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Thinking of selling everything and moving onto a boat.
Vanity | 10 March 2019

Posted on 03/10/2019 9:48:59 AM PDT by amorphous

A recently retired friend is thinking of selling his home (which is paid for) and buying a boat for himself and his wife to live aboard without ever having lived aboard a boat before.

Are there any FReepers who have done something similar, or who have experience living this kind of lifestyle, or have advice I could maybe pass on to them?


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Travel
KEYWORDS: boats; liveaboard; marinelife; retirement
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To: amorphous
They sound like they mostly want a change in the way they live, not necessarily that they want to live on a boat. Boats (and RVs) have expensive maintenance and upkeep issues that can flummox and aggravate newbies.

My suggestion is that they might try renting a boat or an RV for several months before making a larger commitment. And they should investigate retirement communities, which vary greatly in what they offer.

My mother is in such a place and loves it. She has a two bedroom apartment on a lake in Winter Park, which is an upscale city just north of Orlando. My mother sets her schedule and activities and usually fixes her own meals. Yet if she wants to eat in the cafeteria or needs minor medical help, they are in the building next door -- which is connected to hers by a covered walkway. A panic button system has emergency help from staff available at all hours. A full hospital is a couple of hundred yards down the road.

Continuity of care is provided, from temporary nursing help to hospice care. The retirement community has many organized activities, but my mother is healthy enough that she frequently drives to shop, visit friends, or see movies and plays. She sometimes even goes to lectures at the nearby college.

121 posted on 03/10/2019 3:34:38 PM PDT by Rockingham
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To: ConservativeMind

<>If you dock in California, they will come after you for income or property tax that year.<>

I don’t doubt you. Those who haven’t dealt with the taxing authorities from these a$$hole states are lucky.


122 posted on 03/10/2019 3:44:38 PM PDT by Jacquerie (ArticleVBlog.com)
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To: shanover

A boat is like snow - best to visit it.


123 posted on 03/10/2019 4:36:28 PM PDT by FatherofFive (Islam is EVIL and needs to be eradicated)
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To: amorphous

You say they have never lived aboard a boat, but do they KNOW anything about boats? Do they know how to sail? A sailboat is cheaper to travel on (free wind versus fuel costs) - though sailboats usually have auxiliary engines.

We lived aboard a sailboat for almost ten years and then a powerboat/trawler for almost six. Depending on how much they can afford to spend, I’d say a powerboat/trawler would be a better choice for an older couple. Sailing takes a lot more energy and special skills to operate. If they have a little experience and want to decide if they are cut out for living aboard, I would recommend they try chartering a boat first for a few weeks to get a feel for what it can be like. Not everyone can adjust to the environment and that way they aren’t stuck with a vessel to get rid of if they end up not liking it after all. Boats do NOT appreciate in value.

My Dad sailed with some friends and liked it so much he came back and told my stepmom he wanted to sell the house and live on a boat. She freaked. Before he did that, though, they went out again and this time there was dead calm and hot. The seas were a little rough and all they did was roll back and forth all day with the diesel fumes wafting across them while they sweated their heads off. They all got seasick. Nah...maybe not, Dad decided. LOL!


124 posted on 03/10/2019 6:48:12 PM PDT by boatbums (Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy he saved us.)
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To: antidemoncrat

Houses can’t hide from storms, either. ;o)


125 posted on 03/10/2019 7:13:02 PM PDT by boatbums (Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy he saved us.)
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder; amorphous

BOAT = Break Out Another Thousand


126 posted on 03/10/2019 7:32:27 PM PDT by boatbums (Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy he saved us.)
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To: amorphous

If that’s the case, I would advise they buy a condo somewhere in Florida. No yard work and little maintenance. They could have money and time to afford to charter a boat somewhere or rent an RV and get the best of both worlds.


127 posted on 03/10/2019 7:39:29 PM PDT by boatbums (Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy he saved us.)
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To: amorphous

Rent-It!


128 posted on 03/10/2019 8:04:31 PM PDT by Ozark Tom
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To: Brilliant

I agree. It’s a huge risk and you should not be taking risks at this point in your life.
.............................................
I agree. Here’s what I’ve been doing for nine years since retirement, and what I would recommend. Fly to wherever you want to travel around sightseeing, etc. Rent a comfortable car at the airport and hit the road. Do not lock yourselves into a must-do itinerary. Instead lay out a list of places you want to visit, but not on any rigid time frame. We poke along going here and there without even having hotel reservations, even while traveling in Europe. Never yet have we had to sleep in our vehicle.

We did have a problem finding accommodations in northeastern Florida last year, but that was because unbeknownst to us we were there on the weekend of the Daytona 500. Had to drive 50 miles up into Georgia to get a motel room.


129 posted on 03/10/2019 8:05:31 PM PDT by fortes fortuna juvat (Civilization is held together by the hangman's noose.)
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To: FatherofFive
The two happiest days in a boatowner’s life - when he buys it, and when he sells it.

BOAT = Break Out Another Thousand

130 posted on 03/10/2019 8:08:52 PM PDT by Kenny Bania (Ovaltine? Why not call it Roundtine?)
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To: amorphous

We definitely wouldn’t trade our 15+ years of cruising and living aboard experiences for anything - it was very enjoyable even with the problems which are inevitable. We saw many beautiful places, met some fine people, made lifelong friends and have many fond memories. When people tell us they have always dreamed of living on a boat, I say, try it...what’s the worst thing that can happen? If you decide you hate it, then you can always sell and try something else. But at least you did it.

Your friend can always buy a smaller house on the water somewhere and keep a boat docked behind it for trips. Ft. Lauderdale is a wonderful place to do that as is the Gulf Coast of Florida like Venice, Longboat Key, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, etc. Another idea is buying a house in the Bahamas. HGTV has a program called “Living the Bahamas Life” and there is a big variety of homes at all different prices throughout that island chain. Many airlines fly there now, for example, Marsh Harbour, Freeport or Nassau so family can come visit. There are plenty of options for your friends.


131 posted on 03/10/2019 8:31:34 PM PDT by boatbums (Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy he saved us.)
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To: amorphous
We have a 40 ft sailboat that I spend weeks on. By myself. I could live on it....by myself. If another person was going to live on it with me I’d need a bigger boat. Dock fees are not bad. Where I am a lot of people live on their boats because it’s so much cheaper. I do a lot of the maintenance myself. I’m sitting on it now with my electric fireplace going. Today I pulled out the sink and faucet in the en-suite head. I put in a new faucet. Had to pull the sink out to get the faucet out. Lol. Yesterday I replaced the 2 main seals in the marine toilet. As soon as it’s warmer I’ll redo the wood outside. There’s not a lot and I only have to do it every couple of years. I have a guy here in the marina that pumps me out for $10. I have a diver that cleans the bottom every other month for $100. We used to sail her all the time but now hubby is disable so the boat is my floating condo. Occasionally one of the neighbors insists on taking her out with me. I have great live aboard neighbors. We help each other. We have dock bbq’s. There’s always someone close by. It’s definitely a different lifestyle with a diffeeent breed of people. I wouldn’t have it any other way. If anything ever happens to hubby I’ll sell my sailboat and buy an aft cabin motor yacht to live on. More room for me when the grandkids are on board. I wouldn’t know what to do without my boat. ⛵️ 🌊
132 posted on 03/10/2019 8:49:31 PM PDT by sheana
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To: SaxxonWoods

It mostly depends on how rich and old you are. And also on how much you like sailing. A small boat on a small budget will soon tire you out. A newer large boat can be a lot of fun. I know a couple that has been living on a 48’ sailboat in the Carib for the last 7 years and loving it!


133 posted on 03/10/2019 9:12:10 PM PDT by mikeIII
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To: mikeIII

Some friends of ours sold their house and bought a Dodge dually and a large 5th wheel trailer. Travelled all over the place for about 5 years. Loved every bit of it.
Eventually bought another house but still use the rig to see the sights.


134 posted on 03/10/2019 9:13:46 PM PDT by Texas resident (Democrats=Enemy of People of The United States of America)
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To: 4Runner

Thanks for that posting!

Since I began reading this thread, I’ve been trying to recall the name of the Detective who lived on a houseboat in Florida. I was reading the Travis McGee paperbacks in 1960-61 when aboard ship in the Navy.

I believe there was also a TV series or movie about a Detective who lived on a houseboat, but probably in the ‘80s-’90s.


135 posted on 03/10/2019 10:25:18 PM PDT by octex
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To: boatbums

True, but there is a big difference on whether the boat is on inland waters or ocean. Been through some really bad storms at sea. No place for amateurs and a lot of experienced sailors.


136 posted on 03/11/2019 7:15:09 AM PDT by antidemoncrat
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To: amorphous

Just remember that the true definition of a boat is a bottomless hole in the lake to throw money into.


137 posted on 03/11/2019 7:17:00 AM PDT by rapture-me
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To: Big Red Badger

71!


138 posted on 03/11/2019 8:06:07 AM PDT by ontap
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To: amorphous
I find the vastness of the ocean pretty unnerving, sends me into an existential questioning zone.

Living on a boat holds no interest to me.

Then again, I live in the desert.

139 posted on 03/11/2019 8:43:43 AM PDT by riri
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To: amorphous; AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ..
Definitely want to follow this, what your friends wind up doing. Seems like something to try, rather than to commit to long term. Renting a secure, dry, storage facility for all one-of-a-kind possessions would be a must. Buying a really nice "houseboat" that's already berthed somewhere on some (often artificial) inland lake somewhere sounds like a colossal bore that costs too much. If it's to be an oceangoing vessel of some sort, probably need something to protect against pirates.

140 posted on 03/11/2019 8:53:41 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (and btw -- https://www.gofundme.com/for-rotator-cuff-repair-surgery)
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