Thinking about livingaboard a sailboat?....?

Question

My wife and I are thinking about buying a sailboat in 5 years from now and livingaboard back in Florida were we're from(don't live there now) What kind of advise can I get from people with experience on this matter?

Answer 1

Sorry this so long, but, I can talk for hours on this subject.

I have lived on a boat and from time to time go stay for a month on my Brother's boat now docked in Texas.
Size has a lot to do with it. My brothers boat is big. 70 feet long, about 14, maybe 16 feet wide. Below deck it have 5 bedrooms with bunks for 2 in 4 rooms and 4 bunks in one. These referred to as Berths. So, it can sleep 12 people. The ceiling is about 9 feet below deck. This boat is like a house.
Now the boat I want to live on (& I will get it when I find the right deal), it will be about 32 feet and 8-10 feet wide (Beam). I say it sleep 2 as it have a bedroom in front, living room with a small Kitchen (Galley). Between the living and bed is a Bathroom (Head) with all that stuff and holding tank. This boat is like living in a Camping Trailer. It small, but, cozy if this what a person like.
My brother's boat has twin diesel engines and from Fort Pierce, Florida to Galveston, Texas used about 1,400 gallons of fuel @ $1.79 at the time. My boat being sails would use maybe a1 gallon depending. His boat slip is $400 a month, mine will be $130.
These are a few things to consider. A sailboat close in size to my brother's boat would be nice, but, they expensive and hard for 2 people to handle. 32-40 feet may be easy for 2. From 40-50 you may still find something nice at a reasonable price and be able to handle it.
Learn the different types of sail rigs. Myself I want a Ketch and a Yawl be second choice. But there others, schooners, sloops, catboats, etc. also sails Gaff (Four sided and an easy sail to work) and Marconi (Triangle shape more for speed).
Many people can live together on a boat. Many can not. Small and everything need its place and you can not have everything. If you have a friend with a camping trailer around 32-38 feet see if you can rent it to live in for a month and see how the both of you do. The people I know living on boats are very happy people and seem less stressed with life. ;-)

Answer 2

My wife and I have lived aboard for many years together. Living aboard and cruising are very different. Living aboard is a closer environment, and still working... You really only see each other for a few hours a day and weekends. Cruising you see each other up close for 24/7. A lot of relationships can't handle this. It is a good idea to live aboard and try it out first (for at least a year or so). We enjoy it, but do communicate well. WE have a 7 year old son who knew no other home, but the boat and his forward V-birth his whole life. We just came back from cruising and is in a house where he does miss the boat. You adjust to a simpler life and small spaces. If you are a material person, it's tough because you can't have it all. Marina's that allow live aboards, and getting into a live aboard marina can be hard, but starting out as a transient and working your way into a marina lave aboard situation works. The harbor masters like to have tenants that are invisible, clean, and don't complain. Can you blame them.

andy

Answer 3

that is pricy! But if you insist i suggest buying a Hunter 49 BIG BOAT used to circumnavigate. But storms are your problem this probably didnt help much but i dont know

Answer 4

get ready to ride out alot of storms,,and having to pay BIG bucks to pull ya boat when the hurricanes come in

Answer 5

I am jealous,, I always wanted to do that, but I would google that, because there have been families that have done it,

they are small, limited space etc.