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?
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.
<>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.
A boat is like snow - best to visit it.
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!
Houses can’t hide from storms, either. ;o)
BOAT = Break Out Another Thousand
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.
Rent-It!
I agree. It’s a huge risk and you should not be taking risks at this point in your life.
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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.
BOAT = Break Out Another Thousand
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Just remember that the true definition of a boat is a bottomless hole in the lake to throw money into.
71!
Living on a boat holds no interest to me.
Then again, I live in the desert.
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.
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