I've been contemplating buying a 40' or more older Hunter with the idea of my wife and I living aboard. She and I are both 55. I'm self-employed and work out of the home anyway. She has five more years to retire. We're considering the purchase of a larger boat and just living aboard. Would that be practical? Both of us are postive about it. Wife goes downtown to work each day anyway. All I need is a telephone, wireless access and a bag of potato chips and I'm good to go. Would appreciate some feedback.
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Life was simple then!
I loved living aboard my 33 foot Cheoy Lee for about 5 years. If you have the right spot it is a great life style. Only wish I could go back to it but my wife doesn't care for it. You will love the simplicity and I always felt healther with all the fresh air.
I loved living aboard my 33 foot Cheoy Lee for about 5 years. If you have the right spot it is a great life style. Only wish I could go back to it but my wife doesn't care for it. You will love the simplicity and I always felt healther with all the fresh air.
I do it now
and the only thing I miss is the backyard so I could have dogs but I sure don't miss the yardwork. I like that on the weekends, I don't have to drive anywhere...I'm already there. Last night I took the labtop out into the cockpit and watch TV out there. It was a wonderful night.
and the only thing I miss is the backyard so I could have dogs but I sure don't miss the yardwork. I like that on the weekends, I don't have to drive anywhere...I'm already there. Last night I took the labtop out into the cockpit and watch TV out there. It was a wonderful night.
Loving the lifestyle!
I've been on my boat for six months and love it. Its great to wake up and have the water right there. I suggest that you find a marina that has floating slips, the climb on and off can be tricky during those extream low tides in our area.......aj
I've been on my boat for six months and love it. Its great to wake up and have the water right there. I suggest that you find a marina that has floating slips, the climb on and off can be tricky during those extream low tides in our area.......aj
Liveaboard for six years now
I've been living aboard my 1983 Hunter 31 for six years now, and still love it. For the first six months, I was tied to a dock. That was easier, as the showers, restrooms and shopping were an easy walk. The only problem is that living aboard a boat at the dock often discourages you from ever taking the boat away from the dock. You end up being tied to shore with extra lines, water & electrical lines, and everything inside is set for a stationary position. Sailing away from the dock then becomes a lot of work, not only to untether yourself from the dock, but to secure everything below as well for the trip. I live out on the hook in Key West Harbor, and use a dinghy to commute to shore each day. It's much cheaper, and live out on the water is so calm and enjoyable. One possible complicaiton I can see with you working aboard is electrical power consumption. While you can get cellualar Internet access off-shore, you'll need a continious supply of electricy for a laptop and the like. I find the single solar panel I installed gives me all the power I can use for a laptop. Then there's the climit to consider. Living here in the sub tropics, I don't need to contend with cold weather. However, where I farther north I think I'd definately want to be tied to a dock. Scott Fraser Rubicon
I've been living aboard my 1983 Hunter 31 for six years now, and still love it. For the first six months, I was tied to a dock. That was easier, as the showers, restrooms and shopping were an easy walk. The only problem is that living aboard a boat at the dock often discourages you from ever taking the boat away from the dock. You end up being tied to shore with extra lines, water & electrical lines, and everything inside is set for a stationary position. Sailing away from the dock then becomes a lot of work, not only to untether yourself from the dock, but to secure everything below as well for the trip. I live out on the hook in Key West Harbor, and use a dinghy to commute to shore each day. It's much cheaper, and live out on the water is so calm and enjoyable. One possible complicaiton I can see with you working aboard is electrical power consumption. While you can get cellualar Internet access off-shore, you'll need a continious supply of electricy for a laptop and the like. I find the single solar panel I installed gives me all the power I can use for a laptop. Then there's the climit to consider. Living here in the sub tropics, I don't need to contend with cold weather. However, where I farther north I think I'd definately want to be tied to a dock. Scott Fraser Rubicon
Rubicon
Your a cruiser with a job and nowhere to go
I can't wait until I've saved up enough money to undock and go places. If I can keep this job long enough, that just might be two years from now. I've promised myself though that I'm going somewhere after this contract. The longer the contract, the father I go I've considered just anchoring my boat out someplace in the bay or clear lake and getting solar panels and be a cruiser with a job and no place to go. Here though it's hard to sleep at night in the summer without AC. It's not the heat but the humidity. It also gets a little chilli in the wintertime here which I don't think I can handle without some kind of heat. On the other hand, I keep having a word to say to the management now and then because they...well...just in case they are listining I don't want to get kicked out. They kicked out the sweetest couple you've ever met because they complained about something. One of these days it's going to be me getting kicked out and I'll be on the hook for a while. Come to think of it...that might be a blessing. One month's rent here could pay for a very nice anchor. Three months rent could pay for some very nice solar panels. Damn...come to think of it...staying two years on the hook would pay for all my cruising additions. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
Your a cruiser with a job and nowhere to go
I can't wait until I've saved up enough money to undock and go places. If I can keep this job long enough, that just might be two years from now. I've promised myself though that I'm going somewhere after this contract. The longer the contract, the father I go I've considered just anchoring my boat out someplace in the bay or clear lake and getting solar panels and be a cruiser with a job and no place to go. Here though it's hard to sleep at night in the summer without AC. It's not the heat but the humidity. It also gets a little chilli in the wintertime here which I don't think I can handle without some kind of heat. On the other hand, I keep having a word to say to the management now and then because they...well...just in case they are listining I don't want to get kicked out. They kicked out the sweetest couple you've ever met because they complained about something. One of these days it's going to be me getting kicked out and I'll be on the hook for a while. Come to think of it...that might be a blessing. One month's rent here could pay for a very nice anchor. Three months rent could pay for some very nice solar panels. Damn...come to think of it...staying two years on the hook would pay for all my cruising additions. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm What is the "hook"?
Thanks to all for the great Liveaboard advice. I hope others will respond as well. I'm new to this so forgive the question. Two of you have mentioned living on the "hook". Here in the Galveston Bay area, what is the "hook" and where would that be?
Thanks to all for the great Liveaboard advice. I hope others will respond as well. I'm new to this so forgive the question. Two of you have mentioned living on the "hook". Here in the Galveston Bay area, what is the "hook" and where would that be?
Rebicon got a Question
I was in key west last year and saw that you need a dinghy permit in town what do you. I'll be moving to port charlotte and hope to plan a trip to the keys and I love being out on the hook rather than tied to a dock.
I was in key west last year and saw that you need a dinghy permit in town what do you. I'll be moving to port charlotte and hope to plan a trip to the keys and I love being out on the hook rather than tied to a dock.
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