Moving Onto a Boat in March

[eisselhardt]

Although I grew up sailing a wonderful Cape Dory in the Hamptons (retractable iron keel and a gaff rig), I have very little experience with larger boats. And yet....I've always wanted to have a boat that I could live aboard and short-hand wherever I'd like to go. And, as I have great admiration for the women sailing racers/captains I've known, I want my daughter to know her way around a larger boat, too.

So, this Thursday is the survey and sea-trial for a Beneteau 381 that I've placed a deposit on, with the closing tentatively set for the end of February. Assuming all goes well, I'll be moving onboard with my 6 year-old daughter and large dog, slipping at the National Harbor outside of D.C. I'll remain working at a professional job, and my girl will continue to go to her school (where I work).

I've also been talking to professional sailing instructors, and I'll engage one of them for a two day familiarization tutorial on my boat, with a follow-up later in the season once I've gotten out a bit. And, since there are alot of systems on a liveaboard, I'll engage someone locally to take me through the boat's logistics and operating systems.

I would welcome any advice and sharing of common experiences that are positive and helpful.

Thanks!
Eric

[Bash]

welcome to the forum. we have somewhere around 23 zillion people on this forum living aboard Beneteaus, and I'm sure most of them will look forward to your reflections on the process.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, eisselhardt.

I hope that congratulations on your new boat, will soon be due.

[YADO]

Eric, Welcome to the site and we have a lot in common. I too am an idealist and real optimist so take my input with that in mind. My wife and I spent a lot of our youth sailing small boats and dinghies around Long Island, New York, and we raised our son in Alexandria, Virginia, just across from National Harbor; south of Washington DC.

When I moved to the Washington DC area I was crazy about being on the water, either windsurfing or sailing. I bought a house in Alexandria, Virginia, in part so I could be close to the Potomac River and sailing and I never regretted it.
Like sex, we didn't invent it and we also aren't the first dads to feel the pull of the sea as our children make us feel increasingly land bound.
In short: I want you to really think hard about your goals and there are many other ways to achieve it without living on a boat, in National Harbor........with a large dog and a 6 year old!
In short, take 2: It's not a good idea. In fact, it's a bad idea and I say this knowing how excited you are. I've been there.
My reasons:
-National Harbor is a tourist trap, it's a facade and filled with empty condos. That marina is like a parking lot attached to a hotel complex with plans for a casino. Do you want to raise your daughter in the parking lot of a casino complex? I know you are not allowed to ride a bike anywhere in the entire marina complex and it is not a kid friendly place. I've seen kid friendly marinas and this is not one of them.
-National Harbor is in Prince George County, Maryland, with some of the highest crime in the State.

My recommendation: Many, many people have gone this route and I strongly recommend you do this.
Across the Potomac River from National Harbor in Virginia is Belle Haven Marina and up the River is another marina. Both have sailing schools for kids and adults. Fairfax Virginia has terrific public schools and a solid ground-up sailing culture. You could rent a condo in Belle View and walk to the marina and sailing school. There you can rent boats, kayaks, canoes, etc...and have fun while learning. Also, just up the street from the marina and condos are a terrific little shopping center, a newly built public library, public indoor pool and indoor ice skating rink, the area has terrific public schools and parks.

You can learn to sail at the school where you'll meet a lot of wonderful people with children and it's a dog friendly place.
If in the next few years you find you still want a big boat then you'll be better prepared and more experienced.

National Harbor is a dessert, a pit stop on interstate I-95, and Belle Haven Park and Marina the kind of place you'd like to call "home".
You can PM me if you want to.
Michael

[Jude2010]

Ouch, I don't know anything about about that Marina or harbor but my wife and I are well on our way to being live a boards, while working for a few years before heading down south. If someone tried to cram our dreams down our throat like that I would tell them to stuff it. If it is not the best marina for having children that is one thing. But if your daughter is up for it, and you are so far along I can't see why it won't be just fine. Many people live aboard with children. You aren't going to learn to sail a bigger boat from kayaking. Many people have gone for it and made it work. That's my plan. To outright say you shouldn't buy the boat and move and kayak.. Arg.. lol apparently he hit a nerve..

[eisselhardt]

Well, I won't condemn YADO for his direct opinion. In fact, I appreciate his perspective, as I have had some of those thoughts myself while contemplating this move.

As an adult, though, I learned long ago to listen very carefully to other opinions--especially those with more experience than I--but to always make my own decisions. Hopefully, this decision will be made with as much information as possible.

Frankly, my biggest concerns are much more mundane than those raised by YADO. I'm mostly concerned with learning the operational systems of the boat and staying warm than I am the sailing part. I won't be taking the boat out until I'm comfortable that the instruction I've gotten matches the boat.

At 6 years-old, my daughter has already traveled with me on many escapades, and she's a real trooper. Her main concerns center around being warm (like me) and having a nice bedroom--she's already picked out the forward berth (with the settee and sink) as her space.

As for the National Harbor, I have heard that the place is not the most appealing, but that also means the price is right and it is really the only option considering my work commute. In any event, my large Schutzhund-trained German Shepherd will be on board too, and I pity the burglar fool who steps into the cabin with the dog down there. There are about 5 other live-aboards, and apparently they are mostly military and NSA/CIA types who are in and out.

All that to say, I continue to be open to others' experiences and advice!

Thanks,
Eric

[syoder]

Originally Posted by eisselhardt

Frankly, my biggest concerns are much more mundane than those raised by YADO. I'm mostly concerned with learning the operational systems of the boat and staying warm than I am the sailing part. I won't be taking the boat out until I'm comfortable that the instruction I've gotten matches the boat.

Thanks,
Eric

Eric,
One of the best things we did after moving aboard happened strictly by accident. We had planned to head south from Newport, OR in July or August of '09. Toward that end, we were working like crazy to get things ready. By September, with too many things still undone and our savings pretty well eaten up, we realized we weren't going to make it. We bit the bullet and decided to hunker in and try for summer '10. What followed was a year of living on a 28' sailboat in cold Newport, OR. With no car. This turned out to be a great learning experience. We got to figure out the boat systems, how to live in close quarters, how to manage without a car, etc. In short, all the little things you need to know for cruising. And we got to do it without the added stress of being out on a rolly ocean. We were firmly tied to the dock with shore power to run our electric heaters to keep us warm. By the time we finally left in July '10, we were ready for the next phase: how to handle the stuff we'd learned dockside while living inside a washing machine which is what it felt like out on the ocean for much of our trip south. Looking back, the time spent in Newport made everything that followed easier.

Best of luck,
-Steve

[GeoPowers]

Hi Eric,

A few quick tidbits from a family living aboard their Bene 393:

- Never been to National Harbour, but you know what the really cool thing about living aboard is? If you don't like your locale it is REALLY easy to move!

- As for staying warm, there are 100's of ways to stay warm, but the most "seaworthy" IMO is some sort of installed system that uses diesel for the energy source. Is anything installed now?

- My kids (ages 3 and 4 1/2) have awesome rooms, decorated mostly using wall decals that are easily applied and super easy to take off with no mess, etc. My daughter has these: http://www.muralsforkids.com/product...oducts_id=2623 but there are tons of possibilities out there. I've seen lots of different types at Target as well. We also use the wall decals as fun ways to decorate for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.!

Also agree with syoder on the learning bit while living aboard...

Frank

[Ocean Girl]

Welcome to CF and I hope all goes well with the purchase of the Bene.

For me the biggest adaption to living aboard was the HEAD. Nothing , and I mean nothing, will break the spirit of a gal like a broken or poorly functioning stinky head. This may draw criticism but I highly recommend that you please overhaul the heads before moving aboard, never mind what the surveyor says, just bite the bullet and install all new hose (or pvc) and new pumps. This proactive move will more than likely buy you a year of problem free head operation, thus saving the more challenging boat work for when you are more familiar with the goings on aboard your boat.

I have lived aboard for over 14 years and love it. In fact, I have a very hard time sleeping on land (it is just feels..wrong). Kids are very adaptable and the live aboard kids I know are extremely self sufficient, strong, out going, and all around neato (IMHO). Your adventure is your daughters adventure as well, and I think a great gift you are giving her.

I just finished reading this wonderful blog about a cruising family just want to pass it on to you. s/v Ocelot Cruising the World

Cheers,
Erika

[eisselhardt]

I sincerely appreciate all of your feedback. Our survey and sea-trial are scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday, Jan 6th), so wish us all well!

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by eisselhardt

At 6 years-old, my daughter .. having a nice bedroom--she's already picked out the forward berth (with the settee and sink) as her space.

Eric

Hang on Eric!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't start giving up the forward cabin!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know your configuration but it must be similar to mine. Thats the best cabin by far with a few hatches right above the bed. In summer or the tropics you'll appreciate it.
I'd be saying to Ms 6YO: "Hey, Shark Bait, get heading to the lazarette with Teddie, you'll fit till you're 10".

For warmth, turn the engine on for 15 minutes. It will keep the boat toasty for a few hours. (But how cold is cold where you are?) Don't they make clothes in your part of the world?


Have fun

[Jude2010]

Keep us posted and let us know how things go down the road Have you heard of the Essentials of living aboard a boat? It's a good book, funny to.

[wilsodf]

Good luck on your sail & survey tomorrow. We have a Beneteau 37 in Michigan and we installed a Dometic Marine Air unit. It heats and cools. It will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I also agree with MarcJ, the forward cabin is by far the better cabin.

[jjernigan1972]

Good luck with the sail and survey. I'm local to the Washington DC area. I occasionally teach sailing across the river from National Harbor. I would offer one caution, the river around National harbor is fairly shallow outside of the channel. If you were planning to do much sailing I would look at a chart closely. I doubt you would be able to find much room outside the channel to sail. That being said I spent a few years sailing a Westsail 32 from the bay to the Caribbean and back in the late 90's. If you need any help let me know.
Best of luck.
Jason

[eisselhardt]

The night before the survey and sea-trial, I got a call from my installer telling me that the heat and air would run from $16K to $20K, depending on which options I chose. That was a far cry from the $6K my broker had indicated. The broker was looking at installing a reverse cycle air system and then using space heaters for when it gets really cold. After posing the question on this list and others, I've concluded that space heaters will not work for me living aboard with a 6 year-old daughter and large dog, so some sort of deisel furnace heating system will have to be the answer.

So, now I'm looking at boats that have air or deisel heat or both already installed. If it has one or the other, I'll have the other installed and still be on budget.

Currently, I have an offer in on a 1984 Jeanneau 40 with both radiant deisel heat and reverse cycle air. Could be a good option, but I'm not sure we'll be able to come to price agreement. I wouldn't usually consider a boat of that age, but this particular one has been very well tended and has a brand new motor, newish sails, nearly new heads and lines, etc. It's been thoroughly updated over the past 8 years or so. Of course, if we come to agreement on the initial price, the survey and sea-trial will tell the rest of the tale.

Eric