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I would like to point out there are several different "modes" of living
aboard, and which one you pick significantly affects the live style, cost,
and what type of boat you want.
The most basic mode is just living aboard with no real plans for mobility.
There are a lot of people in Florida living on houseboats and old power
cruisers doing just that. The boats are more or less mobile (usually the
marinas require this) but movement isn't the objective. Some marinas are
very nice places to live (and some are horrible!) and people enjoy the live
style. If done right, this can be much cheaper than living ashore.
Houseboats can be very comfortable. By being in the marina, you meet a lot
of interesting people, see the aquatic wildlife up front, and can enjoy
watching whatever maritime activity is going on locally.
The second group (and most active) are people building up to extended
cruising. The boats (usually sailboats or trawler yachts) have been picked
for their seaworthiness, not comfort. These boats are more expensive, have
much less space, and a big part of the lifestyle is the perpetual
preparation. This lifestyle has all the advantage of the previous one except
space aboard. Clutter control is harder.
The smallest group are active cruisers. These people are moving, either from
marina to marina, or across seas and from anchorage to anchorage. The
lifestyle is less comfortable yet, with a lot of considerations (electrical
power management, freshwater management, waste management, weather, etc.)
which will keep the cruiser occupied. Clutter control is vital.
The point of this posting is you should decide just what you want to do
before deciding whether you want to do this or not. You can
We lived aboard and cruised both the West coast and the East cost and Bahamas
(two different boats, two different time periods) for several years, and
enjoyed it despite some very real stresses and inconveniences.
John Mason
Santa Maria / Port San Luis California
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