WOW!!!! REALLY??? Yes, I understand that many live on boats and do so very happly. Anyway, I am happy to share my thoughts and experiences which do NOT include living on a boat.
I started sailing on a 30'
Hunter with Wifey and 2 kids way back in 1979. The boat was purchased new in the 30K range back then, and that was a huge mistake. We used that boat for about 25 years, most without kids. That boat was just too darn small so finally back aboiut 6 years ago we made the transition to
power. We purchased a used 40' Silverton Aftcabin that I poured big bucks into for our comfort. The boat is completely enclosed with canvas/glass, hugh
windlass &
anchor, 7.5KW
generator, 100 gal of fresh
water.....and I am midway thorugh designing & building my own
water maker that wil provide us with 35-40 gal/hour. It also has A/C and heat via the heat
pump.
NO WAY IN #$%^& WOULD I WANT TO LIVE FULL TIME ON MY BOAT. Even at 40' with all the things I have added including a davit crane to
lift my equiped
dinghy into and out of the water. IT IS TOO SMALL.
How many square feet of living space do you currently enjoy? The outside dimensions of my boat are 40 with a beam of 14 so using those numbers I have 560 square feet of living space...... but we don't! Space is taken up for
deck area, the boat is pointy so another huge error in calculating living space. We maybe have 400 square feet. Think about it. Closet space,
food storage space,
refrigerator and we do have an 8CU foot upright but I dout you will on a sailboat unless your into something in the 40+ range.
Do you like living in the middle of nowhere, on an
anchor? How do you plan to travel when on land? Where do you plan to go with the boat? Around here in
New England we suffer from very cold winters. OH--- are you ready to go without electricity because there ain't none on anchor unless of course your want to pay $5/gal for
fuel to run a
generator. Do not overlook
laundry either.
Yes there are
safety issues but I think most people can adapt to learning how to address
safety but how about learning to haul water in gerry cans to a boat at anchor with ziltch for
electric power. Your original post gives me a solid impression that you are a very wise person.
My advise is to go veeeerrry slooooowly. Rent a boat for a few weeks AFTER taking safety courses and sailing courses. Just my thoughts----
Foggy