Live aboard @ middle-age

[Northern Spy]

I would think living aboard has more to do with the resiliency of the person(s), than any other factor.

That said, as ugly and unnautical® as a houseboat or shantyboat is, one might make more sense if cruising weren't a factor.

 

[alormaria]

Go for it!

 

[Northern Spy]

Go for it!

Only way to find out. Life is indeed short.

 

[rwidman]

Hi everyone!

I wanted some feedback , reality check, or any advice.

My story is simple. I'm 47 and my fiance is 51. We are getting married in April. We only have one grown child between us. We have a new house, pets etc. But we're tired of the "rat race" . We had been looking at tiny houses for the last 2 yeas, but a few weeks ago we both discovered we have dreamed of living on a boat full- time, but were always told it wasn't realistic . So two crazy people have started putting a plan together.

So are we crazy at our age taking a chance no matter what people say?

We are looking at 44ft Trawlers under $60,000...is this reasonable?

Anyone in there 40's / 50's that are still working and took the leap? Any regrets?

Thanks in advance for the response!

You've gotten a lot of advice and as usual, a lot of conflicting advice so I suspect you don't know any more than you did before you posted.

I know (not well) a couple who went directly from living on land and not boating to buying a trawler about the size (and probably price) you are considering. They knew nothing about boats or boating, they just decided they wanted to live on a boat.

They got a friend (who was also my friend, that's how I knew them) to move the boat from where they bought it to a slip in a marina. They got in an argument with the marina management and got their friend to move it to a different marina.

They never take the boat out of the slip, they never cruise and they don't know how or if the systems work. But, they are living on a boat. They work in town and commute each day just like if they were living in an apartment or condo.

That's one way to do it. Another is to sail off into the sunset with jobs you can do over the Internet. That, of course, calls for a seaworthy boat and boating experience and skill.

Living on a boat is a romantic notion that may or may not work out for you. Do the research, think long and hard about it, then make your decision.

 

[psneeld]

I would think living aboard has more to do with the resiliency of the person(s), than any other factor.

That said, as ugly and unnautical® as a houseboat or shantyboat is, one might make more sense if cruising weren't a factor.

 

[Fletcher500]

Thread is 6 hours old and 20 replies.

Welcome to the OP and goodonya for having the good sense to start a thread like this in January! The rest of you need to take your boat out and have some fun

Hmm, you have almost 8,000 replies.

 

[ranger58sb]

You've gotten a lot of good advice, but to find out if living aboard is even a realistic option for you, I suggest you charter a boat for a week in the size range you're considering. It won't give you all the answers, but you'll know a lot more than you do now.

Or a less-expensive experiment might be to live in the kitchen/bathroom/one-bedroom for a week or so. Even that could be more overall space than the interior of a 44' trawler, depending.

If that works, then chartering can answer more questions about the water part of the question.

-Chris

 

[psneeld]

Living aboard can even be split inot 2 groups...totally giving up all property and storage ashore....or not.

Till you leave EVERYTHING behind...there is no "getting a feel for it".....

The minute you remembered you wanted to start or bring along a hobby that needs storage or spreading out room......good luck

I have yet to meet a person yet that I fully believe that can say "sure, I knew exactly what I was getting into when I bought a boat, sold everything, and moved aboard".....

Especially in cold winter climates....

Not saying I don't know those that have done it, but none say it is exactly what they thought it would be.

 

[BandB]

Not saying I don't know those that have done it, but none say it is exactly what they thought it would be.

No major life changes, and this is certainly one of the biggest one can make, is ever exactly what we thought it would be. Some better, some worse. However, the more you research and discover in advance the less likely you'll find it disappointing.

 

[psneeld]

I guess I can only add that virtually all I have encountered have not discovered (which I think is classified as different than research...more hands on?) much towards totally letting go of landside possessions except maybe a vehicle someplace....

......And much of the research is tainted by those that say go for it, how bad can it be when they themselves have never done it but act like a few months cruising here and there remotely mirrors it?

 

[BandB]

I guess I can only add that virtually all I have encountered have not discovered (which I think is classified as different than research...more hands on?) much towards totally letting go of landside possessions except maybe a vehicle someplace....

......And much of the research is tainted by those that say go for it, how bad can it be when they themselves have never done it but act like a few months cruising here and there remotely mirrors it?

Most have leaned toward more time on a boat and less on land in varying degrees. There's a huge difference in living on a boat using it much as you would a vacation home but always having a home to return to vs giving up all other housing. Some also in giving up housing on land are open up front to the fact that they do intend to find some new form of land housing at some time.

Not a lot of full time on the water, forever.

Then there is the difference between the cruising live aboard who lives on a functioning boat and at least occasionally uses it as a boat vs the liveaboard who lives in a very small apartment type thing that happens to float and be at a marina.

While we didn't go in planning to live on a boat full time, we still confirmed very much in our mind very quickly that we valued having a land home and spending about 1/4 to 1/3 or our time there.

 

[Fletcher500]

.....And much of the research is tainted by those that say go for it, how bad can it be when they themselves have never done it but act like a few months cruising here and there remotely mirrors it?

I think that is a fair statement, so people like yourself are best to answer the question. Cruising for a few days, and perhaps a week trip in the summer, is much different than living aboard 24/7/365.

I spent my time in cramped quarters on ships when I was younger, and loved it. Personally, I don't want to do the long term thing anymore, and we enjoy about 100 nights aboard - max. However, I can see the many benefits that people are describing, and unconnected from the often crazy land life.

As far as dock queen, eh, I don't get quite get it.

 

[brian eiland]

Originally Posted by Happy Thought
There is an entertaining book written by a couple that purchased a Pilgrim 40 and lived aboard. Can't think of the title right now but maybe someone here knows of it.

"7 miles an hour" by Don Wallace ..story of MV Jazz a Pilgrim 40

https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Miles-Hour-Retiring-Trawler-ebook/dp/B00REQJR84

written by an older couple who knew almost nothing about boats
https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Miles-Hour-Retiring-Trawler-ebook/dp/B00REQJR84#reader_B00REQJR84

 

[Gordon J]

Instead of chartering a boat, or even leaving your house, you can get a sense of what it is like to live on a boat.

First, take most of the furniture you own and put it in the living room and kitchen. Make sure you can get from room to room. Take all your tools and put them in a box, that you lock in the basement, but basement access is through a door, blocked by a couch.

Take all your food and stuff it inside the hollow portions of the couch. When you want to eat something, you have to find a way into the hollowed out place in the couch. Pots and pans can be in the kitchen cupboards.

You will not be allowed to park the car in the driveway. You must park it at least 100 yards from the house - even when you go shopping. If you plan to cruise with your boat, then you must go shopping without your car.

To practice boat maintenance, you may park the car in the driveway. Change the oil, but you will not be allowed to put the car on stands or otherwise elevate it. Oh, and you must use the tools you previously stored in the basement. You may bring up no more than three tools at a time.

You will have limited wifi, so you need to cut your cable and try to live on your telephone hotspot only. If you have money, you may install satellite television. Your television may not exceed 32 inches.

In the winter you must set your thermostat at 60 degrees, if you have a heat pump and 70 degrees if you have an oil heater. You must crack a window in the galley and saloon a quarter inch, even in freezing weather. Also crack a window in the head.

While the above will not give you the entire experience of living on a boat, it will give you an idea of what it is like. We still haven't talked about emptying holding tanks, or fixing toilets, plumbing, electrical or air conditioning.

Gordon

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr, GJ. Excellent advice but may I add. Fill your kitchen sink and your refrigerator with a few bricks to minimize their useful function. Fridge bricks must be placed at the front of the shelves so they have to be moved if you want to get at anything to eat. You are only allowed to use one stove element. Put extra bricks on the stove to also minimize the size of pots or pans you can use.
Taps MUST be left dripping with the plug in the sink (under the bricks...remember?). When the sink overflows it must be bailed with a coffee cup and the water disposed of ON the foot of the bed. One cup-one trip. No using a bucket!
Put a radio on a random timer, tuned to a rock station and turned up loud. This MUST be placed UNDER the bed but out of contact with the sink bail water. More to come...

 

[Gordon J]

I was hoping

that this might spark some other ideas.

RT, your suggestions are exactly right. Also, puts a few bricks in the freezer so that it reduces available space.

Gordon

 

[Gordon J]

Also,

Just to make the experience complete, stick some velcro on the back of a sponge and on the ceiling of your bedroom, right above your bed. Just before bedtime, load the sponge with water and restick to ceiling. Try to disregard the occasional drop of water falling on your head. This will simulate condensation from a hatch or a leaking hatch during a heavy rain.

Gordon

 

[Lostsailor13]

Hi everyone!

I wanted some feedback , reality check, or any advice.

My story is simple. I'm 47 and my fiance is 51. We are getting married in April. We only have one grown child between us. We have a new house, pets etc. But we're tired of the "rat race" . We had been looking at tiny houses for the last 2 yeas, but a few weeks ago we both discovered we have dreamed of living on a boat full- time, but were always told it wasn't realistic . So two crazy people have started putting a plan together.

So are we crazy at our age taking a chance no matter what people say?

We are looking at 44ft Trawlers under $60,000...is this reasonable?

Anyone in there 40's / 50's that are still working and took the leap? Any regrets?

Thanks in advance for the response!

h


I also was told by my old school mother it's not realistic,and being my mother always listen to her advice,but now on my first fixer upper liveaboard,and totally loving everything about it,just for future readers of this post if anyone tells you it's not realistic,tell them they are wrong,not only is it realistic,but it's a total blast every second of every day,wish I had done this 10 years ago

 

[tiltrider1]

h


I also was told by my old school mother it's not realistic,and being my mother always listen to her advice,but now on my first fixer upper liveaboard,and totally loving everything about it,just for future readers of this post if anyone tells you it's not realistic,tell them they are wrong,not only is it realistic,but it's a total blast every second of every day,wish I had done this 10 years ago

While I agree with you about living aboard, it is not for most.

 

[FF]

While this is the Trawler Forum it could perhaps better be called the power boat cruisers forum. Most owners operate 50 to a few hundred hours a year and require systems aboard that allow a comfortable lifestyle underway , some are very comfortable at anchor.

A boat is a specialist , just as you would not chose a motorcycle to carry sheets of ply home from a box store , or an 18 wheeler to explore off road trails , the boat is chosen to match the task.

HOUSEBOATS are delightful to use as a cottage on the water , they excel for living plugged into the power pole. Most can even be operated as swimming or fishing platforms near home.

AS you get older ladders get harder to use , so many houseboats are single level , or have a gentle stair set to an upper level, for a scenic view.

Don't let the folks strutting the dock with a Greek fish hat pounding their chest about how their "trawler" can visit the world , slow down your dream.

If you want to live aboard , chose a boat designed to do the job, a houseboat.

 

[Iggy]

Our house is worth at least 4 times our boat value. The boat easily costs 3 times as much to own on an annual basis. Both are paid for. The house is appreciating, the boat depreciating.

I'll leave the rationale to you seashar

Yep! On the Above.....

We were going to live aboard too, but decided against it. One small thing was, we were going to need some sort of storage on land which adds an extra cost to this.

And yes, it more expensive to keep a boat going 24/7 than a house. You will need a great financial plan behind you to keep the money flowing.

The trawler I just bought was in the 160K range and for me to live aboard I would need a few upgrades. Bigger battery banks, larger hot water heater, and more.

My friend bought a 55ft Nordhavn and thats what there doing. Selling everything and living aboard. As theses boats go, they have more backup systems than a regular trawler would have. Two gensets, a main and a fly engine, too much to list. Plus, he can fix almost anything.

Good luck!