I wana live on a boat!!

Thajeffski

Thajeffski

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Just trying to wrap my head around the idea..

I'm in the north east....... cold *** winters...... I'm 30, single, no kids, make about 75k a year.......is this doable?

I'd have a house that I could go live at during storms if need be.....

Main thing is I want to be comfortable.

How big of a boat do you think I need?
 
Bifflefan

Bifflefan

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Re: I wana live on a boat!!

Thajeffski said:
Main thing is I want to be comfortable.

How big of a boat do you think I need?
Click to expand...

For me it would be 40'.
I saw one the other day I could live on. 2 Bedrooms, 2 bath washer/dryer. living room and kitchen. twin engine. 10 years old and $179,000.00.
It was a Sea-Ray something. I had to stop looking and get off of it.
 
seabob4

seabob4

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Re: I wana live on a boat!!

50+. And many compartments, be they cabins, salon, whatever. Because eventually, you're going to get a girlfriend, and you might want to live with her. You both need your privacy, as well as being together. She also must be in good running condition, I mean, who actually want's to be moored in a slip, with neighbors 10' to either side, and all you can see out your forward deck is more boats, and not the open harbor/bay/ocean? And you can't go anywhere? You want to be able to head up or down the shore on any given weekend, see different places, anchor out away from the crowd...

In other words, ask people who already liveaboard. They are the best ones to give advice...
1sm088doubleup.gif
 
C

capt sam

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Re: I wana live on a boat!!

a friend of mine growing up, lived on a houseboat. All I remember him saying is that it pretty much sucked but we were kids then.
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Re: I wana live on a boat!!

Ayuh,... there are year around Marinas in the cities,...
You'd need a heating system/ furnace...
 
arks

arks

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Re: I wana live on a boat!!

Sure you could do it!
'Comfortable' is a relative term. Some might be OK with a 20 footer while others might need a huge houseboat. I can tell you one thing- my 34 footer feels mighty small after a week of bad weather.

My marina on the upper Chesapeake has 6 or 7 year-round livaboards. Their boats range from 40+ feet down to a 26 foot sailboat.

Personally, I don't think I'd enjoy it when the temperatures get cold, but that's just me....
I agree with SeaBob- talk to some liveaboards.
 
Thajeffski

Thajeffski

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Re: I wana live on a boat!!

Sadly we don't seem to have many around my marina.

I'm thinking I would at least need 40 feet.......

heating? well.....I might just go live at home on those really cold days/nights....
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Re: I wana live on a boat!!

heating? well.....I might just go live at home on those really cold days/nights....
Click to expand...

Ayuh,... And let the plumbing Freeze,...??
 
T

tmcalavy

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Re: I wana live on a boat!!

Hmm...young, single, but plan to snag a babe I bet...and want to be comfortable. Find a houseboat you can rent in the summer...none of your qualities/desires add up to living on a boat, especially in the NE. Sounds romantic and neat until you do it...if you remember dorm rooms, you get the picture.
 
Summer Fun

Summer Fun

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Re: I wana live on a boat!!

You'll need water bublers also. I'll be do it in 2yrs on a 30ft'er. :)
I'm selling everything and I'll live on the boat until I die. :)
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: I wana live on a boat!!

Thajeffski said:
Sadly we don't seem to have many around my marina.

I'm thinking I would at least need 40 feet.......

heating? well.....I might just go live at home on those really cold days/nights....
Click to expand...

We (wife and I) lived aboard for 15 years. 38 Trawler, and 41 Islander Freeport 41 sailboat. Including living in SE Alaska. We had heat and pets.
If you plan on living on a boat, then live the lifestyle. Heading for shore each time the weather gets cold, rainy, or windy means nothing more than you want to summer on a boat.
It's not a life for everyone.
 
Expidia

Expidia

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Re: I wana live on a boat!!

I've thought about living on a boat and my Wife would absolutely love it. For me the only feasible way is to move it down the Southern FL in the winter months.

In the Northeast we have hard winters. Ideally, a marina which has condos over looking your slip would be ideal. You can't be on a boat during a Nor'aster.

But a 40 foot boat is a yacht and is a huge expense. It would also help if you were real handy and could do most repairs yourself to offset how expensive it is to have repairs done at a marina.

Boats don't have insulation like houses do. They are cold in the winter and expensive to heat.

Being single, $70,000 after taxes depending on where you are is probably a 34% tax hit. 28% fed plus 5-6% state or $46,200 annually or about $888 a week.

$888 a week for a 40 foot yacht and another house or condo is not counting fuel, insurance and upkeep. Or food, clothing and entertainment.

You need a second income to meet your goals and objectives. One way would be to find a room mate who has the same love of boats as you and who could split some of the expenses. Or even better . . . Marry Rich!

Also I'm looking at maybe doing the same thing someday, but I might relocate to Charleston, NC which has milder winters. And the cruise down the intercoastal for the winter months is only a few states away.
 
cr2k

cr2k

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Re: I wana live on a boat!!

We have people here in Cen Cal that just wrap plastic wrap on their sailboats and live in 'em in the winter at the marina. It does get below freezing here.
 
S

Shife

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Re: I wana live on a boat!!

Don S said:
We (wife and I) lived aboard for 15 years. 38 Trawler, and 41 Islander Freeport 41 sailboat. Including living in SE Alaska. We had heat and pets.
If you plan on living on a boat, then live the lifestyle. Heading for shore each time the weather gets cold, rainy, or windy means nothing more than you want to summer on a boat.
It's not a life for everyone.
Click to expand...

Listen to every word this man has to say. Those who have survived the liveaboard life are usually sage people. It is a bizarre group for sure.
 
dvan1901

dvan1901

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Re: I wana live on a boat!!

You should check out the forum at www.livingaboard.com There is a lot of great information here; I would also check out the book that was recommended earlier in the trail, that book is referenced a couple of times on that forum.
 
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