Sleeping conditions as a liveaboard

cktalons · #1 (**permalink**) 06-02-2011

Background: I'm 27 years old and considering the liveaboard lifestyle for a few reasons: freedom, simpler lifestyle, saving money, romanticism. I'm also an annoyingly practical person, and need to know a few things before taking the plunge and buying my first boat.

Sleeping. I'm a very light sleeper, and wondered if any liveaboards out there are also light sleepers but have either made the lifestyle work, or have found it easier to sleep on a boat. I live in the Pacific Northwest where it's cold and rainy in the winters (and summers for that matter). How does the weather/marina/anchoring affect your sleep?

I'd love to have some in depth conversations with other northernly liveaboards to talk about winter issues like rain, snow, etc. and how to deal with it on a boat. Any and all advice is appreciated.

ardoin · #2 (**permalink**) 06-02-2011

The rocking of the boat is great for sleeping. To be comfortable in winter, install a diesel heater and do a bit of weather proofing on the boat (I use bubble wrap in the overhead hatches for added insulation.
Best sleep you will have is on a boat!

JimMcGee · #3 (**permalink**) 06-02-2011

My wife is a light sleeper and the various marina/boat noises wake her up. The solution was a pack of those bright orange foam ear plugs from Lowes. With them in she sleeps like a baby.

Another key to a good night's sleep is replacing the foam in the berth cushions. New foam will give you more support and you'll feel more rested.

If you get snow where you're at you need to find a marina that will allow winter liveaboards, and you'll need to be careful walking down the docks with morning frost. You don't want to end up in the cold water.

Finally replacing the hatch boards with a set of doors will make things a lot more livable.

Jim

carl762 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-02-2011

I don't live aboard, but I sleep aboard, actually better than I do at the house. I slept just fine during stays this Winter. Very dangerous having to get out of the sleeping bag to walk down the icy dock to the restroom building.

wingNwing · #5 (**permalink**) 06-02-2011

9+ year liveaboards. Sleeping aboard rocks! ... as long as you're sure the boat is secure (i.e., on a mooring, in a marina slip, or at anchor with SECURE ground tackle.) Gentle breezes, rocking motion, and stars overhead = as good as it gets.

If you're worried about ice on the dock, get 2 pairs of "Yak-Trak" cleats (one for your car, one for the boat), very secure.

For winter, the big fear is condensation. How will you be heating your boat? Electric heat is dry; diesel or stove not so much. Check out "HyperVent" from Defender and put it under all cushions. Is a home-type dehumidifier practical at your marina? Does your boat have a headliner? If not, consider Reflectix (that silver bubble wrap stuff from the local Home Depot or Lowe's) to line lockers that are adjacent to the hull, and tape it to the overheads.

hellosailor · #6 (**permalink**) 06-02-2011

Have you ever gone camping? Sleeping either in a tent or just a bedroll?

If you can sleep that way, you can sleep on a boat. If you require a setting with quiet, security, darkness...you might not sleep well on a boat. Kinda depends on how and why you sleep with one eye open, or zonk out.

The boat will move and respond to every passing vessel (wake) changes in wind (noises and motion) and of course, there's not much soundproofing to start with. OTOH the motion can be soothing and you can tune out the rest, or at least, some people do.

All the more reason to go spend a week on a boat, on a charter if you have no other way, to see if it works for you. Maybe a week long "bare boat prep" course would be a good way to do it, you'll learn about the other issues with spending time on a boat as well.

Hartley18 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-02-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Have you ever gone camping? Sleeping either in a tent or just a bedroll?

If you can sleep that way, you can sleep on a boat. If you require a setting with quiet, security, darkness...you might not sleep well on a boat. Kinda depends on how and why you sleep with one eye open, or zonk out.

The boat will move and respond to every passing vessel (wake) changes in wind (noises and motion) and of course, there's not much soundproofing to start with. OTOH the motion can be soothing and you can tune out the rest, or at least, some people do.

Some boats are better than others in this regard. eg. Ours has 1-1/4" thick solid timber soundproofing all around the cabin, with a 3/8" timber ceiling inside of that... Works well!

Some houses may be "brick veneer".. our boat is "timber veneer"!...

Excellent post, BTW.

davidpm · #8 (**permalink**) 06-02-2011

I usually sleep very well on a boat. Last night however on a hunter 34 I just could not get to sleep because the waves were sloshing in the through hull just right so it sounded like the boat was sinking.

cktalons · #9 (**permalink**) 06-03-2011

Thanks for all of your helpful responses! I think I need to try sleeping on a boat to see if I can handle it. But it sounds like it could be wonderful. Keep the stories coming if you have them!

Bilgewater · #10 (**permalink**) 06-03-2011

Welcome CK, I can't help you with the light sleeper thing, I sleep like a dead head but I can understand how it can be an issue for sure. What part of the PNW are you from? I find it quite comfortable on a boat up here in the PNW year round. A little damp in the winter but not uncomfortable and not cold. Very little snow if any around here and I quite enjoy the looks and feel of it when it does come, I like having snow on my boat. A good diesel heater will keep you more than warm enough and electric heat when your at a dock. The rain on the boat will likely keep a light sleeper up until they get used to it and the same goes for the motion. I generally tune most sounds out other than the important ones. The slightest bump under the boat and other unusual sounds will get me up instantly and some nights in bad conditions I will be up most of the night just checking things but I still get sleep. If your in a commercial area, fishboats and tugs make a lot of noise going in and out at all hours but again, it's all a matter of getting used to it. I really don't think about these things much, they just seem to be part of the cruising routine. But as has been mentioned, I would get out there and try it first because there are definately a lot of noises and motion going on that you would not find on land.