Posted on Nov 5, 2016
How many are living life or taking extended stays on a boat?
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I have been giving great consideration to buying a trawler/yacht and spending extended time traveling. I'm retired at a young age and want to explore while I still can. Where I live in Tennessee, the lakes connect to the rivers, in turn connect to the gulf. Maybe even do the Great Loop one day. What training classes would you recommend? Or books? In the research phase now but looks promising.
Boating
Retirement
Disabled Veterans
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 21
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I am far from an expert on the subject but I have had boats most of my life. I thought about living on one when I retired but in the end I wasn't willing to give up all of my junk and I couldn't afford a house and a boat big enough to live on. However my brother has been living on one about the size of the one in the picture for years and is docked only about a mile from my house so I do have some knowledge of live on boats. What others have mentioned about it being expensive is true. In this area a slip for a boat that size runs about $600 - 800 a month plus electrical. Another thing to consider is the fact that big boats guzzle fuel. His gets less than one mile per gallon cruzing. Worse at full throttle. Boats also need constant maintenance and parts are expensive. There has long been a saying that a boat is a hole in the water that you dump money in. However they are great fun and I would love to live on one if I could afford it.
The Coast Guard and the US Power Squadron teach boating courses and they are well worth the money. Here in TN the Tenn. Wildlife Resources Agency teaches a basic boating safety course that is required for younger boaters for any size boat. Most of us are grandfathered so it is not required. Lots of other courses are available and I recommend taking as many as you can. It is also a good idea to learn to do as much of your own maintenance as possible. Otherwise it is expensive. The local lakes are patrolled by the Coast Guard, the wildlife people (TWRA) and local law enforcement so help is available. There is also a commercial towing service on our lake. While it is not required it is also a good idea to have a good marine radio. Your cell phone should work fine on the lakes but if you go offshore it might not and the various agencies monitor the emergency frequencies.
The Coast Guard and the US Power Squadron teach boating courses and they are well worth the money. Here in TN the Tenn. Wildlife Resources Agency teaches a basic boating safety course that is required for younger boaters for any size boat. Most of us are grandfathered so it is not required. Lots of other courses are available and I recommend taking as many as you can. It is also a good idea to learn to do as much of your own maintenance as possible. Otherwise it is expensive. The local lakes are patrolled by the Coast Guard, the wildlife people (TWRA) and local law enforcement so help is available. There is also a commercial towing service on our lake. While it is not required it is also a good idea to have a good marine radio. Your cell phone should work fine on the lakes but if you go offshore it might not and the various agencies monitor the emergency frequencies.
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MSgt Scott Azbell
Thanks Jerrold. I have been looking into a lot of these areas you mentioned. I have a mechanical background background and feel that that would help me out. At least save me in labor costs. Getting rid of my junk is a hard for me to think about too. I live in a large home now with land to take care of. I have considered a smaller home in the city with less land or closer to the lake. Not sure if I could totally give up a house yet, but not dismissing it all together. Gas is a big one, I agree. I'm looking to get a dual engine diesel powered boat with enough fuel storage for long trips. I was reading one blog where they filled up with 500 gallons at a marina. Mind boggling how much that costs. Hopefully my finacial planning is good enough. One thing I have going is a steady retirement and disability income the will help out tremendously. A smaller mortgage would just me icing on the cake. I have been considering going to Florida for the full coast guard training. Maybe even use VA benefits for boat captains licence. Another member on here mentioned chartering boats and skippering for other people. Not sure how to go about that, but keeping my options open. Thanks for your input. I still have sa long way to go in my decision process but you have helped me out.
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SSgt Eric Lamoray
When we first left after a lot of paring down we had filled a storage unit with stuff we couldn't live without. Several years later we anchored back in the area and had a hard time remembering what the heck was in there. We had a big cleaning out and pared down to 3 boxes that ended up in my moms atic for another few years which was then pared down to a few things we made room for on the boat.
Study up on hull forms and fuel efficiency!!!! Your standard twin screw boxy power boat isn't far from pushing a brick through the water and are not very efficient. Single screw non planing displacement hulls with narrower beams may roll more but have much less resistance and go a lot farther on a gallon of diesel. Headed for coral country? Think steel. Higher maintenance but may save both you and the boat that one bad day when you find a reef the hard way.
I know a few cruisers who have bought shallow draft sailboats that had suffered a mast rigging failure at highly discounted price. They just left the rig off and motored away. Very efficient hull form. Remember that frugal cruisers only tie up at docks as a last resort and you'll want serious anchor tackle and the gear to handle it alone!
Study up on hull forms and fuel efficiency!!!! Your standard twin screw boxy power boat isn't far from pushing a brick through the water and are not very efficient. Single screw non planing displacement hulls with narrower beams may roll more but have much less resistance and go a lot farther on a gallon of diesel. Headed for coral country? Think steel. Higher maintenance but may save both you and the boat that one bad day when you find a reef the hard way.
I know a few cruisers who have bought shallow draft sailboats that had suffered a mast rigging failure at highly discounted price. They just left the rig off and motored away. Very efficient hull form. Remember that frugal cruisers only tie up at docks as a last resort and you'll want serious anchor tackle and the gear to handle it alone!
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SSgt Eric Lamoray
Can be done far cheaper than most would imagine. The websites and magazines are a source of great amusement for many actually living the life.
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I've wanted to live the boat life ... not in the Navy (no offense intended) since I was a child.
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I have been boating my entire life. Now the Chesapeak Bay is my AO. If you can afford it and have the time I say do it. It’s a once in a life time opportunity and one that should not be missed. There are alway challenges but that’s what makes it an adventure. Good luck, and calm seas! Call Sign: King George V
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
In Short ~ LIVE Life.
Far To Many People Just Watch As It Passes Them by.
As My Brother Once Told Me, When I Was In My Early Teens
And Living With Him In The Republic Of Panama; And He's Right;
"Never Say 'NO' To Anything, Unless It Will Kill You IMMEDIATELY.
Because, IF You Do, You May Be Missing The Adventures Of Your Lifetime"
I Was Either 14 Or 15 Back Then, And I Just Turned 79.....On 06/29/23,
So Believe Me When I Say:
, "When You Do It Right, It's ONE HELL Of a GREAT RIDE!!"
Far To Many People Just Watch As It Passes Them by.
As My Brother Once Told Me, When I Was In My Early Teens
And Living With Him In The Republic Of Panama; And He's Right;
"Never Say 'NO' To Anything, Unless It Will Kill You IMMEDIATELY.
Because, IF You Do, You May Be Missing The Adventures Of Your Lifetime"
I Was Either 14 Or 15 Back Then, And I Just Turned 79.....On 06/29/23,
So Believe Me When I Say:
, "When You Do It Right, It's ONE HELL Of a GREAT RIDE!!"
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Lots of great responses especially about the coast guard training. The one bit of advice I would give is make sure you get safety gear as well, especially if you plan to go out past line of sight from shore. As many have said the sea is unforgiving and it is really tough to find people floating in the water. As a Navy helo pilot I have spent countless hours over the water practicing to find and save people and it is really hard to find people if they don't have really good safety gear. Get something that can send a mayday signal with GPS coordinates and also something that is bright colored if you end up in the water.
Also go for it. Most people only dream of something like this but never actually do it. If you like it great, if you don't, sell the boat and move on having had the experience.
Also go for it. Most people only dream of something like this but never actually do it. If you like it great, if you don't, sell the boat and move on having had the experience.
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CDR (Join to see)
Leo, that is awesome info. I'm glad to know those tools exist. I am going to look into them as I suspect they would have a great military aviation application as well. Many thanks. Steve
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Find your Local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and take their Boating Safety and Navigation Courses.
Next either get online or go to your Local Bookstore and find copies of the following Books, if you live near a Lake or one of the Rivers in or adjacent to the State of Tennessee, find a Bookstore that specializes in Marine Books. If you don't want to buy brand new copies of these Books look for a Used Book Store, they may have these books for half-price.
Look for the following: If you go to USCG.mil and fish around for a while, look for their Publication list and see if you can find the list of their "Commandant's Instructions" . Down load a Copy of the "Boat Crew Seamanship Manual" COMDTINST M16114.5.
There is a civilian version of the afore mentioned publication called the "Small-Boat Seamanship Manual" published by International Marine/McGraw-Hill, which is based on the "U.S. Coast Guard's Boat Crew Seamanship Manual COMDTINST M16114.5", the Edition I have is dated 2002 and is near 500 pages, but there may be a more up to date one available.
"COMDTINST" is short for "Commandant's Instruction" the Number M16114.5 may be followed by a Letter like M16114.5A, these are updated fairly regularly, so there maybe another letter other than "A" by now, (Edition "A" was the First Edition, published in 1985 after the subject matter content was extensively revised and updated & the original publication's name was changed to "Boat Crew Seamanship Manual").
Another very valuable manual with a long and storied history going back to 1917, is called "CHAPMAN PILOTING & SEAMANSHIP" by Charles B. Husick and Published by Hearst Communications, Inc. a division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. (http://www. sterlingpublishing.com).
This voluminous and comprehensive work, is another publication that should be kept close at hand by every boat owner/operator, which should have at least a working knowledge of it's contents. It is Revised & Updated every year or so. The last Addition I purchased was the 66th Edition published in 2009 and is almost 1000 pages. Though I have spent many hours over my 30 odd years in the Coast Guard, working on floating platforms up to 65 feet in length, I have never actually lived on a boat. Good luck with that endeavor, Sir! Be safe. Please Keep PFD's and properly sized & serviced Fire Extinguishers at hand and know how to use them!
Next either get online or go to your Local Bookstore and find copies of the following Books, if you live near a Lake or one of the Rivers in or adjacent to the State of Tennessee, find a Bookstore that specializes in Marine Books. If you don't want to buy brand new copies of these Books look for a Used Book Store, they may have these books for half-price.
Look for the following: If you go to USCG.mil and fish around for a while, look for their Publication list and see if you can find the list of their "Commandant's Instructions" . Down load a Copy of the "Boat Crew Seamanship Manual" COMDTINST M16114.5.
There is a civilian version of the afore mentioned publication called the "Small-Boat Seamanship Manual" published by International Marine/McGraw-Hill, which is based on the "U.S. Coast Guard's Boat Crew Seamanship Manual COMDTINST M16114.5", the Edition I have is dated 2002 and is near 500 pages, but there may be a more up to date one available.
"COMDTINST" is short for "Commandant's Instruction" the Number M16114.5 may be followed by a Letter like M16114.5A, these are updated fairly regularly, so there maybe another letter other than "A" by now, (Edition "A" was the First Edition, published in 1985 after the subject matter content was extensively revised and updated & the original publication's name was changed to "Boat Crew Seamanship Manual").
Another very valuable manual with a long and storied history going back to 1917, is called "CHAPMAN PILOTING & SEAMANSHIP" by Charles B. Husick and Published by Hearst Communications, Inc. a division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. (http://www. sterlingpublishing.com).
This voluminous and comprehensive work, is another publication that should be kept close at hand by every boat owner/operator, which should have at least a working knowledge of it's contents. It is Revised & Updated every year or so. The last Addition I purchased was the 66th Edition published in 2009 and is almost 1000 pages. Though I have spent many hours over my 30 odd years in the Coast Guard, working on floating platforms up to 65 feet in length, I have never actually lived on a boat. Good luck with that endeavor, Sir! Be safe. Please Keep PFD's and properly sized & serviced Fire Extinguishers at hand and know how to use them!
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MSTG Azbell: I have been a boat owner for almost my entire life... the military moving made it tough from time to time but boating on Puget Sound was terrific. Now its the Chesapeake Bay and extended summer cursing has become a passion fulfilled. In addition to all of the excellent insights and advice provided by others, I would add that there is a $25K annual logistics tail, assuming nothing major happens like a blown diesel engine, associated with the hobby. Something to consider if your living on a fixed income. Other than that I say... anchors away!
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LTC Marc King
MSgt Scott Azbell - Thanks for the shout out on the boat. We enjoy the s**t out of it in the summer. Its on the hard now for the winter and I am already making plans for next summer cruising. That logistics tail encompasses a wide variety of costs starting with slip fees. You may want to belong to a Yacht Club which has its own detailed costs. When you are traveling there is always the option to "anchor out" but that involves running the generator, slip fees are reduced and fuel fees are increased. Its not full even trade but its a cost. and sooner or later you are going to need to put into a port if for noting else than to tour around... that's what's its about after all. Fees range from $1 to $350 per foot depending on location, time of year (the 4th of July on the Chesapeake will cost you a pretty penny). Some include the electric (shore power) and others make it a separate charge depending on the power requirements for the boat. FUEL -- The machine don't move without putting fuel in the tanks. On a trawler that can be 500 gal. tanks with fuel ranging from $1.95/gal. (last summer) to $5/gal just a few summers ago. Fuel in the Caribbean is usually at the higher end. So do the math @$5 per galleon X 500 galleons.... probably a bit more costly than your Suburban to top up! Then there is incidentals like lines, fenders, life saving equipment, cleaning materials, head treatment materials (not all of which are constant replaceable items but if they are not there when you acquire the boat they will have to be bought. and most wear out over time. You will spend time at the local West Maine store/guaranteed) If you live aboard its imperative you have a dinghy and small motor to get to shore when anchored out. If you have a dog aboard... its a must have item. so fuel, fuel can, annual registration with the state of your choice. add-on light for night navigation and compliance... shall I go on? OK here are some additional incidentals... Annual updated GPS chip for the chart plotter so you know where you are and where you are going... where the coast Guard move the markers too over the winter etc.. Long range cruising usually means the vessel will be equipped with the new vessel identification system so other know who you are, where you are on the water so collusions can be avoided. Then there is the Direct TV which you may or may not want. Acquisition of the EPRIB satellite signal locator just incase you vessel decided to drop out from under you in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. Extra engine parts, filters, gaskets, clamps, hoses of an infinite variety and such. Oh, did I mention a compete tool set metric and English because in todays world there is no standardization of a simple nut or bolt. If your doing the Great Loop you may have to put the boat up in the winter and return to it in the spring. (Side note -- the water in the Great Lakes gets very hard in the winter). Winterizing is a $3,000 expense unless you do it yourself -- figure half the cost but the materials will still be a thousand (Additional Note: Acronym: BOAT = Break Out Another Thousand). Now say you are cruising the ICW to Florida, its a beautiful day, the waters calm, the breeze is on the stern and suddenly the port engine just dies. No warning alarm, it just stops running. Perhaps its the after cooler's deferred maintenance (a $2000 job performed every 500 hours). A leak in the after cooler has migrated into the #3 piston and the engine is now completely blown. How about an extra $100K to replace it... yard time, down time, and not an easy replacement... perhaps they need to cut a hole in the side of the boat just to get it out? Leaking plumbing, electrical gremlins from time to time and the list goes on. If you are handy, can squeeze into very small places never intended to accommodate a full grown man, have knees and elbows that still bend and have not been replaced by a surgeon, then maintain the boat should be a snap. For that one time your attention is diverted and you run over the telephone pole floating just under the water and you knock the prop off -- you will need to haul the boat ($100-$300 per foot / 40ft @ 100 per ft is $400 at $300 per ft its a $1,200 nut) depending on where you are how busy they are) replacement prop, realign the shaft with laser alignment system $$$$$. I think you get the point. Hope I have not put you into information overload... But this is a small example of why Captain Green said the two best days of your life the day you buy it and the day you sell it.
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MSgt Scott Azbell
LTC Marc King - Best response I could ever ask for. Thanks for taking the time. No you haven't dissuaded me at all. Lol. My brother was the one that told me "bring out another thousand" and best day ever was when I sold my last boat... he he! Thank you!
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244ft-long superyacht comes with a 2-person drone
Feadship, the Dutch company behind Steve Jobs' custom-built superyacht, unveiled its 'Choice' superyacht concept at the Monaco Yacht Show.
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I've worked in the recreational Marine Industry just shy of 30 years now, I've had my ticket ( Jack of All Trades, Master of 100 Ton), and the best advice I can give is to get out there and boat. All the books in the world won't match some time on the Wheel.
I'm a part time instructor for Carefree Boat Club, here in Tidewater VA, and it's the best way I've found to get your feet wet. Besides being cheaper than owning and maintaining a boat yourself, it allows you to use a variety of boats to discover your tastes and preferences. Carefree has a number of locations, and I know of Freedom Boat Club as well, and I'm sure there are other similar clubs around.
I'm a part time instructor for Carefree Boat Club, here in Tidewater VA, and it's the best way I've found to get your feet wet. Besides being cheaper than owning and maintaining a boat yourself, it allows you to use a variety of boats to discover your tastes and preferences. Carefree has a number of locations, and I know of Freedom Boat Club as well, and I'm sure there are other similar clubs around.
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SGT Jerrold Pesz
In my first post I was addressing living on a boat. If you just want to go play on the water I agree about boat clubs. There is one at my local marina on Percy Priest Lake here in TN and they have all sorts of boats and they do all of the work.
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LTC Marc King
SGT Jerrold Pesz - The next best thing to owning a boat -- is having a friend that owns a boat. In this case a Club will do...
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