PascalG
09-23-2004, 06:21 PM
Tomorrow will make it exactly a year since bought my boat and moved aboard. Guess what? I absolutely don't regret it; in fact, I wish I had done this before.
Even after a year, every time I come home the minute I step on the dock in the evening I still gets this odd feeling that I'm on vacation. It's hard to explain but it's like a miracle: the city suddenly disappears, noise, traffic... it all fades away and all that's left of busy Miami is the skyline... great view at night! For a boater, walking down a dock looking at boats is not bad and so is enjoying a nice sunset or even a full moon and stars in the sky. In the morning leaving when it's still cool with that warm early morning light makes for a pleasant stroll down the pier. Obviously, living aboard in South Florida means I don't have to worry about snow, ice or cold rain while walking to the boat, maybe I woudln't feel that way up north.
The best thing about living aboard? being able to drop the lines, cords and hoses and be underway whenever I feel like it; the whole process takes me less than 5 minutes. There is no driving to the marina, having to bring some food, drinks or clothes... it's all there, always ready. Afternoon run across the bay to anchor and enjoy the sunset, weekend getaways, evening cruise around downtown... the boat has never stayed in its slip for more than a week.
I am lucky to live on Biscayne Bay, a large protected bay which extends from Miami all the way down to Key Largo, offering plenty of nice anchorages. Most of the bay is part of Biscayne National park and living aboard is probably the only way I can take my home and move it in the middle of a national park for a few days, enjoying shallow cristal clear water...
I really admire someone who can live on a 30' sailboat, but I cant. I need to be comfortable like air conditioning, not having to use to the marina's public bathrooms... Maybe I should have joined the Boy Scouts when I was a kid but I didn't and camping isn't for me... When I started looking for a live aboard boat, it didn't take me long to narrow the list down to I wanted and after only a couple of months searching, I was lucky to find a very nice 1970 Hatteras 53 MY. I chose an earlier model, not only because they are cheaper but mostly because they have non turbo engines. The venerable Detroits 8V71Ns are slower than the latter versions but cheaper to maintain and last longer between rebuilt. After years of cruising at 20 or 25kts, life in the slow lane isn't bad. So far in a year, it's been relatively surprise free except for soem A/C issues which I didn't expect since all the condensing units were almost new. Regular maintenance is no worst than epxectand frankly washing a 35 or 53 footer takes about just as long. Just like doing an oil change is more or less as time consuming regardless of boat size although needing 5 gallons - not quarts - of oil per engine was an eye opener the first time around... Running costs are very reasonable and running the boat at a 9 kts hull speed means fuel cost per mile are less than half than they were on my previous boat, a 37 express with twin gas guzzlers...
The 53 has a lot of space with 3 staterooms, 3 heads, large galley, dinette, salon, big covered aft deck, seating area on the bow and a large flybridge. In fact, it has about as much square footage as a small appartment... Space is limited on a boat so it's not as roomy as the condo I used to have, but who really needs a 250sq ft bathroom anyway! Both my daughter and son have their own stateroom, each with an extra bunk which comes in handy when they invite friends. Despite being over 30 years old, the previous owner had it repainted, installed a new generator and upgraded various systems making it very presentable. It has almost all the conveniences and comfort of a "real" home with air conditioning, home size galley appliances, washer/dryer, generator; the only thing missing is a dishwasher but I can live with that. Storage is adequate, and one of the good things about living aboard is that I no longer accumulate all the junk I used to; I still have boxes and boxes of "stuff" in storage which I will probably never need...
I normally handle the boat alone, regardless of who's on board, if for no other reason that it's good training for the times I'm alone. This is also where the 53 shines: thanks to the lower helm with side doors the spring lines are just a few steps away and the 50 000lbs mass isn't getting blown sideways when the breeze picks up. The very first time I took the boat out, it felt like.. "oh s... what did I get myself into". After backing it into the slip I realized that the larger the boat, the easier it is to handle so don't settle for a smaller boat for fear of single handling a larger one. Draft was a consideration since I often go to the Keys and the 4' draft is perfect. Although designed in the mid sixties, the 53MY is still a pretty good looking boat with a classic look; I like the flush deck design which not only gives a lot of space but also gives the boat some nice lines... It also places the salon windows higher so people walking down the dock usually can't see inside.
After a year, I really can't find much to complain about with the 53; it's the perfect boat for what I need.
I still can't find any negatives about living aboard except maybe that homes go up in value while boats depreciate. Or maybe having to explain to friends, acquaintances and relatives that I'm not completly nuts and that living aboard is great! Looking at living costs, the slip fees are similar to the property taxes I used to pay and I no longer have to pay high condo maintenance fees... or lawn services if had lived in a house. Marine insurance cost more than homeowner insurance but since I always had a boat this is an expense I would have anyway, just like boat maintenance costs.
And living aboard... I don't have to worry about hurricane shutters : I can move my home out of the way of Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne and all their little friends! well... so far.
Pascal
Miami, FL
1970 53 MY
Even after a year, every time I come home the minute I step on the dock in the evening I still gets this odd feeling that I'm on vacation. It's hard to explain but it's like a miracle: the city suddenly disappears, noise, traffic... it all fades away and all that's left of busy Miami is the skyline... great view at night! For a boater, walking down a dock looking at boats is not bad and so is enjoying a nice sunset or even a full moon and stars in the sky. In the morning leaving when it's still cool with that warm early morning light makes for a pleasant stroll down the pier. Obviously, living aboard in South Florida means I don't have to worry about snow, ice or cold rain while walking to the boat, maybe I woudln't feel that way up north.
The best thing about living aboard? being able to drop the lines, cords and hoses and be underway whenever I feel like it; the whole process takes me less than 5 minutes. There is no driving to the marina, having to bring some food, drinks or clothes... it's all there, always ready. Afternoon run across the bay to anchor and enjoy the sunset, weekend getaways, evening cruise around downtown... the boat has never stayed in its slip for more than a week.
I am lucky to live on Biscayne Bay, a large protected bay which extends from Miami all the way down to Key Largo, offering plenty of nice anchorages. Most of the bay is part of Biscayne National park and living aboard is probably the only way I can take my home and move it in the middle of a national park for a few days, enjoying shallow cristal clear water...
I really admire someone who can live on a 30' sailboat, but I cant. I need to be comfortable like air conditioning, not having to use to the marina's public bathrooms... Maybe I should have joined the Boy Scouts when I was a kid but I didn't and camping isn't for me... When I started looking for a live aboard boat, it didn't take me long to narrow the list down to I wanted and after only a couple of months searching, I was lucky to find a very nice 1970 Hatteras 53 MY. I chose an earlier model, not only because they are cheaper but mostly because they have non turbo engines. The venerable Detroits 8V71Ns are slower than the latter versions but cheaper to maintain and last longer between rebuilt. After years of cruising at 20 or 25kts, life in the slow lane isn't bad. So far in a year, it's been relatively surprise free except for soem A/C issues which I didn't expect since all the condensing units were almost new. Regular maintenance is no worst than epxectand frankly washing a 35 or 53 footer takes about just as long. Just like doing an oil change is more or less as time consuming regardless of boat size although needing 5 gallons - not quarts - of oil per engine was an eye opener the first time around... Running costs are very reasonable and running the boat at a 9 kts hull speed means fuel cost per mile are less than half than they were on my previous boat, a 37 express with twin gas guzzlers...
The 53 has a lot of space with 3 staterooms, 3 heads, large galley, dinette, salon, big covered aft deck, seating area on the bow and a large flybridge. In fact, it has about as much square footage as a small appartment... Space is limited on a boat so it's not as roomy as the condo I used to have, but who really needs a 250sq ft bathroom anyway! Both my daughter and son have their own stateroom, each with an extra bunk which comes in handy when they invite friends. Despite being over 30 years old, the previous owner had it repainted, installed a new generator and upgraded various systems making it very presentable. It has almost all the conveniences and comfort of a "real" home with air conditioning, home size galley appliances, washer/dryer, generator; the only thing missing is a dishwasher but I can live with that. Storage is adequate, and one of the good things about living aboard is that I no longer accumulate all the junk I used to; I still have boxes and boxes of "stuff" in storage which I will probably never need...
I normally handle the boat alone, regardless of who's on board, if for no other reason that it's good training for the times I'm alone. This is also where the 53 shines: thanks to the lower helm with side doors the spring lines are just a few steps away and the 50 000lbs mass isn't getting blown sideways when the breeze picks up. The very first time I took the boat out, it felt like.. "oh s... what did I get myself into". After backing it into the slip I realized that the larger the boat, the easier it is to handle so don't settle for a smaller boat for fear of single handling a larger one. Draft was a consideration since I often go to the Keys and the 4' draft is perfect. Although designed in the mid sixties, the 53MY is still a pretty good looking boat with a classic look; I like the flush deck design which not only gives a lot of space but also gives the boat some nice lines... It also places the salon windows higher so people walking down the dock usually can't see inside.
After a year, I really can't find much to complain about with the 53; it's the perfect boat for what I need.
I still can't find any negatives about living aboard except maybe that homes go up in value while boats depreciate. Or maybe having to explain to friends, acquaintances and relatives that I'm not completly nuts and that living aboard is great! Looking at living costs, the slip fees are similar to the property taxes I used to pay and I no longer have to pay high condo maintenance fees... or lawn services if had lived in a house. Marine insurance cost more than homeowner insurance but since I always had a boat this is an expense I would have anyway, just like boat maintenance costs.
And living aboard... I don't have to worry about hurricane shutters : I can move my home out of the way of Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne and all their little friends! well... so far.
Pascal
Miami, FL
1970 53 MY