Tell me about the best location to liveaboard

[mikeg]

Experienced liveaboards! Tell me about your favorite place to be for an extended stay?

In the next 2-4 years I will be transitioning to a full timer. I'm fairly set on staying somewhere between the Great Lakes and Florida, but the East Coast or even the Tropics are possibilities. West coast is pretty unlikely.

No boat yet, but it will very likely be a diesel trawler, 36-48'. I will need to work from the boat and have strong (cellular) internet service and regular access to shore power. I'm not the type that needs a lot of amenities, and cheaper is better.

Also important to me is the social environment. I'm single, and I know from experience that working from home (or boat) can get very lonely. I would love to be in a marina with an active social atmosphere, and withing walking distance of a cool pub or two.

So where is your favorite place to tie up and what's great about it?

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. m. Welcome aboard, if I've missed you. We're NOT live-aboards but I would suggest warmer rather than cooler, weather-wise. No fun trying to navigate down an icy deck after an evening out or attempting to stay warm if there is a power outage UNLESS you have "company".

Also keep in mind hurricanes. They DO happen in spite of the fact that there has been less frequency in recent years.

 

[BandB]

Experienced liveaboards! Tell me about your favorite place to be for an extended stay?

In the next 2-4 years I will be transitioning to a full timer. I'm fairly set on staying somewhere between the Great Lakes and Florida, but the East Coast or even the Tropics are possibilities. West coast is pretty unlikely.

No boat yet, but it will very likely be a diesel trawler, 36-48'. I will need to work from the boat and have strong (cellular) internet service and regular access to shore power. I'm not the type that needs a lot of amenities, and cheaper is better.

Also important to me is the social environment. I'm single, and I know from experience that working from home (or boat) can get very lonely. I would love to be in a marina with an active social atmosphere, and withing walking distance of a cool pub or two.

So where is your favorite place to tie up and what's great about it?

Are you by reason of your work or other reasons limiting this to the US?

 

[mikeg]

Are you by reason of your work or other reasons limiting this to the US?

Not necessarily. I do have family in the midwestern US that I would like to keep within reasonable reach. I'm not opposed to Mexico, the Bahamas or other nearby locales.

 

[DavidM]

So I assume that you are asking about a semi permanent marina close to a town rather than a moving existence where you stay for a few days, weeks and move on to another spot.

My long term live aboard buddy has just settled in to New Bern, NC. New Bern's climate is on the northern edge of where I would be comfortable but it only snows an inch or two every few years and the creeks rarely freeze. Summers have several days in the 90s each month and it is humid. It is a fairly low cost marina and living area.

There are a couple of marinas where you can walk into the main part of town where you will find restaurants and bars. Other marinas within a few miles require a car.

I lived in Oriental, NC a few dozen miles south of New Bern, but I consider it too remote unless you are married and retired. Get my drift!!!

Good luck with your plans.

David

 

[mikeg]

Thanks! This is good info.

For the interested: New Bern has a pop. of 30000, liveaboard slips are about $7.50/ft. & up.

Just down the coast in Jacksonville (pop 70k) has a few marinas that offer slips for $5/ft.

 

[BandB]

If I was a single liveaboard, I'd strongly consider the Eastern Caribbean. Virgin Islands could be good or further down.

Every area along the coast has it's special qualities. I'm very prejudiced to South Florida but more probably would choose to live aboard just a bit further north due to price. That leads to Stuart, Ft. Pierce, Jupiter area. Then the keys are a world of their own and a great area for a single man. While Key West is where the action is, a lot of people choose to live in places like Marathon.

Your age can influence this decision a lot. The area that may be perfect for an older retired couple, might not be for someone single, middle aged, and hoping to date. I see Jacksonville, Savannah, and Charleston as good options moving up the coast with climate changing slightly colder with each move up. Further north you're into seasonal boating and colder winters. NC would be too cold for me, but might not for you. I definitely don't recommend full time living aboard north of NC. Now if you are prepared to do six months north and six months of the year south there are many options, but if you're thinking a long term relationship along the way might be nice that's not very conducive to forming one.

On around to the west coast, Fort Myers (and Cape Coral, etc.) is really a great area to call home.

I love the Bahamas. We're there right now. However, I don't see the Bahamas conducive to your desires and needs.

A reasonable strategy could be to head south to destination unknown. Spend some time in different areas. You'll know when you've hit the place you want to make home or, at least, make home for a bit longer.

 

[mikeg]

Awesome advice. I am pretty sure you're right about "you'll know it when you see it". I'm smart enough to know I don't know, you know?

I'm of the same mind when it comes to my future boat. I'm doing as much research as I can, but it's still pretty unlikely I'll pick the right boat first time. I'm thinking I might deliberately buy something really cheap and small to tool around in while I look for the right "final" boat and area to live...

I'm in my mid 40's and hoping to date, btw.

 

[BandB]

Awesome advice. I am pretty sure you're right about "you'll know it when you see it". I'm smart enough to know I don't know, you know?

I'm of the same mind when it comes to my future boat. I'm doing as much research as I can, but it's still pretty unlikely I'll pick the right boat first time. I'm thinking I might deliberately buy something really cheap and small to tool around in while I look for the right "final" boat and area to live...

I'm in my mid 40's and hoping to date, btw.

I think that last sentence then definitely should influence your choice. You need to be aware of both the demographics of the city and of the marina.

Buying smaller and cheap can be fun, but if you're living on it, that could really impact your attitude of living aboard. Might be a good test though, that if you like the lifestyle on it, then it will get better when you find the "final" boat.

I don't know how much time you've spent on trawler and trawler type boats, but you might charter to experience them if you haven't spent a lot of time.

I'd also say that those in your age bracket tend to not go full trawler mode but tend toward maintaining the option of greater speed as well. That may not be the case with you. That is an important point in your decision making though of speed. Can you live with a boat that only goes 7 or 8 knots maximum or do you really need a boat that can also go 15-20 knots or even one that's faster than that.

While 70% of those here are older than you, that does leave a goodly number of those in your age bracket and even younger. I'm not sure how many singles in your age bracket to relate more directly.

 

[sealion2288]

Thanks! This is good info.

For the interested: New Bern has a pop. of 30000, liveaboard slips are about $7.50/ft. & up.

Just down the coast in Jacksonville (pop 70k) has a few marinas that offer slips for $5/ft.

JAX is a military town. Home of the largest amphibian base in the world. The best waterfront real estate is the military base. New Bern would check most, if not all, of your boxes and the social scene would be much more in line to what you would be looking for. Several great pubs and restaurants within an easy walk of the downtown marinas. Not so much in JAX.

 

[Larry M]

Check out Fort Pierce FL. We've stopped at the City marina a few times and liked it. You're walking distance to restaurants and bars. The water font seems to be the focal point of the town and it's far enough south the winters are good. You're also near an ocean outlet so you'd have more access to fishing. One thing we noticed was FP had a pretty good age spread where it wasn't just old folks.

 

[BandB]

Check out Fort Pierce FL. We've stopped at the City marina a few times and liked it. You're walking distance to restaurants and bars. The water font seems to be the focal point of the town and it's far enough south the winters are good. You're also near an ocean outlet so you'd have more access to fishing. One thing we noticed was FP had a pretty good age spread where it wasn't just old folks.

Fort Pierce is very nice. The more times we've gone there, the more we've found to like.

 

[bilge53]

New Bern then come visit us in Oriental on the weekends. You don't want Jacksonville, NC.

 

[Nomad Willy]

Lots of people live aboard in Alaska. From OB skiffs to big old pleasure boats and some fish boats. Gotta shovel some snow in the winter but lots of guys (and girls) there to show ya how to do it.
Apartments are usually expensive.

 

[Briney Bug]

We have lived aboard in marinas in the following places, so some comments on each:

Jacksonville, FL- Lots going on; a small town friendly feel, but it's also a big sprawling city and takes a while drive across; nice places to explore by your boat on the St. John's River, so it's easy to get away from it all. Also, you can get up the St. John's to hide from hurricanes. Military and Port town.

Ft. Pierce, FL- Easy access to the Bahamas, short hop out the inlet to the ocean, but otherwise, you only have N. or S. on the ICW for boating. Nice waterfront views from marinas and restaurants. By car though, you'll just be traveling up and down U.S. 1 or I-95 to the same shopping and dining.

Panama City, FL- Also military town, friendly, but a bit more lacking the larger city social life. Great for boating- deep water bays and wildlife all around, or easily go out in the Gulf, pretty water, Shell Island is the hotspot in the summer where the locals go by boat.

 

[Sealife]

We lived in Fells Point, MD for a year before leaving. Loved it, yes a little chilly in the winter. I like the idea of cheap boat, learn what you want and all that but....Neighbor boat was a divorced guy dating etc. It was difficult for him to "bring back guest" because of his smallish, oldish boat. Something to consider when shopping. Single guys seem to tolerate things single gals would not be interested in.

We sold the house and never looked back. Good luck

 

[Ski in NC]

Don't worry too much about the exact location. Boats are mobile. Travel a bit and try new places.

Second that about not wintering N of NC. I winter in SE NC, and I don't like it. Winter on a boat you want to be S of Jax, Fla.

 

[BandB]

Don't worry too much about the exact location. Boats are mobile. Travel a bit and try new places.

Second that about not wintering N of NC. I winter in SE NC, and I don't like it. Winter on a boat you want to be S of Jax, Fla.

Wifey B: If you have a choice, why be cold? It's going down to 67 degrees where we are tonight, but we'll be able to survive it. :lol:

 

[Bigsfish]

Wifey B

Where are you in the Bahamas to have 67 degrees? Don't say the refrigerator of the marina. LOL

 

[Ski in NC]

Wifey B: If you have a choice, why be cold? It's going down to 67 degrees where we are tonight, but we'll be able to survive it. :lol:

I still have dirt based commitments here. Thus having to tolerate the winter. But things will likely be different winter next. Dirt stuff on autopilot then, hopefully.

 

[T4Liberty]

I will throw out one that will likely be missed by others here...

Madisonville, Louisiana.

Close to New Orleans for larger city culture and amenities. You can't name an area anywhere on the East Coast, Florida, etc. where you will eat better food, hear better music, meet friendlier people than Louisiana.

Just skip the snorkling, the visibility is about three inches. But the inshore and offshore fishing makes up for it!

 

[BandB]

Wifey B

Where are you in the Bahamas to have 67 degrees? Don't say the refrigerator of the marina. LOL

Wifey B: Abaco. At the moment it's 69 degrees. Of course, Fort Lauderdale is 65 degrees. Cold snap.

 

[BandB]

I still have dirt based commitments here. Thus having to tolerate the winter. But things will likely be different winter next. Dirt stuff on autopilot then, hopefully.

Wifey B: I know your reasons and you share the sentiments that even Wilmington is too cold in the winter. We moved to FL from the Charlotte area. We always were just hoping for a tolerable boating day during the winter. At least the 50's, although the 40's we might still get out. Below freezing is....well....freezing.

 

[ranger58sb]

Don't worry too much about the exact location. Boats are mobile. Travel a bit and try new places.

Yep, lots of good in this.

We're not liveaboards, nor do we aspire to that... but I think it'd be interesting to follow the weather... and at the same time, explore new places from time to time.

Winter south somewhere, summer further north, back and forth but not even to the same places every migration. Take advantage of the mobility, change of pace, etc.

-Chris

 

[Tom.B]

I will pile on for New Bern, NC, and more specifically, Northwest Creek Marina. There are a lot of live aboards, and while not a scene where you can pick up chicks, you will never be lonely. It is fsar enough out of town for a nice quiet place to watch the stars go by, but close enough to their lovely downtown area. The New Bern Grand Marina is certainly a better location, but it doesn't have the friendly atmosphere that Northwest Creek has. Cheap too at less than $7/ft.

Let us know if you have any more questions about that area. There are quite a few North Carolinians here now. That makes us very muchly smarterer.

 

[DavidM]

Moving north and south, winter vs summer, has some disadvantages. Winter marinas in southern Florida are expensive. So are New England marinas in the summer. But your heating and cooling needs should be minimal.

Another strategy is moving north and south but narrow the band, maybe northern Florida like St Augustine or Jacksonville in the winter and the eastern shore of the Chesapeake in the summer. It will take some heating and cooling and maybe that balances out the cost somewhat.

A narrower band also makes your time involved in cruising less, which isn't necessarily a good thing. The narrower band will require about 750 miles of cruising each way, whereas the wide band will require about 1,500 miles.

David

David

 

[Bigsfish]

Wifey B: Abaco. At the moment it's 69 degrees. Of course, Fort Lauderdale is 65 degrees. Cold snap.

I should have known it had to be northern Bahamas. Miami was 67 too. Yes a major cold snap, jackets and sweaters will be worn today.

 

[BandB]

Wifey B: Abaco. At the moment it's 69 degrees. Of course, Fort Lauderdale is 65 degrees. Cold snap.

I should have known it had to be northern Bahamas. Miami was 67 too. Yes a major cold snap, jackets and sweaters will be worn today.

Wifey B: Well, 72 now and on the way to 76 today. Yes, our family and friends at home were whining yesterday morning over 65 degrees at home.

I've heard it said here way too many bazillion times how you don't find a boat, a boat finds you. So, apply that to living aboard and where you settle. Listen to others, but ultimately only you can get that feel. You may absolutely love an area others don't think a lot of or reverse. Open your mind and you might be surprised. I'm Fort Lauderdale all the way, but as we've traveled I've fallen in love with so many places and could see them being nice places to live. Ft. Myers is quiet but not too remote. I absolutely fell in love with Apalachicola of all places. Who'd a thunk. The art world there and the fishing world. I love Key West, but I know many who love the Keys, all except Key West. Marsh Harbour, Abaco, was such a delightful place as this was our first time there.

Now, there are places you love to visit but then you must think, "Is this me?" For me, Apalachicola would be one of those I love to visit. Now, I could live in Naples or Venice I think, Tampa or Clearwater, but I need certain nice amenities. Fort Lauderdale has spoiled me. On the other hand those of you who love peace and quiet and don't like congestion, wouldn't like my home at all. It's like country vs. city. Most homes around us have 90-100' lots. We do have more but that's the norm. I know people who would be horrified to have less than an acre of land and prefer many acres. When we married, we were renting on 8 acres in the country but very near the big city. However, we easily sacrificed that later for 100' waterfrontage and a dock on the lake.

As you get older do you like somewhere with lots of young kids? What about teens? If you're middle aged, do you want an area where the average age is 70? Even male/female ratios.

If it's in the middle of nowhere, how far to somewhere? What about public transportation or car rental?

So, I'm still thinking that if you travel a bit the place will find you. I've read and seen many loopers who had no idea where they intended to live after the loop. A bunch of them in Marathon. We talked to some who had settled in Midway Marina on the Tn Tom of all places. They stopped for a week several years ago. They cruise up and down but that's home.

 

[Mermaid]

Do you have to stay in one spot? If not, then the answer, in my opinion, is "Chasing 75 degrees". I live aboard in Miami, FL and while the winters are awesome, summer is absolutely brutal. It is very expensive here, but the location is hard to beat. I can leave my slip and in just a few minutes be at a great sandbar with spectacular view with my anchor planted for the weekend. I have dolphins almost every evening behind my boat. Just a short boat ride in the little boat offshore puts me in some excellent fishing waters for mahi and tuna, with snapper being caught in Biscayne Bay. My friends and I can also go out in the little boat just a few minutes from my slip and bring up lobsters. Too bad I don't eat seafood of any kind, but I'm pretty popular in the galley when I cook it all for them. All in all, I put up with the summers here (then again, I have 6 air conditioning systems on board) just to have the the Miami winters. I don't think I could live "cold" again. Even north Florida gets cold by my standards. ...anytime I would need socks...that's too cold.

 

[BandB]

Do you have to stay in one spot? If not, then the answer, in my opinion, is "Chasing 75 degrees". I live aboard in Miami, FL and while the winters are awesome, summer is absolutely brutal. It is very expensive here, but the location is hard to beat. I can leave my slip and in just a few minutes be at a great sandbar with spectacular view with my anchor planted for the weekend. I have dolphins almost every evening behind my boat. Just a short boat ride in the little boat offshore puts me in some excellent fishing waters for mahi and tuna, with snapper being caught in Biscayne Bay. My friends and I can also go out in the little boat just a few minutes from my slip and bring up lobsters. Too bad I don't eat seafood of any kind, but I'm pretty popular in the galley when I cook it all for them. All in all, I put up with the summers here (then again, I have 6 air conditioning systems on board) just to have the the Miami winters. I don't think I could live "cold" again. Even north Florida gets cold by my standards. ...anytime I would need socks...that's too cold.

Wifey B: I'm with you. If it's too cold for a bikini, then it's too cold.

To those like you and like us, South Florida is Paradise. Not for everyone, but i'm glad as we have plenty of people now.

I do differ on summer as I don't find it brutal. It's never been 100 and the humidity is so good for skin and allergies and everything and there's always a nice breeze of salt air off the ocean, also good for you.

We had a wonderful summer in the PNW and Alaska a few years ago and I see how people love it. Just too cold for me, even their warm, so nice to visit but couldn't make it home.

We moved here from NC and we were happy there, but omg if we had to move back, having winter again, just wouldn't make me happy.