On Mon, 14 Feb 2005 10:22:31 -0800, Ed wrote:

I am wondering if any one on this list lives aboard there boat? If so
how do you like it? Pro and cons ? At what size should a person keep
there boat at a marina or trailer it back and forth ?

Thanks
Ed

As another poster said, most on this NG have little outboards to putt
around in, so have no idea about "living aboard".

I've lived aboard a 22-ft for a couple of summer months, a 25-ft for a
summer and a few months in the winter, and a 36-ft for 2 years,
year-round. This is in Vancouver, Canada ("Land of Ice and Snow").

Heat is not really a problem: I used a diesel furnace. Others use diesel
or even wood stoves, or electric heat. I "double-glazed" my windows with
plastic for the winter.

Pros and Cons? Pros are mainly less expensive, and you only have to deal
with one set of "living things" (dishes, cutlery, towels, pillows, linen,
etc.) whereas if you have a decent-sized boat AND a house, you have two.
It's easier to get those little things fixed when living aboard. If you're
on a dock with lots of liveaboards, the social life is good: I've never
felt more of a "community" than the docks!

Cons are cramped space, poor TV reception (although some docks have
cable), showers that are compared to standing in a small closet with a
large, wet dog, and as others have mentioned, it's not as much of a
"treat" go go boating if you're there all the time.

A Pro/Con is that you're on the boat already - it's easy to slip the
docklines and go sailing, but otoh you have to stow everything so it's
more of a hassle sometimes.

To be honest, the main thing that brought me back to land was that I was
living aboard "illegally" - I had to have a fake other address, sneak
around, etc. Legal liveaboards are VERY scarce, at least in Vancouver!
It's also hard to describe where you live for legal things like insurance,
etc.

Now, I have a wife. Otherwise I'd be retired and living aboard again!

If your "liveaboard" boat is trailered, you are not "living aboard",
you're living in a trailer. See rec.outdoors.rv-travel and ask about
"full=timing".

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36