Newbie Question: Definition of Liveaboard?

[SignaltoSail]

Hello all and thank you, from the start, for such great information.

Looking at dipping our toes in the water next year after certifications and some experiences and getting my ducks in a row. Not yet retired but hit that stage where we're asking ourselves, "why wait?"

We both work remote and are thinking about spending three or so weeks at multiple times on our future boat. As I'm looking at marinas and liveaboard allowances at some of them, I'm asking myself what constitutes a liveaboard?

Would us spending three or four weeks at a time, about four or five times a year, be considered liveaboard to a marina? Are there certain durations of overnight stays where they start getting itchy?

Any insight would be appreciated!

Thank you all!

Tim

[fxykty]

On the east coast of Australia in marinas the upper limit for transient or temporary live aboard seems to be 3 months. I’m not sure about minimum, but if it’s your permanent berth then I expect anything more than 1 night would be considered live aboard. If you are visiting a marina and will be moving on, it depends, but usually less than a week is OK.

At the same marina serial stays on board may or may not be tolerated. Often limits are due to local council/government regulations rather than the marina.

If you have decent mobile phone coverage, or Starlink RV, why wouldn’t you go for a cruise instead of just sitting in the marina?

[SignaltoSail]

Thank you! This is good insight and appreciate the response. Absolutely correct on the anchoring out concept and hoping to do so — great point. Just thinking about situations we may not be able to due to the ball and chain (aka jobs) at times.

Tim

[Bobby Lex]

Originally Posted by SignaltoSail

Would us spending three or four weeks at a time, about four or five times a year, be considered liveaboard to a marina? Are there certain durations of overnight stays where they start getting itchy?

Any insight would be appreciated!

Thank you all!

Tim

There is no universal definition of the term "liveaboard". Marinas can and do define the term differently based on their own policies.

The safe bet is to contact any marina that you might be interested in, and ask them for their definition (in writing, so as to avoid any misunderstandings). And keep in mind that those definitions and policies often change without notice. So don't count on whatever a marina told you in July, to still be their policy in October.

Bob

[Pegu Club]

A “live aboard” is a person or persons who use a boat as a dwelling and don’t go anywhere on said boat.

A “cruiser” is a person or persons who live on a boat and travel to different locations/ countries with regularity.

Fair winds,

[SignaltoSail]

Bobby...thank you and sound advice.

[John_Trusty]

Don't know where you are, but as noted there are as many definitions as there are marinas. Some areas or regions view liveaboards differently depending on their experiences. In some marinas they are welcome as they 'maintain the neighborhood' spotting small problems and keeping crime down. Even welcoming marinas will have a surcharge because (1) they can and (2) liveaboards do cost more in electricity, water, trash, etc. than their weekend warrior dock-mates. In some marinas in Florida, on the other hand, they prohibit or discourage liveaboards as they are concerned about becoming floating trailer parks where retiring boaters never move or maintain their boats, bringing the appeal of the marina down for everyone.

[Gudgeon]

As all have noted it can vary from marina to Marina. My yacht club allows up to 3 nights a month. You can saty aboard for up to 120 days a year with a written request and approved by the port captain and board of directors. You still have to meet all of the other rules for getting the boat underway and keeping it ship shape. You also have a parking issue if you have a car as there is no over night parking in the clubs lot. The state harbor next door only allows a limited number of full time live aboards and a permit is very hard to get.

[Adelie]

Welcome.

I would suggest updating your profile with your general location and your boat make & model or “Looking” in the "Boat" category. This info shows up under your UserName in every post in the web view. Many questions are boat and/or location dependent and having these tidbits under your UserName saves answering those questions repeatedly. If you need help setting up your profile then click on this link: https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post3308797

I would happily help more if the link above is not enough.

[PippaB]

Here’s the definition from a marina agreement we used to be at, can’t find the current one, think it is even more restrictive (i.e. fewer than 12 days/month):

A Person shall be deemed to be living aboard a vessel if he or she occupies the vessel and engages in those usual and customary activities associated with a person’s residence abode, such as sleeping, preparation of meals, etc., for any period in excess of twelve (12) days in a calendar month. The Manager may require valid proof of residency if there is a suspicion of illegal live aboard activity. The Manager may cancel any permit issued by the Marine Bureau if any person lives aboard a vessel without obtaining a permit therefore. Such permits shall be subject to the following conditions and limitations:

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Pegu Club

A “live aboard” is a person or persons who use a boat as a dwelling and don’t go anywhere on said boat.



A “cruiser” is a person or persons who live on a boat and travel to different locations/ countries with regularity.



Fair winds,

Round here a liveaboard is a person who spends the vast majority of the year aboard. , it matters not how far they sail or don’t.

[captlloyd]

I recommend you get the word “ liveaboard” out of your vocabulary. A number of marinas have some liveabords but if they have people inquiring about staying indefinitely, they might just say no. Reason, they don’t know you, they might not have seen your boat, they don’t even know if they like you. The idea is to rent on a week to week basis or better yet month to month and let them get to know you. If you keep a tidy boat and are not a diva, they might let you stay indefinitely.

[sail sfbay]

Welcome to the forum!!

we're asking ourselves, "why wait?" Do not wait, you never know what the furure brings.

I'm asking myself what constitutes a liveaboard? When you declare to a marina that you are a liveaboard.

Would us spending three or four weeks at a time, about four or five times a year, be considered liveaboard to a marina? Depends on the marina...........READ THEIR RULES. Some marinas specify limitations on how many overnight stays per week or per month.

Are there certain durations of overnight stays where they start getting itchy? Depends on the marina...........READ THEIR RULES.

[layz2]

Don't forget your insurance also likely has a definition of liveaboard - mine stated it as "...will be considered liveaboard if you spend more time on the boat than off of it."

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by SignaltoSail

Hello all and thank you, from the start, for such great information.

Looking at dipping our toes in the water next year after certifications and some experiences and getting my ducks in a row. Not yet retired but hit that stage where we're asking ourselves, "why wait?"

We both work remote and are thinking about spending three or so weeks at multiple times on our future boat. As I'm looking at marinas and liveaboard allowances at some of them, I'm asking myself what constitutes a liveaboard?

Would us spending three or four weeks at a time, about four or five times a year, be considered liveaboard to a marina? Are there certain durations of overnight stays where they start getting itchy?

Any insight would be appreciated!

Thank you all!

Tim

Residing more than 5 consecutive days on the vessel is the definition in the marina I lived in.
Also, most marinas have a surcharge for livaboards.
Boatyarddog