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21-09-2014, 07:49
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 11
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Advice On College Son Living On Sailboat
Hello everyone,
I have a 20 yo son, going to school at the University of Houston, Clear Lake, Tx.
I am paying $500. a month rent for him. I want a boat to cruise, plan on being out of here as soon as he graduates. He is willing to live on my boat.
I have no experience, nor him, living on a sailboat.
What do you do about emptying the holding tanks?
He takes too many showers. Do mos marina's have wi fi?
What can i expect this to cost me in the clear lake area?, fo a 40' boat.
He has 2 more years before graduating.
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21-09-2014, 07:53
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marina del Rey, California
Boat: President 43 Sportfish
Posts: 4,105
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Re: advice on college son living on Sailboat
Quote:
Originally Posted by txjoe
...What can i expect this to cost me...
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Many times what you're now paying.
__________________
1st rule of yachting: When a collision is unavoidable, aim for something cheap.
"whatever spare parts you bring, you'll never need"--goboatingnow
"Id rather drown than have computers take over my life."--d design
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21-09-2014, 08:02
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Boat: JBW club 420, MFG Bandit, Snark
Posts: 871
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Re: Advice On College Son Living On Sailboat
Holding tanks, you either move the boat to a pump out or bring a means of pumping out to the boat.
Yes, most marinas have wifi. There is a small chance you get a slip close enough to the signal that you can actually use it. If they have cable at the slips you can get your own internet service.
You will not save any money, that you can be certain of.
Sent from my SCH-S738C using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app
__________________
I love big boats and I can not lie.
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21-09-2014, 08:03
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Florida/Alberta
Boat: Lippincott 30
Posts: 9,904
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Re: Advice On College Son Living On Sailboat
Quote:
Originally Posted by txjoe
Hello everyone,
I have a 20 yo son, going to school at the University of Houston, Clear Lake, Tx.
I am paying $500. a month rent for him. I want a boat to cruise, plan on being out of here as soon as he graduates. He is willing to live on my boat.
I have no experience, nor him, living on a sailboat.
What do you do about emptying the holding tanks?
He takes too many showers. Do mos marina's have wi fi?
What can i expect this to cost me in the clear lake area?, fo a 40' boat.
He has 2 more years before graduating.
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You will have to check in your area. I doubt if you will save any dollars on rent versus berth rental, although you may if he is mooring out. Most marina's include pump out for clients. There is not a marina I have been in that does not have wifi, and most have shower facilities.
__________________
If your attitude resembles the south end of a bull heading north, it's time to turn around.
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21-09-2014, 08:11
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 11
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Re: Advice On College Son Living On Sailboat
If I am paying for the boat to stay in the marina anyway, wouldnt it save me from paying both? or would it cost me more than 500 a month for him to live on it? The apartment is 500, plus elec, internet, ,,,just looking at options
Thanks for any and all advice
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21-09-2014, 08:23
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marina del Rey, California
Boat: President 43 Sportfish
Posts: 4,105
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Re: Advice On College Son Living On Sailboat
Some marinas add a liveaboard surcharge of more than 50%. And also charge for utilities. If you're thinking that, for the amount you're paying for your son's rent, you could own a nice yacht with a teenager living on it, fuggetaboutit.
__________________
1st rule of yachting: When a collision is unavoidable, aim for something cheap.
"whatever spare parts you bring, you'll never need"--goboatingnow
"Id rather drown than have computers take over my life."--d design
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21-09-2014, 09:43
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 1,261
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Re: Advice On College Son Living On Sailboat
Quote:
Originally Posted by txjoe
What do you do about emptying the holding tanks? He takes too many showers.
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Note that only the toilet goes into the holding tank. Sinks and showers go directly overboard. Also all the marinas have showers in the bathhouses, so showering off the boat is an option. For pumping out the holding tanks you have two options: pay a pump out service or DIY.
The paid option they come to your boat and pump it out. This is quite expensive for a live aboard. DIY you can either move your boat to the pump out station, or use a portable cart that you bring to your dock. Both of these options are free.
Quote:
Originally Posted by txjoe
Do mos marina's have wi fi?
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Yes. Pretty much all of them do. The reliability varies quite a bit, but has gotten much better in recent years. If you require reliable internet, you really need to supplement with a 4G data plan. I work from home on the boat and don't even try to use Marina Wifi.
Quote:
Originally Posted by txjoe
What can i expect this to cost me in the clear lake area?, fo a 40' boat.
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$300 - $450 a month plus electricity (depending on how nice the marina). Electricity, even in August, is always less than $50/month for us. In the winter it is more like $10/month.
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21-09-2014, 11:46
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Boat: 1976 Sabre 28-2
Posts: 7,505
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Re: Advice On College Son Living On Sailboat
Find a marina that has showers and laundry facilities if you can. Make it clear to your son that he has to use the marina facilities for everything. He can piss in a bottle for those middle of the night or other times that it's inconvenient to hike to the Marina heads. Charge him to do a holding tank pump out to encourage him to do so. If you have any intention of using the boat yourself, make sure he understands that he has to keep the place ship shape and ready to sail at short notice.
As others have said, wouldn't buy a boat for him to live on if the only idea is to provide him a place to live. By renting it to him there may be tax advantages for you as a plus. Be sure you talk to a tax professional before you do as the IRS scrutinizes property leased to family members closely. Got a feeling he'd love living on the boat especially if he gets to go sailing on his own. My first sailboat definitely added to my social life when I was single.
__________________
Peter O.
'Ae'a, Pearson 35
'Ms American Pie', Sabre 28 Mark II
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21-09-2014, 12:42
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: North Carolina
Boat: Catalina 380
Posts: 29
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Re: Advice On College Son Living On Sailboat
Maybe I'm missing something here, and not that you asked for parenting advice, but I think the most prudent course of action would be for you to tell him now that he will be on his own, say two months after graduation. That's what we did and our daughter was self-sufficient before the deadline came. If you don't have the expectation, they aren't going to meet it. Plus, you don't want to limit his job possibilities to places near your boat!
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21-09-2014, 12:54
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 1,261
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Re: Advice On College Son Living On Sailboat
Quote:
Originally Posted by KNoel
Maybe I'm missing something here, and not that you asked for parenting advice, but I think the most prudent course of action would be for you to tell him now that he will be on his own, say two months after graduation. That's what we did and our daughter was self-sufficient before the deadline came. If you don't have the expectation, they aren't going to meet it. Plus, you don't want to limit his job possibilities to places near your boat!
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Since the father is taking the boat the son is living on cruising "as soon as he graduates", it seems pretty clear he will be on his own.
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21-09-2014, 13:01
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#11
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֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 15,136
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Re: Advice On College Son Living On Sailboat
Too many showers? Is that a complaint or praise?(G)
I would suggest you leave him on or near campus and not distracted by the complications of a new life on a boat, with new issues and priorities. If you can't afford to save for a boat and pay his tuition, tell him he'll have to get a student loan and start investing in your boat. Or, that you'll pay tuition but he'll have to tithe his salary to your boat fund when he gets out.
New location, new lifestyle, new issues...better not to distract from getting the education.
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21-09-2014, 13:20
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 11
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Re: Advice On College Son Living On Sailboat
He is a good kid, never in any trouble although he is a little spoiled.
He is working on an electrical engineering degree.
I have talked to him, told him he has to keep it spotless, and if pops wants
to take the boat out for a weekend he has to sleep in his car(joking).
I gave him 5 years to get finished with school, less than 2 years to go.
My wife agrees with this,
Thanks for all the advise from everyone.
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21-09-2014, 15:17
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Tasmania
Boat: VandeStadt IOR 40' - Insatiable
Posts: 2,317
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Re: Advice On College Son Living On Sailboat
Stop paying his rent and tell him to get a job, or two or three, pulling beers, stacking shelves, packing groceries...
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21-09-2014, 18:43
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#14
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Coos Bay, Oregon
Boat: Valiant 40 (1975)
Posts: 4,073
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Re: Advice On College Son Living On Sailboat
This is not as crazy as it sounds. My son will be going to medical school, and if he can land one on the coast, a slip rental is much cheaper than an apartment, esp since I am paying a slip rental anyway. He would pay the difference and keep the boat up. With some children it will work. My son is older and responsible.
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22-09-2014, 19:56
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Alert Bay, Vancouver Island
Boat: 35ft classic ketch/yawl.
Posts: 1,980
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Re: Advice On College Son Living On Sailboat
If you are going to get a boat anyway this is a very good option. By the time you sail away you will really know the boat and will have found any problems both with the boat and with boat living. Also it will be much better looked after with someone staying on board.
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