LIVE ABOARD . . . on the hook & on the cheap

[SURV69]

I live a very frugal life outside of my job(land surveyor).

I presently live in a 60' trailer . . . it's so cheap, it's unreal.

My brother lived over 20 years in a scampy trailer(16 feet or so), and my 60' trailer has unused rooms. One of his last wishes was to die at his trailer, sitting outside in his rocking chair . . . didn't happen. I think of life in very much the same way as my brother did.

My equipment will be paid off soon and I'm looking for a "change" in my life for my exit strategy(life-wise).

Little in family ties, although we do get along very well, we don't do a lot of family activities.

My dream is to liveaboard(I'm looking at a 31' C&C Corvette), but not in a marina.

I want to be on the move, sleep on the "hook", and continue my frugal life(or become more frugal). AND ENJOY LIFE A LITTLE MORE.

I can find info on living aboard, but almost always involving an almost permanent marina setting.

I can find info on living onboard on the move, but almost always involving "fine dining", transient dockage and such.

I want to go "on the cheap", cause "on the cheap", means less stress about all those costs are piling up.

I plan on offering my services(and equipment), to surveyors along my travels.

Is there a different term for onboard living "on the hook", as opposed to the "normal", form of living board?

[Alex]

Surv69, you can find a lot of information here
http://www.sleepingwithoars.com/

[Divecoz]

Surv69, you can find a lot of information here
http://www.sleepingwithoars.com/

I didn't read every word on this guys site but I did spend about an hour there. IMHO and for many educated reasons my opinion is . . . .
This guy is clueless!
What can he do outside what he is for whatever reason paid to do for a living???NOT MUCH
Common sense NOT MUCH
Overall Mechanical Ability NOT MUCH
"I know of a Reliable Mexican Marina" Worldly Knowledge NOT MUCH
What is this guy doing that I read so far.
He's living on a boat that doesnt move much out of its slip.
Its in a Nice Marina and with the little bit that he is doing to his boat its so costly ( Marina Price) that its costing him,. . . or so he feels just as much as it would be to own a home. Though he admits he has never owned a home. I will continue over time to read his site and if my opinion of him changes, I will apologize and delete this post. BUT NOT YET!I just read some more of this gys site . This time about his engine replacement. This guy is his own worst enemy!!!!Alex69:
This may come across as nasty but its not meant to be that way at all, its just very direct.
I have lived and worked in Mexico ( both legally and illegally)and have been involved in a lot of aspects of. . . .hum. . . life , so don't fly off and get mad just have me explain it better. I talk a whole lot better than I write. To Start
I doubt you'll find much need for your services abroad. Just like here you need to be licenced, to plot land. What foreign languages do you speak? Why would you think you will find land surveyor's hanging around the dock slip or your mooring ball?
What else do you know how to do for others that you might be able to garner gifts for? Are you mechanically inclined? Do you know your way around marine electrical? or Plumbing? Or Electronics? Can you, in other words make chicken salad out of chicken shi-.....?
That is what will separate you from 10,000 others out there living on the hook so to speak as well. Well that, and that some of them appear to have inexhaustible funds. I have meet a few of those as well. Some of the last group it was dangerous to stand next to.
Something that I also dont see much in print about is the higher % of:
Villains Thieves Scoundrels and Con-Artist!!! That you find in the Tropics.

[Moe]

I can find info on living aboard, but almost always involving an almost permanent marina setting.

For the same reasons full-time RVing almost always involves a campground or trailer park. Electricity, water, sewage, and garbage collection.

With a boat, add either someplace nearby to park a vehicle to go shopping for provisions, or at least availability of a taxi or shuttle service.

[James V]

Get you a small cabin in the woods with solar power and an LPG frig. You should see what they are doing in the Bahamas and what they charge for those houses.

Much cheeper than living on the water.

[Québec 1]

Surv69, you can find a lot of information here
http://www.sleepingwithoars.com/

Wow that is a good link and the links page on it is the best I have seen yet
Thanks

[SURV69]

I'm educated, as well as mechanically, electrically and somewhat business inclined.

I intend to travel stateside and offer myself and my equipment only to licensed surveyors(I have GOOD equipment) who can make use of my equipment as well as my experience and expertise.

Trips outside of the USA would be just that . . . trips. In my mind there's no better place to visit than the good ole USA.

I have gone the route(mutiple crews, secretaries(multiple), and even salesmen), in my business. I feel happiest with less(although enough to live with).

I have owned my own house . . . or should I say, I had a house that used to own me?

WHEN I say I'm frugal, I mean frugal at EVERYTHING. I also used to be a naturalist(bark-eater & tree-hugger) for years.

Right now I'm 4 years from retirement with OPERS, SS and a small military retirement. PUT this together with a capability of earning money, VA benefits, and a very frugal lifestyle AND it spells L-E-S-S S-T-R-E-S-S for my exit years.

[Divecoz]

Then away you go it looks like you'll be well covered, financially.
You can fix most of what you have , you have passive income enough to live the style you desire. Sitting on the hook in US waters for more than a few days here and there aka A Vacationer. Lets see what the crowd has to say.

[richandlori]

Living aboard on a boat I think can be one of the cheapest and best ways to retire. You don't need a mega yacht, in my eyes just a 30-something with enclosed shower and head.

Take Port San Luis California for example (Google earth it) A small apartment in the area would easily run $1500/month in rent plus all the extra's associated with land living.

Now...buy a mooring in the Bay for $2500 (no waiting list) and live on your boat for $1/day. My mooring "fee" is $360/year for a mooring good for a 45ft boat. Cell Phone and wireless internet card $100/month. Everything else is icing on the cake folks!

We are currently planning to move to Bear Valley Springs, Ca (Google it also) in the mountains when we come back from our Cruise...but the more I think about it...the better it sounds to buy a larger boat...something typically refered to as a "Harbor Queen" and live on the hook in Port San Luis with the two kids and wife. They can attand high school and collage from the boat and my wife and I could get back into the work force in an area that people go for a vacation! I'm in the process of getting my Captains License so I could get some type of job right in the harbor!

Sure there will be a few weeks/year with bad weather...but for the pure money savings aspect of that lifestyle...I could get a motel for the rough water times.

Seriously...think about it. All the land based costs are GONE, just saving those could add to your retirement savings. The more I think about it...the more I see living aboard in my future....but I have a feeling my wife would want it to be on a Three Cabin boat with a washer/Dryer.....hmmmmmm

[bastonjock]

in the Uk a lot of people are retiring onto narrow boats,these can be as long as 90ft,they have all the modern conveniences,most have fuel burning stoves.

What a lot of them do is buy a mooring,build a deck on it , some even have a small garden,the rentals cost about 2000.00 gbpounds a year but on the river you do not pay,rates,poll tax etc

you could spend years travelling our rivers and canals all you would need is a couple of river bank spikes

as for living on the cheap,as long as you are prepaired to do your own butchering its a no brainer,theres a local "free ads" and in it people give away unwanted ducks,chickens,pigs and sheep ,so all you need to do is buy some veg and as for wild game,the countryside is full of deer and rabits.

If i need money,ill go down to the car auctions and buy some damaged cars,fix them up and sell them,the government here gives you unemployment benefit if you want free money,id probably get 250.00 gb pounds a week for the wife and i

earning 20k gbpounds a year would be no problem

i have 2 kids that are going to Univercity,so for the next 8 years its work

[richandlori]

It's great to hear from our friends in the UK!

[Catigale]

I think a good venue for Great Lakes Sailors is the combination of a 30(single sailor) to 40 (Admiral+Captain) footer on the great Lakes from April through November, then back to the RV for travel or stayput or whatever.

Great Lakes cruising has an endless supply of fresh water and Ontario has an endless supply of sheltered bays for free moorings

Verizon has great internet coverage and YC and marinas abound for when you want to land in semi-civilisation

Best part is if you need to be at the wedding in LA, you can get to a regional airport in <3 hours and be on your way.

No bandits or bad guys - and the coolest country in the world, Canada, is a few hours away under sail too.

[beene]

I am blushing with pride.

We may be the coolest country, but we also have the coolest neighbors.

G

[Divecoz]

AS It Has been mentioned I thought . . .
isn't it pretty darn cool on the great lakes even in the summer?
a friend of mine who lives in Two Harbors MN and 100 yards off the water hardly ever rides his motor cycle because he says its just so cool near the water till you cross over the mountain.
AND
I thought it was mentioned too that they are really strict with travelers on the water coming into Canada. Right now they have gotten really strict with Americans crossing the border car....Among other things , had a DUI in the last 10 years No Entrance to Canada for you!

[Québec 1]

I have done the north shore of lake SUPERIOR at least 7 or 8 times and all I can say is that it rivals the Rocky Mountains.. This summer I was at Neys Provincial Park Shared 12 kilometers of sandy bay beach...with 6 other people (first week in July). Sailling is interesting cause it went from no wind to 30mph winds in 10 minutes on a sunny day. That night a tornado touched down in Ignace Ontario and ripped the roof of the motel.