Possible to Liveaboard 20' Boat?

[roverhi]

We lived in a non camper VW Bus for the year we were building our Westsail. Did I mention we also had our 3 legged cat, Labrador and 8 puppies in the bus for a while. Biggest hassle was converting the bus from home to transport as wife needed to get to work. When we launched the boat and moved aboard, couldn't believe the room we had.

BTW,your link didn't work for me. Hope it's a Bingham Flicka you 're contemplating

[feelsgood]

I have an old friend that is 5ft 9ins tall and he has lived on his Halberg Rassy26 for the past 37 years and he is now 82 and still sailing. He tells me because he is now older the size of his yacht still allows him to sail solo and the costs are pretty cheap

[GILow]

Does it have to be that particular 20 footer? The thing is, as they go, that seems a pretty "small" 20 footer. There are much beamier 20 footers, with more cabin and less cockpit that would make life a bit more comfortable, and probably cost around the same amount to buy, maintain and store.

Also, the freeboard on that thing is lower than my windsurfer, not my idea of a coastal boat at all.

Matt

[onestepcsy37]

Originally Posted by Squeaks

Also - "A jail cell is arguably much more comfortable and well-appointed than a 20 footer ever could hope to be".
Didn't they say of the old square riggers that they were "like being in jail, with the chance of getting drowned"!

"No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into prison.
For being on a ship is like being in prison, with the chance of being drowned.
A man in prison has more room, better food, and commonly, better company."

- Samuel Johnson

[mausgras]

If Ernest Shackleton can sail the James Caird from Antarctica to South Georgia then it should be a toddle for you to sail the WA coast.

In Hue, Vietnam I have seen whole families, Mum Dad and three kids living in a "boat" about 12' long.

You can live anywhere you like if you are prepared to put up with the conditions

[Sandy Feet]

Hey stoned pirate, if you're chasing a small live aboard have a look in Hillary's marina, there's a 25 foot(ish) yacht for sale that was abandoned years ago and has been for sale ever since. It's moored in the brokers pens outside San churios chocolate shop. Needs a little work but a really sweet boat, ideal for the WA coast and I reckon if you offered 5K (or less) it would be yours. Would love to see this boat get some love as she's just sitting there year after year looking sadder and sadder.

[Tony B]

Why would you be asking us if you could live in a 20' boat?
Only you know what you can tolerate. People live inside their cars, if that helps.

[Andrew B.]

Having not posted in this thread since Aug. of 2009 I can't help but wonder
how stoned is doing ?

hmmm now what color should I paint my refrigerator box ?

[klmmicro]

Originally Posted by Andrew B.

Having not posted in this thread since Aug. of 2009 I can't help but wonder
how stoned is doing ?

hmmm now what color should I paint my refrigerator box ?

Probably had to sacrifice a computer in order to live in a 20' boat!

Hot pink...all fridges should be hot pink!

[Andrew B.]

Originally Posted by klmmicro

Probably had to sacrifice a computer in order to live in a 20' boat!

Hot pink...all fridges should be hot pink!

lol. I have a Purple People Eater 'fridge' that has some really cool black
light goodies on it. With the black light, and disco ball my little galley
is a sight to behold ...

I was referring to painting one of the big cardboard boxes they come in, or used to.

Considering the 'minimilist' life style(not really), but my three dogs are
insisting on each one having their own 'painted box' .

Damn permits cost to much, so I guess I am stuck with the house payment...

Peace, with a little on the side...

IRON BUTTERFLY - IN A GADDA DA VIDA - 1968 (ORIGINAL FULL VERSION) CD SOUND & 3D VIDEO - YouTube

and thanks for reminding me of this song.

[Caireann]

LOL ... I feel the same way. I'm looking to live on a lake for a while in NC (still working corporate) if I can find a slip that has a size limit above 20' ... and I find having a man around full time is very overrated. :-)

Originally Posted by cantxsailor

You need enough room to get out of the weather and to store what ever stuff you feel you need to have.

A young man can live in some very "alternative" homes if he is so inclined. I lived in a home built camper van 9mos, a small fishboat 2years, a teepee for a winter on Vancouver Island and a tent on and off for a couple of years.

I would not want to HAVE to do it now but I know I could if I had to.

If you really WANT to, you CAN live almost anywhere. It's much less of a hassle if you're single. If I was single right now I be living on my 25ft boat.

As I age I find having a woman around all the time is overrated.

I wish I had learned this much earlier............m

[Caireann]

Hi Matt,

I'm looking to get my, uh feet wet, I guess with a small sailboat. I'm considering a liveaboard (renting art studio space in town). I'm still working a corporate job and the closest full-time marina (I'm in the mountains in NC) limits the boat size to 20' 11" ... what would you suggest that I look at? If I go this route, for now, I need the most cabin space I can get and a good workable deck for adding solar panels, deck garden, etc.

Thanks,
Caireann

Originally Posted by GILow

Does it have to be that particular 20 footer? The thing is, as they go, that seems a pretty "small" 20 footer. There are much beamier 20 footers, with more cabin and less cockpit that would make life a bit more comfortable, and probably cost around the same amount to buy, maintain and store.

Also, the freeboard on that thing is lower than my windsurfer, not my idea of a coastal boat at all.

Matt

[mausgras]

Of course it is possible to live in a 20 foot boat. In India I saw people living in packing cases (3 stacked on top of each other in fact), and an elderly couple on a 6 foot by 6 foot platform in a tree. In Cambodia I saw women and children living in drain pipes. Here in affluent Australia I have seen people living in cars.
The real issue is why do you want to live on a 20 foot boat. When I was young and adventurous I thought getting back to "basics" was a great thing to do and for a while tried the Thoreau thing in the bush. But my material possessions and desires quickly outgrew that notion and my accommodation grew accordingly. Family needs fed an affluent lifestyle of disposable possesions.
When I reached more mature years I left nearly 30 years of accumulated possessions in care and picked up a nomadic lifestyle and have lived quite a comfortable exisstance in dozens of different places in the Asia Pacific region with only the possessions I could carry in my backpack. Now I am almost in my reclining years and I am organising the next phase but I want/need at least 37 feet of floating comfort in order to keep the memorabilia on my 66 years together.
The moral of my story is live the lifestyle you want not the lifestyle you need.

Sent from my SM-J700F using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[zeehag]

i wonder if original 2009 poster found that which he sought....

[Caireann]

Good point. The fact is, you can live anywhere, but I don't want to live in 20 feet of boat space. I wanted to live on the NC lake, but they have so many restrictions that I can't get the space I want ... will look for other options until I can retire to a liveaboard friendly marina. Thanks and good luck with your 37 feet ... sounds lovely!

Originally Posted by mausgras

The moral of my story is live the lifestyle you want not the lifestyle you need.

Sent from my SM-J700F using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app