Thank you for an unvarnished and unflinchingly accurate appraisal of 5 big downsides to boat living, but done in a completely lovely and charming way. You guys did a great job being precise and real without trying to sugarcoat it or overplay and demonize it. You were vey easy to listen to. I must say I found it very informative and enlightening. Thank you!
My goal is to NOT own a boat but instead to fly to different places in the world to bareboat. I also want to continue to make myself more valuable onboard through training and experience such that I'll be asked a lot to crew.
My dad once said: "I could give you many reasons why not to buy a boat but they would be pretty much the same reasons not to have a child. And you're my greatest joy."
Haha! Exactly. If you sit down and think about the advantages and disadvantages of having children it is a wonder anyone has them at all in the end. A smart person would put it off until they are more economically stable, and limit the number of children they have to just one, or maybe two replacements for the parents. Perhaps maybe even not having any children at all would be the most advantageous. I guess that might explain why the human race seems to be getting stupider as the world becomes more and more over-populated. ;)
Buying the right boat makes a huge difference. Moisture is the No#1 cause for failures. Wet electronics, wet engine rooms etc; are the main causes. I owned a Commercial fishing boat for 30 years and had annual maintenance, but besides general R&R I had little issues. The big issue with pleasure boats is there are many places where the outside environment gets into soo many areas. An excellent sail boat like a Norsemen 447 along with some sort of DRY heat running all the time will eliminate most issues. Also stick with a manual toilet and plastic water and holding tanks and aluminium fuel tanks. And remember stainless is half as good as it looks and Galvanized is twice as good as it looks. Modern stainless is a disaster. Rust and electrolysis eats right thru it. I've seen stainless propellor shafts cut right in half by electrolysis. A good old iron shaft looks like crap but will last forever. My fishing boat was 60 years old and still going strong. Get rid of all the electronics that are out in the environment. Keep them indoors with dry air circulating. A pilot house vessel is also the best for all of this. I know, in the tropics keeping your gear dry is tough. If you live above the tropics KEEP YOUR BOAT WARM AND DRY. Including your engine room and all of your storage compartments. $50 worth of heat per month will save you thousands $$ and pain in the long run.
I owned and lived on my 60 foot commercial fishing boat 15 years. I learned that the proper equipment, properly installed, and properly maintained seldom 'broke'. Very seldom did I see things break or wear out, but you have to stay on top of things 24/7, constant maintenance is a must. Your video was very accurate.
You didn't mention losing things. Truly a phenomenon shared by many in a tiny space. Because there's not enough space, you're continually juggling your possessions to get at the ones you want. This in turn means you bury and misplace things you're going to need again. Cleaning is a bigger chore outside than inside the boat. If you have allergies watch out for the nasty molds that grown inside the boat.
21 years in 5 submarines got me to where I can sleep on top of diesel engines, use hydraulic oil to comb my hair with and wash my hands, and shower every other week. You know, you can get 4 weeks wear out of one T-shirt. Week 1 - wear it regular. Week 2 - turn it around and wear backwards. Week 3 - turn it inside out and wear front-ways. Week 4 - Inside out, backwards. Of course, the arm pits do get a little crunchy from time to time. hehe. Love the video and the soul searching questions you put in it because I don't think a lot of people really consider the "really togetherness" thing, water rationing affecting hygiene, etc. Thanks for taking time to do it.
They are quite straightforward points now we've been doing it for 12 years, but did we think about them before we started? NO! Your t-shirts sound like Jamie's! 😁 Liz x
I have a friend who brought a second-hand 45 ft boat in immaculate condition it was near new, He is sailing from Greece to Australia very slowly, it's been four years now, and every email or journey update bar none includes stuff that has gone wrong, endless expense. He loves what he is doing but he has the income to do it. Budget sailing, forget it, these kind people are giving out priceless information.
My wife and have full timed in our Motorhome for the last year . Boating full time sounds very similar . Things are constantly breaking down . Used or new . Of course being in the middle of the ocean versus a two lane highway in the middle of Montana is better when shit happens ! The best advise I have ever heard 39 years ago. Is to ask yourself. Can I live with my husband or wife in a hallway. The best to all of you who make it happen !
A friend told me how he was with pen and paper at the table trying to show a caravanner travelling around Australia how it didn't make financial sense with columns for fuel, maintenance, repairs, depreciation, park fees, loss of income etc etc. Satisfied with his logic and costing proof he was met with the response. "You forgot the value of the Fun column". Case closed I guess. Life has many perceptions of value and worth.
Had a sail boat for 6 years and sailed around the world. Very honest what you say about the 5 reasons not to buy a boat. By rule of thumb it costs 10% of the value of the boat per year for the pleasure regardless of the value eg.a $10M boat cots $1M per year to maintain. That said my wife and I saw places and did things that were fabulous and made friendships with sailor people that have endured. Trust in each other by necessity is enhanced by. We were fortunate to have sold for more than we paid but spent plenty in the middle!
we moved to land 3 years ago after 18 years of circumnavigation basically the boat was getting tired and the wallet had shrunk due to a divorce. I cry every day for the freedom and hate Europe with all its bull...! At least we did it and dont regret it
Maintenance also depends on the age of the boat you purchase, I’m on my third sailboat. The last two were purchased new, first was 40 foot used 15 years old next 41 foot new now up to 54 new and neither new had any out of the ordinary expenses. While the 15 year old boat over 7 years of ownership probably cost me the difference of just purchasing new. I’ve learned the first 10 years of boat ownership are the easiest maintenance wise.
Hi guys, hats off to you for persevering. I bought my first boat aged 61, only a 26' trailer motor sailer, being a first timer and not so young, it's got an outboard engine, and no timber. It was part of the dream along with good sized land (no close neighbours), sea frontage, in the tropics. Call in if you're passing, 7* 30' 16"N - 99* 06' 22"E. I regret waiting so long and not perusing my dream much younger, as I will now never own an ocean cruiser and "take off". One of my best experiences was a trip from Langkawi to Port Said on my ex employers 80' gin palace, except for the French crew! Still a very small place with the wrong people...., but I could see the attraction. One piece of advice regarding the cockroaches, owning a restaurant in Phuket one time, with a walk over doorstep to the kitchen, we had problems also. A sailer gave us this piece of advice, spread Boric acid powder around all the room edges/corners, they tread it into their nest and kill off the whole brood, job done, and it worked a treat. Happy sailing.
Love the honesty, my late dad always had fishing boats right up to when he passed away, I vowed never to have a boat but after much deliberation, we now want to learn how to sail & want to escape from all the dire modern-day life & all the negative media, so thank you for your wonderful reasons not to have a boat, my wife & I have worked together for 24 years as salon owners and we are rock solid, so that won't be an issue, maintaining the vessel & the skill sets needed may be a learning curve, but it's a challenge am willing to take on .
After 30 years I bought a small open sailboat 6.5m to see if I still could handle a sailboat. I learned a lot, especially from my own silly mistakes. Nature, wind, sun and rain out there sailing 2 years now on a small lake. I love it. I learned knots (i had never heard off), how to look, preparations, talking to other enthusiastic sailors, and I learned, how to fix a boat. I like to customize, clean and change things on my small boat. I keep doing this for another three years and then I buy myself a bigger boat. Sailing is fun.
don't Care - Funny but true. We call it two foot iDis. Boaters always say if my boat was just two feet longer it would be perfect. I use to say that but what I learned a larger one is just more to clean.
1951RKP If you can afford a 60-70 footer motor yacht, you can afford paying for regular cleaning. And everything else too, including maintenance, upkeep, fuel and storage.
@@greghooper16 I've noticed that a lot of decent or better sailboats seem relatively inexpensive to buy--but one realizes that the real cost is in the operating/repair expenses.
This was the most honest and dutiful reminder to all those who dream, as every dream has it's compromises. Lovely to see a couple in alignment with each other and living their dream.
Yep - excellent advice, thank you. Just about to convert our patrol-class vessel into an explorer yacht, and every day is a relevalation on how much it's going to cost. Having downsized from a large house, to a 2-bed off-grid (batteries, solar, generators, solid fuel...) cottage in the middle of nowhere, we're well prepared (eyes wide open). It's always about water, power, space, and acoustically, when an engine starts making a strange sound, or there's a flicker in the lights, it absolutely cannot be ignored. It always, and without exception, means something is wrong, and it needs to be addressed immediately. Oh, and have spares. Lots of spares!
My father, Roger W. McAleer, the naval architect and designer of the 24' planing daysailer: "Raven" (called the first muscle car of sailboats back in the 50's), had two family sailboats through the years. Throughout the 60's and 70's we did weekend and two week vacation outings in the Chesapeake Bay on his 35' and 40' custom wooden sloops. The only trouble we had was running aground in narrow channels where we had to run back and forth from starboard to port and rock the boat to get her free. No trouble from the rigging, plumbing, or electrical. He sold his last sloop in the 90's. Those who built my dad's boats did it right. The only real cost were the marina fees.
We met a couple while cruising and asked about where they've been and their plans. The wife hissed, "It was his F..king idea" as she climbed down the companionway and pulled the hatch closed. I'd bet they aren't still cruising.
Upon talking with the husband, we learned that he was dreaming of tropical beaches, palm trees, rum drinks, and half naked women. He admitted to forcing her into his dream.
My girlfriend and I sailed the Bahamas in 2017 with a couple on a Pearson 38. One day the wife forgot to turn the windlass motor off (which had been rewired...no fuse) once the anchor was up. The windlass motor burned up ($2500). I thought I was gonna have to step between the captain and his wife to prevent a fight. Later learned they divorced.
I owned a 30' keelboat for seven or eight years and sold it because my new wife was not interested in sailing. During that time, I spent far more time working on the boat than I did sailing it. I enjoyed the tinkering for a while but the expense wore on me after a while. When there was a storm, I spent my evening at home worrying about the boat on its mooring. When I was sailing, the responsibility for everyone sailing with me was wearing, as well. The best situation is to find a good friend who owns a sailboat and needs a sailing partner. I didn't believe this until I bought the boat. One of my good friends sold his boat because he had decided it was more pleasant to stand fully clothed in a cold shower, tearing up $20 bills. I loved my boat. But I was happy after it was sold.
Boats are a joy when everything is going well, but they are hard work. True about having friends or family on board, always being a big responsibility. Maybe charter now and then to feed the passion? 👌✌️ Liz
I love sailing and have a great deal of experience. But, I've never considered abandoning the landlubber lifestyle: house, car, motorbike, furniture, appliances etc etc....,to live aboard simply because I am not very very rich! Great video folks.
Here’s another possibility for those of us who want the live aboard life in an abbreviated way... We live in Michigan and sail the Great Lakes. My aging parents live with us so we can care for them, so at this time, selling everything isn’t an option. So we sail as much as we can close to home. Our business is flexible and we can do the majority of it from our boat. The drawback is, our season is relatively short (five months at best), and oh how it hurts when we have to haul her out each season, and of course, it’s not the Caribbean. But the benefits are: fresh water doesn’t deteriorate things as quickly, the off season provides about 8 weeks of ability (four weeks before and four weeks after the snow) to get boat maintenance done, a profound appreciation of the sailing season we do get, the unparalleled natural beauty of the Great Lakes. We’ve talked to cruisers who come from everywhere including the Caribbean and they tell us they’re stunned by the crystal clear water and the natural beauty found here. In the off season, we watch sailing vlogs like yours and dream of becoming cruisers in the tropics.. but in reality, we have it pretty darned great. So for those who can’t quite sell their land life and move aboard, you can have a little of both worlds. We love your channel and it eases the pain of our off season to watch and dream. I’m curious as to if you’ve ever been to the Great Lakes or sailed any of them? Thanks for the video!
Sounds like an absolutely fantastic life! Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us. Peace and fair winds! (I went to Chicago once, does that count?) ☺️👌Liz
We had a wooden 12 ton Gauntlet - Tiare Taporo III" built in NZ and bought in NZ in 2002 when she was 24 years old and in need of much work to go offshore. We had the original 1964 4 cylinder Fordson and BW Velvet Drive transmission. Engine was 54 years old when we sold her and always ran like a top, except when approaching Timor in Indonesia when the fuel lift pump failed! We eventually replaced it in Malaysia. Used an electric one in the meantime. We left NZ in 2011 and sailed to New Caledonia, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. In total we lived on board for 10 years and that counts for something financially. We had great experiences and some not so great and spent a fortune getting her ready in NZ for the big OE!! BUT it was always a lifelong dream and we don't regret any of it. Character building! Moneywise - it is a very expensive way to travel and only at about one hundredth of the speed of flying! But think of all the bracing experiences along the way and the ability to see very remote places - but they can be daunting too because anchoring information, etc is often sparse. The people you meet make up for much of the tribulations. Buying a boat and sailing offshore is a very personal decision - one that you have to make with almost no prior experience!!!
I'm looking in to buying a boat farther down the road of my life. This video was very educational, but not discouraging enough to make me think twice! I'll have it some day. Thank you very much for sharing.
This is why I'm a trailer sailor. I have a few high-performance dinghies. I take them to the lake on windy days and have a lot of fun sailing, and then I take them home and go inside my large and comfortable house.
Anyone with sailing experience knows that you are going to work on sailboats constantly. The newer boats have less wood and better systems. Actually my Crealock has very few issues.
Well I think it is good that you are laying it on the line for people. There is a lot to know before you set out. On the West Coast, the Baja Ha Ha is a good first blue water sail. Lots of help and people to go with. Or just join the Picton Castle and sail around the world on a tall ship.
Yes I have brought a Hanse 531 -2006 from the Netherlands :) so we are very busy selling all the stuff we no longer need. We will fly out to our yacht on the 27th march, my teenage son and I.
It is a privilege to live on a boat for even a small period of your life. A lot depends on where it is you are. I enjoyed many years in America and Mexico...The liveaboard community were great. We had pot lucks and many a party. People look out for each other and there was a great community spirit. They say the best days are when you buy and sell a boat - well not for me. I was sad to see all my boats go. I never wanted to sell - I just had to due to financial difficulties. There are downsides to everything in life - but there is nothing better than setting sail from the dock to go cruising and a group of friends waving you off and wishing you "Fair winds and following seas!" as you leave....I can't wait for the next boat !
You are so right, when people buy a boat in most cases they do not know what to expect even after reading and you tubing on sailing. I am that do all person and so is my Partner. We have owned boats from 22' to 50'. We soon will be owning a 51' to do some blue water sailing. Its a lot of work but we both enjoy it immensely. I have {we} have been sailing all our lives and wouldn't change it for anything. Thank you
I hear you on the working on the boat and keeping it up but like I live on a Chris craft consolation 57feet and it’s a joy but it’s just me and my two dogs but I have a full sized closet so I got to keep all my clothes and a full sized kitchen and master bathroom so it’s like a nice little house but because of the cost of driving it I don’t take her out much but I do find that it’s cheaper to live on her then it is land and I’m happier
Well! We sold the house, a cabin and one of the cars and bought us a catamaran and a small apartement. To be honest! We havn't regret a singel day since. To invest in our future is the greatest thing we ever could have done! period...We love to sail around when ever we can and still have money left..
We've got some fond memories of our sail boat owning days but boy did we learn each one of these lessons...and more! B.O.A.T. = Bring Out Another Thousand!
Yes owning a live aboard boat is money absorbing but the places you go to and the people you meet are worth every penny . We've been on board our yacht for 20 years and wouldn't change it .
What is the old saying again... ? "Your happiest day in life is when You buy a boat. The second happiest day in your life is when You sell the boat!" Something like that...
“If it flies, floats or fu€ks - it’ll cost you a fortune, you’re better to rent it!!!” is the old expression! As a married airline pilot with a boat, I now understand!!! 10% of original list price is the average cost per year after 5 years. But it’s in your blood and great on a sunny day to clear your head and make some of life’s greatest memories!
What a lovely couple! Apart from all the sound advice I am so impressed by the 'double act', how you cover the points together alternately and so fluently and harmoniously.
I found exactly the same issues owning a house , the happiest day in my life when I bought it , the second happiest day when I sold it , I started a business so I could get the money to refurbish the house , next I had no time because I had the business , next 10 years goes by and the house had been abandoned because I was never there , so a boat after a house experience seems a lot less to maintain , smaller area to clean , and all the good things that come with being able to change your address and environment and a great social life , the lesser of the two evils , I now live in a factory with all my tools and car and Harley and too old to bother doing anything too worn out trying to get the money to finish the house , but now good to finance my retirement , if only we lived for 300 years we would have it all worked out in time .
I often wish I had several lifetimes , one to spend individually with each kid. But we only have one and have to cram all the stupid and the well thought out and the crazy and the intelligence into one short life span .................
I can’t get used to the no washing deal. I keep many gallons of water on the deck. When I am dirty and sweaty I grab one and rinse off. The sun keeps the water nice and warm! Feels great! Next thing!
You can watch a million DIY videos on how to do, make, and fix things but there is one thing I just CANNOT teach (and don't even try), and that is basic hand-eye coordination and the general ability to do neat work. It does not matter if you aren't an experienced mechanic, electrician, plumber, carpenter etc.; if you have the fundamental capability to utilize tools, understand the proper materials and general principles of things then you can learn what you need to know to do boat maintenance properly. Sadly, there are people who just can't draw a straight line, turn a wrench, paint without runs and the like... they are just generally uncoordinated slobs and mostly daft when it comes to fixing or keeping up with anything. I just can't 'teach' that fundamental baseline into a person no matter how much they want to own a boat. You have to be honest with yourself; if you lack that baseline of basic DIY skill, have no ability to work with your hands (along with your brain), then you have no business owning a boat (unless you are rich and can afford to hire someone to do everything).
When we first moved onto the boat in a boatyard in Turkey, in winter, we met a very clever man on a neighbouring boat who helped us. He once said, "You can do anything you want to do. If that fella over there can take an engine apart, so can you. You have hands, eyes and a brain, just like him." We've never forgotten John's advice, and quote it to each other when a job seems insurmountable. We always get there in the end. But, as you say, you must apply brain-power and some finesse in order to do the job properly. Cheers! Liz 👍
Luke well said. I've taught plumbing and other skills in college's. And you know what ? I'm never gonna play my guitar at The Albert Hall, and some people will never be able to bend a pipe or cut wood straight. The smart ones are the folk that accept it and find a different strength. I also promise never to give you tax and investment advice!
This is why i own a 20 ft Flicka, 1/4 the cost for repairs and replacements of any kind than one ten ft longer....new set of sails aprox 1700., new standing rig aprox 1000., Bottom Job aprox 600. all told DIY. Time/effort to paint the bottom is about 1/3 that of a 30 ft boat.....varnish about 1/2.....etc, etc,.....
There's certainly a lot to be said for smaller boats, but 20ft is too much of a compromise for two people to live comfortably and sail the oceans IMO. If ever we were to retire on land I could see myself being very happy with a boat like yours though 😃👍 Fair winds to you.
The reason for this episode is to point out (to those with little experience other than watching sailing channels) that living full-time on a sailboat is not all cocktails, parties and white sand beaches. This amazing lifestyle brings problems as well as the good times. We've been living aboard full-time since 2006 and wouldn't have it any other way. If you watch till the end, you'll hear us say that. The accompanying episode, "5 Reasons Why You Should Buy A Boat" explains why we love this life: th-cam.com/video/NF4dvGuEip8/w-d-xo.html
We lived on a yacht for 12 years before selling up and buying a barge which we converted into a house boat. Like you, we love the lifestyle and only gave up the yacht for health reasons. Both of us were competent and experienced sailors before making the jump to becoming ocean dwellers and I fully understand the tough times. Good video... thank you.
Many years back I took sailing classes and got to where i could single hand a Shields (30', graceful, no motor) out on the Pacific coast of central California. While i still know what year it is and before I need a walker, I'm thinking of buying a 28' to 32' sailboat capable of coastal cruising the west coast. Having some brains left, I'm taking sailing lessons (ASA) to see if my sailing dream is just a fond memory or something I still love and still capable of doing. So until the classes begin, I'm in irons, flapping about, going nowhere and very much appreciate watching pro and con videos of people with real experience such as this one. Thank you Sailing followtheboat.
Boat A vessel propelled along the water by the rapid combustion of money. A hole in the water you continuously pour money into. A means of gaining new friends, second only to a pickup truck. That's why I have gone inflatable and portable for all my future boating adventures...very little upkeep, easy to store for the winter, easy to launch and retrieve by myself, and best of all...cheap to operate.
Boating is in my blood, I have 4 of them, it makes me happy, sitting on deck during sunrise and sunset is the most rewarding thing, with a beer or a glass of wine, avoiding the noise of life. Yes there's always something to do but it's how I relax and learn about everything, being self taught for most things is the best way of learning. If boating is your dream you can't avoid it. You don't need a million dollars either, just some good horse sense and the ability to research things and ask questions. There are some bargains out there. OK not everyone is like me but I tend to live outside the comfort zone much to other people's amazement. Don't die with any regrets! Oh if you're over 50 then get a wriggle on .......!
Boats, such a love hate relationship. I have owned big properties and power boats. The time put into either of these drains you. At least the properties have made me a lot of money.....
I'm really sorry to say this but it takes more than owning a boat to be a boater. If you've quit because you don't like the stresses of boating then you are not a boater. It's in your blood or it isn't. I'm in my 38th year and could never live on land.
Thank you for being so honest. You two are so cute, and it must be true love that keeps you together. I'm currently in the middle of it all as a cruiser on an older sailing vessel. Admittedly, I have never been so challenged my entire life, but I do try to enjoy every minute. A true adventure is what it is, and I never would have been able to imagine what I have already experienced in my wildest dreams. I am a motorhead, but under it all, I truly love sailing and sailboats. Thank you for all of your presentations. I have watched many before and enjoy each and everyone. G.
Thank you for the kind words, Garneau. Yes, every day there is a new challenge. We've just been through another one along the Sulawesi coast and it's testing. It's all good though 😃👍
Now that was a very refreshing honest appraisal that does hit all the right buttons. Just to add ;-) 1. Salt water and salt laden air are vicious taskmasters and will corrode and undermine material some people know that of course - but most kit that is put in boats is not particularly designed to cope with it and the only Marinisation that it has - is the price tag. 2. Maintenance and replacement costs - the rule of thumb I have heard is 10% of the cost of the boat (EDIT - PER ANNUM) which seems to be borne out by your experience. 3. I would love to own and live aboard but my wife although happy to do 5 or 6 weeks onboard wants to do other things too - so its charter for us and we do not spend any time at all on maintenance!! But I still dream.......
YES! I agree about salt-water corrosion, it's a bugger. And so-called 'marine' products are certainly just the price tag a lot of the time, true. We'll over 10%for us! 😩👍😃 Liz x
One can always still live on a boat in one place so that can do all those other things on land. But also allows for weekend trips out or the occasional vacations out. But guessing the downsizing bit is part of it all for her too.
Kevin Fisher But if you want to do it safely all of the systems and equipped have to be maintained/replaced at the same standard and boats do not fare well if they lay dormant. So you have all that expense amortised over fewer sailing days. Plus of course your model suggests paying for many more Marina days and that is a whole load of cost.
To some extent yes. Guess it depends on parts and system you are talking about, many of which are sitting in salty air exposed to the sun, so yea. But others like engine which does not have run time or some electronics not being used, prolly not. I have never done such, but I would think would not be any more expensive than doing charter boat route, which includes all those costs to cover companies expenses. As to marina, depends on location where you are talking about, but from where I have seen long term marina slip costs in lieu of rental or house ownership costs are just as cheap or cheaper. Again I am sure this will vary widely depending on location, but look into it, it may not be as expensive as you think compared to living on land which is also big part of ones expenses. Many of which can also include utilities. This should help offset some of the higher boat maintenance costs some. Even if it does end up cost a bit more overall, isn't that small price to pay to having part access for your dream? All I was saying is it might be an option and is worth looking into at least, results might be surprising ... or not. But you will not know until you look into it.
Gave the chance to be one with nature, see other cultures and after 18 years and well into my 70's I want to go back to it. An engine can last a very long time. Simple diesels perform well. Agreed, small things always need attention. Kept my boat at a personal anchorage in the med. thus winters were at home!!!
We're living in an 34' RV now and have been for the past 4 years. We are selling all and buying a Sailboat. We're going from box on wheels to smaller box on water. I do like your videos.
We love boats down here in Sydney, Australia. I had done a lot of sailing and when my kids had finished school I realised my dream of buying a good condition S&S 34 to go cruising up and down the coast. I did not plan to move on board. Thats not popular down here. After six months it was a disaster. Here is why: 1. Breakages and repairs: The prop shaft bearing seized and destroyed an arm sized whole in the hull, $12,000; Rigging replaced for insurance $16,000; B&G Self steering broke $5000; Diesel engine removal, rebuild and reinstallation $14,000. There were dozens of other items but you get the idea. 2. Mooring leased from a Marina cost $700pm. I could only access it when the marina tender was operating. When all the work was being done it had to be in a marina berth at $1400pm. 3. Painting and antifouling. This has to be done about every 6-9 months. $2,000. 4. As the boat was 20 years old it had blisters in the hull which had to be cut out before antifouling. $2,500. Its ongoing for an older fibreglass boat kept in salt water. 5. I am on my own so it was always a drama to find someone to crew with me. Ideally you need a minimum of three. People with yachts are always looking for crew. I bought the S&S for A$95,000. It was a dream to sail and could take any kind of weather but I spent all of the above in the first six months and sold it for $65,000. A boat is the ultimate money pit. If you love sailing, do it on someone elses boat.
I could say the same - probably a LOT more - about why not to buy a house. My house was hit by a tornado in December 2017 and, 10 months later, still has broken windows, walls, floors, ceilings and has not been repaired due to incompetence and failure on the part of my insurance company. House = endless maintenance (cleaning, painting, plumbing, gardening, lighting/electrical, security = bills, bills and more bills. On the other hand, my 22ft sailboat (just 900M away) was undamaged by the tornado and costs almost nothing to run in comparison so, to me, it's a no brainer - the boat wins every time!
Home ownership has the same issues. Things go wrong, have to fix things or spend a lot of money to hire someone to repair it. Of course, homes don't have sails but, still, many problems about. I've seen many things tear relationships apart. Jobs particularly. Truck drivers, railroading, long hospital hours in nursing, pilots and such things. When people choose to marry, then they need to consider they need to forget everything else and do whatever to be with each other. I know being apart certainly drives a wedge between couples. So it is amazing to hear too much time together takes a toll on relationships. Never have enough money. You just described ownership of everything, everywhere. Most people are in debt, not eating much because the little they earn goes to bills. They have to be in debt to have vehicles. They have to borrow money they never return to repair vehicles or something wrong with the home. It never ends.
Then there are hidden reefs, sudden storms, and drunks trying to ram you when you think you are safe in a marina! Not a part of the dream. And they certainly don't tell you that the boat gets smaller, the longer you are on it. ☺
Charles Thomas -- I read the negative things so many say and it strikes me that a lot of you aren’t happy with your life. If you honestly feel so negative against the wonderful things boating is then why are you even wasting the precious time you could use to sit on your butt in front of the TV for entertainment. Boating requires money like most anything worth doing but what I think scares most you is it requires you to be active. It requires a level of dedication and you have to be energetic and to learn things you don’t know. You have to love to be outdoors and be adventurous. All those things mean get off your butt and get out of the office and house and discover life beyond a computer and TV. How many haters on here are overweight due to lack of activity ? I’ll bet many of you.
All good reasons. My reasons not to buy a boat are: 1: Boats sink. Yes they do. Infact, my last boat did just that. Cost me a lot of money. They truly can be a hole in the water you throw money into... 2: Boats stink. Yes they do. Diesel fumes, human waste decomposing under your bed in a plastic tank, hoses that permeate with the smell of human shit, paint fumes, cleaners, acetone, oil, varnish, etc. It can be managed, and you kind of get used to it, until you wander on someone else's boat and think... what's that smell? 3: Boats are a constant source of worry. Want to leave and go off for a bit? What about the storm that might come, or thieves or a hole in the boat that will make it sink ? Yes you will worry about that. 4: You won't know scared until the storm come up and lightning and thunder is going off all around you, wind is howling in the rigging, waves smashing on deck and the worry that lightning will strike your boat and kill you and all your newly bought very expensive electronics... 5: Sun exposure. If you hate the sun, and wind, like to hang out in air conditioned comfort with ice in your drink, and a grocery store a mile away, and electrics piped into your house, with fast internet, ah the list goes on. The joys of living in a house will not be the joys of living on a boat. Different joys, but if your addicted to all that comfort, a boat may not be for you. And finally boats move. All the time. the waves move it, the wind, the tide and current. and other boats too. Make you move all over. Sometimes violently enough to make you hurl your lunch across the cabin. And it goes on and on for days or even weeks at a time. And when you finally get on land, and think, thank god im off that boat, the land will move... and you'll feel like omg when will the moving stop.... But imo its worth it. Most of those things are something you will get used to, and some hopefully will never happen. The Sinking hopefully will not happen, stink can be fixed, don't worry be happy, just roll over and go back to sleep in the storm, get a good bimini and dodger and plenty of sun screen and who needs fast internet anyway? and the motion hopefully you will get used to.... Liz you look marvelous dear without all the crap on your face. And a good shorty wet suit is better than those dresses you used to wear with the high heels that were bad for the feet.... Fair winds.
Still beats living in suburbia in a four cornered room in front of the little black zombie box which the system will try and hypnotise you with programming into who to love, who to hate, who to fear, what to buy, who to vote for etc etc with their hideous propaganda to suit their agenda as the regime keeps the sheep in a constant state of fear to conform with authority just to be another number amongst the herd. No Thanks, give me all the "problems" with a boat any day :)))
Someone told the happiest day in your life will be the day you buy a boat and the next when you get rid of it. We all learn as we go through life. Keep sailing
I do not really agree with the boats kill relationship. I understand what you say, and yes can see it putting a more tremendous strain on a relationship than what normally may have been. But to outright say it kills relationship is just not totally realistic for many reasons. Old saying goes one test before you marry is to take a travel trip. Living on a boat is sort of this test and more. As said I can understand why you say this, but ultimately imho that relationship was never meant to be in the first place if this is the case. I seen one channel where unmarried couple, both were wanting to sail. At first the woman loved it, but over time she no longer did and became unhappy. Making more trips back to land. In the end, their relationship but was fine, but they both had to admit they had to let each other go, as neither wanted to see her unhappy. A shared dream and goal had become different one. Point is that even though they both still loved each other and had no problems in the relationship, it apparently just was not meant to be. One can find new houses all the time on market cause new couple got divorced. Idk. To warn about it I understand, just that I do not really agree the boat itself actually kills the relationship. Still loved the video btw, just giving my 2cents and feedback. As to the makeup, this in my opinion is a plus. Although I am not a female, but I just hate makeup 24/7, just huge waste to that lucrative industry. Fine for special occasions or night out maybe, but all the time is just unnecessary. I prefer au naturel look anyway. Sure it can make someone pretty, but the real beauty is in the person and makeup can hide and mask that.
That's the title, but we're not saying boats kill ALL relationships, these are merely pointers! We're asking couples to try to imagine this new life together, and truly decide if it will be right for them. We know couples who were married for decades but couldn't hack the new life, some ending in divorce. It is a real thing. But we know many more who flourish. Liz
Idk, maybe. Been thinking about it more since I first posted. Thought of completely different scenario where couple loses a kid for example. It can either make them stronger or utterly destroy and end the relationship. Maybe I was focusing too much on dreams and goals aspect and not other things such as added stresses on daily basis. Anyway, still loved the video and it is nice to see something different and make people stop and think and be prepared it might not work out.
Have lived on a boat since 79, had 5, have been ashore for 2 years now and it's really boring. Am looking for a place to build my next boat. Mast height and water depth are very important.
I lived aboard for 7 years on two different boats. Saved a LOT of money and bought a house on return to land life. Same wife, new daughter by the end of it. Sold for about the same as we bought for. Managed to keep the boat clean throughout. And my other half had all her heels and dresses. Perhaps you bought the wrong boat guys! We ended in a Nauticat 38 and it was fab.
If you buy a fixer-upper you will need a storage locker on shore or a second small boat as a storage boat. More money. If you really want the experience of a boat for the bay area (California) in the winter put a rocking chair in the bath tub, put on wet all weather winter gear, turn on the cold shower and tear up $100 bills.
Well, if you do some homework and taxes are not too high, one can make money on a house ... depending (or lose - yes!). If you do your homework, are handy and are extremely careful and have backups (for just about everything) - you will still lose money and or time on a boat. --- Then again, you can not sail your land based house around the world's oceans, seas, lakes, waterways and byways! --- property taxes? maybe register in Delaware or Caymen Islands!
I know a guy who bought a boat 6 years ago for 2750 euros, fixed her up with great care, traded it for a derelict traditional dutch pleasure boat from the 1930ties. After 3 years of hard work launched er, got an offer he could not refuse 3 days later, and bought house from the proceeds..... But yes, it is rare.
I think a lot in this video boils down to the fact that many crossly underestimates the collective costs of owning and running a boat. Especially a sailboat. A mototboat/daycruiser isn’t cheap to run either, but there are a few less things to go bad.
A mate of mine reckons sailing is like standing in a shower with a raincoat on tearing up $100-dollar bills! But I can think of worse ways to live, permanently moored in an attract, free place. I have a friend who raised three kids like that: every day they'd dingy the kids to school, and every fortnight would catch a taxi to pick up their dole-cheque. Lived high on the hog. Lately he's been looking for an anchorage nearer the winery.
yep, i've heard it before. A boat/ ship is not a good investment and actually costs more than any other hobby or activity. But on the up side it's the most pleasureable experience a person can ever have.
House: mow the lawn, water the lawn, replace the air conditioner, fix the deck, paint the deck, paint the house, redo the roof, rebuild the chimney, pay the city taxes, get new windows, heat the house, cool the house, new kitchen, new washrooms, new showers, ... do you get the idea? Iife costs money get over it.
@Brexit Monger I live in a concrete building but its very drafty and hard to heat. Dont need AC but definitely need heat. Once the spring comes, it'll be out to the water and there's free AC there :)
Good points but a house has just as many problems, if a relationship fails it’s down to the people not the property no matter the size, Only one point I agree on is the size of the wardrobe
As for roaches and ants. If you are in the USA go to Home Depot. They sell boric acid powder in a one liter plastic bottle. I bought one and took it with me on my return flight to the Philippines. This stuff is great. It is not a poison in the normal sense. I have used it for 45 years, many living in Florida. Used to buy it at the drug store. It can also be bought from welding supply shops. It is used as brazing flux. Just put a fine trail along the corners between horizontal and vertical surfaces, especially in the galley and food storage ares.
Although I agree with a good portion of this I feel like 90% of it is beyond common sense. Peoples experiences may vary on some of it but at the end of the day, the people that are going to have major issues with any of what was mentioned are going to have the exact same problems in a normal home just different specifics and circumstances
In other words don't buy a boat and intend to sail the globe unless you have a reasonably good bank account and or you can earn an income as you go. The trouble with a lot of these sailing channels is you never see very much of the downside of owning a boat instead what you mainly see are the pretty sunsets, the exotic islands and the dolphins chasing the boats. Boats are a wonderful toy but they suck money into a black hole never to be seen again. What they don't tell you is you can sell your home, your cars and whatever else and sink your money into a cruiser and watch it disappear. The boat will depreciate over time but a home on land will appreciate. Too many couples are drawn in by these sailing channels but they never see the downsides of sailing. Cruising the globe is something I want to do myself but I wont do it until my bank account can handle it. To cut a long story short don't choose this life changing style unless you know you can afford it. Then once you can achieve that then by all means do it. Thank you Sailing Followtheboat for being so honest and thank you for a great channel love your work.
A house that you live in is not and will never be a good investment. It generates no cash flow, can have expensive repair bills and appreciation and by no means a guarantee. Not to mention the instrest payments. Even if it was how many people actually stay in a house long enough to pay out a 20 year mortgage these days? The point I'm trying to make is that if that's all you took out of this video then your dream will never come true. If you don't have a job where you can earn money while sailing then find another one. Better yet ditch the mortgage payments use that money to generate passive income. I'm not going to say that I have all of the answers because I don't. I'm young, foolish and have never taken a sailing lesson. What I can tell you though is that by my 26th birthday I had already traveled to 40 States and 15 different countries without ever paying a dime. In fact I got paid to go those places. The point I'm trying to make is that if you free your mind and follow your passions you can find a way. It might not be perfect or live up to the dream but it's doable if you just try. Sure, you could fail but that's better than not trying in the first place. For me it's really simple. I want to live on the boat and sail to different places. I'll find a way. I'm not quite sure how yet but it sure as heck isn't going to be by following the play it safe advise that everyone already knows.
My boat would be double keeled. As they do not need a slipway. Ok living with another usually opposite sex is tricky. I may sail slower but collisions should be superficial. Yes ongoing maintenance is the biggest issue.
Thank you for an unvarnished and unflinchingly accurate appraisal of 5 big downsides to boat living, but done in a completely lovely and charming way. You guys did a great job being precise and real without trying to sugarcoat it or overplay and demonize it. You were vey easy to listen to. I must say I found it very informative and enlightening. Thank you!
Thank you for the positive feedback and for seeing the video as it was intended 👍
My goal is to NOT own a boat but instead to fly to different places in the world to bareboat. I also want to continue to make myself more valuable onboard through training and experience such that I'll be asked a lot to crew.
My dad once said: "I could give you many reasons why not to buy a boat but they would be pretty much the same reasons not to have a child. And you're my greatest joy."
Excellent comment! Love it 👌
I like your dad! Clever bloke :)
Haha! Exactly. If you sit down and think about the advantages and disadvantages of having children it is a wonder anyone has them at all in the end. A smart person would put it off until they are more economically stable, and limit the number of children they have to just one, or maybe two replacements for the parents. Perhaps maybe even not having any children at all would be the most advantageous. I guess that might explain why the human race seems to be getting stupider as the world becomes more and more over-populated. ;)
Great great school of thought.
What a smart and accurate reply.
Buying the right boat makes a huge difference. Moisture is the No#1 cause for failures. Wet electronics, wet engine rooms etc; are the main causes.
I owned a Commercial fishing boat for 30 years and had annual maintenance, but besides general R&R I had little issues. The big issue with pleasure boats is there are many places where the outside environment gets into soo many areas. An excellent sail boat like a Norsemen 447 along with some sort of DRY heat running all the time will eliminate most issues. Also stick with a manual toilet and plastic water and holding tanks and aluminium fuel tanks. And remember stainless is half as good as it looks and Galvanized is twice as good as it looks. Modern stainless is a disaster. Rust and electrolysis eats right thru it. I've seen stainless propellor shafts cut right in half by electrolysis. A good old iron shaft looks like crap but will last forever. My fishing boat was 60 years old and still going strong. Get rid of all the electronics that are out in the environment. Keep them indoors with dry air circulating. A pilot house vessel is also the best for all of this. I know, in the tropics keeping your gear dry is tough.
If you live above the tropics KEEP YOUR BOAT WARM AND DRY. Including your engine room and all of your storage compartments. $50 worth of heat per month will save you thousands $$ and pain in the long run.
I have spent over 2000 hrs per year on the ocean for 30 years; with the same boat. Never an issue.
Thanks, for the good advice.
Is that because you followed the above advice?
I owned and lived on my 60 foot commercial fishing boat 15 years. I learned that the proper equipment, properly installed, and properly maintained seldom 'broke'. Very seldom did I see things break or wear out, but you have to stay on top of things 24/7, constant maintenance is a must. Your video was very accurate.
were boatyards of any use? would 10% of the boat value per year be sufficient for unanticipated repairs?
Okay, I'm convinced. No boat for me. Instead, I'll get a friend who has a boat.
that is the way to do it, ownership is a financial hellpit and headaches
Gayle Spencer Best of both worlds! Hang in there,!!
That's very true! And there are many solo sailors who wish they had a reliable friend to go sailing with. Good one!
There’s usually a little line for those kind of guys
So a friend with (boat) benefits...
You didn't mention losing things. Truly a phenomenon shared by many in a tiny space. Because there's not enough space, you're continually juggling your possessions to get at the ones you want. This in turn means you bury and misplace things you're going to need again. Cleaning is a bigger chore outside than inside the boat. If you have allergies watch out for the nasty molds that grown inside the boat.
Yes! This!
As a former boat owner for 6 years I agree with all 5 things mentioned here . And now that I am retired I am looking to buy another boat .
😁😆😂 Yes!!
why? you like cockroaches and rats?
21 years in 5 submarines got me to where I can sleep on top of diesel engines, use hydraulic oil to comb my hair with and wash my hands, and shower every other week. You know, you can get 4 weeks wear out of one T-shirt. Week 1 - wear it regular. Week 2 - turn it around and wear backwards. Week 3 - turn it inside out and wear front-ways. Week 4 - Inside out, backwards. Of course, the arm pits do get a little crunchy from time to time. hehe. Love the video and the soul searching questions you put in it because I don't think a lot of people really consider the "really togetherness" thing, water rationing affecting hygiene, etc. Thanks for taking time to do it.
They are quite straightforward points now we've been doing it for 12 years, but did we think about them before we started? NO! Your t-shirts sound like Jamie's! 😁 Liz x
benc65753 dude your killing me! Lmao
sonar tech?
MM - A-ganger.
Baby wipes are a godsend. Always have baby wipes...
I have a friend who brought a second-hand 45 ft boat in immaculate condition it was near new, He is sailing from Greece to Australia very slowly, it's been four years now, and every email or journey update bar none includes stuff that has gone wrong, endless expense. He loves what he is doing but he has the income to do it. Budget sailing, forget it, these kind people are giving out priceless information.
My wife and have full timed in our Motorhome for the last year . Boating full time sounds very similar . Things are constantly breaking down . Used or new . Of course being in the middle of the ocean versus a two lane highway in the middle of Montana is better when shit happens ! The best advise I have ever heard 39 years ago. Is to ask yourself. Can I live with my husband or wife in a hallway. The best to all of you who make it happen !
A friend told me how he was with pen and paper at the table trying to show a caravanner travelling around Australia how it didn't make financial sense with columns for fuel, maintenance, repairs, depreciation, park fees, loss of income etc etc.
Satisfied with his logic and costing proof he was met with the response. "You forgot the value of the Fun column".
Case closed I guess. Life has many perceptions of value and worth.
Couldn't agree more, Shaun. Nice little anecdote, thank you.
Had a sail boat for 6 years and sailed around the world. Very honest what you say about the 5 reasons not to buy a boat. By rule of thumb it costs 10% of the value of the boat per year for the pleasure regardless of the value eg.a $10M boat cots $1M per year to maintain. That said my wife and I saw places and did things that were fabulous and made friendships with sailor people that have endured. Trust in each other by necessity is enhanced by. We were fortunate to have sold for more than we paid but spent plenty in the middle!
how much did it cost you to visit Greek islands by boat?
We have tended to lean toward the definition of cruising as "working on your boat in exotic places".
we moved to land 3 years ago after 18 years of circumnavigation basically the boat was getting tired and the wallet had shrunk due to a divorce. I cry every day for the freedom and hate Europe with all its bull...! At least we did it and dont regret it
Good on you for those 18 years at sea, guys. I'm sure you have a lot of great memories.
Maintenance also depends on the age of the boat you purchase, I’m on my third sailboat. The last two were purchased new, first was 40 foot used 15 years old next 41 foot new now up to 54 new and neither new had any out of the ordinary expenses. While the 15 year old boat over 7 years of ownership probably cost me the difference of just purchasing new. I’ve learned the first 10 years of boat ownership are the easiest maintenance wise.
buying a boat was the worst financial decision of my life. i now own 4 of them...
😁👌😎 Liz
Serveck - tooo funny !
Serveck
Have you had to buy four boats to realize having made a bad deal ?
I have three hoping for just one.
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha gulp!
Hi guys, hats off to you for persevering. I bought my first boat aged 61, only a 26' trailer motor sailer, being a first timer and not so young, it's got an outboard engine, and no timber. It was part of the dream along with good sized land (no close neighbours), sea frontage, in the tropics. Call in if you're passing, 7* 30' 16"N - 99* 06' 22"E.
I regret waiting so long and not perusing my dream much younger, as I will now never own an ocean cruiser and "take off". One of my best experiences was a trip from Langkawi to Port Said on my ex employers 80' gin palace, except for the French crew! Still a very small place with the wrong people...., but I could see the attraction.
One piece of advice regarding the cockroaches, owning a restaurant in Phuket one time, with a walk over doorstep to the kitchen, we had problems also. A sailer gave us this piece of advice, spread Boric acid powder around all the room edges/corners, they tread it into their nest and kill off the whole brood, job done, and it worked a treat.
Happy sailing.
Not mine but I agree: ¨I spend most of my money on women, booz and boats. The rest I wasted.¨
It was actually women booze and drugs and it was George Best who said it!
Elmore Leonard. A great saying.
Boobs, booze and boats
Love the honesty, my late dad always had fishing boats right up to when he passed away, I vowed never to have a boat but after much deliberation, we now want to learn how to sail & want to escape from all the dire modern-day life & all the negative media, so thank you for your wonderful reasons not to have a boat, my wife & I have worked together for 24 years as salon owners and we are rock solid, so that won't be an issue, maintaining the vessel & the skill sets needed may be a learning curve, but it's a challenge am willing to take on .
It sounds like you have the right attitude. You'll love it, hardships and all. Fair winds to you and your wife!
After 30 years I bought a small open sailboat 6.5m to see if I still could handle a sailboat. I learned a lot, especially from my own silly mistakes. Nature, wind, sun and rain out there sailing 2 years now on a small lake. I love it. I learned knots (i had never heard off), how to look, preparations, talking to other enthusiastic sailors, and I learned, how to fix a boat. I like to customize, clean and change things on my small boat. I keep doing this for another three years and then I buy myself a bigger boat. Sailing is fun.
Biggest problem is most boats are two feet to short.
Haha!
don't Care - Funny but true. We call it two foot iDis. Boaters always say if my boat was just two feet longer it would be perfect. I use to say that but what I learned a larger one is just more to clean.
@@followtheboat
Mine is 10ft too long. But I couldn't turn down the deal.
1951RKP If you can afford a 60-70 footer motor yacht, you can afford paying for regular cleaning. And everything else too, including maintenance, upkeep, fuel and storage.
@@greghooper16 I've noticed that a lot of decent or better sailboats seem relatively inexpensive to buy--but one realizes that the real cost is in the operating/repair expenses.
every boat owner says don't buy a boat, they suck. But we all love our boats and couldn't live without them.
This was the most honest and dutiful reminder to all those who dream, as every dream has it's compromises. Lovely to see a couple in alignment with each other and living their dream.
Yep - excellent advice, thank you. Just about to convert our patrol-class vessel into an explorer yacht, and every day is a relevalation on how much it's going to cost. Having downsized from a large house, to a 2-bed off-grid (batteries, solar, generators, solid fuel...) cottage in the middle of nowhere, we're well prepared (eyes wide open). It's always about water, power, space, and acoustically, when an engine starts making a strange sound, or there's a flicker in the lights, it absolutely cannot be ignored. It always, and without exception, means something is wrong, and it needs to be addressed immediately. Oh, and have spares. Lots of spares!
My father, Roger W. McAleer, the naval architect and designer of the 24' planing daysailer: "Raven" (called the first muscle car of sailboats back in the 50's), had two family sailboats through the years. Throughout the 60's and 70's we did weekend and two week vacation outings in the Chesapeake Bay on his 35' and 40' custom wooden sloops. The only trouble we had was running aground in narrow channels where we had to run back and forth from starboard to port and rock the boat to get her free. No trouble from the rigging, plumbing, or electrical. He sold his last sloop in the 90's. Those who built my dad's boats did it right. The only real cost were the marina fees.
We met a couple while cruising and asked about where they've been and their plans. The wife hissed, "It was his F..king idea" as she climbed down the companionway and pulled the hatch closed. I'd bet they aren't still cruising.
I don't want to laugh because I feel for her, but... We've seen this scenario a few times and it's a little sad. Funny story though, it made us laugh!
Upon talking with the husband, we learned that he was dreaming of tropical beaches, palm trees, rum drinks, and half naked women. He admitted to forcing her into his dream.
😀😀😀😀😀😀😳😳😳😳😏
My girlfriend and I sailed the Bahamas in 2017 with a couple on a Pearson 38. One day the wife forgot to turn the windlass motor off (which had been rewired...no fuse) once the anchor was up. The windlass motor burned up ($2500). I thought I was gonna have to step between the captain and his wife to prevent a fight. Later learned they divorced.
@@johnheav so she did it on purpose ?
That’s it I’m selling everything I own and buying a sailboat
I owned a 30' keelboat for seven or eight years and sold it because my new wife was not interested in sailing. During that time, I spent far more time working on the boat than I did sailing it. I enjoyed the tinkering for a while but the expense wore on me after a while. When there was a storm, I spent my evening at home worrying about the boat on its mooring. When I was sailing, the responsibility for everyone sailing with me was wearing, as well. The best situation is to find a good friend who owns a sailboat and needs a sailing partner. I didn't believe this until I bought the boat. One of my good friends sold his boat because he had decided it was more pleasant to stand fully clothed in a cold shower, tearing up $20 bills. I loved my boat. But I was happy after it was sold.
Boats are a joy when everything is going well, but they are hard work. True about having friends or family on board, always being a big responsibility. Maybe charter now and then to feed the passion? 👌✌️ Liz
My smile fer the day!
Absolutely True, an honest assessment. I love boats but a boat is a hole in the water where you throw your money into.
I love sailing and have a great deal of experience. But, I've never considered abandoning the landlubber lifestyle: house, car, motorbike, furniture, appliances etc etc....,to live aboard simply because I am not very very rich! Great video folks.
Here’s another possibility for those of us who want the live aboard life in an abbreviated way... We live in Michigan and sail the Great Lakes. My aging parents live with us so we can care for them, so at this time, selling everything isn’t an option. So we sail as much as we can close to home. Our business is flexible and we can do the majority of it from our boat. The drawback is, our season is relatively short (five months at best), and oh how it hurts when we have to haul her out each season, and of course, it’s not the Caribbean. But the benefits are: fresh water doesn’t deteriorate things as quickly, the off season provides about 8 weeks of ability (four weeks before and four weeks after the snow) to get boat maintenance done, a profound appreciation of the sailing season we do get, the unparalleled natural beauty of the Great Lakes. We’ve talked to cruisers who come from everywhere including the Caribbean and they tell us they’re stunned by the crystal clear water and the natural beauty found here. In the off season, we watch sailing vlogs like yours and dream of becoming cruisers in the tropics.. but in reality, we have it pretty darned great. So for those who can’t quite sell their land life and move aboard, you can have a little of both worlds. We love your channel and it eases the pain of our off season to watch and dream. I’m curious as to if you’ve ever been to the Great Lakes or sailed any of them? Thanks for the video!
Sounds like an absolutely fantastic life! Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us. Peace and fair winds! (I went to Chicago once, does that count?) ☺️👌Liz
We had a wooden 12 ton Gauntlet - Tiare Taporo III" built in NZ and bought in NZ in 2002 when she was 24 years old and in need of much work to go offshore. We had the original 1964 4 cylinder Fordson and BW Velvet Drive transmission. Engine was 54 years old when we sold her and always ran like a top, except when approaching Timor in Indonesia when the fuel lift pump failed! We eventually replaced it in Malaysia. Used an electric one in the meantime.
We left NZ in 2011 and sailed to New Caledonia, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. In total we lived on board for 10 years and that counts for something financially. We had great experiences and some not so great and spent a fortune getting her ready in NZ for the big OE!! BUT it was always a lifelong dream and we don't regret any of it. Character building! Moneywise - it is a very expensive way to travel and only at about one hundredth of the speed of flying! But think of all the bracing experiences along the way and the ability to see very remote places - but they can be daunting too because anchoring information, etc is often sparse. The people you meet make up for much of the tribulations.
Buying a boat and sailing offshore is a very personal decision - one that you have to make with almost no prior experience!!!
I'm looking in to buying a boat farther down the road of my life. This video was very educational, but not discouraging enough to make me think twice! I'll have it some day. Thank you very much for sharing.
This is why I'm a trailer sailor. I have a few high-performance dinghies. I take them to the lake on windy days and have a lot of fun sailing, and then I take them home and go inside my large and comfortable house.
... I'm not a sailor, just a dreamer. But great and an honest video. Thank you
Toooo late just brought one :)
Hahaha! That means you are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime! Peace and fair winds to you! Liz x
Anyone with sailing experience knows that you are going to work on sailboats constantly. The newer boats have less wood and better systems. Actually my Crealock has very few issues.
A lot of people don't have the experience. Cool that you have very few issues! Not much wood on SY Esper either... Liz
Well I think it is good that you are laying it on the line for people. There is a lot to know before you set out. On the West Coast, the Baja Ha Ha is a good first blue water sail. Lots of help and people to go with. Or just join the Picton Castle and sail around the world on a tall ship.
Yes I have brought a Hanse 531 -2006 from the Netherlands :) so we are very busy selling all the stuff we no longer need. We will fly out to our yacht on the 27th march, my teenage son and I.
A very honest accounting of things !!! It echo's Lynn Pardy's advice..."go small, go simple, go now."
Now there's a woman who knows what she's talking about! ☺️ Liz
Very few go simple any more...
If you want female company..... go big, get a watermaker.
It is a privilege to live on a boat for even a small period of your life. A lot depends on where it is you are. I enjoyed many years in America and Mexico...The liveaboard community were great. We had pot lucks and many a party. People look out for each other and there was a great community spirit. They say the best days are when you buy and sell a boat - well not for me. I was sad to see all my boats go. I never wanted to sell - I just had to due to financial difficulties. There are downsides to everything in life - but there is nothing better than setting sail from the dock to go cruising and a group of friends waving you off and wishing you "Fair winds and following seas!" as you leave....I can't wait for the next boat !
You are so right, when people buy a boat in most cases they do not know what to expect even after reading and you tubing on sailing. I am that do all person and so is my Partner. We have owned boats from 22' to 50'. We soon will be owning a 51' to do some blue water sailing. Its a lot of work but we both enjoy it immensely. I have {we} have been sailing all our lives and wouldn't change it for anything. Thank you
i've owned 7 Boats and Loved every minute of it ... Looking for #8.
I hear you on the working on the boat and keeping it up but like I live on a Chris craft consolation 57feet and it’s a joy but it’s just me and my two dogs but I have a full sized closet so I got to keep all my clothes and a full sized kitchen and master bathroom so it’s like a nice little house but because of the cost of driving it I don’t take her out much but I do find that it’s cheaper to live on her then it is land and I’m happier
Well! We sold the house, a cabin and one of the cars and bought us a catamaran and a small apartement. To be honest! We havn't regret a singel day since. To invest in our future is the greatest thing we ever could have done! period...We love to sail around when ever we can and still have money left..
Exactly the same as us! Sold everything to buy a flat and a boat. We haven't regretted it for a second! ☺️ Liz
We've got some fond memories of our sail boat owning days but boy did we learn each one of these lessons...and more! B.O.A.T. = Bring Out Another Thousand!
Yes owning a live aboard boat is money absorbing but the places you go to and the people you meet are worth every penny .
We've been on board our yacht for 20 years and wouldn't change it .
Couldn't agree more, Colleen 😃👍
What is the old saying again... ? "Your happiest day in life is when You buy a boat. The second happiest day in your life is when You sell the boat!" Something like that...
So they say... 😉 Liz
as a carpenter and diesel mechanic i think im pretty well off.
You forgot a plumber, electrician and a electronic specialist.
@@maccoolmac5191 lol electrician = electronic specialist
@@dcfromthev not the same thing. Electricians can wire things up all day but can they make sure computer systems are running correctly?
“If it flies, floats or fu€ks - it’ll cost you a fortune, you’re better to rent it!!!” is the old expression! As a married airline pilot with a boat, I now understand!!! 10% of original list price is the average cost per year after 5 years. But it’s in your blood and great on a sunny day to clear your head and make some of life’s greatest memories!
What a lovely couple! Apart from all the sound advice I am so impressed by the 'double act', how you cover the points together alternately and so fluently and harmoniously.
I found exactly the same issues owning a house , the happiest day in my life when I bought it , the second happiest day when I sold it , I started a business so I could get the money to refurbish the house , next I had no time because I had the business , next 10 years goes by and the house had been abandoned because I was never there , so a boat after a house experience seems a lot less to maintain , smaller area to clean , and all the good things that come with being able to change your address and environment and a great social life , the lesser of the two evils , I now live in a factory with all my tools and car and Harley and too old to bother doing anything too worn out trying to get the money to finish the house , but now good to finance my retirement , if only we lived for 300 years we would have it all worked out in time .
I often wish I had several lifetimes , one to spend individually with each kid. But we only have one and have to cram all the stupid and the well thought out and the crazy and the intelligence into one short life span .................
Liz and Jamie thanks for keeping it real. I consumed a whole plate of nachos while watching this episode. And they were hot enough to make y'all happy
Well done! Yes, the hotter the better. 😁 Liz x
Comment of the day surely, Liz?
Nothing like the hell of owning a top of the line motor coach
I can’t get used to the no washing deal. I keep many gallons of water on the deck. When I am dirty and sweaty I grab one and rinse off. The sun keeps the water nice and warm! Feels great! Next thing!
You can watch a million DIY videos on how to do, make, and fix things but there is one thing I just CANNOT teach (and don't even try), and that is basic hand-eye coordination and the general ability to do neat work. It does not matter if you aren't an experienced mechanic, electrician, plumber, carpenter etc.; if you have the fundamental capability to utilize tools, understand the proper materials and general principles of things then you can learn what you need to know to do boat maintenance properly. Sadly, there are people who just can't draw a straight line, turn a wrench, paint without runs and the like... they are just generally uncoordinated slobs and mostly daft when it comes to fixing or keeping up with anything. I just can't 'teach' that fundamental baseline into a person no matter how much they want to own a boat. You have to be honest with yourself; if you lack that baseline of basic DIY skill, have no ability to work with your hands (along with your brain), then you have no business owning a boat (unless you are rich and can afford to hire someone to do everything).
When we first moved onto the boat in a boatyard in Turkey, in winter, we met a very clever man on a neighbouring boat who helped us. He once said, "You can do anything you want to do. If that fella over there can take an engine apart, so can you. You have hands, eyes and a brain, just like him." We've never forgotten John's advice, and quote it to each other when a job seems insurmountable. We always get there in the end.
But, as you say, you must apply brain-power and some finesse in order to do the job properly. Cheers! Liz 👍
Luke well said. I've taught plumbing and other skills in college's. And you know what ? I'm never gonna play my guitar at The Albert Hall, and some people will never be able to bend a pipe or cut wood straight. The smart ones are the folk that accept it and find a different strength. I also promise never to give you tax and investment advice!
What does it cost? Everything you have...plus 10%.
Probably more! 😁 Liz x
That is the only accurate formula with a percentage in it :-)
So glad ive seen this. You are the just epitome of the type of people I bought a boat to get away from! So glad you are off the oceans.
Me again, GOD I'm glad you're off the ocean. A couple of complete assholes but, as I say, SO glad you are out of our ( sailors) way.
Stephen Haines - Well said !!
This is why i own a 20 ft Flicka, 1/4 the cost for repairs and replacements of any kind than one ten ft longer....new set of sails aprox 1700., new standing rig aprox 1000., Bottom Job aprox 600. all told DIY. Time/effort to paint the bottom is about 1/3 that of a 30 ft boat.....varnish about 1/2.....etc, etc,.....
There's certainly a lot to be said for smaller boats, but 20ft is too much of a compromise for two people to live comfortably and sail the oceans IMO. If ever we were to retire on land I could see myself being very happy with a boat like yours though 😃👍 Fair winds to you.
Excellent summation, I was once advised if you want to keep your money, “If it f#%ks, floats or flies, rent it “.
The reason for this episode is to point out (to those with little experience other than watching sailing channels) that living full-time on a sailboat is not all cocktails, parties and white sand beaches. This amazing lifestyle brings problems as well as the good times.
We've been living aboard full-time since 2006 and wouldn't have it any other way. If you watch till the end, you'll hear us say that.
The accompanying episode, "5 Reasons Why You Should Buy A Boat" explains why we love this life: th-cam.com/video/NF4dvGuEip8/w-d-xo.html
We lived on a yacht for 12 years before selling up and buying a barge which we converted into a house boat.
Like you, we love the lifestyle and only gave up the yacht for health reasons. Both of us were competent and experienced sailors before making the jump to becoming ocean dwellers and I fully understand the tough times.
Good video... thank you.
You know the old saying: “If it flies, floats, or fournikates - rent it.”
Many years back I took sailing classes and got to where i could single hand a Shields (30', graceful, no motor) out on the Pacific coast of central California. While i still know what year it is and before I need a walker, I'm thinking of buying a 28' to 32' sailboat capable of coastal cruising the west coast. Having some brains left, I'm taking sailing lessons (ASA) to see if my sailing dream is just a fond memory or something I still love and still capable of doing. So until the classes begin, I'm in irons, flapping about, going nowhere and very much appreciate watching pro and con videos of people with real experience such as this one. Thank you Sailing followtheboat.
Thank you, and good luck with those lessons. Great to be back on the water, eh? ✌️⛵
@@followtheboat - Haven't got out yet. ASA has two books I have to get through by the time we go sailing in July. So far so good.
Boat
A vessel propelled along the water by the rapid combustion of money.
A hole in the water you continuously pour money into.
A means of gaining new friends, second only to a pickup truck.
That's why I have gone inflatable and portable for all my future boating adventures...very little upkeep, easy to store for the winter, easy to launch and retrieve by myself, and best of all...cheap to operate.
Boating is in my blood, I have 4 of them, it makes me happy, sitting on deck during sunrise and sunset is the most rewarding thing, with a beer or a glass of wine, avoiding the noise of life. Yes there's always something to do but it's how I relax and learn about everything, being self taught for most things is the best way of learning. If boating is your dream you can't avoid it. You don't need a million dollars either, just some good horse sense and the ability to research things and ask questions. There are some bargains out there. OK not everyone is like me but I tend to live outside the comfort zone much to other people's amazement. Don't die with any regrets! Oh if you're over 50 then get a wriggle on .......!
Boats, such a love hate relationship. I have owned big properties and power boats. The time put into either of these drains you. At least the properties have made me a lot of money.....
I'm really sorry to say this but it takes more than owning a boat to be a boater. If you've quit because you don't like the stresses of boating then you are not a boater. It's in your blood or it isn't. I'm in my 38th year and could never live on land.
Thank you for being so honest. You two are so cute, and it must be true love that keeps you together.
I'm currently in the middle of it all as a cruiser on an older sailing vessel. Admittedly, I have never been so challenged my entire life, but I do try to enjoy every minute. A true adventure is what it is, and I never would have been able to imagine what I have already experienced in my wildest dreams. I am a motorhead, but under it all, I truly love sailing and sailboats.
Thank you for all of your presentations. I have watched many before and enjoy each and everyone. G.
Thank you for the kind words, Garneau. Yes, every day there is a new challenge. We've just been through another one along the Sulawesi coast and it's testing. It's all good though 😃👍
Thank you for your honest opinion! I doubted whether I would buy a sailboat! Buying is not the problem, rather the recurring maintenance.
Now that was a very refreshing honest appraisal that does hit all the right buttons. Just to add ;-)
1. Salt water and salt laden air are vicious taskmasters and will corrode and undermine material some people know that of course - but most kit that is put in boats is not particularly
designed to cope with it and the only Marinisation that it has - is the price tag.
2. Maintenance and replacement costs - the rule of thumb I have heard is 10% of the cost of the boat (EDIT - PER ANNUM) which seems to be borne out by your experience.
3. I would love to own and live aboard but my wife although happy to do 5 or 6 weeks onboard wants to do other things too - so its charter for us and we do not spend any time at all on maintenance!! But I still dream.......
YES! I agree about salt-water corrosion, it's a bugger. And so-called 'marine' products are certainly just the price tag a lot of the time, true. We'll over 10%for us! 😩👍😃 Liz x
One can always still live on a boat in one place so that can do all those other things on land. But also allows for weekend trips out or the occasional vacations out. But guessing the downsizing bit is part of it all for her too.
Kevin Fisher But if you want to do it safely all of the systems and equipped have to be maintained/replaced at the same standard and boats do not fare well if they lay dormant. So you have all that expense amortised over fewer sailing days. Plus of course your model suggests paying for many more Marina days and that is a whole load of cost.
To some extent yes. Guess it depends on parts and system you are talking about, many of which are sitting in salty air exposed to the sun, so yea. But others like engine which does not have run time or some electronics not being used, prolly not. I have never done such, but I would think would not be any more expensive than doing charter boat route, which includes all those costs to cover companies expenses. As to marina, depends on location where you are talking about, but from where I have seen long term marina slip costs in lieu of rental or house ownership costs are just as cheap or cheaper. Again I am sure this will vary widely depending on location, but look into it, it may not be as expensive as you think compared to living on land which is also big part of ones expenses. Many of which can also include utilities. This should help offset some of the higher boat maintenance costs some. Even if it does end up cost a bit more overall, isn't that small price to pay to having part access for your dream? All I was saying is it might be an option and is worth looking into at least, results might be surprising ... or not. But you will not know until you look into it.
Not a sailor, but nicely said. Great advice
Aloha,
Richard
Thank you for the nice comment, sailor or not! Liz 😀
Gave the chance to be one with nature, see other cultures and after 18 years and well into my 70's I want to go back to it. An engine can last a very long time. Simple diesels perform well. Agreed, small things always need attention. Kept my boat at a personal anchorage in the med. thus winters were at home!!!
We're living in an 34' RV now and have been for the past 4 years. We are selling all and buying a Sailboat. We're going from box on wheels to smaller box on water. I do like your videos.
We love boats down here in Sydney, Australia. I had done a lot of sailing and when my kids had finished school I realised my dream of buying a good condition S&S 34 to go cruising up and down the coast. I did not plan to move on board. Thats not popular down here. After six months it was a disaster. Here is why:
1. Breakages and repairs: The prop shaft bearing seized and destroyed an arm sized whole in the hull, $12,000; Rigging replaced for insurance $16,000; B&G Self steering broke $5000; Diesel engine removal, rebuild and reinstallation $14,000. There were dozens of other items but you get the idea.
2. Mooring leased from a Marina cost $700pm. I could only access it when the marina tender was operating. When all the work was being done it had to be in a marina berth at $1400pm.
3. Painting and antifouling. This has to be done about every 6-9 months. $2,000.
4. As the boat was 20 years old it had blisters in the hull which had to be cut out before antifouling. $2,500. Its ongoing for an older fibreglass boat kept in salt water.
5. I am on my own so it was always a drama to find someone to crew with me. Ideally you need a minimum of three. People with yachts are always looking for crew.
I bought the S&S for A$95,000. It was a dream to sail and could take any kind of weather but I spent all of the above in the first six months and sold it for $65,000. A boat is the ultimate money pit. If you love sailing, do it on someone elses boat.
Thank you for setting me straight on sailboats
thanks for this video - makes me feel better that I can't afford to become a cruiser :P
I could say the same - probably a LOT more - about why not to buy a house. My house was hit by a tornado in December 2017 and, 10 months later, still has broken windows, walls, floors, ceilings and has not been repaired due to incompetence and failure on the part of my insurance company. House = endless maintenance (cleaning, painting, plumbing, gardening, lighting/electrical, security = bills, bills and more bills. On the other hand, my 22ft sailboat (just 900M away) was undamaged by the tornado and costs almost nothing to run in comparison so, to me, it's a no brainer - the boat wins every time!
Home ownership has the same issues. Things go wrong, have to fix things or spend a lot of money to hire someone to repair it. Of course, homes don't have sails but, still, many problems about.
I've seen many things tear relationships apart. Jobs particularly. Truck drivers, railroading, long hospital hours in nursing, pilots and such things. When people choose to marry, then they need to consider they need to forget everything else and do whatever to be with each other. I know being apart certainly drives a wedge between couples. So it is amazing to hear too much time together takes a toll on relationships.
Never have enough money. You just described ownership of everything, everywhere. Most people are in debt, not eating much because the little they earn goes to bills. They have to be in debt to have vehicles. They have to borrow money they never return to repair vehicles or something wrong with the home. It never ends.
The tool thing drives me crazy, especially as if I leave stuff out I get told off!
Then there are hidden reefs, sudden storms, and drunks trying to ram you when you think you are safe in a marina! Not a part of the dream. And they certainly don't tell you that the boat gets smaller, the longer you are on it. ☺
Yes, it does get smaller, doesn't it?! 😁👍Liz
To Much Drama From People On Here That Is Not True Sailors;UGH*
Charles Thomas -- I read the negative things so many say and it strikes me that a lot of you aren’t happy with your life. If you honestly feel so negative against the wonderful things boating is then why are you even wasting the precious time you could use to sit on your butt in front of the TV for entertainment. Boating requires money like most anything worth doing but what I think scares most you is it requires you to be active. It requires a level of dedication and you have to be energetic and to learn things you don’t know. You have to love to be outdoors and be adventurous. All those things mean get off your butt and get out of the office and house and discover life beyond a computer and TV. How many haters on here are overweight due to lack of activity ? I’ll bet many of you.
@@1951RKP This is the best comment ive read so far
Drunks trying to ram you LOL !!
I really enjoyed listening to your comments but also saw your smiles of "contentment" at being boat owners. Be safe, blessings and enjoy :)
I now golf and it takes us to some beautiful places in the world!!! I gave up the anchor happily!!!
All good reasons.
My reasons not to buy a boat are: 1: Boats sink. Yes they do. Infact, my last boat did just that. Cost me a lot of money. They truly can be a hole in the water you throw money into...
2: Boats stink. Yes they do. Diesel fumes, human waste decomposing under your bed in a plastic tank, hoses that permeate with the smell of human shit, paint fumes, cleaners, acetone, oil, varnish, etc. It can be managed, and you kind of get used to it, until you wander on someone else's boat and think... what's that smell? 3: Boats are a constant source of worry. Want to leave and go off for a bit? What about the storm that might come, or thieves or a hole in the boat that will make it sink ? Yes you will worry about that. 4: You won't know scared until the storm come up and lightning and thunder is going off all around you, wind is howling in the rigging, waves smashing on deck and the worry that lightning will strike your boat and kill you and all your newly bought very expensive electronics... 5: Sun exposure. If you hate the sun, and wind, like to hang out in air conditioned comfort with ice in your drink, and a grocery store a mile away, and electrics piped into your house, with fast internet, ah the list goes on. The joys of living in a house will not be the joys of living on a boat. Different joys, but if your addicted to all that comfort, a boat may not be for you. And finally boats move. All the time. the waves move it, the wind, the tide and current. and other boats too. Make you move all over. Sometimes violently enough to make you hurl your lunch across the cabin. And it goes on and on for days or even weeks at a time. And when you finally get on land, and think, thank god im off that boat, the land will move... and you'll feel like omg when will the moving stop....
But imo its worth it. Most of those things are something you will get used to, and some hopefully will never happen. The Sinking hopefully will not happen, stink can be fixed, don't worry be happy, just roll over and go back to sleep in the storm, get a good bimini and dodger and plenty of sun screen and who needs fast internet anyway? and the motion hopefully you will get used to....
Liz you look marvelous dear without all the crap on your face. And a good shorty wet suit is better than those dresses you used to wear with the high heels that were bad for the feet....
Fair winds.
Nicely put, Bob, really nicely put 👌
Still beats living in suburbia in a four cornered room in front of the little black zombie box which the system will try and hypnotise you with programming into who to love, who to hate, who to fear, what to buy, who to vote for etc etc with their hideous propaganda to suit their agenda as the regime keeps the sheep in a constant state of fear to conform with authority just to be another number amongst the herd. No Thanks, give me all the "problems" with a boat any day :)))
Yeah, there's a freedom to cruising we've never found anywhere else. ✌️Liz
Not to mention the constant barrage of advertising in the form of a "message". Yes so will I.
very well said. the very reason why you should buy a boat....... I rest my case M'lud
Someone told the happiest day in your life will be the day you buy a boat and the next when you get rid of it. We all learn as we go through life. Keep sailing
The people i know with boats are pretty happy. You might just be regurgitating nonsense.
Steven's comment is a popular trope but I agree with you, Mike. We're very happy 😃👍
I do not really agree with the boats kill relationship. I understand what you say, and yes can see it putting a more tremendous strain on a relationship than what normally may have been. But to outright say it kills relationship is just not totally realistic for many reasons. Old saying goes one test before you marry is to take a travel trip. Living on a boat is sort of this test and more. As said I can understand why you say this, but ultimately imho that relationship was never meant to be in the first place if this is the case. I seen one channel where unmarried couple, both were wanting to sail. At first the woman loved it, but over time she no longer did and became unhappy. Making more trips back to land. In the end, their relationship but was fine, but they both had to admit they had to let each other go, as neither wanted to see her unhappy. A shared dream and goal had become different one. Point is that even though they both still loved each other and had no problems in the relationship, it apparently just was not meant to be. One can find new houses all the time on market cause new couple got divorced. Idk. To warn about it I understand, just that I do not really agree the boat itself actually kills the relationship. Still loved the video btw, just giving my 2cents and feedback.
As to the makeup, this in my opinion is a plus. Although I am not a female, but I just hate makeup 24/7, just huge waste to that lucrative industry. Fine for special occasions or night out maybe, but all the time is just unnecessary. I prefer au naturel look anyway. Sure it can make someone pretty, but the real beauty is in the person and makeup can hide and mask that.
That's the title, but we're not saying boats kill ALL relationships, these are merely pointers! We're asking couples to try to imagine this new life together, and truly decide if it will be right for them. We know couples who were married for decades but couldn't hack the new life, some ending in divorce. It is a real thing. But we know many more who flourish. Liz
Idk, maybe. Been thinking about it more since I first posted. Thought of completely different scenario where couple loses a kid for example. It can either make them stronger or utterly destroy and end the relationship. Maybe I was focusing too much on dreams and goals aspect and not other things such as added stresses on daily basis. Anyway, still loved the video and it is nice to see something different and make people stop and think and be prepared it might not work out.
These pair seem pretty cool. I think for me, boating would be about meeting new people from other places and making friend 'ships.' Pardon the pun.
Have lived on a boat since 79, had 5, have been ashore for 2 years now and it's really boring. Am looking for a place to build my next boat. Mast height and water depth are very important.
Darling, even with shorts and t shirts u still look fab and posh
I lived aboard for 7 years on two different boats. Saved a LOT of money and bought a house on return to land life. Same wife, new daughter by the end of it. Sold for about the same as we bought for. Managed to keep the boat clean throughout. And my other half had all her heels and dresses. Perhaps you bought the wrong boat guys! We ended in a Nauticat 38 and it was fab.
If you buy a fixer-upper you will need a storage locker on shore or a second small boat as a storage boat. More money. If you really want the experience of a boat for the bay area (California) in the winter put a rocking chair in the bath tub, put on wet all weather winter gear, turn on the cold shower and tear up $100 bills.
boat =a structure which makes a hole in the water into which you pour money.
Oh, there are so many ways to say it! 😁 Liz x
LOL :)
House = a structure which makes a hole in the land into which you pour money.
Well, if you do some homework and taxes are not too high, one can make money on a house ... depending (or lose - yes!).
If you do your homework, are handy and are extremely careful and have backups (for just about everything) - you will still lose money and or time on a boat.
--- Then again, you can not sail your land based house around the world's oceans, seas, lakes, waterways and byways!
--- property taxes? maybe register in Delaware or Caymen Islands!
I know a guy who bought a boat 6 years ago for 2750 euros, fixed her up with great care, traded it for a derelict traditional dutch pleasure boat from the 1930ties. After 3 years of hard work launched er, got an offer he could not refuse 3 days later, and bought house from the proceeds..... But yes, it is rare.
I think a lot in this video boils down to the fact that many crossly underestimates the collective costs of owning and running a boat. Especially a sailboat. A mototboat/daycruiser isn’t cheap to run either, but there are a few less things to go bad.
Cost me loads of money, but it would have gone on something else ,carnt take it with you gotta spend it all here but what joy !!!
Boats are worth every penny...I luv mine and do my own maintenance.
Thanks for sharing your honest opinion.
A mate of mine reckons sailing is like standing in a shower with a raincoat on tearing up $100-dollar bills! But I can think of worse ways to live, permanently moored in an attract, free place. I have a friend who raised three kids like that: every day they'd dingy the kids to school, and every fortnight would catch a taxi to pick up their dole-cheque. Lived high on the hog. Lately he's been looking for an anchorage nearer the winery.
yep, i've heard it before. A boat/ ship is not a good investment and actually costs more than any other hobby or activity. But on the up side it's the most pleasureable experience a person can ever have.
We had a system. Change undies once a week.....and then as a special treat we would wash both pairs every two months.
House: mow the lawn, water the lawn, replace the air conditioner, fix the deck, paint the deck, paint the house, redo the roof, rebuild the chimney, pay the city taxes, get new windows, heat the house, cool the house, new kitchen, new washrooms, new showers, ... do you get the idea? Iife costs money get over it.
@Brexit Monger I live in a concrete building but its very drafty and hard to heat. Dont need AC but definitely need heat. Once the spring comes, it'll be out to the water and there's free AC there :)
Brexit Monger Amen brother wished I would have bought a stone or Brick House when I was younger now it's just a constant repair on everything
Good points but a house has just as many problems, if a relationship fails it’s down to the people not the property no matter the size,
Only one point I agree on is the size of the wardrobe
As for roaches and ants. If you are in the USA go to Home Depot. They sell boric acid powder in a one liter plastic bottle. I bought one and took it with me on my return flight to the Philippines. This stuff is great. It is not a poison in the normal sense. I have used it for 45 years, many living in Florida. Used to buy it at the drug store. It can also be bought from welding supply shops. It is used as brazing flux.
Just put a fine trail along the corners between horizontal and vertical surfaces, especially in the galley and food storage ares.
Although I agree with a good portion of this I feel like 90% of it is beyond common sense. Peoples experiences may vary on some of it but at the end of the day, the people that are going to have major issues with any of what was mentioned are going to have the exact same problems in a normal home just different specifics and circumstances
In other words don't buy a boat and intend to sail the globe unless you have a reasonably good bank account and or you can earn an income as you go. The trouble with a lot of these sailing channels is you never see very much of the downside of owning a boat instead what you mainly see are the pretty sunsets, the exotic islands and the dolphins chasing the boats. Boats are a wonderful toy but they suck money into a black hole never to be seen again. What they don't tell you is you can sell your home, your cars and whatever else and sink your money into a cruiser and watch it disappear. The boat will depreciate over time but a home on land will appreciate. Too many couples are drawn in by these sailing channels but they never see the downsides of sailing. Cruising the globe is something I want to do myself but I wont do it until my bank account can handle it. To cut a long story short don't choose this life changing style unless you know you can afford it. Then once you can achieve that then by all means do it. Thank you Sailing Followtheboat for being so honest and thank you for a great channel love your work.
Thank you for the considered response. You sound very sensible to me, and I'm sure you're going to love this life. Peace and fair winds! Liz
A house that you live in is not and will never be a good investment. It generates no cash flow, can have expensive repair bills and appreciation and by no means a guarantee. Not to mention the instrest payments. Even if it was how many people actually stay in a house long enough to pay out a 20 year mortgage these days? The point I'm trying to make is that if that's all you took out of this video then your dream will never come true. If you don't have a job where you can earn money while sailing then find another one. Better yet ditch the mortgage payments use that money to generate passive income. I'm not going to say that I have all of the answers because I don't. I'm young, foolish and have never taken a sailing lesson. What I can tell you though is that by my 26th birthday I had already traveled to 40 States and 15 different countries without ever paying a dime. In fact I got paid to go those places.
The point I'm trying to make is that if you free your mind and follow your passions you can find a way. It might not be perfect or live up to the dream but it's doable if you just try. Sure, you could fail but that's better than not trying in the first place. For me it's really simple. I want to live on the boat and sail to different places. I'll find a way. I'm not quite sure how yet but it sure as heck isn't going to be by following the play it safe advise that everyone already knows.
My boat would be double keeled. As they do not need a slipway. Ok living with another usually opposite sex is tricky. I may sail slower but collisions should be superficial. Yes ongoing maintenance is the biggest issue.