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Making a living as a liveaboard

35K views 128 replies 68 participants last post by  lavidanueva 
#1 ·
Is anyone interested in discussing ways to make a few pennies whilst being a travelling liveaboard? I've tried a few things, with limited success so far, which experience I can share, but always open to new ideas!
 
#2 ·
I work with computers, primarily database. The only thing I can't do remotely via the internet is shake your hand.
There are also a lot of small 'fix this specific problem' websites out there where people and companies list jobs and take bids on them; again related to databases.

Keep in mind that most countries have serious problems with foreigner's coming in and working. It helps if you don't actually make any money in those countries, being paid via the internet helps.
Heck, having internet on the boat helps :)
 
#52 ·
This is also my plan, though I test. Recently I've started branching out into testing iOS software as that is a little smaller and lends itself to limited time spans that are best for contract-type work. That's also seems more enjoyable than the typical death marches for servers and web applications I seem to find myself on.

How do you find jobs for code work? Are you hitting up sites with contract jobs at a fixed price or time/materials? Are you using previous employers and making yourself available to them when you're in a place with suitable connectivity?
 
#6 ·
I have been working in IT for 25 years. Programming, consulting and now management. When I throw off the lines in 2014, the last thing I will want to do is work on computers.

We will have enough saved to go out for multiple years. We will not plan on working until we come back or settle down somewhere else.
 
#7 ·
Could make crochet easter bunnies and sell them to people at easter.

Oh you wanted a serious answer. :D

I would think that anything that needs to be done on a boat is a skill you could sell to other boaters. Someone has to keep the brightwork bright, and scrub boat bottoms, and all that.
 
#9 ·
I'm an aerospace engineer and contract my services to many companies so I get to travel some... right now in Everett for Boeing... I do however have a side business I often do while I can live aboard although not doing it at the moment and that is restoring and servicing Italian car gauges and aircraft instruments... done many Ferraris, Maserati's, Fiats, and other Italian cars... many of my restorations have gone to Pebble Beach, Montery, and other fine car shows and have won best of show... well known in the car circuit and actually make more money at it than contract engineering...

Remetau, regarding Enovia... ha ha ha... using that right now along with Dassault Systems Catia V5 and other software to design the advanced turbine nacelle for the next generation of Boeing 737Max, 777Next, 787-10. and the new airplane program under wraps... These are skills that can be used even while travelling on the sailboat but you need high powered wi-fi or satellite internet to keep linked to the company or in other words 'virtual engineering'. :eek:
 
#11 ·
Divemasters don't pay well. Here in the Philippines they typically get about $2 per person/dive and only usually do 3 dives per day. Nite dives pay more but usually got to senior staff. I think the most divers they can dive with is 6. Most I know here live like backpackers, if that suits you.
 
#18 ·
Good dive masters at good dive shop's and resorts make a decent living. Club Med in Eluthra pay's wee bit more than 12 dollars a dive, and tip's add up. I made 30 buck's adive in Belize 20 years ago and made 20 bucks a dive in tips. I did at least 2 dives a day no less than 4 day's a week. Lived on my boat for free.
 
#12 ·
Vessel delivery has worked great for me,once you get a good solid reputation it leads to other work. Something is always new when you're on someone else's vessel,certainly never boring. I am also a shipwright and engineer and can do repairs to other peoples vessels or on my own boat. CaptG
 
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#14 · (Edited)
Another option is to let taking care of yourself be your new business.

There is a certain kind of math that happens in people's minds in America where they figure out that a lot of things aren't worth their time and energy because time is their most precious commodity. But that math can also work in reverse, if you let it, and you can spend more time doing things for yourself and need much less money to the point that you need almost no money at all. You can get to the point that you only need money for things that you couldn't possibly do yourself, such as purchasing gasoline because obviously you aren't going to drill for oil and refine it yourself.

The point of that is that instead of trying to figure out new ways to make money so that you can buy fish, maybe a cruiser's new job can be to catch fish. Instead of figuring out how to get money for diesel, maybe the cruiser's new job can be to learn to sail without using the motor. Instead of figuring out how to purchase new sails, maybe the cruiser's new job can be to get the material and learn to sew the sails themselves. Instead of trying to make money to purchase chunky soup, maybe the cruiser's new job can be to locate inexpensive basic ingredients and pressure can their own soup.

Is it "wasting time doing what you could pay someone else to do" when you have all the time in the world and making money starts to be the challenge ? What are people saving all that time and energy up to do, exactly, when most of their time is spent sitting on the boat doing very little except watching the clouds float by ?
 
#15 ·
I think there are very few jobs that can be done while cruising if you wish to keep moving, ie actively cruising.

The IT idea sounds fine but I think there are very few in our size boats actively cruising because the Internet is so iffy in many places. And the person who can spent $10,000 per month on satelite broadband would be in a bigger boat...

There are some who may be making a few spending dollars but not a reasonable portion of a budget and probably investing lots of hours.

If you are going to profit by $30,000 per year there must be clients who do Ned to see you, and have good land based system.

The yacht delivery people need to be in a good area to work... A week delivery from Ft Lauderdale will not fly in a skipper from Pago Pago.
It takes years to get the reputation and what do you ,do with your boat when away? Marinas can be expensive so you are on half dollars!
Many have to crew for a long time for free to get the reputation.

Sowing, covers, sail rite machines.... God there are so many older ladies trying to offer this one. But once cruising the need for winch covers just doesn't exist! (Btw if looking for someone to do some work, just stop past any boat with winch covers! They do it!!)

Hull cleaning. Locals come cheaper than you. Venuzalea was $10 per DAY for labour so how much can you charge for 1 hour?


Hair cutting not many do this one. But you only get $10 per cut. Many have very long hair cruising (males mid life crisis means they grow a pony tail! Women how can you bare it? I'm single. give him the heave Ho and come live with a shaved short haired non smelly man)

Consultancy work from old profession. There are few that can hide away even just giving advice. Lawyers, but is all their info now on the web or do they still need a law library?

Doing jobs for cruisers... Other cruisers seem pretty independent and don't need paid help. Making this more difficult is that most cruisers will volunteer to help someone's problem for no pay to get Karma Points.

Marine mechanic, electronics, etc. need to be in one place for a long time. Local laws etc. other cruisers won't pay. Cruiser mechanics charge too much... Generally $30 to $50 per hour when the Yanmar guy charges $50 with parts, warranty, specialist knowledge. I prefer to use the Yanmar guy at the higher rate unless I absolutely know the cheaper person.

Lots of bum alcoholics are cruising the world looking for any dollar and if you say can you do x they say yes and stuff it up. It means few will use another cruiser unless they have a great reputation.

So how would I earn money?
I think I would do the 6 months at home, 6 months cruising. No matter how poor you think your economy, it's vastly better than some island in the middle of nowhere, and in your country the dollars are real and substantial....

It's difficult... And a question asked so often... But in my four years afloat I have met NO ONE making a dollar more than just small pin money. Certainly none who are making good money.


Mark
 
#38 ·
I think there are very few jobs that can be done while cruising if you wish to keep moving, ie actively cruising.

The IT idea sounds fine but I think there are very few in our size boats actively cruising because the Internet is so iffy in many places. And the person who can spent $10,000 per month on satelite broadband would be in a bigger boat...

There are some who may be making a few spending dollars but not a reasonable portion of a budget and probably investing lots of hours.

If you are going to profit by $30,000 per year there must be clients who do Ned to see you, and have good land based system.

The yacht delivery people need to be in a good area to work... A week delivery from Ft Lauderdale will not fly in a skipper from Pago Pago.
It takes years to get the reputation and what do you ,do with your boat when away? Marinas can be expensive so you are on half dollars!
Many have to crew for a long time for free to get the reputation.

Sowing, covers, sail rite machines.... God there are so many older ladies trying to offer this one. But once cruising the need for winch covers just doesn't exist! (Btw if looking for someone to do some work, just stop past any boat with winch covers! They do it!!)

Hull cleaning. Locals come cheaper than you. Venuzalea was $10 per DAY for labour so how much can you charge for 1 hour?

Hair cutting not many do this one. But you only get $10 per cut. Many have very long hair cruising (males mid life crisis means they grow a pony tail! Women how can you bare it? I'm single. give him the heave Ho and come live with a shaved short haired non smelly man)

Consultancy work from old profession. There are few that can hide away even just giving advice. Lawyers, but is all their info now on the web or do they still need a law library?

Doing jobs for cruisers... Other cruisers seem pretty independent and don't need paid help. Making this more difficult is that most cruisers will volunteer to help someone's problem for no pay to get Karma Points.

Marine mechanic, electronics, etc. need to be in one place for a long time. Local laws etc. other cruisers won't pay. Cruiser mechanics charge too much... Generally $30 to $50 per hour when the Yanmar guy charges $50 with parts, warranty, specialist knowledge. I prefer to use the Yanmar guy at the higher rate unless I absolutely know the cheaper person.

Lots of bum alcoholics are cruising the world looking for any dollar and if you say can you do x they say yes and stuff it up. It means few will use another cruiser unless they have a great reputation.

So how would I earn money?
I think I would do the 6 months at home, 6 months cruising. No matter how poor you think your economy, it's vastly better than some island in the middle of nowhere, and in your country the dollars are real and substantial....

It's difficult... And a question asked so often... But in my four years afloat I have met NO ONE making a dollar more than just small pin money. Certainly none who are making good money.

Mark
I like this as it is most grounded in reality. However, there are ways to make money without white collar work or long-term sessilization (just made that up).
Biggest factor is going to be where you are cruising.
For me, right now, my cruising is focused in the Bahamas. A few hours a day diving with a spear gun at some good reefs will net you enough fish to sell at the local docks toward late afternoon. Right now its crawfish season (spiny lobster). Guys go out and spear 50 or 100 per day (much more using traps) and sell them for 7$ per lb.
That same lobster tail at 8 OZ goes for 28.99$ at Red Lobster right now.
So I would say small scale fishing. However, you will have to be wary about the other local fisherman. I would think to avoid confrontation you would need to either work with or for them, or limit your stays in any one place to three or four days before moving on to the next locale.
 
#17 ·
It was suggested by a friend; that If I were to retire and cruise, I could, consult, service, and help owners with HVACR. Since that is what I know and do best.

Well, I'm retired... sort of LOL

I'm still All around epa certified HVACR tech and former full service contractor. (let the last full time employee go over 8 yrs ago)

Boat, like domestic (home refrigerators) AC/fridges/ reverse cycle are really A PITA. :mad:

Don't think I want the aggravation of boat owners screaming at me in 90-110 heat because beer is warm, or ice cream is melting... Boating should be fun right? :laugher

If I had refrigerants on my boat with associated equipment someone would be sure to steal it. especially R-12 Then there's 22, R134, 404A, 409, 410A,and a few others LOL :eek:

Then, there's the guarded and somewhat hostile " Approved; yard employed or associated" contractors. (20%) is the usual cut. That would be a difficult thing to get past in most places. :rolleyes:

And, since most if not all people needing HVACR help won't know me or my real qualifications, they wouldn't hire me anyway. :p

Imagine ( I go to sleep early) getting boarded by a few tipsy sailors saying; "oh Denise won't mind if we borrow her vacuum pump and gauges" Then I hear 30lbs of 134 hi$$ing out the can as it goes overboard "oh look she has R-12 too! HEY! DENISE YOU SLEEPING???" :eek:

So.... No! I don't think I could work and live aboard! :eek:

Nope.. not another day in paradise found!
 
#20 ·
It's a little different then that in the dive Master world. You get a job at shop in Roatan, this is a temp job, dive master's can be rather transient when your in the scene. You fall in to a temp work visa under a resort work umbrella. You anchor out, live on your boat and work the shop for a few months. One job leads to another in that world, you find out so and so shop is looking for a dive master in another place and you sail there. I've cruised the Carribean Western Carribean this way. I was working on a research vessel in Belize in 1990-1991, I brought down my sail boat from Key West and anchored next to the research vessel. I was offerd a job on the Belize Agressor ( Live aboard Dive boat) they handle your right to work under their umbrella. I worked a few months, I found out they where looking for a dive master in Acumal Mexico, I sailed up anchored out near the resort, worked through spring as a dive masrter, found out they where looking for a dive master in the Key's,, sailed up, anchored out, worked through the summer, found out my buddy from Acumal was opening a shop In Roatan, sailed down worked through the winter. I only suggested it because I've done it and probably will again. I own a dive boat in Key west and and use transient dive master's, one who lived on his boat and got a job at Paradise Island in the Bahama's at Club Med and is over there anchored out swimming distance from the resort, working as dive master, and is looking for a job in in the Caribbean and plans to sail down there when they find one. You can't just cruise at will, you pick a nice place, put the word out, build a rep, make the circut.
 
#21 ·
I've cruised the Carribean Western Carribean this way. .
I'm sure a young man who looks the Club Med part, or Super Yacht Crew part could do so in the way you say.
But most cruisers are retired couples and retired single men.
Just retired from wearing a suit or overalls at 65 getting the dive ticket and strolling into a dive master situation isn't as easy.

Yes, for a young bloke or girl who is at the pull of adventure, fine. :)
 
#22 ·
Well if working while cruising at 65 is the discussion, of course, dive master is out, most thing's are. I'm a young 42 and have some opportunity's to work in the for mentioned places again if I want. A good friend of mine is 55, a dive instructor, and survived a Brain anoriism 7 years ago and is off the The Carribean this year to work as an intrustor down there, she will be living on a friends sailboat while she is there.. Coincidently I think it is in ST. Martin.
 
#25 ·
Thanks Aaron, I have a basic PADI Open Water and although 56 rather than 65 I don't think I'll make a dive instructor now. I've been trying to make a living writing books and blogs, but I think unless you're online all the time promoting them it's hard to make it work and that runs counter to the boat gypsy lifestyle, still I'm open to any suggestions and if other people want to self publish I have some experience to share! Malcolm Snook
 
#26 ·
I've been earning money remotely without visiting my clients at all in years. A good personality, good work ethic, and reasonable rate gets word spreading around. Most clients now are happy with Skype calls and daily logs of work. I take only project work, so there's a definite calculated end to the work. Even my larger corporate clients who used to sing the tune of getting a butt in a seat on location, have changed their approach. They realize to get good talent they have to cast their net wider and adopt mobile and remote workers as a fundamental part of their approach. I'd also say that most business owners want to trust and rely on a vendor. I have had the same clients for years (5+), and they keep coming back. The reason? It's a pain in the butt to find someone you trust, ramp them up on your internal processes, people, and project history. It takes time and money to do this every time you have someone new. Most of my clients don't mind my schedule and availability because they know the work I produce and I have proven my trustworthiness.

My point is not to toot my horn, but it's to say this: it's pretty easy to land a client in any kind of work you do, but that's only the beginning. Work hard to keep them, prove your value, and they will come back. I've been floating on these ~10 clients for years (pun intended) and am weary to take new ones for the same reasons they are weary to find new contractors. It was totally unintended, but eventually they became like family and we send each other cards for the holidays, and whenever they need work done, they know how to find me.
 
#27 ·
Another option that has not been suggested yet is teaching. Many countries will hire Americans to teach English or perhaps a specific skill that they cannot hire their local teachers to do. Of course, this locks you into a country for a full school year, but you would get the full exposure to the local way of life and learn the culture. Friends of mine taught in Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas for two years. It was a great experience for them and the government gave them a monthly allowance for housing, so if your living aboard, you rake in both the salary and a stipend!
I teach AutoCAD and GIS programs so I could imagine finding something along those lines as well as English.
 
#28 ·
Actually there is an "English as a second language" certification that is not too hard to get. I think it could really come in handy sometimes. Not that I think you would need a certification, but it might be helpful when trying to get the job.
 
#30 ·
Having flexible employers is another option. If your pretty tight with your boss and they trust you, you might be surprised how willing they are to work with you to keep you there. Negotiation is the key here. I pulled off a 3 months vacation without pay. I didn't make any money while I was gone but at least I knew I could as soon as I got back. I told my boss I was going away for a few months and was going to quit to do so, but didn't want to. She told me we could probably work something out... Low and behold I was only a temporarily unemployed vagabond vs an unemployed one.

My cousin worked out a similiar deal working remotely for a year and he has a much more serious job as a lawyer. This is a case by case thing but my point is your employer may have more flexibility than you think... just try to think of how you can meet their needs while your gone so they won't have much to protest.
 
#36 ·
Working while voyaging has been a dream of mine since I began sailing in the early 60's. Unfortunately, it really is not something that can be easily done.
As mentioned above, most countries will not allow non-citizens to take work from locals, so you must find something locals cannot do, like friends who got the contract to set up the government computer network in Samoa, when there were very few computer literate folks out there. As a captain or crew or fisherman, etc.; forget it.
Deliveries are a good source of income if you choose to be in an area (like the VI) at the end of the charter season, but you must leave your boat while on delivery; not the best plan, especially in hurricane season. And 95% of sail boat deliveries are plagued by break downs, unreliable equipment and worn out boats, or the owner would do it, because a delivery is just like cruising, but for money, right?
A few folks I know make some money sewing, doing electrical, mechanical and refrigeration repairs on cruising boats. But cruisers are notoriously cheap and if one is a capable professional, most cruisers won't pay for the quality work, which leaves you making little money doing a less than proper job. Also this is not a steady income.
Then there's chartering. The pie in the sky; sail and earn thousands of dollars a week. Well, the booking agents have a saying; you are only as good as your last charter. Which means that if you have 25 perfectly fantastic charters and your last one was with a really unpleasant creep, you will not get another charter until the agents are desperate and need you again. Giving someone a great vacation aboard your cruising boat is not an easy thing to do. You must be pretty familiar with the area you are sailing in, be able to provide 3 full, extraordinary meals and afternoon appetizers each day, never mind the little things that aren't in the "guide to successful chartering". With the internet, it is possible to get a few bookings a year, but again, one unhappy customer can ruin that, too. Getting hits on a charter site is not all that easy, as we can attest.
I would suggest amassing a bit of cash and investing it in an annuity which will give you a steady, reliable income, because, unless you get extremely lucky, you will not be able to earn enough to live comfortably on while sailing.
 
#37 ·
I would suggest amassing a bit of cash and investing it in an annuity which will give you a steady, reliable income, because, unless you get extremely lucky, you will not be able to earn enough to live comfortably on while sailing.
My plan is to SAVE, SAVE, SAVE... live as cheaply as you can now and have a nest egg large enough to not have to worry about working for a living while cruising... We try to live on my wife's pay as a tenured teacher as much we can and put all my consulting engineering pay in the bank... by the time it's quitting time for me in 4-6 years... we should have enough to support our happy lives... my spouse has 7 more years till teacher retirement kicks in... I can continue in this field working since it's all computer/desk mundane analysis stuff... we're halfway there in terms of savings... can't wait! :laugher
 
#39 ·
Maybe go find yourself a nice secluded area that you can easily access with your boat and make yourself a small garden. Grow whatever is in season in that region and choose hardy plants that don't need very much care. Like Potatoes for an example. Stay for one full growing season checking the plants once a week. And after you harvest set up shop in a crowded marina? Just food for thought (huehue). Probably wont be enough money though unless you have a rather large garden. Maybe this is a bad idea. Im just trying to think of something that goes with my skill set since I majored in agricultural science.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
 
#40 ·
Coastal sailor here... I feel like during my entire career I have been acquiring skills I need to survive off the grid. I have tended bar for 10+ years. I have an automotive education and spent 6 years working in a shop. Lastly i have spent the last 8 years working as a certified IT professional with formal college training. I also just received my diving cert. One more thing on this old preppers bucket list before I set sail will be formal paramedic training. I find the dream motivational. I feel like the more knowledge I have the longer i can survive living the dream. All those things i mentioned I believe can save me money and make me money with. How old am I? without looking at the profile. :)
 
#49 ·
coastal sailor here... I feel like during my entire career i have been acquiring skills i need to survive off the grid. I have tended bar for 10+ years. I have an automotive education and spent 6 years working in a shop. Lastly i have spent the last 8 years working as a certified it professional with formal college training. I also just received my diving cert. One more thing on this old preppers bucket list before i set sail will be formal paramedic training. I find the dream motivational. I feel like the more knowledge i have the longer i can survive living the dream. All those things i mentioned i believe can save me money and make me money with. How old am i? Without looking at the profile. :)
268.
 
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#41 ·
How to make a small fortune cruising?






-start with a large fortune.


*most countries require work permits.
and fishing in the Bahamas AND SELLING will likely land you in jail. + spear guns are not allowed. (slings or pole spears). natives can use tanks, but not tourists.

however, if you have an in demand skill set (IT Networking /medical /education) those can get permits. assuming locals don't have the skills.
 
#42 ·
Well, I've earned the majority of money from my IT / consulting work.

But.... when I've arrived in a new port without any IT contracts, I have done various jobs to keep from starving, i.e., security guard, yacht maintenance / cleaning & waxing, marina worker / handiman, and then there is the basis of our Corporation: Triumph Ventures, Inc., Triumph Charters -- Sail with Us! Chartering! We have used Craigslist to advertise as soon as we get a slip, and that has provided a fairly good stream of customers.

Of course, if your boat is paid off and you don't have any (or large) credit card debt, no car payments, and have a water maker and solar panels, you can drop the hook and pray for good luck at fishing, and not worry about money!
 
#96 ·
Of course, if your boat is paid off and you don't have any (or large) credit card debt, no car payments, and have a water maker and solar panels, you can drop the hook and pray for good luck at fishing, and not worry about money!
This pretty much sums up my plan... I own my boat, my car is paid off, and Im outfitting it while I still have a job. My husband is an awesome fisherman and I have excellent IT skills. Im going to finish my degree and settle what little bit of student loans I have BEFORE setting sail (permanently at least). We make a living on land, with rent and utilities etc bringing in 20k/year. Im not looking to bring in a lot of money... Im just looking to fund my sailing habit! Not starve to death while island hopping for the rest of my life... set up a small nest egg for boat maintenance/repairs.
 
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