Every boat enthusiast or even casual boat lover can admit that they’ve considered making a boat their full-time address at least once. The simplicity and relaxation the lifestyle can promise is hard not to be tempted by, not to mention the great views. But is living on a boat right for you? We find that considering these five things from the get-go can help you determine if being a “liveaboard” is a good choice for you.
Will It Just Be You?
Are you a single individual looking for a change of pace and a bit of a slower way of life? Or are you married with children looking for an adventure for your family to take together? Deciding to move from land to sea is a big decision for one individual, let alone the decision to move an entire family to a boat full-time. If you fall in the latter category, make sure to consider the age of your kids, what activities your family members enjoy engaging in that don’t involve boating, and ultimately whether they share the desire to hit the high seas.
Is it Cost-Efficient?
It is important to consider the cost differences between what it is costing you to live in a home, and what it will cost to live on a boat. If you are a single individual living in a small home or apartment, you may find that the cost of living on a boat is equal or even slightly higher than land-based living. If you are part of a couple or family, however, you may find that your cost of living will reduce drastically by moving to a boat full-time, like this couple did. Determining the cost difference for you or your family is a huge factor in deciding whether boat living is the right choice for you.
Is It Conducive To Your Work Situation?
Are you in a position to take a few years off work while you experiment with being a liveaboard? Or will you need to continue working full-time? If the answer is the latter, then you need to consider if the location of your work is conducive to boat living. Is your work close to a marina? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average American spends over 200 hours per year commuting if they have a 25-minute commute to work. A longer commute would mean adding countless more hours to your overall travel time, which may negate the reasons you wanted to live on a boat in the first place, like increased leisure time and a more relaxed lifestyle.
Do You Already Own A Boat?
Living on the water full-time comes with exposure to a lot of aspects of boating that you may not be familiar with if you are not already a boat owner. Things like sensitivity to seasickness for you or any of your family members, costs of maintaining a boat, and what to expect from storage on a boat are all factors that are very familiar to boat owners. Spending smaller and more frequent amounts of time on a boat will give you a better indication of whether full-time boat living is the right choice for you.
Do You Have A Place In Mind To Keep Your Boat?
Buying a boat to live on is the easy part. Finding the right place to keep it can be much harder. You will want to locate a marina or dock where you know you, your boat, and your belongings will be safe, while also allowing you to access to the amenities you will still need.
Find more boating tips and tricks on the Harbortown Marina blog. Check it out today!
