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At what point are you a "Liveaboard?"

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Pelagic Dreams, May 4, 2013.

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  1. Pelagic Dreams, May 4, 2013
    #1
    Pelagic Dreams

    Pelagic Dreams Senior Member

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    Here is a quick question. If you have a on shore residence..condo, apartment etc. but spend 6 plus months aboard your yacht going here and there......are you a liveaboard? We think that term discribes those who do not move their boat and use it as a primary residence. Plus, lets say you spend and entire year cruising.....what's the verdict.
    We ask the question because with extended life aboard your yacht what are the similarities between "living" on a boat and using it as a long term traveling home?
    From our research it seems all the videos we have seen of those who "liveaboard" don't really have sea worthy vessels. They look like a bad over stuffed apartment. Not really "a place for everything and everything in it's place"
    How far off base are we?
  2. Ward, May 4, 2013
    #2
    Ward

    Ward Senior Member

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    When I worked at one of the marinas here that had a section of liveaboards, there were maybe 2 out of 30 that left the dock with any regularity. The others were either unlikely or unable to move. The proportions seem to be about the same at the other marinas in town that I've seen.

    The Dashews and many of the people who own boats conceived by the Dashews would seem to be examples of true travelling liveaboards...
  3. Fishtigua, May 4, 2013
    #3
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    If you live on your boat and it moves often, that makes you a Cruiser, no?
  4. karo1776, May 4, 2013
    #4
    karo1776

    karo1776 Senior Member

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    When visitors start making Bangladesh jokes...
    When not only you don't have a crew but you cannot find one to hire...
    When you cannot find any shoes to leave the boat...
    When you cannot leave the pier for fear of a environmental disaster...
    When you grow roots...
    And, when everyone asks you to leave and you cannot.
  5. triggerfish23, May 4, 2013
    #5
    triggerfish23

    triggerfish23 Member

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    I think that's right Fish...if you're cruising with any regularity, you're a cruiser regardless of whether you live aboard full time or not.

    Most folks (in our area at least) that livaboard are just looking for a cheap waterfront condo. Sadly, this leads to many boat owners that just abuse and cannot afford to keep the boats up. We have a lot of trashy looking marinas for it.

    A friend of mine used to manage a marina and his rule was, 'if you can't get it started in 30 minutes, you are evicted'. I think having to keep your boat operational helps weed out some of the livaboards that are just going to let their boat fall to shambles. That's still one of the nicer marinas.
  6. Lowtech, May 4, 2013
    #6
    Lowtech

    Lowtech New Member

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    Watch some bloggs from nordhavn owners, seems to be more than needed space for everything.
  7. RT46, May 4, 2013
    #7
    RT46

    RT46 Senior Member

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    even if you move the boat it is a lot slower because of all the extra stuff onboard!
  8. Pelagic Dreams, May 4, 2013
    #8
    Pelagic Dreams

    Pelagic Dreams Senior Member

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    Low T,
    That is one of the sights I have watched. The couple who have spent the last 9 years aboard their Nord and did a circumnavication are more of the exception than the rule.
    We are looking at a "liveaboard" for ourselves for a period of 6 months plus. Summering in Bermuda but on the move all winter long. With a vessel of 65' it is not space that is of concern, it is more of how to take as little "stuff" as possible. Food and spare parts should be the bulk of your storage in our opinion....ok, adult beverages third.
    I guess the real difference is weather the boat moves on a regular basis for extended periods, or is at dock year around, that would say alot about the owners.
  9. JWY, May 4, 2013
    #9
    JWY

    JWY Senior Member

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    In my experience of having sold close to 100 trawlers and long-range cruisers, I think you're watching the wrong videos. Whether "fast trawlers" used full-time for the Great Loop, Bahamas, and coastal cruising or their beefier cousins the trawlers and expedition yachts, several dozens have been used by my clients as full time cruising liveaboard homes.

    Btw, I have yet to have a client call me to list their boat for sale because they tried liveaboard and didn't like it. Most of my liveaboards, full time cruisers, (many of whom no longer own a home) have spent years aboard.

    Judy
  10. Pelagic Dreams, May 4, 2013
    #10
    Pelagic Dreams

    Pelagic Dreams Senior Member

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    Thank you Judy, we are all about being as close to "full time" on our yacht and seeing the up keep as our retired job. We now live on 5 acres and I would rather keep the boat neat than a house and land. I fear the transition to the yachting life without being able to keep life aboard simple without all the "things" we are used to having in a home.
    No pets, no kids, do dust catchers....
  11. JWY, May 5, 2013
    #11
    JWY

    JWY Senior Member

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    If you're talking about full time live aboard, now the questions are about how much stuff you can shlep around and still have room to function as a yacht while maintaining a normal life. It will be a new normal.

    Yacht size: it matters. Storage: Be aware of storage space and how it is used. Priorities: your lifestyle will change, so will your wardrobe, etc. Destinations: being able to re-provision with frequency helps.

    When yacht shopping, have an experienced person (broker, liveaboard friend...) go through your selections to point out how well or not the particular yacht functions for daily living at a marina, at anchor, and while underway.

    When you start questioning the clutter, watch hoarding shows. It's a great cure.
  12. tirk, May 5, 2013
    #12
    tirk

    tirk Member

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    ...You ask them to leave, unless I'm missing something?
  13. karo1776, May 9, 2013
    #13
    karo1776

    karo1776 Senior Member

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    Well I suppose it is because of the unimaginable horrible conditions in the ship breaking "yards" of Bangladesh...
  14. RT46, May 9, 2013
    #14
    RT46

    RT46 Senior Member

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    "You might be a live aboard if"

    1. you also use your car for storage

    2. you have any kind of plant growing on the boat or dock

    3. you use the cleaners to rotate clothes and double as storage

    4. you no longer like the "feel" of land-toilet-paper

    5. you have more than one dock box

    6. you have walked on snow or ice getting to the boat at night

    7. you are on the boat at the dock during bad weather

    8. in the winter, you have "red neck" storm windows (Plastic)

    9. pet hair works it way into the E/R Air-Seps

    10. in the summer, you have "red neck" air conditioner boosters (household fans) on the boat

    11. your dock electric bill is more than your fuel bill.....(I wish)
  15. Capt J, May 9, 2013
    #15
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I think the situation you're describing, is best described as a "cruiser" and not a liveaboard. Liveaboards are generally at one marina and cruise seldomly.
  16. Pelagic Dreams, May 29, 2013
    #16
    Pelagic Dreams

    Pelagic Dreams Senior Member

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    That list was perfect. How long can your yacht cruise in one country before you have to leave? Can you spend 8 months in and around the Bahama's? How about Bermuda? Could you spend the whole summer there without leaving?