How Big ( or Small ) Was Your First Liveaboard Boat ?

[Ballenxj]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Semi lived aboard a Columbia 26. Split my time between that and a VW camper bus.

Heh, Love it!

Originally Posted by mischief

Since the OP mentioned children Ill chime in here.

I think you are thinking of another thread? I'm pretty sure I'm the OP here, and I'm also pretty sure no children were mentioned. All my kids are grown up and long gone. The boat I want will be for me alone. (unless I get an offer I can't refuse.)
-Bruce

[Hudson Force]

I remember when my wife and I were looking for our first liveaboard vessel. We started with the idea that we could "squeeze" into something as small as forty feet and then adapted to the idea of maybe 35'. We finally narrowed our first purchase to a 30' sloop that was very adequate for our needs. I think people over estimate their space needs when they are taking a step from a house where so much space is present, but most of the space has no function.

[hooligan6a]

Your right, anything over 30' and your just dragging around a lot of excess
fiberglass. I now have 2' extra that I can't get rid of.

[Ballenxj]

Originally Posted by hooligan6a

Your right, anything over 30' and your just dragging around a lot of excess
fiberglass. I now have 2' extra that I can't get rid of.

A boat broker once told me that you will have a hard time finding a harbor that will allow liveaboards under 30', is that correct?
-Bruce

[GaryMayo]

Originally Posted by hooligan6a

When I was in Honolulu, there was a guy that lived on a
Cal 20 with his girlfriend. God bless them.

If she was really pretty, that boat was really too big. Lol

[GaryMayo]

Very interesting thread as I dream of living aboard someday, with my furry crew.

I slip my sailboat in a small Nebraska lake. The marina said the max boat size for their docks was 32 feet, so I went out and found a pair of 32 footers. Did not care for the first one. Previous owner must have liked watching the Red Green Show. Very pleased with my last one. My only fly in the ointment is I am 6'7" and my whole life, nothing really fits. I live in a world made for small people. With my boat, like everything else, I make do. If I lived on big water, I would get a boat I could fit in every room. As it is now, I can peer into the engine room. Lol

For usability as a sailboat, everything has to have a dedicated place where" IT" belongs. Clutter turns a sailboat into a docked appartment that goes nowhere. Find a size where everything important to you has a place. Then it is easy to go sailing and you will go sailing more often.

[propellanttech]

Originally Posted by GaryMayo

Very interesting thread as I dream of living aboard someday, with my furry crew.

I slip my sailboat in a small Nebraska lake. The marina said the max boat size for their docks was 32 feet, so I went out and found a pair of 32 footers. Did not care for the first one. Previous owner must have liked watching the Red Green Show. Very pleased with my last one. My only fly in the ointment is I am 6'7" and my whole life, nothing really fits. I live in a world made for small people. With my boat, like everything else, I make do. If I lived on big water, I would get a boat I could fit in every room. As it is now, I can peer into the engine room. Lol

Hey.....we leprechauns are scared of the giant!

James L

[hooligan6a]

Originally Posted by Ballenxj

A boat broker once told me that you will have a hard time finding a harbor that will allow liveaboards under 30', is that correct?
-Bruce

I have lived on 24', 25', and 29' Never had a hard time finding a slip. Money talks.
That broker was just trying to sell you a bigger boat.

[DumnMad]

Originally Posted by hooligan6a

I have lived on 24', 25', and 29' Never had a hard time finding a slip. Money talks.
That broker was just trying to sell you a bigger boat.

Scruffy,dirty looking boats is a better indicator of a problem than Boat size.
But for you;
I think if they knew your Forum name you might have more difficulty.

[hooligan6a]

It is also my boats name, The Hooligan. I think dockmasters may give me a little more scrutiny because of it.

[Ballenxj]

Originally Posted by hooligan6a

It is also my boats name, The Hooligan. I think dockmasters may give me a little more scrutiny because of it.

I would.
-Bruce

[hooligan6a]

Originally Posted by Ballenxj

I would.
-Bruce

You are easily swayed.

[cpa]

My first liveaboard was an Allied Seawind 30. It was quite comfortable. My next was a Dufour Arpege, which was a little tight. My last liveaboard was an SS34. With the exception of the Allied neither of the other boats had full standing headroom. I look forward to living aboard the Compass and getting a taste of total standing headroom and having more space.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Ballenxj

A boat broker once told me that you will have a hard time finding a harbor that will allow liveaboards under 30', is that correct?
-Bruce

I've lived in two harbors that didn't allow liveaboards under 35'.

[wolfenzee]

Originally Posted by Bash

I've lived in two harbors that didn't allow liveaboards under 35'.

Here the bigger the boat the harder it is to get a slip...min size of live aboards is limited by the boat