How Do You Spot a Liveaboard / Cruiser or Their Boat ?

[Rhapsody-NS27]

Originally Posted by markpierce

They have pets onboard and take them out for walks during the day.

They carry an automobile on their boats.

Lots of barges here in Germany going up and down the river have cars sitting on top. I would expect that not many get off for a drive very often.

[Paul L]

Unfortunately Bob Perry coined the best phrase for identifying cruisers: Crap on de back

[Me-and-Boo]

My search for a marina which takes liveaboards became very easy once I knew the tell-tale signs. Lawn chairs on the fly-bridge, coolers on deck close to the dock, propane gas grills on the aft deck, bicycles chained to the pilings. . .
Oh, the houseboats also help.

[Hudson Force]

I suspect that those with negative impressions of liveaboard vessels, that associate living aboard with debris on the boat and dock, are not aware of the majority of liveaboard boats that are well kept. None of the better looking liveaboard boats disclose that people use them as their only home.

[barnakiel]

The boat will look derelict - more like a mobile home than like a sailing vessel.

b.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

The boat will look derelict - more like a mobile home than like a sailing vessel.

b.

Well, just 'cuz you would do that ...

[Don1500]

Just walk the dock. The liveaboards are the ones with the ear to ear grin.


PULLED THE TRIGGER TODAY!!! Put a deposit on a boat in Maryland. Soon as it's accepted I will post the details.

[pierre0121]

Congrats Don.

[jackiepitts]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

Well, just 'cuz you would do that ...

Well said!

[svcambria]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

The boat will look derelict - more like a mobile home than like a sailing vessel.

b.

Yea, just look for the tornadoes - dead give-away (the real reason why live-aboards are less welcome)... ;-)

Michael

[AquatiCat]

Finding liveaboard cruisers (not people who live on a boat that never leaves the dock), we used to look for wind generators, and jerry cans lashed to the lifelines, but now we are totally solar (having had a wind generator dismount itself in sprightly conditions and come crashing down into the companionway, narrowly missing not only me, but the grilled cheese sandwich I was bringing my spouse... the near-tragedy (it was a lovely sandwich) inspired us to switch to solar). And Our Next Boat has enough tankage to make jerry cans unnecessary. Not growing plants in the cockpit, despite the obvious health benefits of fresh tomatoes, say -- too likely to get them doused in saltwater if things get frisky. Raised waterline: YES, partly because we are cruising and partly because it looks better and stays cleaner. I think our boat looks good, but the fixed ports do tend to cloud up easily, I used a buff-ball on them 6 months ago and they looked great but now they are semi-opaque again, so I'm guessing this is something I'll have to do every 3 months. Natural Teak Cetol (semi-clear, makes the wood look like itself, only shiny and protected) also lasted 6 mo before needing touch-up. The Sunbrella looks mint... not sure how long before that fades. The blue field on our American flag is starting to fade, and it's only 5 months old! SSCA burgee: we've been keeping it indoors while at the marina, but plan to fly it while cruising, so starting in a couple of weeks. Our previous SSCA burgee was ragged and faded and totally scary after 18 months on a halyard :-)

Nice dink, engine with good power and a locking bar, davits, hard dodger/bimini with solar panels mounted atop it, out of the way. Cockpit night lamps taken from Yard&Garden supplies (solar): because one has to be able to find one's boat after dark if one ever plans to eat dinner or go dancing ashore -- anchorages are often quite dark!

Pet cat, but we don't "walk" her. She's an indoor cat, who likes to watch the outdoors but not venture out. So if you see a cat peeking out of one of the ports... liveaboard.

[Don1500]

My parents were summertime at the dock liveaboards, with cat. They ran a restaurant on Dune Rd. in West Hampton (Dune Deli). Their cat would walk the lines to get ashore. If the cat would do that you know it lives there.

[callmecrazy]

There's a liveaboard down the dock from me with a cat. He's been on his boat for something like 20 years... He walks the cat on a leash

[callmecrazy]

Originally Posted by CaptForce

I suspect that those with negative impressions of liveaboard vessels, that associate living aboard with debris on the boat and dock, are not aware of the majority of liveaboard boats that are well kept. None of the better looking liveaboard boats disclose that people use them as their only home.

I'm in a marina (actually its a city ordinance) that doesn't allow liveaboards. All the boats look the same... I'm the only boat that has a boom tent up in the entire marina. You could spot me by that... But, the marina is FILLED with liveaboards (don't tell!)

It's not what you heard, it's what you know.

[Wavewacker]

Potted plants on deck.