Old Hand at boats...... but Living on?

Sail or power? Marina or anchored out? Inland or East/west coast?

Key word "Living aboard" in the search feature. The question has been asked in many ways over the years. Here's one link that'll give you some answers:
http://www.yachtforums.com/index.php?threads/live-aboard-powerboat.21387/

$500 per month to $1 million per month. How much do you spend per month living on land? There are so many factors. How much do you use the boat? What kind of lifestyle? Restaurants vs. cook at home? Entertainment? DIY or shipyard? Steak or rice? Age and type of boat?

Whatever you figure, double it...as you are new and almost guaranteed to underestimate. My actual numbers would have no relevance at all to you. You need to start looking at each of the individual cost components yourself and slowly add them together and build a picture. Some things are easy. Look at the marinas you're considering and see their prices.

And what do you intend to do during the winter? Find a yacht club with bubblers, winterize, shrink wrap, live inside or pull out on shore and go live in an apartment?

I'd suggest doing some research on your own and then returning with specific questions regarding those areas you still have questions about. Right now this is just a vision to you and you need to work toward conceptualizing and detailing if you're serious about it.

A houseboat would be the cheapest way to go if you are restricted to rivers. Figure $50-150k just for the boat; $5-10k for maintenance; $3k dock space permissions for live-aboard, $1-2k for utilities and $100 for pump outs every month. It's an expensive proposition.

If you're talking about BIG water like Lake Erie (a very shallow body of water), then I would suggest a well built sailboat. Using a small gas or diesel engine, the costs are comparable to the river houseboat with the exception of it being a sailing vessel.

In any case you need certification courses - rules of the road, boat handling, knot tying, life saving, etc. Contact your local Coast Guard station.

Welcome GhostriderIII. I think you meant to say Coast Guard Auxiliary (or the U.S. Power Squadron) for the courses. A lot of states now require a boating license, but I believe many are phasing it in. I believe some dealers may also be giving the courses. For most licenses it's a one day course as opposed to the Basic Boating course offered by the C.G.Aux and the USPS.

I guess you're right. It used to be the Coast Guard that granted licenses, tho I got mine from US Merchant Marine Academy.

The Coast Guard does grant licenses but it requires a minimum of a 5 day course and 360 days sea time.

Then that's what he needs to do. Better to be safe than dead.

I believe you guys are talking about commercial licenses, Masters and OUPV. All he needs is a state issued boat operator's license, similar to what's needed for waverunners.

He still needs to pass a course in boat handling to get the operators license.

Depends on the state.

I was responding to ghostrider's comment where he was talking USCG captain's license. Obviously that's not required for the OP, even if it might be nice.

That sounds like you're talking about a "road test". Not in any state I'm aware of. In fact he needn't prove proficiency even with verified sea time as you do for a commercial license. Most states that are licensing require only a short course (generally a few hours to a day) in general boating (not boat handling). Some states require nothing more than having a driver's license and paying a fee. NY for one currently has no license for an adult operator.

Yes, you got led off topic by that. I know that you know olderboater.

Ok, try to buy insurance (not homeowners) with and without boat handling course and operators license.

The vast majority of US boatowners who have insurance have never had any course. Operators licenses for small boat owners are really a quite recent concept. I grew up on a lake in NC, have had insured boats all my life and until 2012 I never had any license or certificate. Insurers for small to medium size boats in the US look to experience, not licensing. Above a certain size boat then they look to experience or Captain's licenses but not to operators licenses or Auxiliary or Power Squadron courses. Again, speaking to NC, the course now required for those born after 1988 can be easily taken online and only is a small test of rules, not of ability.

Florida is the same as NC. Card required by those born after January 1, 1988.

I'm not arguing against the value of education but I do say the operator's licenses that require an hour online to obtain aren't real education. I'm just clarifying the requirements in the US. As to the OP I'd suggest some basic courses and some hands on training by an experience captain.