Comments on: Living on a Boat – Cheap Living

By: Ashley Godoy

Ashley Godoy — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:42:43 +0000

I am new to your website and unsure if you’ve done a follow up post on FOOD yet but I am definately interested! I am interested in your meal plans, grocery bills, strategies, etc. Is this something you can post about or let me know where to find it on your website? Thanks!

By: Claude & Louise

Claude & Louise — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:15:19 +0000

WoW ! WoW !
That is what we have to say – best reading I have seen in a long time – Thank You -
For a young 60 and 55 year old – this is inspiring…
We have had (weekend) boats before, however taking the plunge for permenant or part time living takes planning. We are working on an two year plan. The 1st year (this year) we are taking all necessary courses from 1st Aid to Boat Mechanics,financial planning;etc…

We are very anxious to move on with our plans – budgeting is a factor not knowing expenses which could be incurred and leaving our perminant residence is another one.

We need to start somewhere to give us the push to take that plunge we need towards leaving the consumer world and towards our dreamlife

This article has added some positive light
I will purchase this book for sure.
Thank you everyone for your comments

By: wesley lovell

wesley lovell — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:11:27 +0000

let me start by saying wow this is some of the best i have read in a long time i live in a small vilage in bailieboro on rice lake south of peterboro far from my native home barbados ilove boats and the water ispent some of my young years on boats in barbados liveing or fishing love the life hope fulley when i retyred i would live abord a boat in barbados again thanks for sharing youre exprience

By: Derrick

Derrick — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:42:06 +0000

Thanks for such a great outlook on living. We have been mobile for some 25 years and subscribe to the fact that living is not a spectator sport. I wrote a book a few years back outlining the “Mold Breakers” way of living. Breaking the “Mold” society tries to squeeze you into takes vision and a clear purpose.

Keep living your dreams and avoid the dream stealers!

By: John Bunnell

John Bunnell — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:01:17 +0000

I have lived aboard two different sailboats, and I plan to live aboard again in a few years. The first was a Nor’Sea 27 sloop on which I lived for a couple of years in Solomons, MD. Next was an old Chapelle-designed 42′ wooden schooner that my wife and I lived aboard for a couple of years in Half Moon Bay, CA. Now we are renovating a ketch-rigged Gulfstar 44 motorsailor for our retirement. The Gulfstar 44 motorsailor is a great liveaboard, with as much room down below as a small condo, with two heads and two staterooms, and a huge saloon. It has a shoal draft of only 3.5 feet, which is great for coastal cruising along the East Coast, in the Chesapeake, Barnegat Bay, the Intra-Coastal Waterway, the Caribbean, etc.

By: Charles Ogle

Charles Ogle — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 14:52:27 +0000

GREAT SITE! We recently made out retirement decision to become “live aboarders” (on our 47ft trawler), spending summers cruising/living around the Cheasapeek and winters in Florida. We first explored getting a waterfront condo with possible boat slip in Florida and selling our Maryland home. My wife was having a hard time with her “loss of roots” in that scenario plus, we found the costs of a condo and its fees/taxes/insurance to be exorbitant and much of Florida to be very crowded, both on and off the water.
Then we found a beautiful marina option in the Cocoa area on Florida’s east coast south of Daytona. I can rent here or purchase a slip (under $150k compared to Condo at over $450k), have no property taxes and no additional insurance except for my boat policy liability. If I buy my slip, it is rented out for me when I’m gone or cruising south and we get 75% of the rental income. That rent can pay my low monthly fees and cover the costs of other marina stays while I cruise.
Not having to buy a condo allows us to keep our Maryland home maintaining those “roots” while I’m guaranteed a great winter berth with wonderful waterfront view!
After the “hit” our retirement funds have taken these last two years, we needed the most affordable option that we could still enjoy. We love boating and the boating lifestyle. Our new berth in a peaceful area of Florida (where we can watch the Space Shots right from our deck!) will fit that bill nicely.
We also realize that we get too old to remain aboard some day. When that time comes, we will still have our home and a boat with berth we can sell. Works for us and we are soooo excited to climb aboard!!

By: strathy

strathy — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:39:26 +0000

Hi Melody,

Thanks for the question. About winters on the boat: I’ve covered that pretty extensively on the blog. Just do a search on the blog for ‘winter’ or ’snow’ – things like that and you will find lots of information about winter on a boat in Canada.

re: Kids in School. We homeschool for now so I don’t have any direct experience. There is a mother/daughter living on a boat in our marina and the girl does attend regular school. Her mom drives her to school each morning. I expect that when she (the daughter) is older, that she will be walking/biking to school as it is quite close to the marina here. I’m not sure where you are in the world, but most marina’s are near major towns or cities, so schools should be easy and local for you. You will just have to figure out how to get your kids to the school – pretty much the same as if you lived in the ‘burbs somewhere.

Good luck!

By: Melody

Melody — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:23:37 +0000

I am a mom of two and would like to live mortgage free and this is one option that i am considering, except two major concerns; any insight into how living on a boat works when there is a blizzard outside and the temperature is -30 degrees celius; and what about sending the kids off to school, how does that work when u live on a boat?

By: JOE

JOE — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:56:02 +0000

AS A YOUNG 60 YR OLD AND ABOUT TO BUY MY FIRST BOAT I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AROUND THATS WHY I THINK YOU NEED TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU TAKE THE PLUNDGE.
JUST TO LISTEN TO YOUR TALES IS AN INSPERATION TO OTHERS WHO ARE ON THE SAME PATH AS ME.I LOOK FORWARD TO READING MORE ON THE SUBJECT AND CANT WAIT TO BE ON MY CRAFT IN THE MED VERY SOON.

BEST REGARDS

JOE

By: Jamaal

Jamaal — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:30:50 +0000

I just watched a movie about a guy that lived on the OCEAN. I told myself that I wanted that life and at the age of 24 bachelor and there is plenty of time to create that life style for myself. Your blog is very informative and gives me something to look forward to. Thank for the information.