Liveaboard Sneakaboard

[Hudson Force]

We have not kept a liveaboard permanent slip for the past dozen years, but back when we were working regular jobs, we lived at marinas that did not allow liveaboards for 21 years out of 30. We never snuck aboard! We just happened to live, as others did, at marinas that posted a policy that they did not accept liveaboards. Most marinas that I know of that have boaters living aboard will state that they do not allow liveaboards when questioned over the phone.

[ozskipper]

Originally Posted by jakenseattle

Has anyone ever done this? Snuck aboard your boat to live in a non-liveaboard marina?

I was thinking of doing it 2-3 nights a week once I get my sailboat.

What's the best way to do it without getting caught?

Dont turn the lights on or have really dark curtains. Better yet, enjoy a few beers with the marina manager who may be able to overlook your activities

[valhalla360]

It's pretty rare to come across a marina that won't let you spend the night occasionally. 2-3 nights a week is unlikely to trigger any liveaboard clauses unless you are a trouble maker and they are looking for an excuse to get rid of you.

[scoobert]

when i first got my yacht, i was working on the deck. typically i would stay for 4 nights straight, working sun up to sun down. never had anyone say a word to me...

[scotty c-m]

OK, short story. 40 years ago I was going to school to get my teaching credential. I owned a 23' Aurora sailboat. I ran out of money and had to eithor get rid of the boat, or move out of my apartment. So I moved onto the boat. The marina had a serious no live-abord policy. The harbormaster noticed me being at the boat so much and asked what was the deal. I explained, and he moved me over to a berth a bit out of the way and told me to keep a low profile. I graduated about 9 months later - still living on the boat - and still remember, with gratitude, how he helped me out.

[Hudson Force]

With the mention of the term "Harbormaster" in the post above I'm reminded that policies of living aboard are sometimes the domain of the private marina and sometimes under the authority that lies beyond the individual marina. The term "Harbormaster" is pretty much unhead of in the southeastern US. Individual private marinas determine their own liveaboard policy without any unified government authority. There are specific regulations in some areas. For example, liveaboard boats in Broward County (Fort Lauderdale) are required to have pump out hoses attached to the vessels while at the dock.

[SURV69]

What exactly is "liveaboard"?

Let's say a person pays $2000 for summer dockage and NEVER gets to the boat, except when he has a 2-week vacation.

So he goes to the boat for two weeks ... so what?

You're definately not allowed to "live-in", in a state campground, but you're certainly allowed to "live", in your tent(or camper), for two weeks, then move to another site(often only a site away) ... and you're not considered "living-in", in the campground ... even though you actually are.

SO ... what is "liveaboard"?

No doubt "liveaboard" means many different things to many different people.

Something like the judge who said, "I'll know pornography when I see it".

Maybe this is why so many marinas don't seem to really care if some boaters "liveaboard", even though they don't allow it ... until the situation gets out of hand.

[Tayana42]

Read your marina contract. It probable defines " live aboard" for your marina.

[Teknav]

Look at it in a different perspective... You go and rent a storage space for whatever you do not want in your house. The storage agreement states that what you're going to store "must be dead/non-flammable/non-hazardous/non-breathing animals". You decide to move in and live in your storage space, using the facility's rest room; you can't do that legally. Liability insurance coverage of the storage facility does NOT cover anything breathing. Do you now see what I am getting at?

It is the same thing for a non-live-aboard, trying to live-aboard without the knowledge of management, in addition to breaching the agreement signed by the boater.

Mauritz
The devil's in the details.

[Stu Jackson]

2-3 nights a week no issue, read your contract.

In N. California, the BCDC controls the number of legal liveaboard slips. Because they are so limited (~10%) the people who ARE legal are very "protective" of their privileges, and will report sneakaboards IMMEDIATELY. They don't want anyone else ruining it for them.

Other places may be different than N. California (OK, jokes to follow...).

[WebWench]

One of the three marinas we have been at did not allow liveaboards....but I know there were a few there. They kept a low profile so unless you were there a lot you would never have known.
We often stayed three to five days on board and there was no rule against that. Look at your marina slip contract often it spells out the rules.
The two marinas that allowed live a boards had an up charge for being there full time... 100 to 175 per month more and a metered electric slip. Some of the liveaboards were great....kept an eye on the other boats and kept their own boats tidy. Loved the dock gardens that were well maintained.

Of course there were just a few that should have rented a storage unit and probably washed their boats down now and Again. Gas cans left on the dock, hoses, tarps, jerry cans, folding chairs etc. on the deck of he boat made their status painfully obvious. Mold growing on all that stuff made you wonder if they really needed it.

[jakenseattle]

I just found this.

Liveaboard Status: Sneakaboard

Looking for creative and legal ways to avoid high rent in Seattle, I came upon the idea of living aboard a sailboat. I toyed with the idea for a while, thinking I would need $3000 for a 25 foot or larger boat in bad condition. In a fit of rash decision making, I bought a boat on craigslist for $1350. It was small, a 22' Balboa sloop, designed for trailer sailing. I knew nothing about it, and did not get a survey. After that, I asked the dock manager about living aboard. He said no. Then I messaged many marinas about it, they too, replied with an emphatic no.



So I had a boat, but no place to keep it. I found a slip for $200 a month that did not allow liveaboards, and, in a fit of desperation, decided to just sneak aboard. From November until March, I avoided being noticed, blacked out the ports on my boat, and basically acted very sneaky in my marina that included less than ten slips. I got away with it surprisingly well, until about mid-February, when the liveaboard in the slip next to me asked if I had been living on my boat...




Of course I denied this...



and started searching for a new slip!

[Cheechako]

I think my marina allows a week or two a month. Staying overnite on your boat is not living aboard. I wouldnt hesitate to do it unless you're in one of those really anal marinas.....

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by jakenseattle

Has anyone ever done this? Snuck aboard your boat to live in a non-liveaboard marina?

I was thinking of doing it 2-3 nights a week once I get my sailboat.

What's the best way to do it without getting caught?

Begone, oh, thou troll!

[Stellablew]

It is a right of passage for any boat owner who gets divorced to go live on their boat,I did , and know many others who have also. Are you married ? Tell the dm you are serparated/divorced and you will gain a lot of sympathy.