Hello Liveabords

[kendaukcat]

First let me introduce myself and thank you in advance for putting up with my utter ignorance on the subject matter!

My name is Ken. I live in the Cincinnati, OH area. My wife and I have two daughters, the youngest of which plans to move out of the house in the next 12-18 months. We have always encouraged the girls to get out and see the world before life catches up to them. Well, now that our responsibilities (as far as the girls go) are greatly diminished...we are going to follow our own advice. The Jones's win...we give!

My wife and I are both in our late 40's and in above average health. We aren't going to be winning any marathons any time soon, but are in pretty good shape.

Our plan is to sell everything, quit our jobs, buy a 40-50 Gibson Houseboat and then live aboard on the Stock Island area just north of Key West. We are not interested in a sailboat.

My ideal scenario would be to take up residence at the Safe Harbour Marina, but I am having a hard time determining what the slip rental is. We are not interested in anchoring or mooring fields just yet (baby steps!)

This is a really big piece of the whole puzzle.

We will work in the bar\restaurant\hospitality industry in Key West, as I try to get an IT job with the Naval base. Either career paths should be viable for the lifestyle we plan on living (or not...you tell me

I have soooo many questions:

Does anyone know what the going rate for long-term slip rental is in the Stock Island? Geiger Key Marina is another option, and is well within budget...however, I would really like to be closer to Key West, as I don't want to bring a vehicle.

Should I buy the boat here and cruise down, or have it shipped? Or, would it make sense to buy a boat in Florida?

What do insurance costs look like for a boat in the keys? I bet they are a tad bit more than the $20 a month I pay for my pontoon on our local lake. Also, for full disclosure...my boating experience is limited to our 150 lake on a 24 foot pontoon.

Also, if you could please advise me of any pitfalls you see with this plan, please let me know.

Thank You so much in advance!

Smooth Sailing,

Ken

[john61ct]

I'd make the geographic move, line up work etc while living inexpensively on land, then start shopping for the boat and gently make the transition to liveaboard.

To me, too many moving parts, everything changing all at once, multiple people under varying levels of stress, just sounds like making the whole process more "challenging" than it needs to be.

Just my 2¢, my family's not such a tight-knit battle-hardened fine-tuned machine ready to turn on a dime. . .

[kendaukcat]

Thank you for the input! There are a couple of reasons we want to live aboard:

It is more financially viable. Renting an apartment in the Key West Area is going to run about $2-3K a month. Living aboard should cost half that.

Also, I like the idea of being mobile in the event of a hurricane. I also would really love to take her out fishing during my time off.

My wife is completely on board with the idea. I know, I am pretty shocked too

[john61ct]

I just think staging the various parts of the transition will help prevent too many unforseen shocks, and getting employment for both of you, schools and childcare etc should probably be the first priority.

I think also you may need more specific research to get a realistic handle on the cost of living aboard, especially in a resortish area.

[kendaukcat]

Sorry, I may not have been very clear. There will be no schools or child care. It will just be my wife and I. No kids.

The purpose of this post is trying to get as much of the cost realized as humanly possible.

[markpierce]

Don't believe a houseboat is suitable for transiting open waters.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Ken.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by markpierce

Don't believe a houseboat is suitable for transiting open waters.

As long as he doesn't go out to the open ocean he's not really in open waters.

A few thoughts:
- You will get people poo-pooing houseboats but as long as you keep them within their design parameters, they are a great option to provide a lot of space for the money. Alternatively, consider a trawler or even a sailboat (you don't have to sail a sailboat).
- Make sure the boat is set up for salt water. A lot of house boats are designed for fresh water. I/O units are not good with salt water. Either want shaft drives or outboards that come completely out of the water. Look at the materials (inside and out) and check if it's really stainless steel or similar to stand up to salt water environment.
- Fishing trips are going to be fair weather if going outside sheltered waters.
- Running from hurricanes becomes problematic with shoreside jobs and insurance during hurricane season gets expensive.

I don't know the going marina rates but I do know that in the winter they are expensive. How much you might save and the availability with an annual contract is an unknown. Best option would be to give the marinas a call. It may be that they have a 2-3yr waiting list for permanent slips. Not sure.

Honestly, I would get jobs lined up ahead of time and no wishy washy offers. Get the pay & hours detailed. You may find it tough to make a living. The keys are not a cheap place to live.

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by kendaukcat

Also, I like the idea of being mobile in the event of a hurricane. I also would really love to take her out fishing during my time off.

Let's be clear about something. In the event of an impending hurricane, you're not going to head out in your Gibson houseboat to get out of the storm's path or find a hurricane hole. You're going to have her hauled, or spider-web secure her in her slip, and get out. A car will be the right form of mobility in that circumstance.

And you're probably going to want a car anyway, realistically, particularly given that you need to work but don't yet know where you're employment will be.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by kendaukcat

Thank you for the input! There are a couple of reasons we want to live aboard:

It is more financially viable. Renting an apartment in the Key West Area is going to run about $2-3K a month. Living aboard should cost half that.

Also, I like the idea of being mobile in the event of a hurricane. I also would really love to take her out fishing during my time off.

My wife is completely on board with the idea. I know, I am pretty shocked too

So at what point do you try and leave Key West with a hurricane on the way.

Many hurricanes head in the direction of Key West only to turn when they near land.

For you to have time to get away, you'd need to leave early. Then the question will be, which way to go? If it's a year with lots of hurricanes, you could be coming and going a lot.

That's the trouble with hurricanes, they are unpredictable

Why not pick another place with a navy base. There are limited options in Key West.

[MV Wanderlust]

Originally Posted by john61ct

I'd make the geographic move, line up work etc while living inexpensively on land, then start shopping for the boat and gently make the transition to liveaboard.

To me, too many moving parts, everything changing all at once, multiple people under varying levels of stress, just sounds like making the whole process more "challenging" than it needs to be.

That. What he said. A whole lot of moving parts in your plan. Not that it can't work... but you're setting yourselves up for a bunch of stress all at the same time.

[GrowleyMonster]

A houseboat is nice, for comfort at a dock or in a calm protected mooring. Lots of space. It is literally a house, with a hopefully more or less leakproof bottom, and an engine. Not roughing it at all, never feel like you are camping out. However, there are mobility issues. A fishing trip? You would be better served with an auxillary craft such as a skiff or whaler type boat that you can quickly get to a good fishing area without burning a bunch of fuel, and cast or troll or whatever unimpeded by a huge superstructure and ponderous maneuvering. For running from a hurricane, first choice is a good roadworthy car with a big trunk, leaving the boat tied up with plenty of slack in the lines and good chafing gear. Second, a nice big sailboat with a dependable and reasonably powerful diesel. Next, a trawler with a well maintained engine that can run economically for long distances without pit stops. lots of thirds and fourths and fifths etc but at the tail end of the list I would put a houseboat. You are very limited in what sea conditions you can navigate across open water safely. So you are giving up a lot, for luxurious digs. Whether it is worth it to you, or not, is the real question.

I would favor a trawler or a 45'+ sailboat. You can still have adequate living space if you don't need a hot tub, badminton court, etc. You don't HAVE to take a boat to sea just because it is designed to do so. I have seen some beautiful blue water boats used as dock queens. But, the capability is there, when needed, as long as equipment is checked and maintained.

A slip will be easier to find for a medium sized trawler or sailboat, than a big lumbering houseboat. I can't tell you what it will cost in the KW area, but I would not want to be pricing one for a houseboat.

[a64pilot]

There are so many people up North that for some reason or another want to live in KW, that its just not viable, or more likely very tough to do, unless you have bags of money in the bank.
Why not pick another area in Fl or the Gulf coast with more, better paying jobs and half the cost to live?
Second, a house boat is best on a lake, you wouldn't believe how rough it gets in a protected anchorage in a storm, your house boat won't likely survive, but in a Marina, with insurance it stands a much better chance, and its insured if it doesn't.

[kendaukcat]

Originally Posted by markpierce

Don't believe a houseboat is suitable for transiting open waters.

Sorry if I was not clear...I am not looking to take the boat across the Atlantic. I could never foresee a scenario where I would be out of shore's site.

I would just want to take it fishing every once in a while.

[kendaukcat]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

As long as he doesn't go out to the open ocean he's not really in open waters.

A few thoughts:
- You will get people poo-pooing houseboats but as long as you keep them within their design parameters, they are a great option to provide a lot of space for the money. Alternatively, consider a trawler or even a sailboat (you don't have to sail a sailboat).
- Make sure the boat is set up for salt water. A lot of house boats are designed for fresh water. I/O units are not good with salt water. Either want shaft drives or outboards that come completely out of the water. Look at the materials (inside and out) and check if it's really stainless steel or similar to stand up to salt water environment.
- Fishing trips are going to be fair weather if going outside sheltered waters.
- Running from hurricanes becomes problematic with shoreside jobs and insurance during hurricane season gets expensive.

I don't know the going marina rates but I do know that in the winter they are expensive. How much you might save and the availability with an annual contract is an unknown. Best option would be to give the marinas a call. It may be that they have a 2-3yr waiting list for permanent slips. Not sure.

Honestly, I would get jobs lined up ahead of time and no wishy washy offers. Get the pay & hours detailed. You may find it tough to make a living. The keys are not a cheap place to live.

Now we are getting somewhere!!

Here is a boat I will be seeing in the area in the next couple of weeks:

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/boa/6025070876.html

This boat is considerably cheaper than where I eventually want to be, but is the only Gibson I can take a look at within a short driving distance. I am not yet in the market, but want to get a feel for the type of boat I am looking for. I did ask the owner if the cooling system was self contained. Here was his answer:

Most fresh water boats will be recirculating and do not have a radiator but that can always be added.

I am not sure if he understood me thoroughly (seems to be a common thread All valid point about stainless steel and the like. I have looked at trawlers...they are either too expensive, too cramped, need too much work, or all three. I am not interested in a sailboat.

I expect there to be challenges with finding employment...and honestly, if I were a server or bartender with a hurricane on the way, my boat\home is going to be more valuable to me than a job. I would envision taking off days in advance for calmer seas. AT 20 mph cruising speed I can be 600-700 miles away in 3 days.

Am I out of line here?

I have tried emailing a couple of marinas but have not heard back. I will probably end up calling per your suggestion.

Thank You so much for your advice...it is greatly appreciated!


Ken