looking for a live aboard

[lemonbelly]

we are looking for a live aboard ready boat/ project boat in the bay area. we would need to move in the next month and would like to find a boat to move into. we would like something under 10.000. please contact me if any one knows of a boat available.
thanks

[First Mate]

Hi LemonBelly (what on earth inspired such a name? do you have lemon flavored navel lint or do you just have a horrible amount of cellulite in that location?)

with a bit of googling about, you should be able to find a site titled something like boneyard.

This site was established for rescuing old wooden boats that will be lost if someone doesn't pick them up for a song or actually nothing at all (read - FREE) and save them with lots of elbow grease, spit, and innovation - oh and lots and lots of patience coupled with carpentry skills. They're all old classic beauties and vary from old wooden flat bottomed river barges to old sailboats.

another place to go for a bargain of course is Craigs list.

From the Saint Augustine, FL Craig's list, I saw a rescue boat yesterday for $22K, which is higher than your stated budget, but you could easily fall in love with this boat and spend more than your budget to get it.

Its a Mariner 37 ocean capable (already circumnavigated twice) full keeled and shoal draft, ketch rigged, fiber glass project boat still in good enough shape to cruise now and with loads of interior teak and teak stern railing and wooden mast and spars from the 1970's that made my brain waves go flat with love as soon as I saw the stern while walking up to it from the dock. It has classic lines with a springy bow and stern, a 4' bowsprit, highly raked bow and wineglass stern. It barely heels in 60 knot winds, according to the owner (she knew how to sell this boat to me).

I lost any chance at negotiation with the Owner when I shamelessly drooled and ewed and awed all over it in front of her. My husband dragged me off the boat by pinching and pulling my left ear and cursing quietly under his breath.

The Mariner 37, named the Lorilei, is in Jacksonville, FL at Beach Marine at intersection of highway 90 (Beach street) and 20th street in Jacksonville, FL - more than a little bit aways from where you are.

The spousal unit wouldn't let me have this boat because:

a. he would be the one to do the project work and he doesn't want to work that hard and

b. it's just a bit too small for the two of us with all the guests he wants to have on board.

I would happily jettison him and all his guests for this enticing boat and hire a professional boat builder to bring it back to perfection as the final cost would make the boat worth more than the expenditures (she is truly a gorgeous sail boat), except the husband has been my partner for 28 years and has spoiled me shamelessly by cooking like a 4 star chef for me all this time, which you would believe if you saw my personal stern.

In any case, hang in there and best of luck with your search. Don't give up. Your boat is definitely out there.

First Mate

[jzk]

Here is one that will probably go for much more than 10,000, but you might want to keep track of this website for future auctions:

USauctions.com - Item Description: #8205: 1998 40' Catalina Sailboat

It is going on ebay tomorrow, and if it were near me I might bid.

Here is one in Florida, that if were in CA might be the one:

National Liquidators - 1976 Islander Yachts, Yawl

I bet they would let you tow it away for $5k.

[GordMay]

In the Chesapeake Bay area, “lemon-belly” describes a female blue crab.
Surprisingly enough, they have a yellow belly (underside).

Depending where you are in the bay area, I may have a solution for you. A bit higher than you were requesting, but I can work with you. The location is Moss Landing. Commute time to Down town San Jose is 1hr 15 min. Commute to Gilroy train station is half hour. PM me if you want more details.

[First Mate]

Hey jzk - just checked out ebay: Search results for Over 27ft in Sailboats

this might be the ticket for lemonbelly or sashay over to Sailboats

there were a few projects for liveaboards less than $10K.

[S/V Antares]

Which Bay area? Go to the boat yards and look for expired registrations. Most states have open owner records and you can get their address if not a phone number. There are many great boats on the hard. I have used this to get several very nice boats under $1000. $10k should get you a worthy project boat.

[hellosailor]

A boat named Lorelei? "Shirley you've got to be kidding!" "Don't call me Shirley!"

Lorelei
"According to German legend, there was once a beautiful young maiden, named Lorelei, who threw herself headlong into the river in despair over a faithless lover. Upon her death she was transformed into a siren and could from that time on be heard singing on a rock along the Rhine River, near St. Goar. Her hypnotic music lured sailors to their death. The legend is based on an echoing rock with that name near Sankt Goarshausen, Germany. "

I couldn't think of a more inauspicious name for a boat, including Jonah.

[David M]

I guess you mean the SF Bay Area? We have a little government agency here with virtually unlimited power called the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), which in a nutshell, does not like people living aboard their boats. Before you buy a boat here you need to shop around to different marinas to find out who will accept liveaboards and what the costs and terms are for living aboard. Many marinas here are at full capacity and many do not allow liveaboards. I believe the BCDC has a law which limits the number of liveaboards allowed to live at any given marina and I believe that number is 10%. That's just what I remember from a Latitude 38 article from years ago.

Many people here would like to live aboard because the cost of housing here is so expensive, therefore you already have a lot of competition.

I'm not trying to discourage you, just trying to let you know the reality of the situation here. Call around first. See whats available before you buy the boat. Good luck with it. This is a great place to live.

San Francisco Bay Area Marinas

David

[First Mate]

cripes. dodged that bullet I guess.

Duh. I guess I should have asked which bay area, but assuming it is SFo, I have something that may interest you.

[lemonbelly]

Thanks for all the advise. We are heading out to California tomorrow to check out some marinas. Hopefully we can find the boat that will be our home. I cant wait. Keep your fingers crossed!