dial up connection--butcha has to pay every month a fee...mine works great anywhere there is a cell tower not far away...and does wifi when there isnt one.....goood luck.....

Hermit Scott · Aug 12, 2009

I second hulu.com . We don't even have a TV. Everything we watch is either on youtube or hulu. But it's not like TIVO. It is limited.

Buck420 · Aug 13, 2009

Re: a little more info

Can't you get at least several of the Savannah broadcast TV stations in Hilton Head ... (like Ch 3, 11, and a few more) ?
A small flat screen TV and an antenna up on your mast should bring you at least a few stations (inc. local WEATHER and news) to fall asleep to.

Franklin · Aug 13, 2009

Please....liveaboard don't need to worry about the boat sinking if one of those pipes breaks. my primary pump can pump more water out than a hose can put in and my secondard would be taking a lot of naps if the primary failed. If the hose breaks, the pumps keep the water out until you get home....we are only talking about a few hours, not days or weeks or months. Now if you leave for a trip, then yeah, turn off the hose.

All the live-aboard here use them for decades without any problems.

Tom J · Aug 13, 2009

We lived aboard our Catalina 310 for 5 months during an extended cruise. For storage, we used stackable plastic bins, stored in the aft cabin and labeled with the contents of each bin. We preferred the v-berth as the master cabin, since it has a real mattress, and is actually very comfortable for 2 people. We loved the open layout of the 310, and I'm sure you will too. Good luck!

mitiempo · Aug 13, 2009

I would caution against city water pressure hook-up as well. Boat water systems whether manual or pressure aren't designed for high city water pressure. I don't know how many gph would be going in when a fitting lets go but I wouldn't want to depend on an electric bilge pump to pump it out as fast. Even if your pump can keep up, what happens when it clogs with bilge debris? Best to leave them to RVs that don't sink.
Brian (14 years living aboard)

Franklin · Aug 13, 2009

mitiempo said:
I would caution against city water pressure hook-up as well. Boat water systems whether manual or pressure aren't designed for high city water pressure. I don't know how many gph would be going in when a fitting lets go but I wouldn't want to depend on an electric bilge pump to pump it out as fast. Even if your pump can keep up, what happens when it clogs with bilge debris? Best to leave them to RVs that don't sink.
Brian (14 years living aboard)

The hookups come with a regulator on them to control the pressure so the pressure isn't that strong. In fact, it's very close to the 44 psi my water pump pushes when it's on.

mitiempo · Aug 14, 2009

Good, but I'd never trust my boat to one.
Brian