Post: #26

(07-03-2013 06:20 AM)AntiTrace Wrote:  I thought about getting one for retirement. Im talking 100 ft+.

Hang out in SE asia cruising all over the damn place. Offset your costs some by offering it as a charter/party boat/renting rooms.

Kind of like a biz/retirement. A budget around 150k is enough, 200k can get you into something real nice.

Would sure as hell beat living in suburbian America in a 150k house.

I'd imagine you'd need a bit of security on your boat around those waters?

Post: #27

Id provide my own security. I'm no stranger to firing a gun. I would ideally have a few friends along for the ride as well. Most of my friends are no strangers to firing weapons either. A few of us with decent weapons could easily hold off similarly armed pirates.

The idea is to keep it docked most of the time anyways which would minimize upkeep costs (especially if anchored offshore) and use as a big traveling houseboat/partyboat. Anyone know the upkeep costs on something like this?

Plan is simple:

Sail to City X and drop anchor for a month or two. Party and Network. Offer charter for hire services to the higher class crowd (if needed to offset upkeep costs/if your bored). Sail to city Y and rinse and repeat. Travel with the seasons and against the storms.

Even better if you find a permanent partner that is experienced on the seas, is single, loves partying and slaying females, and well enough off to keep up his end of the cost.

edit - even a 60-80 footer would give you enough room to line on a have blast throwing parties. Would be cheaper to maintain. Im no expert in this field, having only driven my dads 18 foot speedboat when I was younger, but the more I think about the more I'm liking this idea. Well have do some in depth research.

Post: #28

What about Typhoons etc. in that part of the world? Is there some place you can be safe?

Post: #29

Keeping a good eye on the weather will help you avoid disastrous storms. If your living on your boat, you have no commitment to one place in particular, you could sail away prior to to storm arriving. Or at least sail out of the predicted major damage path and put it in dry dock to be especially safe. You could also avoid the dangerous areas during typhoon season.

Post: #30

(07-03-2013 08:25 AM)AntiTrace Wrote:  Keeping a good eye on the weather will help you avoid disastrous storms. If your living on your boat, you have no commitment to one place in particular, you could sail away prior to to storm arriving. Or at least sail out of the predicted major damage path and put it in dry dock to be especially safe. You could also avoid the dangerous areas during typhoon season.

You can also use it as an opportunity to collect an insurance check and upgrade.

Post: #31

So your saying sailing out of dodge isn't a feasible option? What would be the best way to protect against that?

Post: #32

(07-03-2013 09:16 AM)AntiTrace Wrote:  So your saying sailing out of dodge isn't a feasible option? What would be the best way to protect against that?

What do you mean by sailing? Storms, wind and sails are a bad mix you don't want to get caught up in. Drydock may be better but $$$

Post: #33

Richard Branson used to live on a canal boat back in the 80s when he was first making millions. You can see an article about it here:

http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/virgin_bos..._1_1444016

Post: #34

(07-03-2013 11:19 AM)el mechanico Wrote:  

(07-03-2013 09:16 AM)AntiTrace Wrote:  So your saying sailing out of dodge isn't a feasible option? What would be the best way to protect against that?

What do you mean by sailing? Storms, wind and sails are a bad mix you don't want to get caught up in. Drydock may be better but $$$

A family sailed out of here a few years ago-a couple with their two kids and I think a couple of crew and have been sailing the world. They were last heard from a month ago off New Zealand when they called a weather station about how to avoid a storm. Not looking good.

Post: #35

I never followed this up (since I have different priorities) but a few years ago my brother was trying to convince me to do this.

Basically - go out and get all the qualifications you need to charter/sail a boat.

Then you can enter into an interesting line of work.

Basically - rich folks have their yachts/boats all over the world. So lets say they had a boat off the coast of Monaco - but wanted in London for a party/holiday.

Well - (according to my brother) - they hire people to travel to where the boat is and then sail it back to where it is needed.

So - you basically get paid to navigate yachts and boats around the world.

Seems like the sort of lifestyle that would appeal to alot of people on this board. But I don't know anything about this area.

But it might be worth looking into.

Maybe others can add to this? Is it a cool niche for those looking to get paid travelling around the rich parts of Europe whilst sampling the 'high life'?

Post: #36

I know a guy that does the same with planes cardguy. Flys all over the world picking up leerjets, gulfstreams, etc and relocating them. I don't doubt for a second they do it for boats too.

Post: #37

Yeah - never thought about planes.

Definitely seems like the kind of cool niche lifestyle that would appeal to many here.

Post: #38

Yeah the job of moving boats around for rich people exist.
I know a few people who did hitchhike with these guys from Europe to Southamerica and Afrika/Europe to Southamerica. You just need to be at the right place at the right time (follow the winds) and have a bit of patience. But haven't heard about party/girls. They just spend some time in the harbour to get everything ready and then a few weeks on the sea. Still a pretty cool experience and a cheap way to find out if somebody is into this lifestyle and learn about the job at the same time I guess.

Post: #39

(07-03-2013 11:19 AM)el mechanico Wrote:  

(07-03-2013 09:16 AM)AntiTrace Wrote:  So your saying sailing out of dodge isn't a feasible option? What would be the best way to protect against that?

What do you mean by sailing? Storms, wind and sails are a bad mix you don't want to get caught up in. Drydock may be better but $$$

I meant under power, was just using "sailing" as a generic term for driving a boat.

I did some more research. It's definitely a do-able idea. I signed up for a 3 day sailing class for $350 to learn the ropes of sailing. You don't need a license or a class to start out, but I would rather pay $350 to get a jump start and then teach myself the rest.

I plan to start with a 25-30 footer than I can grab for around 10k and do some coastal cruising to build experience. Ill have 3-4 months off in September. Already planning a SE Asia trip, maybe Ill have enough time to sail down south to the carribean.

Post: #40

I was thinking about taking a sailing class as well...I didn't realize the basic class was only a 3 day thing.

Post: #41

Every man should know how to sail. After you learn get on a hobie cat with a trapeze asap. Nothing more fun.

Post: #42

(07-04-2013 05:35 PM)Menace Wrote:  I was thinking about taking a sailing class as well...I didn't realize the basic class was only a 3 day thing.

Not even three whole days. Its only three afternoons. You get an ASA certificate. From what I'm told its just basically a piece of paper that gives some charters a bit of piece of mind, showing that actually have some knowledge in sailing and your not some joe off the street. There a nor formal licensing requirements. Again I'd rather pay 350 for some decent instruction than risk killing myself on my first day out.

Mech, from what Ive read solo sailing is do-able at almost all lengths. The problem is mainly mooring and casting by yourself. Whats the learning curve on being able to fully handle a 30 footer by myself?

I'm thinking something along the lines of this: http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1978/Cat...dYtkvlJMZ4

Post: #43

I am in the process of doing this. I am buying an old houseboat with a three cylinder diesel inboard that gets 22 miles to the gallon for $2,000. I do not plan on moving it more than twenty miles north or south on the intercoastal waterway on the east coast. When I leave the country I'll park it at a non-live-aboard slip for $100 bucks a month. When I'm living aboard I'll double anchor and cayak to shore and hop in my car and I'm off to work. No rent, no utilities. Done. I'm a certified diver so I can clean the bottom myself without having to dry dock it. I know very little about boats but have had good success buying them on eBay with slips, living on them for awhile basically rent free and then selling them for 15 to 30% more than I paid for them. One I bought in LA and the slip was in Marina del Rey and came with a parking pass, key to a hot shower and electricity for 200 bucks a month (it was not a live aboard slip and after five months they caught on and booted me). The quietest sleep I ever had in LA. Possibly the only place where I couldn't hear the sound of traffic. So, if you don't move the boat very far you can do it cheap otherwise be prepared for a hole in the water in which to pour money. BOAT= Bust Out Another Thousand.

Post: #44

I considered this in San Diego. Mostly for the novelty and the experience. One guy said something to me that made tons of sense, and it was the reason I didn't do it.

"Don't get sick."

Marinas are cold and balmy. He said it takes forever to get over a common cold, because the air is always wet and cool. Yeah, a $400M yacht might have a decent controlled indoor climate to combat this, but it didn't sound fun to me after that.

It might be easier in FL or the Caribbean. Don't know.

Post: #45

I was reading this today about boat living in the DR ..
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/tourism...elier-says

Kinda figured

Post: #46

Hey, sorry to revive an old thread wasn't sure if its better to start a new one or comment here. Anyhow curious to ask some questions to anyone who has lived aboard a boat.

My parents recently moved to Charleston South Carolina, it'd also make sense for me to move my business down there, was considering possibly buying a boat and living on, slip fees would only be $300 a month for the size of boats I'd be considering 30' which seems to be the min allowed to live at most marinas.

I've been watching a lot of youtube vids and reading a lot of forums. Don't know alot about boats, I grew up in Minnesota so spent some time on speed boats and fishing boats but nothing big and never sailboats. How does one go about learning or getting into big boats without first shelling out thosuands of dollars nad buying one but not having a clue what to do. I see there's live aboard classes. I guess I could if I moved down there spend a few weeks offering to help people maintain their boats or even sail with them places as a deckahnd to kind of get my feet wet and get a better idea if Id like it as well as what type of boat.

Curious if anyone has anything to say about powerboats vs sailboats. I think powerboats have more space both deck space and cabin space but seem to be more expensive. I know you can pickup cheap sailboats with cabins for like 2k but can also spend millions, what's the bare min you need to get a halfway decent boat thats livable and wont sink?

Also, I hear people talking about just parking in water for free vs renting a slip. I have dogs plus would need to go to town on a daily basis for my business so probably not the best route for me but still wasa just curious if there's generally rules about where you can park or how far off shore you have to be or if you can just ancor anywhere you want?

Also, how bad money and time wise is caring for a boat. I hear some people like oh you dont' have a house you wont be mowing lawns and stuff you'll be doing boat maintenance instead but also hear people say boats are money pits, take tons of time and everything you do costs at least a grand.

I may be totally in la la land and just into the novelty of it but was thinking I could spend maybe 10k max but would like to keep it 3k-6k. Slip fees $300 a month. Probably wouldn't go out that much would basically be a floating studio apt but would take friends out and stuff if they visited

I also hear people say budget 10% of boats origional cost each year for maintenance, is that accurate?

I'd ideally like to do this in charleston south carolina but if I enjoyed boating and got a hang of things maybe go spend some time down in miami, the keys, etc

Post: #47

30 ft is tiny

Post: #48

Know a few people who have done this... all of them said they wouldn't go back. Great if you have the right mindset and for fucking women though, apparently. Mooring fees can be very expensive.

Post: #49

(03-26-2014 05:57 PM)calihunter Wrote:  30 ft is tiny

Yeah I know 30' is pretty much the minimal space on a boat you can live so a tight fit. I'm looking to travel, looking to do something different and kind of curious to try this minimalistic small space living. Was considering a shipping container and/or vandwelling before the boat idea came to me so that would be just as tight a space if not tighter. Also, with that small space I figure I'd spend a lot of time outdoors or on deck enjoying the weather. I also have my parents in the same town so could kind of use their place as homebase as needed.

Post: #50

My dad travelled to the US about 3 years ago, bought a yacht which he is living in off Mexico.

Plans to sail it back to Australia (58 years old). He only started learning how to sail in his 50's

Would be a pretty decent way to spend your later years. I'm starting to doubt whether I'll ever own a property.