Hi everyone

[Jimsid]

I'd like to introduce myself to the forum. I've recently developed a hankering for buying a live aboard Trawler. I've been reading a lot of informational sites and listening to podcasts and truthfully I'm overwhelmed at the amount of information available.



I'm single with a dog and I would like to find a trawler to do the ICW and the loop. There are so many options out there I need someone to offer me some suggestions. I'd like to find a used 35' trawler with a single diesel engine and bow thruster that would fit the bill. Speaking of bills, my maximum price for the boat would be in the $75,000 range. I'm not a mechanic, so I need a reliable boat. My home port would be somewhere in North Carolina.


Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.


Jim

[rgano]

Welcome. I think you would do well to follow "The adventures of Sylphide" by user Wayfarer here. Dave (although an experienced merchant mariner) started out here with a similar sort of desire and is now regaling us regularly with tales of his travels. It will give you a great perspective.

[firehoser75]

Jim,
Welcome to the Forum!!!

The biggest piece of advice that I can give is to try to find a boat that has been lovingly maintained. At that price range and size, I would suspect you are limited to a fairly old boat. Older boats can cost a lot in terms of upkeep, maintenance, updating, and repairs. If you start out with a boat suffering from lack of maintenance, those costs can become prohibitive even if you somewhat of a DIYer.
Even if you can find a well maintained boat to fit your needs, do not invest all available funds in purchasing the boat. Keep a sizeable budget available for "upkeep". For this age and price range, I would suggest that the often quoted 10% of purchase price per year might not be enough, especially in the first few years of ownership.
Good luck.

[Moonfish]

Welcome aboard, and good luck in fulfilling your dream!

[Jimsid]

Many thanks. I will definitely check out that thread. I may have a somewhat similar background as Sylphide. I just recently got an upgrade to my merchant marine credentials to a 50 ton master. That said, I've never owned a boat bigger than 25 '. This will be interesting. Thanks again!

[Comodave]

Welcome aboard.