1st Post, and 1st Step into our Journey to Realize our Dream

[Hudson Force]

1. Propane use varies among cruisers. We only use propane for occasional cooking and consume about 20 lbs. each year.
2. We manage to pick up free wi-fi or internet access that is offered in association with other services,- marina slip, mooring field, cafe, etc. We never pay directly for any internet access.
3. We normally buy groceries on the east coast of the US or in the Bahamas. In the US we are making purchases at a cost equivalent to all those living in houses. In the Bahamas our costs are slightly more as more of the foods are imported at a higher cost. We attempt to buy more local foods. In the islands it's important to find out when the shelves are stocked by the island freighter delivery. There's usually a "best" shopping day each week. We can buy local seafoods fairly inexpensively.
4. Solar panels & wind generator (or panels alone) can support the needs that you list. This would be true for the 12VDC refrig./freezer units that exchange heat with air and the use of a small fan like those with the Danfloss compressers. Units that exchange heat by pumping water require more energy to operate.

Over the forty-three years we've been living aboard and cruising we have generally found our expenses to be less than our friends who live ashore.

[Tantalus]

Originally Posted by ricksieminski

Other places don't have the abundance of coastal fish that we have in FL? If you can't catch them with hook and line, how about spearfishing?

Google ciguatera, lots of info and articles about it.

[Summitfun]

Rick,
Be sure to check local regulations before taking a spear gun with you! They are illegal in many areas / countries.

Mike

[glenn.225]

You should also look into fishing regulations, someplace's will not allow you to just drop a line.

Edit: Or keep certain species.

[ricksieminski]

Being from FL, I am aware of ciguatera poisoning, but have eaten small-er reef fish without problems, my entire life. The problems are with the larger, predatory fish that eat little fish. The poison accumulates w/in their bodies, as they eat more and more little fish. Barracuda over 3' are pretty much guaranteed to have ciguatera poisoning (they stink, and I would not eat even a smaller one). The same goes for the larger Grouper, plus they can have worms.

Good to know about the speargun.