Single gal looking to live aboard...

[Malibu]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking to rent in a live aboard situation in Southern CA around Marina Del Rey, Ventura, or Santa Barbara.

My goal is to immerse myself within boating community to learn as much as possible about all aspects of sailing before buying my own yacht. I am open to advice and suggestions. 😃

[sailorchic34]

Hum...Generally you can't rent to liveaboard. I have know a few people that did rent for a bit, but most harbormasters don't like liveaboard renters. Generally its going to take owning a boat to liveaboard.

I've also heard the wait lists are years long in most marinas your looking at too. That's for a non-liveaboard boat btw. Not saying it can't be done, because odds are somebody down that way will have a boat that they would be happy to rent out...

Good Luck!!!

[Malibu]

Thanks, I have heard that from a few different people. I know you are probably right.

I'm hoping to defy the odds... as usual (my life story, lol). I've been lucky in the sense that when I go after something with 100% effort and intention, I am generally able to manifest it. Embarking upon a live aboard situation feels right on a deep core level so I'm putting 300% energy into creating it.

Thanks for wishing me luck... I need it.
Have a great day! :-))

[sailorchic34]

Good karma, energy and determination is all it takes. You have the right mindset.

Good hunting!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Malibu

Hello everyone,

I'm looking to rent in a live aboard situation in Southern CA around Marina Del Rey, Ventura, or Santa Barbara.

My goal is to immerse myself within boating community to learn as much as possible about all aspects of sailing before buying my own yacht. I am open to advice and suggestions. ��

I have no idea of the west coast geography .........but if San Rafael Harbor (wherever that is!) is of any use to you might be worth getting in contact with Nemo55.

He has a rather unusual situation, boat in USA and him in Canada - with Visa issues . He has started a few threads on the subject - worth a search.

His current plans do not seem to involve renting the boat out, but might be half a chance that a deal could be struck. No idea whether the boat is actually habitable (also I don't think it is actually sailable at the moment)....but depending on level of comfort required that could be addressable, especially if reflected in the rent (might even be the case of dock fees only if you can lend a hand with some stuff to help get her up and running - even if only to manage (on site) other folks doing work).

Anyway, I will stop wildly speculating.........

[S/V_Surya]

San Rafael is about 8 hr drive from where she is. Bay Area as opposed to LA.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by S/V_Surya

San Rafael is about 8 hr drive from where she is. Bay Area as opposed to LA.

An easy commute then

Boat might be re-locatable though........who knows . Don't ask - don't get .

[randude]

The fact that you mention you are a single gal with photos should help.

[Rocketman]

My sugestion is to find out which marina's allow liveaboards, then go there, talk to as may people there as you can, tell them what you want to do, it could be a win win for you and the boat owner who doen't use his boat or mantain it. Another way possibly to achive what you are wanting to do, is do some sort of rent to own situation, so the rules of renting a liveaboard in a marina that doesn't allow that could be satisfied.

[DeepFrz]

Or better yet, offer to "Boat Sit".

[Freedom45]

How about adopting a single guy who already has a boat??....let's see, who do I know....

[Rocketman]

It looks like Freedom 45 may have a solution for you, you should PM him and make each others acqantance.

[Sandero]

It's not an impossible thing to find. I had someone stay on Shiva when I went to live in Europe for about 6 or 8 months back in the 90s. I had the boat in water winter storage and found a reliable person who would care for the boat while I was away in exchange I allowed him to stay aboard...boat sitter.

So you might find this. The other approach would be to buy a boat... and live on it and begin a trial by fire so to speak even if all you do is sell the boat. You would need to find a good buy... get a mortgage and have some cash... and likely work on it as a fixer upper.. but the mortgage is like rent... added to the slip rent... and this is what many boat owners have to deal with anyway.. slip or mooring and mortgage.

I'd prefer a reliable person living aboard in winter... then leaving it largely unattended.

jef

[Celestialsailor]

Sailorchic is quite correct with the situation in S. Ca. Here in Northern Ca., the slips are 1/2 the price and a few harbors with no waiting for even liveaboards. Welcome to the forum and best of luck.

[GaryMayo]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

Or better yet, offer to "Boat Sit".

Brilliant!

Run a free ad on Craigs List in your area, to boat sit. Have one fee to spend 2 hours a day on a boat, and have a higher fee to over-night. You could end up sitting several boats and turn it into a profitable business.

In the two hours a week, you scrub, clean, straighten, dust, and see to the proper mooring of the sailboat, as well as make sure she is well locked up.

I see this as a great idea. If there were a major boating community here, I would do it myself.

Lots of people who own sailboats with more money than time.