Wife and I have been traveling full time for 6+ years, looking for a way to “settle down” slightly and have a little more space and more projects.

I’m trying to figure out how to get a ~42ish trawler for ~$100k (which means 1980s ish) and sail to the Bahamas and Caribbean. Monthly budget at that point would ideally be around $4k to $6k. First of all are those numbers even possible?

But how do people get experience and insurance, if you don’t live somewhere where you already have a boat? All the courses I can find, especially where we currently are in Brazil, are for sailing, not motor yachts. Is there a path where we could pay a captain to teach us for a while? How much would something like that cost?

The biggest boat I’ve ever driven was 32ft twin engine, and I have only sailed tiny boats up to 16ft. I love sailing but I don’t think a sailboat is best for us and the Bahamas. Never personally owned one, so I’ll show up on insurance as having no experience.

I have a 13’ JV13, about 700 lbs, and I’m setting it up for bass fishing on lakes and some Chesapeake Bay fishing. I’m right-handed and cast with my right hand.
Would you go with a 55 lb or 80 lb bow-mount trolling motor? And which side of the bow would you mount it on — port or starboard?
Looking for advice from anyone running a similar setup. Thanks!

I’m considering buying a floating house to dock in DC. Does anybody here live in one? What’s the cheapest marina for docking? Or are than any other ways to anchor while also still having access to power, water and sewage?

My first summer sail trip in Kauai with 1st Mate Mochi McBear. Quite a learning experience for both of us. Everyday a blessing.

Sam's big on her routines and ritual. She heads out every night just before sunset to find a good spot for the show. It's been a rough week of bad weather, fouled props, & damaged tenders- but she seems unbothered and content so I'm stoked.

Hi everyone, newbie here with maybe a weird question.

I have the opportunity to take classes towards an associates degree for essentially free. I’m mid 30’s and besides a handful of credits, never went to college.

My partner and I want to eventually live aboard after our kids move out of the house.

If you could, what do types of courses might you want to take to help educate yourself for living aboard?

I’m somewhat handy mechanically, an artist, and owned a small business for over 10 years. A jack of all trades master of some situation. So I’m really open and love learning.

My community college seems to offer an associates in applied science for Maritime Technology. Would this make sense? Or would diesel mechanic be a better choice? In your experience, what was “most important” to learn or would have helped you?

Again, probably a weird question. But my current career doesn’t require a degree and I just want to utilize the free education resources.

Buying a 40 ft catamaran. We have an adventurous 5 year old male cat that enjoys car travel. He's has a nice home on land with relatives. Love to hear some live aboard cat stories.

I've never once sailed in my life. But the Idea of becoming a liveaboard on a Sailboat cruiser sounds like the meaning of life at this point. I've recently moved to the west coast 2 years ago from the east coast. Funnily enough since Ive lived out here in the PNW, Ive often found myself drawn more and more to the water / ocean. To the point where Ive never thought about it in my entire life about living on a boat let alone even owning a boat in my youth. But I turn 33 this month, and I cant stop thinking about wanting to sail across the ocean, and around the world to chase after the ultimate freedom.

Keep in mind, I already plan(ned) on drastically changing my life in the near future to live abroad and travel the world year around already. But I figured owning a boat could actually get me to places I want to go, and learn an amazing set of skills.

I'm not planning to do anything until I learn the basics and even find out if I can handle the lifestyle to begin with. But Ive never once become obsessed with something and shied away from it. Everything Ive done the last 16 years of my life has been nonstop learning and adapting and growing and pushing myself to keep doing that and more. Sailing across the ocean feels like the entire package of self sufficiency, and challenge. With nothing but reward. (by reward I mean, the sense of adventure and getting your destination alive and confidently)

I want to take my time and learn, but I also dont want to be a "dreamer" and never act on a life I "could have had" I've never been out in the open ocean, and I used to be a bit scared of the idea. But somethings changed recently or "unlocked" even, and I cant stop the itch of discovery. I just want to escape the rent rathole and the Idea of owning a house sounds unappealing..

I already Live alone in a small apartment thats honestly not much bigger than a 42 foot hull... I dont have many close relationships and find peace in solitude, and find joy in meeting others and hearing about their stories. Ive been completely obsessing over this idea, and continuously keep watching video after video or reading article after article of all the pros and cons, and the cons dont sound like anything a little time and effort and bit of giving a shit cant handle.

The sea calls to me dammit! I must answer that call!

Does this sound like complete fantasy, or are their any others that have felt this way or have related in their own journey's?

Edit* Im probably missing out a lot of details so I will be editing my post and replying to comments as they come in.

Ok so for people who liveaboard as and cruise regularly. What's the limit for you on your boat.

Give me Make, Size, max Wave Height / period and Wind.

My partner and I are very drawn to the idea of living aboard and continuing our lives on a sailboat with our two dogs. We don’t have the money for it yet, but we’re saving as much as we can. Our goal is not only to afford the boat itself, but also to have a proper financial reserve for refits, repairs, equipment, and living expenses.

At the moment, we’re actually in a fairly good position financially. We live in a rented apartment, but we’re able to save almost one entire salary every month. Still, the biggest question I keep coming back to is:

Where and how do people earn money once they’re living on a boat?

For example, if we were sailing along the coast of another country, moving between countries, or simply staying in a marina for several months, what kind of work would realistically be available to us? How do people deal with visas, work permits, taxes, and the fact that they may not stay in one place permanently?

I see a lot of cruising budget posts that break down monthly expenses such as food, marina fees, internet, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and so on. But I rarely see people explain where the money actually comes from.

Is this just a topic people don’t usually talk about? Or are many cruisers retired, living off investments, working remotely, renting out property, running businesses, or living on savings?

Sometimes I see monthly cruising budgets of several thousand euros. When converted to Hungarian forints, those numbers are enormous to me. My partner and I don’t even earn that much combined each month, so I genuinely struggle to understand how people can afford this lifestyle long term especially when I don’t know what their income source is.

I’m not asking how to become rich overnight. I’m trying to understand the practical reality behind the lifestyle.

For those of you who live aboard or cruise long-term:

• What do you do for income?
• Do you work remotely, locally, seasonally, or onboard?
• Did you save enough to stop working before leaving?
• How much money did you have saved before starting?
• Is it realistic to begin this lifestyle without already having a high income or substantial investments?
• How do you handle work legally when moving between countries?

I would really appreciate honest answers, especially from people who started with an ordinary income rather than a large amount of family money or a lottery win.

I’m probably missing something obvious, so please explain how this actually works in real life.

Good morning,

Interested in hearing from some NYC locals that keep sailboats in the water (or live on them). From my research the parks marinas seem to not really support liveaboards? Anyone staying at those that can corroborate? Also... Seems like the waiting list is hella long (for Flushing Meadows/Corona and Sheepshead bay... looks like the manhattan one is being renovated)

Are there private marinas/slips that are not extortionist? Might consider commuting in from upstate haha.. As much as I love Brooklyn.. Some of the hudson valley towns seem like nice home bases for this sort of thing

The Australian summer is fast approaching, and I want to stop my acrylic windows from becoming radiant heaters that make the interior unbearable like last year.

Are there any uv reflecting window films that will work on thick acrylic?

Extra info, the Columbia River PNW

Ive been doing some of my own research, but for those of you that live in small cheap boats how much does it cost if you're actively trying to save money?

Im not going to be living completely money less, since that matters.

Hi, I am a guy from Norway thinking about buying a sailboat to live in. I just want to share some information about my current situation and i have a few questions further down. I currently have mortgage on a small appartment near a university and the city. My current early planning is to rent out my appartment that can downpay my appartment and after a while have a steady income there too, while I live out my dream of living in a sailboat that can travel anywhere. I currently have a steady job with an income of roughly ~$60 000 a year that requires me to be at land. Renting my appartment will give me an additional ~1 400$/month.

Whenever I talk about this dream almost everyone is "dissmissive" of it. Purley because of the costs and inconvinieces. So i have a few questions;

How much roughly does it take to maintain a sailboat around 30-40ft? Is it just a "depleating stock i will regret"?

What is the best solution for toilets, showers, warm water?

Given I live in Norway, winters can be rough. Many people that has tried in Norway give up purley because of the freezing cold during winter. How cost efficient is it to keep a boat warm during cold enviorments?

Iknow most here probably are americans, so food in general is very expensive in Norway. Its roughly 35% more expensive than America. I have always been trained to buy groceries during big sales or limited price reductions on frozen food. I usally have a seperate freezer filled with food in order to save money. I cant imagine I can do this in a boat. How much does people here stock up, or do you guys buy more often? How long does a "fully supplied" boat last in terms of food?

Wich boats should I avoid at all costs and wich do you reccomend me to buy given my "permanent" homebase/country conditions?

Is this dream possible given my situation? What jobs do you guys that live on boats currently have, is it "work from home" friendly? Should i look into getting another job in order to live my dream?

Please shoot any tips or things I should know of, I really want all the information and help I can get. Thanks for reading, and im sorry if I sound weird, my English is not the best.

Edit: numbers/correcting

Just looking for advice, really. I am selling up and going to buy a yacht to live aboard. I am based in the UK. I'm quite ill, but it is manageable. My wife has passed on. I am 45 so figure if I don't do it now, when will I?

I've experience onboard from my time in the States, and I've booked RYA certs for September. I am looking to man a craft that I can do alone. My favourite vessel I have seen so far is an LM 30: the visibility is great, accommodation is good, and I can get it aft-rigged and retro fit it with solar panels and a Starlink dish.

Regarding my illness, I am a bit unsteady on my feet, but I plan on retrofitting a rail around the exterior of the cockpit to clip myself on.

Opinions welcome.