Dreaming of life aboard

[namingallthestars]

Hey, my name is Alexandra. I've been fascinated with boats and sailing since I was young, but it didn't really hit me until an hour or so ago: hey, there are people who actually live in boats and sail around full time.

I did a little research, but I thought I'd prefer to learn more about it by actually talking to people who do it. I want to know everything. What's it like, how do you work and sail at the same time, how much does it cost, how much maintenance does it need, how many people do you need to sail it, everything. Those are just examples of things that I was to know, so please, when answering, don't just restrict yourself to those.

Right now, I'm new to the whole idea, so I'm more of a starry-eyed, annoyingly inexperienced newcomer than someone with concrete plans or information, but with help from those who reply, maybe I can take steps to make this more than just a dream.

[Minnewaska]

Type this in a google search...... site:sailnet.com living aboard

Read every return and you will have many of your answers as well as some book references, I'm sure. There are as many variations of living aboard as there are to living ashore.

[CaptainForce]

An hour into the plan leaves much for enlightenment! My wife and I have been liveaboard cruisers for forty years. Although for the first thirty we spent ten months of each year off to work in the morning commute like most all others. We live relatively inexpensively and experience a lot of adventure. We're are not worldwide sailors, but cruise the East US coast from Maine to the Bahamas. We raised our children aboard and we have had great joy with our choices without regret. There are many different manners in which people thrive on boats and many who choose to enjoy the life for a far shorter time, but still with success. Some are rarely off the dock and some are without a hold to any land. There's no one story, plan, goal or outcome. Take care and joy, Aythya crew

[OziDude]

Hi Alexandra,

Welcome to the start of something very special. I am in the planning stages of becoming a live-aboard and there are so many things that you need to know.

The Sailnet Forums,its members and google search are wonderful research tools to get the information that your require.

Good Luck.

Ozi

[CrazyRu]

Alexandra, life aboard sucks. It is cold outside. My stove went off a few hours ago, so it is cold inside too. Now I need to empty my ash basket. also I need to boil some water to take a shower, then paddle my kayak to my car, load it on a roof and go to work. My ports are leaking, i need to replace them, over wise I have no birth to sleep when raining. Generally, I can not afford having a boat with my blue collar middle class salary. I have no family nor permanent place to live, very much middle aged looser, so I stick with my boat. I'm stubborn, you know.
If you need a place to crash, let me know, I'll seal the port permanently on starboard side, I promise no leaks. Don't ask about hot water, although. Too much work...