Live On A Boat?

ClassicRockr

ClassicRockr

Well-known Member
Believe it or not, there are quite a few people, including Seniors, that live on a boat. We see these boats moored in an intracoastal waterway in St Augustine and there is a marina, not to far from us, that have boats in slips with people living on them. Both sailboats and somewhat large cabin cruisers.

We were invited on one cabin cruiser, that was in a rented slip, and it was pretty big inside. It was fully contained, meaning bathroom, small living room and fairly large bedroom. Most of these boats have a small boat, with an outboard engine, to take the owners to land for grocery shopping, laundry, etc. Some "live aboard boats" only stay in their slips or moorings, while others do go from one area to another, including onto the ocean.

I was told that boaters that are moored, don't have to pay anything to stay there, while those that are in slips, have to pay monthly for slips, because electricity is provided with the slip.

Could you live on a boat? I did in the Navy, but that was called a ship and, obviously, it was totally contained with everything.
 

No; I could not. I get motion sickness and most boats are much too small unless you spend a great deal of money on a large vessel. Also, moorings are not always "free," it depends on the area. Boats require a lot of maintenance and upkeep and are expensive to maintain.

Many people also live in RVs nowadays, but I wouldn't like that either. Too confining and RV parks can be quite dismal.
 
Some friends of mine lived on their boat in Westerly, RI during the summer. They stored it and went to FL for the winter. I couldn't do it even though their boat was pretty roomy.
 

I love the sea and being out in a boat, but I wouldn't want to live on one. I like being on boats, but also like afterwards setting foot on solid ground.
 
I have a high school classmate that now owns and lives inside their motorhome with her husband. They have been traveling for a few months, but only she can drive due to her husband's vision. They haul their car behind them. They have went from Naples, FL up to Michigan and are now headed to northeastern Indiana. Just wonder how long they can go with only her able to drive?

Traveling is nice, but with the way folks drive out there today, going by motorhome would be too dangerous for me and my wife. IOW, no thanks. Same way with living on a boat......nope!
 
My sister has lived on a 65-foot trawler in Seattle for four years. They have three levels of indoor living, an engine room level and a top deck level. Three cabins (one converted into an office) and two heads. Full kitchen and laundry. Main cabin with comfy chairs and couch. Back covered deck to sit and watch the ships go by in the ship channel. 65" TV when you don't want to watch the boats.

They are docked in a marina, but do take it out on occasion, especially for things like Sea Fair and fireworks or just to anchor out somewhere for the weekend. Sometimes they take it over to Poulsbo for a couple of days or up to the San Juan islands. For most day-use recreational boating, they have a sailboat that they keep tied up alongside.

There's nothing I like more than to go there and just sit and watch the boats go by. And sleep? OMG, I sleep like I do nowhere else. The gentle slap-slap-slap of the water puts me down faster than the most powerful sleeping pill.

They have no intention of ever living on shore again.
 
My nephew and his wife and 2 dogs live on their boat in North Carolina, they seem to enjoy it very much,their kids come and visit and stay as well.
 
I had a friend (she has since passed) who lived on a boat for,I think,about three years. I didn`t know her until after so I don`t remember a lot of details. I don`t think it was a huge boat because she talked a lot about how compact it was and how few posessions they were able to have there. She always talked fondly about it though. I think they only moved ashore because of her husband`s health.
 
I have an English friend, retired chef, who has a gorgeous Queen Anne style houseboat permanently moored at one of the marinas nearby. He also has a sailboat. When he goes on holiday, I boat sit. Ohhhh, the food he leaves for me. I love the boat, but not to stay full time. I need grass etc. He does have lovely flowers, herbs, tomatoes though.
 
I lived on a boat for a couple of years in the early 90s.

It was a Thorneycroft 30 foot single screw deisel, gentleman's
yacht. Which means it had an engine and a mast, but mine didn't
have the mast, somebody removed it before I got it these boats
are better known as "Dunkirk Little Ships", they rescued the Army
from Dunkirk in World War 2.

It was a nice experience everything is different when living on one,
you have to have no clutter, all has to be tidy and when the river
Thames overflowed, which it did when I was there, my "Abode" rose
with the water, while a lot of houses were flooded, so to live near
any river, a boat has to be the answer.

Mike.
 

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