Live aboard haters

[Comodave]

You find some incredibly disgusting things in vacant houses. I never opened refers until I was really to walk out the door. The smells were bad.

 

[Hippocampus]

Used Upper Woburn in Grenada for a haul out. Cove was littered with single old men from various countries (France, Germany, Canada, Australia etc.) mostly in their 80s. The morning cruisers net was used to see who would check on them and help them. Several had lethal diseases (brain tumor, cancer etc.) they have no money and med care there is dismal. All over the Caribbean you see abandoned boats. Locals have told me many of these are cruisers folks who have sailed there then aged and fallen on hard times then died.

 

[slowgoesit]

Nope, new slab and flooring abd a bit of paint and they sold the house. I would not have wanted it...

I'm kind of surprised that muriatic acid couldn't pull out the smell in concrete.



Note: Previous post about disclosing deaths in a house, not required in most locals.

 

[BandB]

Wifey B: Do we really want to know the full history of the house we're buying or living in? Let's say there was a horrible crime committed in the house I live in about 10 years before we bought it, I think ignorance is bliss in this case.

Ok, to the somewhat lighter side of houses with history. A couple we knew was new to a small town in NC and found an owner selling a house which they really liked. Decided to do a lease option as the owner was not in need of the money and owner's new home was about built.

The owner was a bit notorious around town. He was quite well off but no regular job, did this here and that there but his nearest to an occupation was as a gambler. Now this was before casinos in every town and hamlet. It was the old fashioned local illegal poker rooms he'd frequent. Apparently won big time. Ok. His girlfriend was a nursing director in a local hospital. Together for years and years but would never marry as she didn't want to have financial ties to him and definitely never a joint tax return, but she did love him. With just the two of them they'd enlarged the master bedroom which was on the back side of the house and it was huge.

They were well known in town and in spite of his means of making a living everyone in town liked Carl and Nancy. Perhaps part came from their annual July 4 party where they invited anyone to come.

So our friends would just mention the house and everyone would ask, "Carl M's house?" and they'd say yes and then people would smirk and smile and giggle but say no more generally. Some would even ask if they still had the cute English Bulldogs.

Finally one person pulled them aside and said, "You really don't know the history do you?" Well, how can you say if you know or not when you don't know what it is they're asking if you know but the person continued.

One day a few years earlier, Nancy had been home alone, in the back bedroom getting ready to go to work, the dogs in the fenced back yard. She looked out and was shocked at what she saw taking place as the electric meter reader was in the back yard. She quickly called the police and reported the meter reader in the yard, but then that part was ok. What she was reporting however, was sexual activity between the meter reader and their English Bulldog as he was fully in the mounted position when she observed him. In fact, his pants were still down when the police arrived.

Now in a small rural town soon everyone knew and for anyone who didn't it was even the front page of the weekly newspaper, disclosing full details and even photos of the man and the dog, although separately and not in the act. The article went on to say the man had since left town and they didn't know where he moved. And so that's the story of the Meeks house that the mere mention of the house always brought smiles and laughs. They learned to simply say, "Yes, it's the house" and laugh too. :lol:

 

[Seevee]

Here, boat owners pay property taxes on their boats, and in my municipal marina, property taxes on their rented berths. Just like having a "dirt" home. If wanting to avoid paying taxes, live in a "mobile-home" development.

Well, ya ain't gonna get out of taxes. There's a tax on just about everything.

 

[South of Heaven]

Good thread walk!

 

[Zoar]

I thought this place was about boats??

 

[NUTIN FANCY TOO]

New to the forum, but not new to living abroad.
I'm in NW Alabama, and almost,if not all marinas here absolutely refuses to have any liveaboards. About a year and a half ago, or a little longer possibly, there was a fire that killed 7-8 people from one family. The boat was on the far end of the dock, and after the fire had started spreading, no one could reach them .Sad.
But,that being said,there are STILL liveaboards. But,those have been "grandfathered "in. Call any marinas up here on the Tennessee River, and you'll get a hard NO. But when i bought my boat at one of these marinas, after meeting the owners,and them seeing that i am clean,keep a tidy boat,help others,PUMP OUT REGULARLY, buy fuel,eat at the restaurant, and,last but certainly not least, i take my boat out every few weeks,and show that i am a capable Capt. The other night,we had a problem where the police were called due to some crazy going on in an abandoned boat,i was introduced as a "long term transient ". I'll take that title anyday.
Point being,be invisible, but helpful,be courteous, be a boat Capt, not a resident.

 

[OldDan1943]

Nutin Fancy, sounds like they need to add more fire hose boxes along the docks.

 

[NUTIN FANCY TOO]

That's not my point. My point was...because of the fire,NW Alabama,along the Tennessee River, is against liveaboards. More fire hoses I r not,people lost their lives, plus,it was in the middle of the night. Folks were asleep, and, when the fire was discovered, the family that perished was at the far end of the dock. Other boats were burning.
A liss of life is a tragedy, and,marinas are shying away from liveaboards.
Thankfully, I am a good tenant. Not,as we call them...Dock Rats.
I Capt my boat,and am helpful to those coming in to dock.
Also,when walking my dog in thd morning, i try to help the marina owner when the trash trucks leave our 7-8 cans either sideways, or the tops up,or both.
Be invisible except when you shouldn't. Be helpful, except when you're not. Be aware of problems, and, if it looks serious enough, contact the management, but don't be a busy body.

 

[BandB]

That's not my point. My point was...because of the fire,NW Alabama,along the Tennessee River, is against liveaboards. .

And because of the fire, I'm against marinas like the one where it occurred. So many things wrong there that just invited a disaster.

 

[Bill V]

It only takes one bad Apple to spoil the whole barrel. Four out of five liveaboards look like every other boat in the marina but that 5th one is usually a blue tarp special with bikes and plants all over it. Boat hasn’t been washed or left the dock for years, there is a collection of derelict dingys around it and the owner has three broken down cars in the parking lot. Not to mention this same person keeps throwing tenant rights Complaints at the port manager. Same individual is probably pumping black water at night and has a barking dog that defecates on the dock regularly.

Wow, you must have been in Squalicum Harbor Marina in Bellingham recently. Many like you describe and getting worse.

 

[tiltrider1]

Wow, you must have been in Squalicum Harbor Marina in Bellingham recently. Many like you describe and getting worse.

The shorter the slip length the bigger the problem. I prefer a dock that only has 60’ slips. Less problems.

 

[DaveGibson]

I have been looking into living aboard, but is finding out marinas don’t like live aboards . Why is that? I m new to boating an it will take me some time before I m able to cruise full time.

It might have something to do with hanging laundry over the lifelines.

Some of it is government mandated. When I was in Georgia, at the time there was only three liveaboard marinas permitted.

 

[OldDan1943]

We hang laundry outside after the sun goes down and bring it inside before the sun comes up.
When I get the cockpit canvas, it can stay up durning the daylight too.

 

[boatpoker]

As a full time liveaboard and marine surveyor since 1994 ... I have long refused to survey liveaboard boats. Most of them just give me the willies.

 

[Hippocampus]

BP - So someone is living on a 50’+ Nordhavn or a Dashew or Seaton and you won’t survey it?

 

[boatpoker]

BP - So someone is living on a 50’+ Nordhavn or a Dashew or Seaton and you won’t survey it?

I learned the hard way. I don't need the business

 

[catalinajack]

The Willie's? Really? Who the hell are you? Are you the only decent live aboard in the entire boating world? I am deeply offended. My wife and I full-timers, have grandchildren, and even a few friends. You?

As a full time liveaboard and marine surveyor since 1994 ... I have long refused to survey liveaboard boats. Most of them just give me the willies.

 

[boatpoker]

The Willie's? Really? Who the hell are you? Are you the only decent live aboard in the entire boating world? I am deeply offended. My wife and I full-timers, have grandchildren, and even a few friends. You?

When I come home and have to strip my flea infected clothes before going inside, yeah I don't like like it. It has happened often enough to turn me off.

My boat is impeccable as are the boats of my liveaboad friends, sadly my experience is that most are ... less than impecable. Since I can't know the condition of a boat before I step aboard, I learned to refuse those jobs a long time ago. ... I don't like smelling like cats.

 

[tiltrider1]

When I come home and have to strip my flea infected clothes before going inside, yeah I don't like like it. It has happened often enough to turn me off.

My boat is impeccable as are the boats of my liveaboad friends, sadly my experience is that most are ... less than impecable. Since I can't know the condition of a boat before I step aboard, I learned to refuse those jobs a long time ago. ... I don't like smelling like cats.

I understand where boatpoker is coming from. He is not saying that all liveaboards are bad. He is saying the bad ones are so bad that he will take the chance of losing a good job to avoid getting what is usually a bad job.

In he auto repair business I know many shop owners who won’t accept repair jobs for cars over 20 years old (exceptional they have been working on the car for the last 20 years). Their experience is that the customers have no money, that the car has multiple problems but the customer only wants fix the no drive item and ignore the safety items. Finally, the customer always returns the next day complaining that the shop broke something while they had his car.

 

[Art]

I understand and appreciate that any self employed person has the right to accept or turn down any job/project. Not too unsimilar to restaurant or tavern, for one reason or another, refusing service to someone [or group] that they deem unfit.

Point in fact: I'm a masonry concrete and tile contractor - 40 + years and running! I have every right to decide, for any personal or any other reason, to or not to take on any project offered to me. I estimate that 10% of jobs coming into my office receive a cordial: "Thank you; I am not available to accomplish your project."

Marine Surveyor - Has That Right Too!

 

[Hippocampus]

No question they have that right but all too often it’s not reality based. On the way home you drive by and take a glance. Junk on the dock and topsides just go on your way. Bristol, elegant vessel take the job. Personally object to people who judge other people by a preconceived prejudice be it color, language, party affiliation or background. View the anti liveaboard crowd in the same manner. No question many are quite sketchy but that’s obvious with a glance and no need to even board them. But many are pristine vessels. Have spent the last 7 years with international cruisers. More than half are liveaboards having sold their houses, spit up the anchor, and gone off cruising. Nearly without exception these vessels are Bristol. They are extraordinarily well maintained as liveaboards are constantly on their vessels and using them. They are betting their lives on them and want the most aesthetically pleasing surroundings as they live their lives. Yes there are the delericts inhabited by those waiting to die or other low flyers but to paint with such a broad brush as to include the average liveaboard cruiser in with them isn’t rational. In my travels see more disgusting boats owned by weekend warriors who have either lost interest, don’t have the time or deep enough pockets to properly maintain a boat.
Have no issue with BP choosing what work he wishes to do. That’s definitely his right. Have a big issue with his condemnation of all liveaboard vessels.

 

[Seevee]

I totally agree with BPs attitude. We do have the right to discriminate against certain things... like the kind of boat or how it's being used or the color of your hair.

The only things we cannot discriminate against kinds of people... race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age. But we can discriminate because of their habits, income, size of boat, pets and a lot of other things. And most of us do.

BP has found that live a boards don't fit his expectations for a good customer, and nothing wrong with that. Totally his right. And, I'll bet the most of us discriminate.



That doesn't mean live a boards are good or bad.

 

[psneeld]

Here's Boatpoker's post....


"As a full time liveaboard and marine surveyor since 1994 ... I have long refused to survey liveaboard boats. Most of them just give me the willies."


And because he won't survey them because many have poor housekeeping....he is a liveaboard hater and prejudiced?

 

[Art]

Self employed marine surveyor has every right to or not to survey any boat they may be asked to survey - Period!

As a licensed building contractor: I refuse to take on construction projects that I feel pose unusual safety risks, that have owners or managers who approach me in the wrong way, that have architectural/engineered plans wherein I perceive design concerns and/or other items from which I simply feel uneasy regarding a project.

Being an independent, solely owned masonry, concrete and tile contractor I have the right to chose how, where, when and why I will or will not take on a job.

Having been in and around the marine pleasure boating life for well over 60 years [since birth]. Having worked on boats in boat yards, built new boats in a manufacturer, owned boats and traveled on may boats; as well as, having surveyed numerous boats for myself and friends [as an unlicensed surveyor] - I feel it is perfectly acceptable for any self employed marine surveyor to for any reason pick and chose why they may or may not like to survey any boat.

 

[psneeld]

I don't think it was really meant that way on either side...


The comment was about refusing to do liveaboards because of their "category" on one side and general cleanliness on the other.


It would be like refusing to not do homeowners buildings and just commercial building because homeowners are slobs.


Even if just 10% are perceived to be slobs...better to eliminate a whole category based on that than anything else the could be construed as "realistic prejudice" ....


I don't think BP is categorizing people...rather just using a descriptor to draw a line in the sand that is defensible more than anything else.


I could be way off base and hope he explains it better....but the guy has been nice to me (a liveaboard) for the years I have known him...hard to see him as unfairly judgemental...except for boaters with really scary maintenance practices...

 

[BandB]

Point in fact: I'm a masonry concrete and tile contractor - 40 + years and running! I have every right to decide, for any personal or any other reason, to or not to take on any project offered to me. I estimate that 10% of jobs coming into my office receive a cordial: "Thank you; I am not available to accomplish your project."

Marine Surveyor - Has That Right Too!

Correction. You have the right to decide for any reason not forbidden by law, which is typically race, age, sex, ethnicity, national origin, etc. Otherwise you can reject any customer.

 

[BandB]

BP's rejection of liveaboard boats to survey:

His right.

I've always found making business decisions based on stereotypes to be unwise. I'd greatly prefer digging one step deeper to find out if my concerns are merited in an individual case. I've observed people legally discriminating in business for decades and I've seen it most of the time hurt them more than help them. But, as a business owner, his choice. He could equally decide no Nordhavn's because he believed them all to be snobs or no Sea Rays because he doesn't like Brunswick.

 

[mvweebles]

I'm a bit surprised the turn this thread has come down to. I don't know Boatpoker from Adam except he's a top contributor of valuable, thoughtful, and relevant content - he's the first person to respond to newbies who are trying to figure out how to evaluate a boat. It's an odd carve-out to say "no liveaboards," but given what I know about him, says more about liveaboards than him.

When I was delivering, I had my quirks on business I would avoid. For example, didn't take me long to avoid sailors. Not just sailboats, but sailors. Nice folks, but some had an attitude that viewed delivering their boat as something that I should pay them to do (slight exaggeration, but you get the idea). Not all, but enough that I just politely kicked them to the curb.

Peter