What State is Best for Liveaboard Sailors?

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by Roy M

Everyone, please heed the advice and stay away from California, especially Southern California, and most assuredly, San Diego. We have Earthquakes! We have Tsunamis! We have the most boring weather on the planet. And have you heard how bad the beer is? Please, go to Florida and Montana. There is no work here! The mosquitos carry deadly diseases. The gasoline has way too much ethanol! Your car must pass highly restrictive smog tests! You can't carry side arms or any arms openly, so the state of crime must be absolutely devastating. The harbor police of every port are Nazis, the politicians are almost French, and you can't get a decent cup of coffee or loaf of artisanal bread to save your life. Fresh fruits and veggies are impossible to procure. And there is no culture, other than the occasional fifty foot fiberglass sculpture of people kissing or a Comic Book convention. Everything is too costly and the selections are poor. You can't find anyone who knows how to work on boats, and you can't find any suppliers who know what they are doing. Everything is far away, and you can only get there by car, on long, congested freeways (what an oxymoron). No, the best thing to do is steer clear of California, completely. Go to Texas! Florida! The rest of the Gulf and East coasts! California is a terrible place. Stay away. Please.

Many of us know...despite all those horrible things, the reason most stay away from southern California is the other boaters....

[Bash]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

How about paying 1 grand a year for a big slip and using 11 k to upgrade your boat Bash?

I just checked on Google. The nearest 50' slip available at that price is in Belgrade.

Besides, the boat doesn't need any significant upgrades, at least not this side of a heat-seeking anti-jet-ski defense system. And maybe a sextant.

[s/v Beth]

Google doesn't know everything (gasp!) I pay 1100 a year in the good old usa for my 40 footer.

[o_q]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

Google doesn't know everything (gasp!) I pay 1100 a year in the good old usa for my 40 footer.

unlike you, Google is at least giving him information

[Group9]

All I can say is that of the coastal states I have lived in, (Florida, Maryland, Virginia, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama) Maryland was the friendliest toward liveaboards. Which is surprising considering what hardasses they are on almost every other single rule in life.

But, seeing snow piled up on boats is slips, would keep me from ever doing it in the winter there.

[capttman]

Originally Posted by ShaktiGurl

Manhattan for 10 years. MO headwaters!

To many of those helicopters buzzing around

[capttman]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

Google doesn't know everything (gasp!) I pay 1100 a year in the good old usa for my 40 footer.

Ok I give up!!!! Where is this I might be your neighbor someday

[ShaktiGurl]

Originally Posted by capttman

To many of those helicopters buzzing around

Wow that must be new since I lived there but I would guess they are in Belgrade out of Gallatin field. The area is be-u-ti-ful so a helicopter tour would be fun.

[s/v Beth]

To those things that I am hiding where I am keeping my boat: It is in Warrenton municipal marina in Warrenton Oregon. Please feel free to come be my neighbor!

[Sand crab]

Originally Posted by ShaktiGurl

Wow that must be new since I lived there but I would guess they are in Belgrade out of Gallatin field. The area is be-u-ti-ful so a helicopter tour would be fun.

She's talking about Manhattan, Montana home of the Potato Festival. Yippee!

[Capt Phil]

Enjoyed many years of living aboard in California but as the political situation changed and those in charge of administering not only state and county tax law but those county and municipal governments who passed increasingly restrictive laws and regulations, California became one of the worst states in which to try and live aboard. Not only were regulations ultra restrictive, the surly, arrogant attitude that pervaded those responsible for enforcement was so off putting, except for the USCG, we gave up and moved to Nevada. They are the main reason for the demise of the liveaboard community in southern California IMO. Having cruised and lived aboard in many different countries all over the world, I feel qualified to voice an opinion. Phil

[Roy M]

Speak, Capt. Phil! Let's see the exodus begin! Please, people, California is highly over-rated. Move on! Nothing here to see.....

[rgscpat]

There's always the chance that, sometime in the next tens of thousands of years, Arizona will acquire some coastline.

[SkiprJohn]

Glad to see Oregon mentioned. I've seen lots of places where it'd be nice to keep a boat there. Winter in Warrenton can get a bit damp though.

[Hudson Force]

I know more of the East Coast US than the Pacific Coast and I notice more selections for Florida on the East Coast; however, it's worth notice that the coast of Florida extends for about 1,200 miles. There are many different "Floridas" over these many miles spanning the differences between South Beach, Miami and wilderness isolation. Inexpensive small towns with beautiful marinas for less than $500/month for slip, utilities & amenities; $1,200/month slips next to glitzy tourist tiki bars (ca 40' boat). Only the Chesapeake rivals the variety of opportunity and I'd include Maine too, if it were not for the winter. I'm enjoying cruising the Chesapeake now, but I'll be back to Florida and ports south by winter! ......it's just difficult for me to refer to Florida as one place for living aboard. There's little similarity between the St. Johns River, Biscayne Bay and Pensacola.