Liveaboard - Old Question New Tack

[eric hamblin]

Tell me somebody: can an elderly man possessed of most of his faculties, some of his teeth, a 34' steel sailboat and a $1000.00 a month. live in a reasonably civilised fashion in the Caribbean/Bahamas? Might he expect to be able to eat-out two or three times, buy fuel, sometimes rent a mooring/space alongside, buy a few drinks, get hauled out twice a year or so and and leave his vessel in safe hands during most of the hurricane season? Insurance, repairs extra of course.

I look forward to replies from all of you knowledgeable people who've done that, been there.

Thanks

[skipmac]

Hi Eric and welcome to the forum.

Actually perhaps not such a new tack at all. In the opinion of many it can be done for less. If you have plenty of time try reading through this previous discussion on this very issue. Just click on this link

Cruising on $500 per Month . . .

Over 100 pages, 3095 separate posts. Have fun.


Skip

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Eric.

As Skip says; yes.

[bobconnie]

This elderly couple have done it on less for a long time !! LOL you can if it means enough to you ! heres to ya! have fun we sure do !!

[youmeandthed]

Go to Panama, they give %25 discounts for those over 60. You could afford to live like a king, at a marina for less than $1000 per month. And health costs are supper cheap, there are lots of people down here doing it.

[DSDman]

Having been to Panama many times I would say the living there is good and no hurricane threat, no earth quakes, cheap health care, good food, nice people, central location.

[ArtM]

Originally Posted by eric hamblin

Tell me somebody: can an elderly man possessed of most of his faculties, some of his teeth, a 34' steel sailboat and a $1000.00 a month. live in a reasonably civilised fashion in the Caribbean/Bahamas? Might he expect to be able to eat-out two or three times, buy fuel, sometimes rent a mooring/space alongside, buy a few drinks, get hauled out twice a year or so and and leave his vessel in safe hands during most of the hurricane season? Insurance, repairs extra of course.

I look forward to replies from all of you knowledgeable people who've done that, been there.

Thanks

It depends on what you call "reasonably civilized", and how you feel about how neighbors feel about your presence.

Much of this 500/mo lifestyle is about staying in places that are free, basically as a "guest" of the state. Some people are perfectly comfortable with this, some are not. You may spend a lot of time in a sweatbox, with your only relief in the water or on the land, where you will be faced with more social challenges - not insurmountable, but challenges nonetheless.

Being careful with your equipment and sails, I think, will go a long way to making this sustainable. Having the ability to move to new locations, choose different anchorages, etc will keep you closer to the "civilized side" of this lifestyle. That means good sailing equipment, a vessel that does appear derelict, and keeping your flotsam onboard until it can be properly disposed - and keeping in mind that you are not paying for trash service, you will be using someone else's (unless you have a marina slip that truly allows liveaboards - rare in populated areas of the US at the price you mentioned, but perhaps widely available in other parts of the world).

Speaking of other parts of the world, how far are you willing to go? There are parts of the world where $1000 USD is a small fortune, and many are parts that have more shoreline than inland and therefore is not nearly as costly as it is here on the Continent.

As mentioned, there is exhaustive conversation on the topic elsewhere, but this just my two cents worth and draws a little from experience on the water, and a lot from experience on the land where there are people doing the same in RV's of various description.

[barnakiel]

This may depend to some extent on what amount of rust you are willing to tolerate on your steel boat ;-). Otherwise you will have tho limit the number of drinks per month ;-).

The good news is as long as you stay away from bars and expensive marinas, you should be fine.

We can live in the West Indies on USD 500 per couple and their small ship. Can't see why a single with USD 1000 should have any issue trying.

Cheers,
b.

[Don L]

Originally Posted by eric hamblin

Tell me somebody: can an elderly man possessed of most of his faculties, some of his teeth, a 34' steel sailboat and a $1000.00 a month. live in a reasonably civilised fashion in the Caribbean/Bahamas? Might he expect to be able to eat-out two or three times, buy fuel, sometimes rent a mooring/space alongside, buy a few drinks, get hauled out twice a year or so and and leave his vessel in safe hands during most of the hurricane season? Insurance, repairs extra of course.

I look forward to replies from all of you knowledgeable people who've done that, been there.

Thanks

how many teeth?

[ArtM]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

how many teeth?

Was that in response to his question about being able to "eat-out" a few times a month?

If I correctly understood the meaning of the hyphenation, this question might be better placed in the Liveaboard Dating thread.

[Amapola]

Provisions, restaurants, and fuel are very expensive in the Bahamas.

[eric hamblin]

Originally Posted by ArtM

Was that in response to his question about being able to "eat-out" a few times a month?

If I correctly understood the meaning of the hyphenation, this question might be better placed in the Liveaboard Dating thread.

If this is supposed to be humorous it is the kind of humor one might find scribbled on the walls of more unsavory public toilets. Perhaps that is where you acquired your writing skills.

[zeehag]

rofl....pardon me, but, what is your age???? where is pic of boat??? lol--there are others of us not young here.....

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by eric hamblin

an elderly man possessed of most of his faculties, some of his teeth, a 34' steel sailboat and a $1000.00 a month.

I see that Zee has joined the thread , if you cross her palm with rum (and possibly cat food? ) she will probably help point you in the right direction. or lead you astray. one or t'other . or both .

[ArtM]

Originally Posted by eric hamblin

If this is supposed to be humorous it is the kind of humor one might find scribbled on the walls of more unsavory public toilets. Perhaps that is where you acquired your writing skills.

Why, whatever do you mean professor (hiding Sharpy pen behind back)?