The Essentials of Living Aboard a Boat
Page 23
Also, different jurisdictions have differing rules on drug/alcohol use and possession of firearms, as well as food products, particularly fruits, vegetables, plants, and other agricultural products. There may be specific limitations or rules related to your pets as well, and some countries have strict quarantining procedures.
Depending on your port of call, you may be required to acquire a visa in advance of your arrival, or participate in some other procedure prior to or during arrival. Become familiar with the entry procedures and follow them carefully, for the laws in your arriving jurisdiction may be quite different than you expect and penalties for violations quite severe.
Propane Detection System
“A Very Hot Day”
Photo by Captain Rob Jackson
C. Robb Worthington
S/V Tara RoseCatalina 30
Living Aboard, Bermuda
13. Final Words
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share with you some advice and thoughts—and warnings as well. There are many other liveaboards and boaters alike who would love to tell you about their aspirations, shortcomings, and plans. They’d love to tell you how they came out of the landlubber closet to undertake this lifestyle, and how they decided on their boat. They’d love to show you their marinas and boats and tell you about their wonderful improvements and upgrades. We’ll all talk as long as you let us—and I thank you for letting me have the opportunity for this short while.
Final Advice
Hopefully, you are now better prepared to overcome the challenges, and therefore have a better chance to enjoy all of the wonderful benefits that this lifestyle can offer. It’s not easy—whether we are talking about the costs, maintenance obligations, space limitations, or perils of living on the water. But it’s not all hard either, and you will be joining the many thousands of us “normal” people who enjoy this lifestyle already.
Here are some final thoughts:
• Remember that the challenges of the lifestyle go with the territory and are the price to pay for the wonderful benefits.
• Talk to everybody who is willing to talk to you—and don’t forget to listen.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff.
• Read, learn, and experience everything you can.
• Invite yourself aboard a boat for a trial if at all possible.
• Be patient and thorough when choosing a boat—and remember that boats, good and bad, grow on trees.
• Be sure to make smart decisions, and don’t let your emotions dictate rash or unwarranted behavior.
• Remember that your home must be a boat first and foremost (structurally, and, if desired, operationally).
• Remember that you are buying a home, and comfort is far more important than if you were just buying a pleasure boat.
• Be realistic in your needs.
• Be realistic in your budget, and carefully prepare your cost spreadsheet.
• Be sure that your spouse/partner/companions want to do this at least as much as you do.
• Put your possessions into storage initially, if possible, to make sure that you will stick with the lifestyle.
• Be patient and thorough when performing upgrades and improvements.
• Don’t spend to the maximum of your budget; be prepared for unexpected costs.
• Centuries of boaters have gone without the state-of-the-art cruising equipment such as radar or chartplotters, and unless you are cruising in difficult conditions, you don’t need this equipment either.
• Try to enjoy all of your neighbors.
• Stand up for the things that need standing up for, enjoying as much of the rest of the stuff as possible.
• Enjoy! And remember that you are living millions of peoples’ dreams.
Favorite Things
Jessica’s Top 10 Favorite Things About Living Aboard:
1. The zen of water
2. The lack of traffic noise
3. The view at night
4. The community of helpful, knowledgeable, nice neighbors
5. The ease of changing neighbors!
6. Encourages organization and getting rid of junk
7. Never a lack of problems to attack
8. No lawn to mow
9. Nobody rings your doorbell and tries to sell you anything
10. Freedom from earthquakes!
Jessica Levant, Liveaboard
Ferrocement Motor Sailor
San Francisco Bay, CA
Robb’s Top 10 Favorite Things About Living Aboard in Bermuda:
1. Watching sea turtles surface nearby
2. Watching the glowworms on the second day after a full moon exactly 56 minutes after sunset
3. Watching 6-foot tarpon work the shallows feasting on fry
4. Enjoying the arrival of the longtail tropicbirds every spring and the cormorants every winter
5. The morning commute involves kayaking
6. Bermudians
7. Not paying on average $2,500/year in utility/cable/phone bills
8. Not paying on average $25,000/year rent
9. Collecting 10 gallons of water in one half-hour downpour
10. Staying with friends when hurricanes come to visit
C. Robb Worthington, Liveaboard
S/V Tara Rose
St. Georges, Bermuda
Jim’s Favorite Things About Living Aboard:
1. I live somewhere I couldn’t afford,
2. There are only two other part-time liveaboards at my dock—so life is very isolated
3. I “know” my neighbors. They know me. We look out for each other
4. Sunrises and sunsets
5. Going sailing is a 10-foot commute
6. Being able to putter on boat projects without having to go anywhere
7. Women like to visit :-)
Jim Sims, Liveaboard
Why People Succeed
Chris’ Top Ten List of Reasons Why Liveaboards Succeed:
1. Keeping shit on shore
2. Having mail delivered to work
3. Small, simple boat
4. Military-like attention to gear stowage efficiency and neatness
5. Military-like attention to maintenance
6. All-around neatness
7. Abide by the Golden Rule: All personal gear must fit in one dock cart
8. Realization of the fact that boats need and deserve lots of attention
9. Enjoy providing that attention
10. “A clean boat is a happy boat”
Chris Birch, Marine Technician
Why People Stop Living Aboard
Chris’ Top Ten List of Reasons People Stop Living Aboard:
1. The smell
2. The motion
3. The clutter
4. The expense
5. The work
6. The sewerage
7. Deck leaks
8. No room for the snow skis and piano
9. Boat sunk
10. The significant other
Chris Birch, Marine Technician
Jim’s Worst Things about Living Aboard:
1. The motion in bad weather—even at the dock
2. Morons who don’t understand what “NO” means—as in NO Wake
Jim Sims, Liveaboard
What Liveaboards Miss
Jim’s Top 8 Things Missed By Being Aboard:
1. A good shower
2. My own washer and dryer
3. Hot tub
4. Ridiculous rents
5. Obnoxious neighbors
6. Long commutes
7. Mowing the yard
8. High property taxes
Jim Sims, Liveaboard
Resources
There are some terrific resources available to liveaboards, including some fine magazines, websites, and books. Take the time to read everything you can and learn as much as possible before making too many decisions. When we talk about learning everything, don’t just focus on boats and boating systems, but
also take the time to learn about your local marinas, climate issues, and safety rules and regulations. You are not just a liveaboard; you are a boater and you have the ability to lead by example. Be outstanding at what you do.
Magazines
I would recommend that you take the time to read Liveaboard Magazine, the only periodical geared toward the liveaboard population.
In addition, there are magazines dedicated to specific lifestyles (Latitudes and Attitudes), magazines dedicated to your specific type of boat (Sail, Practical Sailor, Passagemaker, Trawlerworld), magazines focusing on different usages (Bluewater Cruiser), magazines that focus on different geographical regions, magazines that provide insight into equipment and repairs, and many others that provide valuable information—and others that don’t say very much at all.
One advantage to magazines is that those of you who like to read the advertisements can learn about all of the new technology and ideas. Aside from the cutting-edge technologies, advertisements and articles also contain practical ideas and tons of stories about people’s experiences and difficulties. Magazines are often the best venues to learn about the hottest topics and biggest news stories.
Another advantage of magazines is that they are cheap education and you can carry them and read them anywhere. Pick up a few and get familiar with your choices.
Forums
The best resource is to talk to people. While you can do this by going to different marinas, I would also highly encourage you to join an Internet community, also known as an e-mail group or forum. If you are not familiar with one of these, they are basically just groups of people that send e-mails to each other. One person with a question or something to say sends an e-mail to an address; the e-mail is then distributed to all members of the group. Anyone who wants to may respond to the group, or e-mail the sender directly. It is an open discussion.
A few that I have joined are:
http://www.irbs.com/lists/
http://groups.yahoo.com/
http://www.livingaboard.com
http://www.sailnet.com
There are literally thousands of e-mail groups to select from. The most applicable one for us is called “liveaboards.”
There are numerous downsides to these groups, in that you tend to find yourself witness to discussions that would make an elementary school teacher squirm. Focus on the issues and solutions, particularly the range of solutions, and you will find much of the advice incredibly insightful or, at a minimum, highly educational. Also, you will find that there is no question that has not been asked, or is not a common concern among many of your peers. Also, you will see that there is not necessarily only one solution to any given problem.
You will learn that some people love the United States Coast Guard and others hate them, that some people love having guns on board and others take great offense at guns aboard, that some people are in favor of Jimmy Buffett and others against him, and that some people don’t like other people and some people don’t like anyone, and other people will come to the defense of the people who are not liked and other people will come to the defense of people who don’t like anyone. You can join the community and in doing so, you will have the chance to participate or not. Regardless of your level of participation, you will be able to listen to this broad cross-section of liveaboards.
Since many of these lists have been around for a very long time, there are huge archives covering just about every topic imaginable. There are people asking about what kind of boats are the best, what marinas are great and not-so-great, and the virtues of different equipment and amenities. You will find opinions on thousands of topics and are likely to find that your question has been asked before.
Websites/Blogs
There are some very fine websites out there. The world has changed, and whether you are looking to research and purchase boats, learn about the craft of boating, determine weather conditions, locate marina, or find equipment or manufacturers, the Web offers a virtually unlimited collection of resources.
If you are researching living aboard, definitely check out http://www.livingaboard.net (the site for this book), which provides the cost spreadsheet discussed earlier in the book, as well as other valuable links. Other good links include:
http://www.sleepingwithoars.com/
A site put together and maintained by liveaboard Robert Doty
http://www.irbs.com/
Links to other websites on a variety of interesting boating subjects and resources
http://www.sailnet.com, also one of my favorites, offers terrific articles about many of the most important subjects of living aboard and boating.
A quick search will identify many other wonderful resources.
Books
The first book I would recommend is the book you’re reading, but you already know that! (Well, we’ve both made it this far, so I figured self-serving humor was in order.)
A wonderful book on living aboard is entitled Gently With The Tides, published by International Marine/McGraw-Hill. It was one of the books that got it going for me.
The other book that I think is a must-own for any economy-minded boater is This Old Boat, also published by International Marine/McGraw-Hill. This book teaches the various systems and provides economical solutions and repairs, as well as wonderful how-tos.
Acknowledgments
The advice and thoughts in this book are based on not only my own experiences, but also on the input of the many characters I have had the chance to meet through the years, as well as the delightful people I have had the privilege to interview in preparation for this book and the companion video. I am grateful, and this project is far more thorough and wonderful because of their contributions.
I want to take a moment to thank the following people who have been essential in providing wonderful assistance and advice in my liveaboard career, boat buying endeavors, boat repairing endeavors, and preparation for this book. All of the following people have taken an active role in their lives and careers to make sure that boaters and liveaboards are offered a safe boat, a safe marina, and knowledgeable neighbors to look out for them. They are all natural teachers and have given me their time in order to make sure that liveaboards and boaters get the best advice possible.
Chris Birch Capt. Chris Birch, owner of Birch Marine, Inc., has been maintaining pleasure boats in Boston Harbor for over 20 years. Chris has lived aboard and sailed the East Coast and Bahamas on his 1971 Tartan 30 Carina. With the addition of a wife, two kids, and a dog, Chris now lives on land but still spends a good amount of time cruising New England with his family aboard Fearless, his “ne”’ 1969 Tartan 34. Birch Marine is currently maintaining boats in Boston & Miami, building pedal-powered/prop-driven dories, and finishing ultraquiet lobster yachts.
Tom Cox Tom has managed 8 marinas from Florida to Cape Cod over the past 30 years. He and his partner presently own and operate Constitution Marina in Boston’s Inner Harbor, where he lives aboard his 59-foot sailboat, Rosinante, with his wife, Lynne. Tom is the President of the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association and sits on the national board of the Marina Operators of America. He holds a Certified Marina Manager’s certificate from the International Marina Institute and is very active in local environmental organizations in addition to sitting on the board of directors of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay as its immediate past president. Tom runs a first-class and “liveaboard friendly” facility in Boston Harbor, from which he also offers the non-boater the opportunity to partake in the liveaboard lifestyle, albeit for only a night or two, on various vessels in his marina that participate in the marina’s Bed and Breakfast Afloat program.
Robert Doty Originally from Virginia and Hawaii, Robert has spent the majority of his time in Jacksonville, Florida and has lived aboard Candide, a 38-foot Hans Christian Traditional sailboat, since August, 1999. He is the creator and webmaster of a website (http://www.sleepingwithoars.com) dedicated toward providing liveaboards with valuable information. His site has received more than 100
,000 visitors and has provided terrific advice to thousands of new and aspiring liveaboards.
Greg Emerson Greg grew up in Tampa, Florida, where he went to school and worked several years in Tampa’s famous shipyards. Greg downsized from ships when he moved to Alachua, Florida in 1979 and began working at Hunter Marine, which at the time was a relatively new sailboat manufacturer. Greg worked through the ranks, becoming the production manager over the entire hull and deck construction for Hunter, where he spent a decade before moving to the customer service department, where he worked with customers and Hunter Marine’s large worldwide dealer distribution network. After 26 years, Greg is still currently with Hunter Marine, now the largest sailboat manufacturer in North America and second in the world. He is the market development manager for the Northeast region of North America.
Norm Johnson Norm has served in the Air Force, fixing electronic navigational aids on Phantom jets, and spent time in the aerospace industry until he found himself realizing (in a rum-induced state with boating friends) that he wanted to be the skipper of a chartered sailing vessel. After finding nothing on the market, Norm decided in 1973 to build himself a boat—a 74-foot LOA, 18-foot beam, 8-foot draft, 120,000-pound ferrocement boat. Norm and his partner Jan, a jeweler, are retired and cruising aboard Bandersnatch, and have tens of thousands of miles under keel. Norm and Jan want me to report that he and Jan can’t imagine living any other lifestyle.
John Procter John learned to sail at the age of 12 on the Charles River in Boston and fell deeply in love with sailing from that point on. He served in the Army during Vietnam, taught instrumental music in the Boston Public School system, earned a Masters degree in music education and an MBA, and has been a yacht broker and member of the YBAA for more than twenty years, serving on its board of directors for six years and as its president for two years. John is currently the chairperson of the organization’s forms committee. When not working as a yacht broker, he is either playing his euphonium with the Metropolitan Wind Symphony or the New England Brass Band, or sailing the waters off Cape Cod aboard his 32-foot Pearson Vanguard sloop, Hornblower, with his wife Heidi and their two-year-old son Will. John, Heidi, and fellow broker Sam Lawson have worked together at Lawson Yachts, Inc. in Hingham, Massachusetts since 1985.