Liveaboard Family Looking for a Miracle

[Cruisingdad]

I cannot tell you whether this post is real or not. I will say that the poster is from Maryland. That part does ring true. THat particular part of MD is quite expensive also, rivaling anywhere in the US.

If there is any truth to the post, I sincerely wish her the best in finding a safe and workable refuge for her family - whether that be boat, trailer, apartment, or house.

The internet is also full of opinions. THat cannot be helped. That is part of what makes it great and part of what makes it frustrating. Either way, it does require a level of "thick skin" which a person can either come to deal with or should avoid these places. We try to keep a level of civilty here, but I have seen nothing that needs our editing or moderation. THat does not mean I do or do not agree with the opinions presented.

I for one will say that the post from the OP was moving. It certainly struck me as being genuine... but there is no way to tell. If so, we do have a LOT of posters from MD and I would not doubt that they would help if they could.

My opinions.

- CD

[imagine2frolic]

Originally Posted by painkiller

You could probably weld pontoons onto one of those suckers and have one hell of a party barge.

Now we're typing multis. I like that!!!!!.. ...i2f

[sailingSammy]

If it's cheaper to live on land than on a boat how come there are so many people living on derilect boats in the Florida Keys? Most of them are on SSI or some other type of public assistance.
I had a friend that relocated to Los Angeles in the 90's and all he could afford was to rent a boat to live on.
In my area, Buffalo, NY, you can get a slip for a 30' boat for about $1200 for the 5 month season and that is with electricity and water, you couldn't get a room in a crack house for that price.
As for an RV, I believe you would find the registration would be a lot higher than for a boat and with a motor vehicle you MUST have insurnace, not required for boats, at least not here.
If the boat is only being used as shelter how much maintenance would there really be, I mean fiberglass isn't exactly known for being bio-degradable.

Either way I wish you and yours all the best and don't let the nattering nabobs of negativism get you down.

[smackdaddy]

Sammy, not to be contrary, but I do have to take exception with one of your comments. The Buffalo crack house I stayed in for 5 months last spring came to only $1184 - not counting the crack. It was over in Winchester.

Just kidding - welcome to SN dude.

Signed,

The Pattering Pabob of Positivism

[sailingdog]

Sammy—

At least in every marina I've dealt with, if you wanted a slip, which is what it sounds like the OP has, you are REQUIRED TO HAVE INSURANCE. Usually, it is a minimum of $100,000 liability coverage.

If a boat and and RV are both being used for strictly shelter, then the boat is going to have higher maintenance, since the underwater gear still needs to be maintained to a certain degree—through-hulls, plumbing, etc, are still equipment that needs maintenance, even if the boat is not being used for transportation, since if they're not maintained, the boat WILL SINK. The plumbing on an RV can be ignored, and there will be no risk of the RV sinking.

Originally Posted by sailingSammy

If it's cheaper to live on land than on a boat how come there are so many people living on derilect boats in the Florida Keys? Most of them are on SSI or some other type of public assistance.
I had a friend that relocated to Los Angeles in the 90's and all he could afford was to rent a boat to live on.
In my area, Buffalo, NY, you can get a slip for a 30' boat for about $1200 for the 5 month season and that is with electricity and water, you couldn't get a room in a crack house for that price.
As for an RV, I believe you would find the registration would be a lot higher than for a boat and with a motor vehicle you MUST have insurnace, not required for boats, at least not here.
If the boat is only being used as shelter how much maintenance would there really be, I mean fiberglass isn't exactly known for being bio-degradable.

Either way I wish you and yours all the best and don't let the nattering nabobs of negativism get you down.

[tager]

I love that Tiaraswake confirmed that I am speaking the truth! Oh, and SD, you are wrong, there is always a risk of your RV sinking.

[imagine2frolic]

Originally Posted by tager

I love that Tiaraswake confirmed that I am speaking the truth! Oh, and SD, you are wrong, there is always a risk of your RV sinking.

One would have to agree, but what are the chances compared to a boat not being maintained? Maybe an act of God by flooding, or shear stupidity trying to drive through the flooding? I think that's grasping for straws. .....i2f

[NolaSafari]

Originally Posted by Mokusiga

Hey Guys,,, You may have failed to notice, as most of you are caught up in your own little world, but TiarasWake has given up on you all your drama and doesn't respond any more.
To be honest, I would have given up on this when all the abuse started coming in and the whole thing started getting rather weird and surreal.

I am rather dissapointed that you all (well, almost all) decided to use this thread as some sort of pissing contest, when in actual fact the family in question are just trying to survive and were genuinely asking for help.

NCC320 and others have tried to offer decent advice/encouragement. Shame Tiara probably wont read it.

Saildog, smack and a few others are the reason I wont be coming back to such a pathetic website. I only joined out of curiosity, but you lot really need to get a life. Yes there is a lot of good stuff, but the bull5hit on here makes me want to puke.

Why dont you all get a life and actually sail your boats rather than just talk about it.

Thank you and good bye

Lose one gain one. I guess all the reasons he is leaving is the reasons I found the thread interesting. Not that I don't have sympathy for someone in need but just going to a forum and asking for a free boat is not the way someone truly in need would do it. I would think the time would be better spent contacting the many organizations which assist those of us who have hit the skids. Having enough skills to find an internet connection, locate the correct forum and write a nicely worded request for a free boat requires some knowledge. Not providing the details of the boat such as manufacture and other details makes me wonder what marina it is in. The one thing you get at marina is free advice on repairs. The OP seem light on details except the ones which pull at your heart strings.

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by NolaSafari

Lose one gain one. I guess all the reasons he is leaving is the reasons I found the thread interesting. Not that I don't have sympathy for someone in need but just going to a forum and asking for a free boat is not the way someone truly in need would do it. I would think the time would be better spent contacting the many organizations which assist those of us who have hit the skids. Having enough skills to find an internet connection, locate the correct forum and write a nicely worded request for a free boat requires some knowledge. Not providing the details of the boat such as manufacture and other details makes me wonder what marina it is in. The one thing you get at marina is free advice on repairs. The OP seem a light on details except the ones which pull at your heart strings.

The lack of details on the boat was one of the things that makes me pretty suspicious. If the OP really wanted help, why wouldn't she at least say what kind of boat it was. There are often issues that are specific to certain makes/models of boats, like the Catalina "smile" on the older Catalina 30s... and they often have fairly standard fixes, that are often well known.

[joethecobbler]

Living aboard is my choice, influenced by economics and a general disdain for land ownership as well as renting,vehicles,ins. etc.
Never understood why paying 2-3 times the asking price over a 30 year stretch for something was a good thing. each to there own.
As far as insurance- in vegas they always told me insurance was a suckers bet. I only buy it when forced to by gov't regulations/laws. ( being judgement proof -can't get blood from a stone)
I've found many yards and marinas that do not require insurance. I favor them (of course - I don't have insurance) . Also the insurance requirement is another method of excluding- "those types" you know whom I mean.
I like it when I hear people talking about the difficulty of boat maintenance and repairs. It's how I get cash to buy the things I cannot find (discarded,floating,abandoned) or make, for myself and those that depend upon me.
I thank god everyday for those less capable , but better "heeled", who are willing to part w/ considerable sums of money to do simple tasks. (ie. oil change,rig adjustment,rudder repair,bottom sanding/scraping/painting, etc).
I also felt that many here were acting hostile toward the OP, of course not suprised,it seems alot of people get pleasure from judging others .
I checked back hoping to hear that they took the boat offered in maine.
I don't see a problem w/ infants/children or pets aboard , we traveled with all of that (3 year old and 4 dogs) Just gotta do more dingy trips (no motor for the first 1-2 years) .
As far as the cost issues, fiberglass does seem to be quite resilient. My boat is a 1976 and solid as a (plastic) rock ! Every so often I go snorkeling w/ a scraper !
Careening sounds good, tough to find the right location. Better to get hauled and meet more wealthy yachties w/ vacation plans and maintenance needs. Living on the hard for a week or two in a DIY yard usually results in many weeks of work refferals and many new long term aquaintences.
I hope I get to meet many of you in the future, sounds like we could have a great simbionic relationship.
I have even expanded my knowledge and skill set to include canvas and sail repair/fabrication (more pleasant than fiberglass work) .
happiness and success is being content w/ who you are, not what you have.
Took me a long time to figure that out, but I think I got it when I gave up alot of what I thought I couldn't do without.
I've never been truly happier.
If the economic situation persists (and I think it will) Many more folks may come to the same conclusion.
In the mean time ,
I will not laugh in your face or look down upon you, when gas is $4 a gallon, and your jobs, stocks and benefits dissappear and your crying about loosing junk you never needed to begin with,
even though you may not have been as cordial or considerate to me or others in the past.
I wish the original poster the best. real or imagined