Living Aboard Thoughts?

O.K. Let's be realistic about this....you're not going to find anything that will accommodate the two kids and your girlfriend for 200 grand. If you love being on the water, buy a houseboat built on a barge and then tie up a runabout to the barge/houseboat. If you can't find one in your price range, buy a used barge...they are in abundant supply and build your house on it. The reason for the barge is that you can place all of your holding tanks inside the hull of the barge, along with some other systems, pumps, etc. If you go that route, then you'll probably have to pay dockage fees every month, but on the flip side you'll be close to the water and have a small boat for day trips. That's the best I can come up with on your budget. Best of luck.

I agree and don't see the cost as an issue. Plenty of people live on trawlers they buy for less. The bigger issue I see is your need to get some training and experience before getting yourself into trouble. Perhaps start with a captain and a charter for a nice vacation and see how that works out. See what you, your kids, and your gf think. Then put together a plan to learn and buy.

1) YES! Although obsessed may be a better word for it. It makes absolutely no sense from any practical standpoint. It's just something that gets in your blood, like a drug, that you just need to do.

2) A lot has to do with their ages. Remember that kids crave stability. (So do women which is why you'll find that most livaboards are single men. Kids are also very concerned about fitting in with their peers. Living on a boat will make them stand out, and that can be hard. There are also dangers. Remember that kids must by law wear a PFD while on deck, and there's good reason for that.

3)/ 4) Absolutely power. For starters there's a lot more space aboard a powerboat, and I agree there are some very good older powerboats available for around $200K. A 50-ish Hatteras from the early 80's for instance.

5) Absolutely rent. There's been a push for selling slip space, especially in places like Florida. I can't think of a worse investment. It's on a par with timeshares. They're near impossible to sell, except back to the company that owns the dock (it's often even in the contract)

6) There's no such thing. It's a rapidly depreciating asset, although an older boat is more affected by the general economy than by actual depreciation. The Hatteras' I mentioned is a very good example.

7) Keep in mind that Boat stands for Beak Out Anther Thousand. Everything is more expensive when you attach the word marine" to it, from cleaners to door nobs. Also keep in mind that you'll buy everything in smaller (more expensive unit price) quantities, because you have very little storage space.

8) Kiss your GF goodbye. If she's not 100% behind it (and it appears she's not) she'll be gone to the first guy with a car and condo, because he represents stability to her (women crave stability also).

So that brings you back to 1) How much do you need the drug?

I've been living aboard my 70' custom motoryacht for the past few years with my wife and 4 kids. I have three daughters (12, 15, 16) and one son (18). The decision to live aboard has been one of the best decisions we have ever made. That said, it is not for everybody and there are a lot of things to consider.

First, there is living aboard... and there is camping aboard. Full size galley appliances, an oven you can cook a turkey in, washer and dryer, and closet hanging space are critical. Standard household water pressure with accumulator tank. Actual full size shower and even a tub, These are all comforts of home. Newer boats in your price range are great weekenders, but any longer than a few weeks and you will soon feel as if you are camping, not living. Look at as many boats as you can and don't make any exceptions on these critical items. This knocked sailboats off our list entirely. In your price range, take a look at classic Hatteras motor yachts. The 53MY is specifically. There is a dedicated Hatteras forum elsewhere that is a wealth of knowledge.

I don't want to sound like a snob, but I cringe when I explain that we are a liveaboard family. Most liveaboards never leave the dock, In fact, its harder to leave the dock as a liveaboard because you need to properly stow all your "things" and shift gears into cruising mode. For some reason every liveaboard I meet starts hoarding potted plants. I'm not sure why, but I have a few of them myself. Maybe its the fact that we live life in the Keys, but most liveaboard boats aren't in proper cruising condition either. Years and years of deferred maintenance stack up making it impossible to get off the dock and cruise.

Having all people on board with the decision to live aboard is also critical. Not everybody has a passion for being on water. For whatever reason things break and fail on a boat much more frequently than in a house. Every once in a while the family needs to tolerate nuisances like the air conditioning not working while an issue is resolved, or water restrictions because the watermaker isn't working properly while cruising. Also, little challenges like boarding the boat from the dock while holding groceries, or carrying the new couch onto the boat and removing the old one are more difficult than while living in a house.

Location of your "home port" is important for the kids. Schools are a huge consideration. Many marinas have no amenities and no "back yard" for the kids to spend time in. Kids don't want to spend all their time inside the boat, or should't be for that matter. Many of the boaters at some marinas are weekend warriors or "drunk-aboards". Other marinas might be the "yacht club" type and some are filled with transient types that you wouldn't want your kids to be around. Spend almost as much time looking at different marinas as you do looking at new boats. Find one you like and rent the slip. I see no benefit and only downsides to owning a slip. The dynamics of your slip neighbors and the marina change. If they change for the worse you can untie your lines and go somewhere else. If you owned your slip things would be more complicated.

We wash the boat every Sunday. Most people aren't crazy enough to scrub the outside of their house with soap and water and windex the windows once a week, but this is normal maintenence for a boat. We pay to have the bottom cleaned once a month even though I'm a diver since I don't find it enjoyable at all. Also, you should have a passion for mechanical work. The more you fix and upgrade your self around the boat the more intimate knowledge you will gain about your boat and her systems. This brings huge benefits when you are off the dock cruising and inevitably something breaks.

That said, the rewards are huge for the person that has a passion for boats, desire for constantly being on the water, and interest in mechanical work! I type this from a beautiful anchorage in the Exumas, Bahamas.

You might have missed:
"I am looking to keep this whole thing under $200,000 "

I suppose it all depends on the definition of "this whole thing". The price of the boat is the entry fee. The real price is the continuing maintenence and repairs insurance docking etc... etc... If TheBigJPman understands this and is on the same page, plenty of classic Hatteras 53 in cruising condition (not bristol) are offered at around $200k entree fee. Quite a few of other builds as well. Keep in mind I'm talking about older boats 1970s - 1980s.

1970 hatteras 53 Boats For Sale

Absolutely. I'm on a 1981 56MY Hatteras. It would make a good livaboard, but there's also a learning curve. If you've caught the Great Loop Cruise Video thread you've heard about our electric woes, having to put out (2) 50 amp cords because of the all too common 175v electric, dealing with the unavailability of 32VDC anything, remembering to hold the toilet button for a full 5 seconds after all solids are gone or enduring a not too pleasant job, etc. etc., etc.

A houseboat in Puget Sound is a pretty cool life, but again there's the kid & GF who like to look at a guy who seems "stable". Life is so much more pleasant when all are on the same page.

P.S. Just came back in from resetting the breaker for the fourth time in the last 2 hours AND I happen to be on one of the rare docks I've found with 220v and I have the load split over (2) cords. Yep, life on an older boat. (but I get paid for it.)

Plus 1 to all that but number 8.

It's not a given she'll split. More than one woman has come around after a few romantic dinners and nights on a boat.

How long are you married Bill. I've got 37 years. I'd be gone if she told me to give up boats, bikes and looking at pretty girls and she'd be gone if I told her to live on a boat. You can paint over a zebra's stripes and it'll look like a horse for awhile, but try to ride it and you'll find out it's still a zebra.

I was seriously looking at living aboard a vessel again myself,...but that got nixed by my Thai wife who is afraid of being on the water...next to it OK, just not on it.

Anyway I did a fair amount of looking at a number of trawler types, etc,....then suddenly discover a 42' Chris Craft Catalina,...one heck of a nice layout with a double berth strm at either end, and a nice size galley and saloon, even a tub-shower in the master strm.

Most of these are gas powered, but if in decent shape that should not present a problem as you don't intend to do a look of running. Best yet you can find them for $35 - $70K.

If you are interested I saved a number of photos of different ones for sale on my computer. I could send you some photos if you want?

In Europe these are quite popular. They can do lots of travel coasting too.
This is an example... good french boat sale site in english.

Boats for sale France, boats for sale, used boat sales, Barges For Sale Canal Barge 19 metre. Built 1921 - Apollo Duck

I would be game for a livaboard but others would not.

Liveaboards in Europe

Karo, I have to agree with you. Those large Dutch river barges are the perfect home on the water in Europe. Thousands of those steel boats from 30 ft up to 300 ft in length can be found all over Europe on rivers, in harbours or on the canals and in in the cities. Not all of them are self propelled anymore or still certified as ships or yachts but they float. Most of them are permanently moored and connected to the power, water and discharge network of the towns but they float. If you dont like your neighbours anymore, have it towed to a different location, because it floats! And as I said before, a friend of mine from school lives for decades on one of those floating homes in Amsterdam and he still loves it.

Some of those former merchant vessels are more than hundred years old but they are still afloat. They are made in such a solid manner, they will stay afloat for another hundred years. I have seen a few with original 1 or 2 cylinder, 2-stroke, long stroke diesel engine in it and still working. If they are certified as historical inland waterway and costal pleasure vessels, they are relativly easy to maintain and run very economical.

The provide great amont of space and living area, can have all amenities like a home on land and are very safe. And most of all, they are very reasonably priced.

In the Netherland, many of those liveaboard vessels even have lay down masts and sail and they sail quite well.

If I would decide to leave my life behind and move onto the water, I would buy one of those and have it moved to a canal in a nice coastal town in the Netherland.

Karo, the only problem I do see with one of those Dutch floating homes, how would they look in a marina in Southern Florida or on the Great Lakes

Bringing one over to the states would be no problem. We can give you a great rate for a 100 to 300 ft outsized heavy deckload from Rotterdam, NL to Newark .