My family is seriously considering buying a big sailboat and sailing to the Caribbean to live there. So I was just wondering, have any of you guys ever lived aboard a sailboat? If so, any tips, stories, etc.?
Check it, Living Aboard. I'm chock full of crap like this I plan to do, but probably never will. It sounds fun. I don't look forward to paying rent and car payments and all that crap, so this may be a solution. Do you look forward to living with your whole family on a boat. I know someone who lives on a docked boat says it sucks. I think someone here lives on one too.
well we aren't going to be docked so that might make a difference, but I am pumped man. It would be kickass to live on a boat...My dad lived on the streets occasionally when he was a hippie and he said it was awesome(you don't hear that much do you?) with the no bills to pay, rent, etc. so he wants to do this as much as me. I was on www.thecruisinglife.com and checked out some stuff there. me and my brother fight a lot but i think we might get along better if we were living on a boat like that so close....that always tends to happen with us...but if all else fails, i'll just push him off and let a shark eat him. right now we're looking for a big boat, like 35 feet at least. (i think i want to call it "Cheeseburger in Paradise" because thats a kickass song. and a lame pun but who cares....) if anyone on this site has done the whole sailboat life or is doing it now, let me know.
If you go and look around at sailnet,you'll be able to talk with real people that live aboard in various places.I've been around boats all my life and living aboard is not an easy life.Taking an extended vacation is more like it.
Reminds me of a story of an older vietnames man who lived on his docked boat and occocinaly would go out on the ocean. One time he went out and got lost. Spent the next 8 mos i think it was at sea, living off what he gathered from the sea. his boat was beaten and broken when he was finaly found by a Us navy ship. I just think it is amazing that he was able to live so long with not much problems just drifting about the sea
Don't venture offshore, until you have put enough hours on systems and equipment to feel comfortable that every thing is working properly.
This is my dream. I want to live, permanently, on a sailboat. It will be my mode of transportation, and my home. I'm 3 years from realizing it. I'm totally sailing away on my 28th birthday.
I have to tell you, being on a sailboat is 1001 opportunities to bump your head and stub your toe. Or as Samuel Johnson said: "No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into jail; for being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned."
I don't mind that at all. I've been on extended sailing journeys and have always felt the opposite of Johnson - very free. Like the whole world was mine to explore and know. I'm also a minimalist. Small living spaces make me divinely happy. Though, to be sure, it is not a life for everyone. My mom hates it - too cramped she says!
I live on my sailboat in Philadelphia, PA. I've slowly been fixing it up and I'm planning on sailing away next year. Have you been sailing before? Are you sure this is for you? Sailing is not easy-there are lots of boats for sale in the Caribbean by sailors who figured out the sailing life isn't for them. Are you ready to be part of the food chain? Now is a good time to buy a sailboat-lots up good used boats for sale. Find a model you like-the internet makes shopping very easy. Be careful buying an older boat without a survey. Be careful about the size of a boat and the number of people you plain on sailing with. 35 foot would be nice for 2 people. I've re-done, re-built, re-designed just about everything on my boat. Feel free to ask me any questions. Kevin
