What's the smallest boat you could live on?
Discussion
Whenever I see boat interiors (I mean what I'd call "sea going" boats not narrow boats or stuff you may see walking down a canal path) it seems there's a lot of living space packed into what looks like a small area.
It's a perception thing because you can't see what's under the water.
Does anyone actually live more or less permanently on a boat and if so what size and roughly what are the costs?
How cheaply could you do it?
I'm not actually thinking of doing this but it fascinates me. Sad I know
It's a perception thing because you can't see what's under the water.
Does anyone actually live more or less permanently on a boat and if so what size and roughly what are the costs?
How cheaply could you do it?
I'm not actually thinking of doing this but it fascinates me. Sad I know
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hstewie said:
hstewie said: Whenever I see boat interiors (I mean what I'd call "sea going" boats not narrow boats or stuff you may see walking down a canal path) it seems there's a lot of living space packed into what looks like a small area.
It's a perception thing because you can't see what's under the water.
Does anyone actually live more or less permanently on a boat and if so what size and roughly what are the costs?
How cheaply could you do it?
I'm not actually thinking of doing this but it fascinates me. Sad I know
It's a question that has been asked many times and not just on here!It's a perception thing because you can't see what's under the water.
Does anyone actually live more or less permanently on a boat and if so what size and roughly what are the costs?
How cheaply could you do it?
I'm not actually thinking of doing this but it fascinates me. Sad I know
First of all one needs to consider whether or not you are still working and need access to the shore on a regular basis and whether your boat is moored (row ashore) convenient to your place of work or access to road/rail networks. Are you living alone or with family that have other considerations, ie. schooling or other requirements such as health?
As for the vessel, it need not be vast or expensive, and I know many liveaboards who live quite comfortably on a 40 foot boat which was bought on a shoestring, but it does require a certain mindset as, essentially, you are living in a confined space and that can have issues if more than one person, plus the constant maintenance to keep your habitat civilised.
Regarding costs, again all depends on level of sophistication and comfort and where you need/want to moor. Can be done very cheaply and if you retain ownership of bricks and mortar property, which is rented out to provide an income, it may be possible to live the lifestyle at no or little cost.
Fancy it Stewie?
Edited by pequod on Friday 3rd July 19:22
I've sailed around and spent a few nights anchored up deserted creeks and rivers on the Essex and Suffolk coasts on my own miles from anywhere on a 20 foot boat through winter. I woke up one morning to a couple of inches of snow on the cabin roof and was very happy I'd slept cuddled up to a bottle of water to make a cup of tea because the rest of my stash of drinking water had frozen solid.
Keeping dry, warm and reasonably clean becomes an concern. So does not setting fire to the boat with all the candles and paraffin lamps you've got lit trying to keep warm down below as well as trying not to go out of your mind with boredom because its dark at 4pm and keeping yourself focused through the long evening on fighting off the temptation to drink the booze locker dry on the first night.
Keeping dry, warm and reasonably clean becomes an concern. So does not setting fire to the boat with all the candles and paraffin lamps you've got lit trying to keep warm down below as well as trying not to go out of your mind with boredom because its dark at 4pm and keeping yourself focused through the long evening on fighting off the temptation to drink the booze locker dry on the first night.
My grandad lived on yachts for almost 20 years ranging from 26ft to 40ft with no issues. Deteriorating Mobility forced him on land eventually when he was in his 70's. Cost is a how long is a piece of string question, Everyone will have their own different costs.
He was a lorry driver tramping all around Europe and the middle east though, so getting back to his boat probably felt like returning to a mansion
He was a lorry driver tramping all around Europe and the middle east though, so getting back to his boat probably felt like returning to a mansion
Jaguar steve said:
I've sailed around and spent a few nights anchored up deserted creeks and rivers on the Essex and Suffolk coasts on my own miles from anywhere on a 20 foot boat through winter. I woke up one morning to a couple of inches of snow on the cabin roof and was very happy I'd slept cuddled up to a bottle of water to make a cup of tea because the rest of my stash of drinking water had frozen solid.
Keeping dry, warm and reasonably clean becomes an concern. So does not setting fire to the boat with all the candles and paraffin lamps you've got lit trying to keep warm down below as well as trying not to go out of your mind with boredom because its dark at 4pm and keeping yourself focused through the long evening on fighting off the temptation to drink the booze locker dry on the first night.
Sounds idyllic Keeping dry, warm and reasonably clean becomes an concern. So does not setting fire to the boat with all the candles and paraffin lamps you've got lit trying to keep warm down below as well as trying not to go out of your mind with boredom because its dark at 4pm and keeping yourself focused through the long evening on fighting off the temptation to drink the booze locker dry on the first night.
h0b0 said:
While this may not be in the spirit of the OP’s question, I have found myself addicted to YouTube channels of people navigating the globe in catamarans. So much so, I’m seriously considering it in a few years.
Fire away if it brings out some info.Jaguar steve's experience doesn't sound like quite what I was driving at.
I mean a "nice" boat as you see some that literally look like floating hotel rooms in terms of fit and finish albeit perhaps Premier Inn not Ritz
That's the sort of thing I'm curious about.
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: Jaguar steve's experience doesn't sound like quite what I was driving at.
I mean a "nice" boat as you see some that literally look like floating hotel rooms in terms of fit and finish albeit perhaps Premier Inn not Ritz
That's the sort of thing I'm curious about.
It depends entirely on the individual. There are people on my waterway who seem able to live on a 18' sailboat with a stove flue sticking out and a bicycle on the roof. From there it goes to narrowboat, then wide-beam, then Dutch barge.I mean a "nice" boat as you see some that literally look like floating hotel rooms in terms of fit and finish albeit perhaps Premier Inn not Ritz
That's the sort of thing I'm curious about.
By contrast if you think you need a motor cruiser 80' by 20' with three decks, then that's what you need.
This is all still a fantasy at this stage. But, Lady Rachel is for sale. It’s a Lagoon 620 that has been used for charters.
example catamaran
Like you, I’m surprised at how much space there is and how every but is used. The catamarans offer much wider layouts so it is much more generous than the equivalent mono hulls. Also, they don’t rock constantly so my wife is less likely to get sea sick. I think sailors will tell you they are st to sail though. The equivalent of a motor home compared to a Porsche. But, I want some comfort.
example catamaran
Like you, I’m surprised at how much space there is and how every but is used. The catamarans offer much wider layouts so it is much more generous than the equivalent mono hulls. Also, they don’t rock constantly so my wife is less likely to get sea sick. I think sailors will tell you they are s
t to sail though. The equivalent of a motor home compared to a Porsche. But, I want some comfort. h0b0 said:
While this may not be in the spirit of the OP’s question, I have found myself addicted to YouTube channels of people navigating the globe in catamarans. So much so, I’m seriously considering it in a few years.
Same here - we plan to do this in a few years time (4) and are trying to organise our lives now to make it work. For now it’s regular YT watching for inspiration while we pay down the mortgage, save for a boat and get the kids to an age where it makes sense to go. Plan for us would be a cat for space and comfort (2 adults and 2 kids) but it does mean upping the budget by a fair whack.
I think permanent living for 2 needs a decent size boat as there are many tales of people who give up the dream after a few months.
h0b0 said:
Like you, I’m surprised at how much space there is and how every but is used. The catamarans offer much wider layouts so it is much more generous than the equivalent mono hulls. Also, they don’t rock constantly so my wife is less likely to get sea sick. I think sailors will tell you they are st to sail though. The equivalent of a motor home compared to a Porsche. But, I want some comfort.
That's probably bigger than my house t to sail though. The equivalent of a motor home compared to a Porsche. But, I want some comfort. 
Good example of my point but that's at a slightly larger scale.
h0b0 said:
This is all still a fantasy at this stage. But, Lady Rachel is for sale. It’s a Lagoon 620 that has been used for charters.
example catamaran
Like you, I’m surprised at how much space there is and how every but is used. The catamarans offer much wider layouts so it is much more generous than the equivalent mono hulls. Also, they don’t rock constantly so my wife is less likely to get sea sick. I think sailors will tell you they are st to sail though. The equivalent of a motor home compared to a Porsche. But, I want some comfort.
that's interesting.example catamaran
Like you, I’m surprised at how much space there is and how every but is used. The catamarans offer much wider layouts so it is much more generous than the equivalent mono hulls. Also, they don’t rock constantly so my wife is less likely to get sea sick. I think sailors will tell you they are s
t to sail though. The equivalent of a motor home compared to a Porsche. But, I want some comfort. Is there such thing as a hybrid boat, ie single hull when moving that when parked can expand, like those coach motorhomes that wirr out in all directions?
Lagoon 620 eh? Over £1 mill to spend on a used catamaran which are, no doubt, very spacious but this will do me at a tenth of the price and would be very comfortable to sail the worlds' oceans or live aboard in any part of the world.
Horses for courses, as they say.
https://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1988/hans-chris...
Horses for courses, as they say.
https://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1988/hans-chris...
bhstewie said:
hstewie said:h0b0 said:
While this may not be in the spirit of the OP’s question, I have found myself addicted to YouTube channels of people navigating the globe in catamarans. So much so, I’m seriously considering it in a few years.
Fire away if it brings out some info.Jaguar steve's experience doesn't sound like quite what I was driving at.
I mean a "nice" boat as you see some that literally look like floating hotel rooms in terms of fit and finish albeit perhaps Premier Inn not Ritz
That's the sort of thing I'm curious about.
Ah... Nobody said nice boat - they just said boat.
Jaguar steve said:
Ah... Nobody said nice boat - they just said boat.
Exactly! The question was 'What's the smallest boat ...' and I think you answered that perfectly. The brief now has changed (don't you hate that?) and we are now considering Superyachts, so where this ends is anyone's guess!!
I'd still take my HC 48T over that Lagoon 620 anytime, particularly in a blow mid ocean!!
Teddy Lop said:
that's interesting.
Is there such thing as a hybrid boat, ie single hull when moving that when parked can expand, like those coach motorhomes that wirr out in all directions?
It usually goes the other way Is there such thing as a hybrid boat, ie single hull when moving that when parked can expand, like those coach motorhomes that wirr out in all directions?
https://dragonfly.dk/
Oh come on I wasn't expecting someone to say they lived on a rowing boat with a parafin lamp and a sleeping bag
That £100,000 example is the sort of thing I was getting at i.e. basically a small floating flat
I don't know enough about boats to know what the correct term is and that means you can look at some examples that look really cheap but not know if there's a massive sting in the tail.
That £100,000 example is the sort of thing I was getting at i.e. basically a small floating flat
I don't know enough about boats to know what the correct term is and that means you can look at some examples that look really cheap but not know if there's a massive sting in the tail.
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: Oh come on I wasn't expecting someone to say they lived on a rowing boat with a parafin lamp and a sleeping bag
That £100,000 example is the sort of thing I was getting at i.e. basically a small floating flat
I don't know enough about boats to know what the correct term is and that means you can look at some examples that look really cheap but not know if there's a massive sting in the tail.
As you say, cheap can mean a 'massive sting in the tail' so, above all other considerations, one should always contract a good yacht surveyor who knows your expectations and will give your dreamboat a thorough, and dispassionate, once over.That £100,000 example is the sort of thing I was getting at i.e. basically a small floating flat
I don't know enough about boats to know what the correct term is and that means you can look at some examples that look really cheap but not know if there's a massive sting in the tail.
Even the £1 mill yachts will have potential issues that may be very expensive to fix.
It's a minefield really, unless you have luck on your side, or deep pockets!
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