Living aboard a sailboat is such a cool way to live. It's a unique experience that many people feel immediately drawn to. The short answer is yes, you can absolutely live on a sailboat year round, and many people do so all over the world.
The Pros
Pros & Cons of Living on Your Boat
Living on a boat isn't like living in a house, where you flip a switch and have an endless supply of electricity, running water and gas for your stove. All the resources on a boat are finite, which means you have to keep close track of your supply.
Whether you choose to live on a boat in winter is entirely up to you! Solo-boaters, couples and families all live on boats year round and make it work. If the water beckons you year round, then give it a try! So, maybe boats and winter do go together …
Houseboats, Trawlers and Catamarans make the best liveaboards, although they each vary greatly in their design. Motor Yachts and Express Cruisers are also good options. Deciding between them all depends on the overall purpose of the boat.
Most marinas require an application for you to move aboard permanently. In some areas, liveaboards aren't permitted or there are long waiting lists. Liveaboard slip fees are usually higher and your insurance rates may increase if your boat becomes your primary residence.
In an average month, it costs them around $2,200 to live on the boat. By comparison, they would spend $2,500 to $3,000 to rent an apartment in a similar area of San Diego, and still be paying the boat's mortgage on top of that. Keeping the boat at a marina is the largest expense besides the mortgage.
You will get to enjoy the benefits of living on the water. While most people enjoy boating, tubing and fishing during their vacations, these can be your usual afternoon or evening activities. There is no yard maintenance when you live on a houseboat. You won't have to shovel the snow or mow the lawn ever again!
LIMITED SPACE
If you find that your boat has just enough space for you, the situation will be greatly worsened if you have a shipmate living aboard with you. Stowage is always a problem aboard a liveaboard boat. You need room for clothes, food, books, music equipment, appliances, etc. You will have a tiny bathroom.
Here are some of the very best places to live on a sailboat in the United States:
You can live on a boat on a canal or river mooring, and thousands of 'liveaboards' do. However you must keep moving or be on a 'residential mooring'. If you want to stay in one area but don't have an official residential mooring it can be a very insecure way of life. You can be told to move regularly.
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