living on a sailboat in colombia

Yachting World

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Is sailing in Colombia a viable option? Toby Hodges meets the World ARC in Santa Marta

• Toby Hodges
• May 1, 2015

Colombia has a reputation as a wild and dangerous place, and cruisers have been reluctant to visit. But is that fair? Toby Hodges finds out as the World ARC makes its first stop

Tayrona National Park, a short sail from Santa Marta. Photo: Procolombia

Colombia has an air of mystique about it. Of all the places I’ve been lucky enough to visit, sailing in Colombia certainly aroused the most interest among family, friends and colleagues – everyone really wants to know what it’s like.

Many cruising sailors would like to visit, especially considering the hundreds of miles of unspoilt Caribbean coastline it offers, but remain reserved about how safe and easy it is and what the facilities are like.

Pitstop to Panama

If you are sailing from the Caribbean to the Panama Canal, Santa Marta on Colombia’s north coast makes the ideal pit-stop. It is one of the only places to pull in conveniently, in fact, between the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao) and Panama or the San Blas islands. And the fact that is within easy reach of the Caribbean, yet nestles out of the way of the hurricane belt is a big draw. There has reportedly been only one hurricane since 1851, but even then the town was protected by the Sierra Nevada mountains behind.

The charms of Santa Marta run deeper than merely that of a convenient stopover. The culture is fascinating and, for those seeking longer-term exploration, it is a gateway to explore the neighbouring national parks, mountains or rainforests.

I had the chance to visit to meet the World ARC fleet, which made a stopover here for the first time in January. The brevity of my visit meant I didn’t have time to hike in the mountains or explore the coffee plantations, but I did have the opportunity to check out the new marina and local facilities, and I left with a wish to return.

A melting pot

Santa Marta is Latin America’s oldest town. It’s colourful, loud, fast and brimming over with culture, a compact melting pot and a colourful snapshot of South America. Arriving fresh-faced from London – there are now direct flights to the capital, Bogota – I found it a lot to take in.

Pretty fishing village of Taganga close to Santa Marta. Photo: Getty Images/Robert Harding

It’s vibrant, historic, dusty, hectic, happy, intriguing, exotic and electric. With the cooling breezes, bright flowers, noisy taxis, blaring music, street food, brightly coloured houses and colourful cuisine, there is a carnival atmosphere, but you are soon aware of the immense cultural divides.

Nearly ten per cent of the population still lives in extreme poverty. Slums are found on the outskirts of town, along with abandoned construction sites, as well as signs of the destruction that guerrilla fighting has brought in the past. But there are mega-rich here too – Colombia is the third largest producer of oil in South America.

It can be daunting at first walking the teeming streets, confronted by all this energy. However, it didn’t feel unsafe. Broad smiles soon make you welcome and it doesn’t take too long to settle into Santa Marta’s busy pace. The old town near the marina was bustling during the public holidays in January. Streets were lined with vendors, each competing to play the loudest music, while families flocked to the uninviting-looking town beach, before carrying sleeping children home through makeshift market stalls.

The snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada. Photo: Procolombia

The imposing Sierra Nevada mountain range, with its peaks snow-capped for over 250 days a year, forms a powerful backdrop to Santa Marta and shapes the local climate. These are claimed to be the highest mountains closest to the sea in the world – one 5,700m peak is just 26 miles from the coast. The locals say the Sierra Nevada saved them from their only recent hurricane threat in 1993, diverting the path of the hurricane offshore.

La Brisa Loca

The proximity of the mountains helps explain the consistently strong winds that blow around the headland off Santa Marta. Referred to as La Brisa Loca, meaning the ‘Crazy Breeze’, this clean, dry, cool wind (which prevents humidity and rust) blows down from the mountains, coming from the north and sweeping round offshore.

During my visit conditions seemed ideal: the World ARC yachts had had a downwind passage from Saint Lucia and, when they left, a similarly good run on towards Panama. But for the two weeks before my arrival it had been blowing 50-70 knots in Santa Marta.

Five years ago, only a small breakwater punctuated the beach lining Santa Marta town’s foreshore; now there is a 256-berth marina. Although the perfect sunsets above the township are now spoilt somewhat by the construction that has happened here, it is hoped the tourist draw of this relatively vast harbour is worth the inconvenience.

The Colombian government has stated that it wants 21 new marinas, ten of them on the Atlantic coast. Currently there is only Santa Marta and Puerto Velero, further down the coast near Barranquilla.

The new Santa Marta marina

Santa Marta’s marina is privately funded, part of the exclusive IGY chain, and looks as if it could belong in Florida or the south coast of Spain. Described as a ‘full service’ marina, it offers facilities that include a fuel dock, pump out, showers, laundry, gym, restaurants and wi-fi. A boatyard and chandlery are planned and a swimming pool will become available in the 150-room hotel under construction.

That there is no hard standing or chandlery yet serves to illustrate the lack of visiting yachts so far. The marina does have a potential 3,000m 2 of hard standing if permission is granted, but it’s quite exposed, so those considering leaving yachts here during the hurricane season may prefer to keep them afloat in the marina.

“Of the vessels that we receive at Marina Santa Marta, 80 per cent have come from the ABC islands,” says marina manager Mauricio Cucalon Micolta, indicating the convenient link this makes between the Caribbean and Panama Canal. The marina is gated and guarded, so feels secure and well-equipped and the multi-lingual staff are friendly and efficient.

New restaurants and services provide western-style creature comforts, but the heart of the old town is only minutes away. “To go one street back and pay 50p for a bowl of fresh fish soup with the locals is what it’s about,” declares yachtsman Chris Mole. “There are still many poor areas, but that’s the heart of the place.”

Chris Mole and his family live aboard their Swan 53 Moody Finn

I caught up with Mole who, together with his wife Jaana and three children, James, Charlie and Alice, had spent nine months living on their Swan 53, Moody Finn , in Santa Marta. The Moles have cruised extensively in the Caribbean and have spent ten years living in Grenada. They seek stable destinations for home schooling and found a settled lifestyle in Santa Marta. They plan to move on in March.

“Sure if you want to go on holiday for two weeks there are better places, but Santa Marta has so much to offer,” maintains Mole. “It’s rough and ready, and the people are really nice.”

The World ARC participants, meanwhile, were overwhelmed with the welcome they received and said it made for a fantastic first stop on this fifth edition of the rally.

The crew of the Oyster 575 Juno gets a colourful welcome as the first World ARC yacht to arrive

World Cruising boss Andrew Bishop says: “We received a tremendous level of support – including special clearance of yachts into the country.”

Santa Marta facts

• Founded 1525
• Population 650,000
• Exports bananas, palm oil, coffee, cocoa
• Top tourist attractions include:

Tayrona National Park

Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino – the home and last resting place of Colombia’s liberator and first president, Simon Bolivar

Santa Marta cathedral

Coffee plantations

Sierra Nevada mountains

The waterfront of the town is now dominated by the marina, constructed four years ago. It’s an ideal safe haven for visiting yachts seeking to shelter for the hurricane season. But with a tower hotel and apartment block in build and plans that include a potential cruise ship dock, the current drive for tourism will alter the look and feel of this vibrant town. www.igy-marinasantamarta.com

Useful tips for visiting sailors

Provisioning It is quite an expensive, but certainly well-equipped marina. However, provisioning in town is very good – there are vast American-style malls and supermarkets a cheap taxi ride away. “You can get most things,” says Chris Mole. “It’s not good on chandlery, but the backstreet shops can fix anything.”

Immigration “This needs to be sorted out; at the moment you have to check in at every port,” says Mole. But, reports WCC’s Andrew Bishop, Santa Marta marina has recently introduced a system whereby it can act as an agent for any visiting cruising yachts, which should save time and money clearing in.

Importing spares Getting spares is easy from the US, but import duty is a whopping 30 per cent. “The duty for my new vang bearings was US$450!” declares Chris Mole. “There are no spares in the shop fronts so you have to buy them in, but yachties can’t afford that sort of import duty.”

See also: How to prepare a yacht for a circumnavigation – six World ARC skippers describe how they did it

Mel On The Go

Living on a Sailboat exploring the world

Sailing in Colombia

Sailing in Colombia is different from the ideal conditions in the Eastern Caribbean : trips are a lot longer and other cruiser boats not as common. Conditions can be rough, with strong winds, and navigating is challenging with incomplete charts. Because of these difficulties, some cruisers don’t stop here at all on the way to Panama, and others only visit one port: Santa Marta or Cartagena. As longtime fans of Colombia, we spent extended time in both! Here’s what our experience has been sailing in Colombia.

All information in this post is based on our experiences sailing the Caribbean coast of mainland Colombia. The country is vast, with Pacific coastline and occupied islands alongside Central America, which are not discussed here.

Welcome to Colombia

Arriving in Colombia on our boat was different from other sailing destinations. Colombia is so big that we saw the country a full day before we could enter a port . And the conditions are rough. Santa Marta, Colombia is infamous for heavy winds and rough seas, so much so that many sailors coming from the ABC Islands or further choose to skip the port entirely and head straight to Cartagena.

Sailing in Colombia From Santa Marta to Cartagena

The trip from Santa Marta to Cartagena should take about 14 hours, but, for safety reasons, we chose to break it up and anchor overnight mid-way there. Normally, we’d leave Santa Marta in the evening to arrive in Cartagena in the daytime. We like to arrive in a port, especially one new to us and busy, in daytime.

But, we left in the morning, and stopped halfway to avoid sailing any of the journey in the dark. Barranquilla’s Magdalena River empties large pieces of debris into the sea, including big logs and other heavy loads, which are easier to avoid when you can see. Even in daytime, we were avoiding obstacles, and it’s even worse after a big storm!

If you are sailing from Santa Marta to Cartagena, you can stop for the night at Puerto Valero and anchor outside the marina. Many cruisers leave their boats in the marina and explore Colombia from there. The marina is affordable but/because there is nothing else for miles around. When we anchored there, the only people visible on shore or water were a few kitesurfers from the nearby school.

Speaking of storms, as we were sailing between Barranquilla and Cartagena, a thunderstorm kicked up over shore. Beginning with booming thunder in the distance, followed by bolts of lightning, the storm scared me. We were the only boat in sight, and did not want the lightning to come any closer. Fortunately, we only had some water spouts and more thunder, but it rolled past without connecting with us or Sava.

The Port of Cartagena

One of the coolest things about sailing into Cartagena is the city itself. It’s modern and old and the anchorage and marinas are close to everything. With the conveniences comes the issues.

The port of Cartagena is always busy, with a lot of pleasure boats taking tourists out of the heat of the city, navy boats from the nearby base, private yachts, container ships and fishing vessels. This means boats at anchor, or even at the marina, suffer through large wakes of hundreds of boats flying past at least twice a day: when they leave the Muelle de la Bodeguita , the dock near the Old City, in the morning, and when they return in the afternoon.

A big bay , it’s not conducive for swimming, largely due to the peril of avoiding speed boats and also because of the water quality. It isn’t clear and clean in Cartagena. Have a look at the color when we sailed down to the islands a couple weeks ago.

The port of Cartagena is busy, all the way to the exit channel, which is 2.5 miles from the city. There’s lots to see along the way, including a statue of The Virgin Mary who blesses sailors, fishing boats, private motorboats of all sizes, and the tour ships.

The Islands off Cartagena

Where are all the tour boats going? To the Rosario Islands and Baru, of course. Cartagena is a great city , but it’s often unbearably hot. We can’t swim at the marina so we like to get away! And so do all the tourists. Boats leave the main dock around 9am daily, and speed down to Las Islas in less than 90 minutes.

Once you get to the islands, navigation is tricky, not because of traffic but because a lot of the charts don’t show reefs or entrances into the bays! We learned that going into Cholon Bay. The best bet is to ask other cruisers who’ve been there before to share their paths or let you follow them into the bay. Once there, it’s beautiful! There are several anchorages near Isla Grande in the Rosarios which weren’t even marked on our charts.

So far, we’ve visited Cholon Bay and Isla Grande on Sava. We hope to make it to the further San Bernardo Islands, because they are beautiful!

The islands are lovely with Caribbean blue waters for snorkeling, diving, or just floating. This is the reward after all that rough sailing in Colombia.

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Author: Mel

Living aboard a sailboat, blogging about the places we visit and the adventures we have. Love hiking, cycling, scuba, animals and adventure. View all posts by Mel

18 thoughts on “Sailing in Colombia”

Oh wow! I have always wanted to visit Colombia but I never thought about sailing. Your photos are incredible. The water does look choppy. What a great experience. I would love to go sailing one year. I only felt comfortable on water about 10 years ago. So I have a lot of catching up to do. I really enjoyed this guide. Thank you for sharing your experience!

Looks like such a beautiful part of the world but I couldn’t handle the rough seas!

i have no idea there was an option to sail in Colombia! i’ll check this out next time i’m there — the water by Isla Grande looks amazing.

You can sail most anywhere there’s water! Charters run out of the marinas in Manga Cartagena. We saw several when we were anchored in Isla Grande.

What a neat article! Thanks for sharing. My husband is from Argentina and comes from a sailing family. He has told me a lot about their adventures in SA. I thought the water at Rosario Islands looked so nice in your photos – that blue!

We sailed into Cartagena by cruise ship but that was a very different sailing experience than coming in my smaller boat. We too loved that view of the Cartagena harbour from the water. But I sure was not tempted to get in the harbour waters! Great that you got input from other cruisers to visit the offshore islands.

Wow I did not know about sailing in Colombia. I have wanted to go to Colombia but did not know about sailing there. I have sailed only once and in Australia. I think as you said sailing in Cartagena seems amazing. But not sure why the water is murky is it because of the channels? The views are surely spectacular though.

Now that’s a confident sailor! When I read choppy waters, storms – I would not be as brave as you. But what an adventure and a interesting perspective it gives you coming into these harbours.

Haha thanks Renee! It’s taken me two and a half years living on a boat to become confident. I guess I’ve earned it.

Enjoyed reading your unique post! It was a lot of learning on conditions for sailing and the obstructions experienced. The Columbian waters look really choppy. I love the deep blue water and the atmosphere in the Cartegana harbour. I have never been to Columbia but when I do, I will sure look to sail into Catagena for a different experience. ????

I have been to Colombia twice but was not aware that it is also a destination for ailing ships! I have been on a sailing boat once in my life in Chile. It was just a half day trip but on the way back we got into a beginning storm and I was pretty sick. It must be amazing to enter Colombia on your own boat!

Hi Natascha, Colombia is popular to sailors for its proximity to Panama and the Panama Canal. If you want to go west from the Caribbean, this is the way to go. Not every cruiser boat stops here though and I think they are missing out.

What an adventurous experience this sounds. Cartagena sounds really cool but I agree with you that it would be great to escape to the islands. They sound amazing to snorkel!

I love to do sailing trips and therefore love visiting places where there is sea. But our trips have mostly been restricted to shortet ones. Sailing in the night without thunderstorms a possibility is scaring though. Therefore a day trip and a break looks a good option. Never been to Colombia and would love being there sometime. Cartagena harbor looks so enticing.

Such a lovely post on Columbia.The view from the boat is serene and your experience was so beautifully described.

Love the idea of going sailing here! Can’t imagine almost getting caught in a storm – but we had a similar experience in Aruba with an ATV excursion. The waters look incredible!

I’ve been to Colombia and have lived there. You’re brave and bold in sailing your way through! Saludo!

Gracias, Trisha! We are working our way towards some ocean crossings so we have to get brave if we aren’t already.

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The Insider Truth About Living on a Sailboat

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Yup, you're in the right place. This blog is about life aboard---that is, life aboard a sailboat. While A Way Abroad generally focuses on living, well, abroad, we're really all about the unique lifestyles and all the wonderful opportunities there are out there.

Including living on a sailboat.

Things I always get asked about living on a boat are:

• Can you go to the bathroom?
• Can you take a shower on the boat?
• Is there WiFi?
• Does the boat always rock?

And I answer, yes, yes, yes, and sometimes!

Let's dive more into those details and everything you'll want to know about living on a sailboat, even for people like me who had no sailing experience prior to hopping onboard!

Short on time? Here’s the cheat sheet:

💭Living on a sailboat isn’t for everyone but for the right person it’s everything.

⛵There’s a strong learning curve but if you throw yourself in head first, you’ll get the hang of it and have freedom at your sails.

🤑Just be sure to prepare yourself ahead of time for the added costs of fixes, materials, and docking it at marinas.

🛍️Your space will be small, from storage space to fridge space, shower space to a closet but…

☀️It’ll teach you to be intentional with your purchases, the things that make you happy, and your day-to-day choices.

We’re not a regular travel blog; we’re a collection of women living around the world, all with different backgrounds, jobs, desires, & nationalities. What do we have in common? A passion for life abroad. Each article is written from the 1st-hand perspective of a woman who has actually done or experienced what she writes about. Learn more about the author by clicking her bio pic at the start or end of each article.

Dream of moving abroad but need a helping hand? I got you. This e-book isn't a regular book, it's also a workbook geared to helping you make some big decisions regarding the life abroad you want to build. Everyone's way abroad is different. This book is all about helping you find yours.

My Life Aboard

Living on a boat is quite nomadic and different from land life, but really, adjustments can be made to make it feel quite familiar. Before we dive into what it is like to live aboard a sailboat, let’s take it back a few nautical miles to how I found myself in this sort of nomadic life to begin with.

In September 2018, it was my first time sailing and I went with complete strangers to a remote island in the Pacific. It was actually a first date of sorts with a guy I had a big crush on. Our trip would take us on a 10-day sail from Oahu to Molokai, Lanai, and Maui.

The journey we embarked on soon led to a huge change in my life. But before I skip ahead, back to the trip.

I had no expectations or idea of what I was in for. Barely an hour in and the seas were consistently getting more and more choppy. We quite literally survived 14ft seas crossing the channel to Molokai.

“ This is normal ,” I thought, “ This is what sailing is. ” We endured the waves for 6 hours straight, and I did not find myself seasick once. I wasn’t even fully impressed with how the boat was handling the sea because I thought, “ This is probably how it always is. ”

It most certainly is not always like that.

We sailed into the night and the following morning I woke to the most beautiful sight I had ever seen--- land, all the way out in the middle of the ocean, with the sun peeking out over it. We dropped anchor close to shore and prepared the dinghy. As we made our way to land via the motorized dinghy, dolphins began to sort of ‘escort’ us.

Another moment where I just could not believe this was real life.

We explored the island, did some spearfishing, and went back ‘home’ to the boat to prepare fresh fish tacos. Not only did this experience hook us fresh fish, but it hooked me on this lifestyle altogether. 

For the rest of the trip, we walked around pretty remote islands, we laid on the deck and gazed at the stars, and we slept in a hammock hanging from the boom over the ocean.

By the end of those 10 days, I fell in love—with the man, and with sailing.

The Realities of Sailboat Ownership

The following year, I purchased my first sailboat which would also become my home. Honestly, I went into boat ownership with such naivety. If I could talk to myself then with what I know now, I’d have a lot to say (which is why I am writing this article for you aspiring liveaboards), but the bottom line is this: I have no regrets. 

Even today, I am still a novice, but I am less scared, and way more patient. If boats teach you anything, it is to be patient. Well, that and be adaptable.

Living aboard a sailboat has a lot of ups and downs that come in waves (see what I did there?). After getting over the constant rocking of the boat, there comes an endless list of boat projects that spring up.

In just my couple of short years of boat ownership, I have had to:

• Replace the head (toilet)
• Redo the back deck because of core rot
• Learn how to deal with fiberglass and epoxy
• Troubleshoot a finicky fridge
• And fuss with a temperamental a/c unit

Also, just to note, boat work is expensive-- like crazy expensive. A bolt that you could find for a house at Home Depot is probably 3x as much at West Marine because now it has to be stainless steel, aka rust-proof.

I also found out how hard it is to find help for boat work, which basically means that a lot of the work you have to do yourself. I never ever had any idea how to do electrical work, and while I may ‘understand’ how it sort of kind of works at this point, I still need YouTube (it’s my best boat life friend). I still am a novice when it comes to engine work…. I should get better at that one for sure but one step at a time. 

The Logistics of Buying a Boat

So, what should you know before jumping into the deep end of boat life? Let me tell you.

Financing a boat to live on can be a challenge

Really consider your budget and then tack on probably 30-40% of it for monthly maintenance and boat repairs. It’s not easy to find a bank that will give you a sort of ‘home mortgage’ for a boat so you often will either take out a boat loan OR a personal loan--- know the term differences before signing.

But, maybe you have the cash to buy outright and that’s a much better idea!

When you do go looking for a boat, consider its length.

What harbors can accommodate such boats? Do the harbors have availability?

Expect to pay a certain amount per foot of your boat, and this price is also contingent on whether you are a ‘transient’ (only there for a few months at a time) or a permanent slip holder.

Typically there is an extra charge for LIVING on the boat, so make sure and ask that as well.

Talk to an insurance company BEFORE buying a boat.

What rates can you get? Boat insurance is mandatory for getting a slip at a marina in order to protect not only you but also the harbor itself.

Ask yourself, will I be able to clean the bottom of the boat myself or will I need to pay someone to do it?

Check with local bottom cleaners for prices. Yep, even the bottom of the boat needs a solid scrub from time to time.

Get mentally prepared for the costs of boats and boat goods

And lastly, in preparation, go take a walk around West Marine or a local boat supply store and take a look at the prices. Price out projects you may think will come up.

Sticker shock? Yea, me too. 

A Sailboat vs. A Yacht

Before buying your own liveaboard sailboat, be aware of the differences between owning a sailboat and owning a yacht. For argument's sake, I'm speaking about a small yacht that doesn't require a crew to sail.

Because while you might crave a sea-worthy lifestyle, you might be better suited for a yacht or strictly motorized boat.

A few differences between living on a sailboat and a yacht are:

• A yacht is typically larger. While that will mean a more spacious living area, it will also take up more space at marinas.
• A yacht is typically more expensive. This is due to the material and technology on the boat. So if sailboat prices wow you, yacht prices will leave you stunned.
• A yacht requires an engine to run. One of the coolest things about living on a sailboat is that so long as the wind is favorable, you can sail for free. Set the sails and enjoy cruising without spending a cent on gas. On a yacht, you'll always have to pay to play.
• Driving a yacht has a smaller learning curve to it. To make a sailboat work for you, you're going to need to understand the intricacies of the sails. That's something you don't have to deal with, although, if you have engine trouble, the engine on a yacht is far more complex than that of a sailboat.

Land Life vs. Sea Life

There also is a major difference between land life and sea life, as you most likely already guessed.

While living in a house and living on a sailboat, you'll most likely get faced with unexpected costs and home repair, the day-to-day quirks of living full-time on a sailboat greatly outweigh those of "normal" land life.

When I lived in a house, I didn’t think about refilling the water tank or propane. I didn’t chant in my head, “ No TP in the toilet, no TP in the toilet ,” while peeing in fear of a major thru hull blockage. I didn’t double-check to make sure my house wouldn’t sink when I went on vacation. I also didn’t pick things up in Target and say, “ Hm, but where would I put this? ”

All this to say, living on a boat makes you much more conscious of literally everything. Your water use, your propane levels, your battery charge, the functioning of your pumps, and the things (or clutter) you bring into your life.

And this is a great thing---- we should be more conscious of our resource use and space management. But it still can come at a high learning curve if you're not ready for such a small space and the intricacies that come along with it.

Things to Know About Living on a Sailboat

Okay, so we are past some of the questions you should ponder as you go through the process of actually buying a boat. If you’ve come this far, I’d say you are interested in it, or at least morbidly curious about boat life.

Here are some things you need to know about actually LIVING on the boat.

Wifi Can Be Spotty

We work online from the boat so our wifi is quite necessary. We have had luck with Sprint as a provider and a small hotspot device. We're based in Oahu though, so Sprint might not be the best option, unless you're planning to be based nearby, too.

The Closets Are Often Really Small

I have had to downsize A LOT due to closet space so my wardrobe is full of basic items that can be mixed and matched. Capsule wardrobes will become your best friend here.

I also have a subscription to Nuuly, a clothing rental company, where I plan out outfits I would need for events and content creation. This subscription helps liven my wardrobe without actually taking up space.

The Head (Toilet) Is Weird

Oh, the head-- probably the weirdest thing about boat life. It can be daunting to do your business on a boat.

No TP (or other non-biodegradable) materials in the head ever unless you have a super fancy boat and this is not an issue for your plumbing system. And if you're wondering where your waste goes, it goes into a tank and every month or so gets pumped out at a pump-out station.

You will either have to use a hand pump or an electric button, depending on your head type. Honestly, having a head that is both electric and manual is the best thing ever in the event the electric part fails...speaking from experience.

The Fridge Space Is Tiny

Fridge space is limited. If you are a cruiser, you will know that most of your food will be nonperishable, but if you are coastal and can make stops frequently, you will be able to have more fresh items as well.

Galley (kitchen) space is often small-ish, but you can pretty much make most things you would make in a land home in a boat home.

We cook everything. We have a two-burner gas stove and oven. You can catch us making anything from enchiladas to stir fry, oftentimes we eat lots of “bowls”-- think quinoa, goat cheese, arugula, and red onion. Sometimes you just need to get creative! 

While a lot of people worry over this, once you get the hang of it, you'll learn you really can do a lot with this amount of storage space.

And So Is the Shower

Although we even have hot water in our shower, it's tiny, so I fit fine but my 6ft partner has difficulty.

Since we spend most of our time docked at the marina, we do have a reciprocal yacht club membership so we can shower there, or at other yacht clubs we get to.

And of course, there are always dock/deck showers! 

What I Wish I Knew Before Moving onto a Sailboat

Even with all of the information above, there are still a few things I wish I knew years ago before jumping aboard that should help you get a more realistic idea about what living on a sailboat full-time really entails.

If I could go back in time, I would give myself these tips and pieces of advice:

• Don’t buy a boat thinking you can stick to a timeline-- finding people to work on boats, having time yourself, and just, sheesh the money component, all extend the timeline.
• Know what you want to get out of it early on-- I remember saying, I want to sail around the world, and I still do, but it was unrealistic to think I would do that on my first boat. Remember there is so much to learn about sailing: electrical, provisioning, plumbing, engines, and the list goes on. I am grateful my project boat has been the best teacher.
• The boat rocks depending on when you are docked or anchored and also on the weather. Sometimes it is really peaceful, and sometimes it feels like you are on a mechanical bull. 

Are You Ready to Live on a Sailboat Full-Time?

You see, boat life is similar to how “normal” people live but with weird words like bilge, boom, head, and helm. It’s also pretty cool to live life like a honu (Hawaiian word for turtle) and take your home with you to other places. 

It's a lot like vanlife , just ya know, changing the road for sea.

My move from land to water felt like jumping all in, and in a lot of ways, it was. My life is so different from what I thought it would be, so different from many of my friends and family, but really, it is exactly perfect for me. 

To me living on a sailboat full-time has been an absolute dream, but what about for you? Interested in learning more? Follow @sammiealoha for a peek into boat life!

Hero photo by Anna Om/shutterstock.com

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Full-time Living on a Small Sailboat

All photos courtesy of Fabio Brunazzi.

By Fabio Brunazzi

Hi, my name is Fabio and at a certain moment in my life I decided that I wanted to sail and live on a small sailboat.

It was an unconscious decision, that revealed itself in stages. The first step was living aboard a sailing yacht in a group of remote islands of Venezuela, without even knowing how to sail.

I had very little responsibility in that decision, beside of course saying the word yes to a long time friend. Since that experiment a lot happened, and my approach to sailing became more intentional and careful.

Five years ago I decided it was time to get my own sailboat and sail around visiting places at my own pace and following a route made of personal decisions and unexpected events. My wife Kate and a cat named Beta participated in the project as well.

Kate started to tell the story of her first experience with life aboard on Wandr’ly, until our trip stopped abruptly because of low funds and the need to improve our boat further to follow our desire of long ocean voyaging. I thought about picking up the story from there and tell what happened in the last two years, when the idea of living on the ocean finally took a concrete shape.

Kate and I are a couple of mixed nationality. I am originally from Italy and Kate is American, and we met by chance during traveling. All this may have started with a joke, when I was with Kate in the San Blas islands, looking at the Gunas gliding by on their sailing canoes.

“What if we get one of those dugout canoes, we grab some food, water and two hammocks, and sail along the coast all the way down to Colombia?” I asked her, not knowing exactly why I was inviting a total stranger into my own dream.

She was very receptive to the proposal and we started to dream about it. Luckily, smartphones and internet were already available at the time, so even if Kate had to go back to the her life in NYC we could continue brainstorming, in a process that we baptized Squidding Around.

Dreams sometimes set the direction, but then the path unravels in its own mysterious way, and so we ended up buying an old fiberglass boat from the 60s in New England, instead of jumping on a dugout canoe carved from a single mahogany tree in the Panamanian rainforest.

That didn’t mean this new dream was any easier. With basically no adult supervision we started pouring sweat and finances into the restoration of our “classic”, and also get ourselves ready for a life on the ocean, removing social and institutional entanglements as well as figuring out a way to pay for the ride.

This decision to set on this journey came from a mix of natural curiosity, love for wild habitats and the desire to embrace a new lifestyle. In a way, a small sailboat is the perfect instrument to reach distant and scarcely populated shores and sustain life on limited resources.

This thin fiberglass skin that surrounds me while I am writing these words is strong enough to keep us safe and comfortable in a wide range of conditions, yet thin enough to make nature our very next door neighbor.

Sailing a small boat with electric propulsion like Tranquility makes planning a very esoteric form of art. Weather and local conditions like tides and current set the rules on top of which we have to draw our course and make decisions. Electric propulsion does not afford the luxury of bailing out of difficult situations, or to charge on to get to destination on time.

In this shifting scenario made of capes to round, inlets to pass and berths to seek in order to escape polar vortex storms, we were trying to reach southern Florida and seek employment while living in our new floating home. Once we hit the coast of Georgia plans changed again.

The first surprise happened once we landed in Jekyll Island, GA, the once secretive retreat of robber barons. Here back in 1910 a small group of leading financiers created the Federal Reserve. Even though there is still a toll booth that control the access to the island on the causeway, the place is far less exclusive than it used to be, as the robber barons are gone.

In the small marina where we tied up after days at anchor we received the visit of James Baldwin, the small boat guru of Atoms Voyages.

James and I corresponded since I started researching how to retrofit a small sailboat on the internet. He was following our ping on the satellite tracker and once he located us in Jekyll Island he showed up with grapefruit from his garden and homemade oat biscuits.

As often happens out of cruisers’ solidarity, he drove us on a tour of Brunswick for shopping, showing us to the facility he built in his backyard where he helps cruisers customize their sailboats.

He cared to show us how cruiser friendly this area could be for a couple who is looking for a not so cold place to spend the winter. On the way back to Tranquility, he finally offered me a job: he had a lot of work and he was looking for help in his shop.

It was an interesting proposal. In Florida I had no job waiting for me, and we were always worried by the difficulties that local authorities create to people who live at anchor. Docking in Florida is also very expensive.

We parted ways saying that we would consider the offer while exploring the wild Cumberland Island and the spectral town of St. Marys. There in the winter fog of the Low Country we took the decision that would change our trajectory in an unexpected but interesting way. I accepted James’ offer and sailed back to Brunswick-St.Simons.

The second big surprises happened few months later. It was one very hot day in August when Kate and I actually got married in Woodbine, a rural town better known for its Crawfish Festival and for a lively bar and restaurant, Captain Stan’s Smokehouse, run by a retired fashion model.

After the act in front of the judge, where I stumbled in an Italian accented version of the word “cherish”, we treated our only three friends that were with us to Stan’s excellent BBQ, and Stan treated us with “redneck champagne” sparkling wine served in a baked beans can repurposed as an ice bucket.

It was the end of the trip. Kate had soon found a job in her field, and shortly after we moved ashore, finding a cozy spot with a great woman named Susan, owner of the popular downtown bar & grill Tipsy MacSway’s, and her animals. We came back to the comforts of TV, refrigeration, bathtubs, a backyard, and town gossip. Kate summoned her old Subaru from NYC taking the cat Beta down with her. In less than six months we moved back to the laces of life on land.

On top of working jobs to save for our cruising kitty and to improve the boat further for long term voyaging, with our innocent act of love we also became hostage of the US immigration system and its bureaucracy. I had to wait in a sort of purgatory, unable to leave the country as we planned and at the mercy of somebody else’s decisions.

We waited patiently for the green light, while complying with the requests of the agency, but at a certain moment even if the process was not completed, we decided it was time to sail away. We would confine our sailing to the territorial waters of the United States not to enrage the bureaucrats, because we could not wait any further in realizing this dream.

It was hard to transition once again from life on land and living aboard, but we were determined to do it.

This is the story of those last two years of full time traveling and part time working, living aboard and sailing our old Columbia 29 on the East Coast of the US and down the Caribbean to Panama. We are now taking another long break and exploring this beautiful Central American country, while getting ready to resume voyaging with a very ambitious route.

LEAVING THE FAMED MARSHES OF GLYNN – JUNE 2016

I had never visited the coast of Georgia before, and to my surprise I discovered that many people who live in the States don’t even know that Georgia has a coast. This may explain why it is so well preserved compared to many other places on the East Coast, definitely overdeveloped by a nature lover’s point of view.

Snowbirds is the label attached to the big population of mostly retired folks who migrate on a North/South route on the East Coast of the US aboard their vessels. I think this label is also popular among RVers who do the same on land.

Snowbirds use the Intracoastal Waterway also known as ICW, a series of channels and inland waters that run along the East Coast from Southern Florida all the way to the New York/Hudson area. Picture it as Route 66 for boats on the East Coast.

On the ICW, cruisers often skip Georgia in their routes because of winding channels, frequent shoaling, far away refueling stops, 9 foot tide ranges and fierce currents judged as annoyances, that justifies a cut offshore, from Florida straight to South Carolina.

If they only took the time to visit this beautiful place, it is totally worth the effort!

Georgia has big estuaries that create an extended marsh around the barrier provided by coastal islands. The action of the tides and offshore storms shift constantly sand and mud, creating a rich habitat that harbors a great deal of flora and fauna.

Marsh grass swaying over mud flats, sand dunes and meadows, giant oaks draped by Spanish moss and maritime forests support the life of many animals, from big birds like owls, osprey, storks, herons, to the occasional alligator, manatee, and dolphin scanning the inland waters to feast on the local staple, wild shrimp.

Then there are the ecological anomalies–like the wild horses in Cumberland Island–that attracted Kate’s interest in this area. There I also had my first encounter with an armadillo, an animal unknown to us in Europe.

There are multiple options for anchoring in the tidal creeks, even though the places to go ashore are limited. The tide leaves behind soft mud and the few landing points are either private or with limited access. Kate and I explored the area at large, especially because it’s a perfect place to mess around on the dinghy (and forage for oysters at low tide!)

For how much we loved this place and all the generous friends who welcomed us with open arms making us feel like locals, the time to leave finally arrived.

It took a long Battlestar Galactica marathon from our computers to recover from a May of hard work in the boatyard. With the anchor sunk deeply in the mud, we swung for days at every change in the tide on the creek in front of the boat yard in St. Mary’s, consuming episode after episode, cooking meals and mostly lying down.

There are very few situation in my life that compare with the moments when I take refuge in my own little boat. As the pioneer yacht designer L. Francis Herreshoft once stated:

“The cabin of a small yacht is truly a wonderful thing; not only will it shelter you from a tempest, but from the other troubles in life, it is a safe retreat.”

We had done it. It was somehow hard to believe the quantity of work we pulled off in that hot dusty place, lying between a notorious brownfield site and the submarine base of Kingsland, in the middle of the marshes. But as we experienced in the past, hard work is rewarded by a functioning boat and periods of relax.

As we consumed episode after episode, we slowly emerged from our double bunk/table, the multi-use surface where we sleep, eat and work. Florida’s border was just at arm’s length to the South, but we instead planned to move North.

The first stop was again Brunswick, after we passed the beloved shores of Cumberland Island, its magic marshes, the shoal creek of Jekyll Island to land finally at Frederica Yacht Club, for last provisioning and goodbyes to friends.

We got there in time to taste of the first tropical storm of the season, Colin, which we rode at anchor tucked in a creek. As we learned from past experiences the marshes are a very safe spot during bad weather, as they are able to dampen the effects of big waves.

After we were all clear and ready to go it was time for the first rookie mistake of the trip. We left in the afternoon, with the idea of using the last hours of daylight to get well offshore before turning NE and started to climb the east coast.

Unfortunately my planning didn’t go well. We faced stronger than expected SE Winds that with the outgoing tide, transformed the narrow and shoal channel into mayhem. During a couple of tacks we rip our headsail at the height of the clew, while tacking in the canal in a severe choppy sea. We quickly furled the damaged sail and continued with staysail and mainsail. It was just an hour after departure and we were already in trouble.

We managed to turn around and sail back to the anchorage. It was the the wisest decision but definitely heartbreaking. We felt demoralized for this further delay in the departure, and the damage of the sail was a bad omen.

Our truly incredible network of friends once again saved the day. Back at anchor we looked for help from our kind friend Bill, a solo cruisers on a 28′ Pearson Triton, very similar to the Columbia 29.

Bill is a jack of all trades having worked in the past as helicopter engineer before taking care of the equipment of the scientific laboratories of a university in New York. He fixed the jib in a heartbeat using his powerful sewing machine and his sailmaking skills and we were ready to go once again.

SUMMER MIGRATION

The electric propulsion installed on Tranquility prevented us from traveling through the ICW for long stretches. The battery powered DC motor propels the boat for about 10 miles before recharging is necessary.

The range can be extended a little by hooking up our portable gas generator that runs the battery charger. Even in this case our progress is slow and uninteresting, especially because the generator strapped on our lazarette runs loudly and even talking becomes difficult.

Sailing is always the best option. Tranquility moves faster when powered by the wind and we can leave the tiller to the cares of the self steering gear, which works with the combined action of the wind and the water to keep the boat on course. Leaving the protection of the narrow waterways and heading to the open sea becomes necessary to really take advantage of sailing.

This limitations draw the lines of our route during this northern migration, with short and longer jumps offshore catching favorable weather windows between moments of rest in protected anchorages.

Sailing offshore allows us to keep moving at night, and this extends our range considerably. When we sail non-stop for multiple days and the weather is not too cold, the watch schedule is set every 4 hours.

The watch-keeper takes charge of navigation duties (making sure the boat stays on course), keeps a proper lookout for hazards and changes in weather, and updates the Ship’s Log.

The other crew member lays in the bunk, trying to rest but ready to be summoned in case of an “all hands on deck” situation, or “condition one” as we like to call it.

Following the watch rotation strictly enhances safety during passages, and we try to follow it religiously unless emergencies arise or when it’s time to make landfall.

During that summer migration we had many encounters with severe weather. Violent thunderstorms that can pack winds up to 60 knots are a common event in Spring/Summer along the East Coast. They originate inland and can travel up to sixty miles offshore.

Fortunately thunderstorms can be spotted from afar and they are usually announced by Severe Weather Warnings from the NOAA Weather channel on the VHF radio. The furious beeping from our VHF unit became a familiar sound that would keep us on our toes.

When one of those frightening microcells is on us we have to run for our foul weather gear, quickly reduce sails, shut down the companionway and steer clear from every obstacle. In seconds, a wall of wind hits us delivering blinding rain, a spiderweb of lightning and occasional hail for up to 30 minutes. Then it’s all calm again.

This was the general scenario during the five weeks that it took us to cover the distance between Brunswick and Fairhaven. We were finally voyaging, with the idea to get as far North as we could, but also enjoying a relaxed pace, because it was our time and we could do exactly what we liked, or at least what was possible.

Charleston was the first stop after Brunswick, this time we enjoyed anchoring just off Sullivan Island, where we found a secret and creative anchorage and we rowed ashore.

This cute laid back vacation island has an infamous past: Sullivan Island was the main port where african slaves were brought into the New World.

Charleston, SC

The only reminder left of this traumatic past is a little section of Fort Moultry Museum and a bench overlooking the marshes where the Toni Morrison Society place a “bench by the road”. As the commemorative plaque reveals “nearly half of all African Americans have ancestors who passed through Sullivan’s Island“.

Our pilgrimage on Sullivan Island included a visit to Edgar A. Poe’s library, but soon we headed out again and for about two days we sailed in light winds before taking a little rest into Little River inlet, right at the border between the Carolinas, after discovering a potentially good anchorage on the lee shore of Waites Island.

Cruising life had already deformed our sense of time. We forgot that 4th of July weekend was underway. The memory came back when a sudden crowd of any imaginable craft started roaming the inlet generating continuous wakes. Disturbed by the arrogant powerboaters out there to achieve their definition of fun, we continued to Southport, NC, in the Cape Fear River.

Our stay in Southport in the winter of 2013 was pleasant despite the bleak and cold weather. We found a pretty spot in the free town docks and the company of fellow late snowbirds. Unfortunately, summer time is another story, and we were welcomed by expensive dockage and fully crowded anchorages and public docks. Who could imagine that?

Luckily the “Provisions & Co.”, a bar and restaurant right on the waterfront, granted us permission to stay overnight at their complementary dock with the promise to leave the next morning.

We enjoyed the downtown crowd and a nice meal at the bar overlooking the boat. Expecting an early departure we went to bed as soon as we got free from many curious customers who came to the boat asking any kind of questions.

After the Cape Fear River, the desolate and wild spaces which gifted us of many stunning views and encounters turned into a monotonous sequence of private waterfront properties with docks.

Traffic increased and peaked with an anarchic 4th of July powerboat parade. A curious and oversized fella at the helm of a center console saluted me with “Happy 4th, Bro” wielding a beer. We were on the “other side”. Anchoring for a few days in Wrightsville Beach became necessary to let the craziness of the 4th dissipate, and as usual to wait for good weather for the next offshore leg. The town had good facilities for boaters, including a public dinghy dock, and free showers at the beach.

The next stop was Lookout Bight, a strategically positioned anchorage inside the protection of the Cape Lookout. Provisioning beforehand in Wrightsville Beach was fundamental, as our destination was a National Park with no shopping facilities.

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The arrival as night was thrilling. Trusting the Navionics digital chart we used for Navigation we kept a course that promised plenty of water under our keel. It was a lie. Right when we heard the sound of breaking waves and realized we could be in trouble, the keel of Tranquility hit the bottom. It was a sandy bottom judging from the sound. The boat bumped onto a sand bank, and I turned immediately to port where we found deeper waters, re-adjusting our position to the blinking red buoy.

We had approached the entrance with a too tight angle and the Navionics Charts had assured we were in no danger. It was a lucky way to demonstrate how chart plotters are not the solution to navigation problems.

Had we listened more carefully to the sound of the sea or took a wider, more conservative angle of approach and we could have avoided that. It was a lucky and painless lesson for the future.

Lookout was a highlight. It takes a boat to reach this isolated sea shore, and a part of the busy weekends when visitors come from the close-by towns of Beaufort and Morehead City, it is a solitary quiet paradise. Finally, we enjoyed swimming, hiking the dunes in July’s scorching heat and walked all around visiting the park facilities, the light house and the now abandoned Coast Guard Station that used to watch over the infamous shoals of the area.

During these hikes, we talked a lot about business plans, life plans, travel plans a big collection of our imaginary world had been discussed, analyzed and then dismissed or saved for. We thought about possible uses of shells, writing ideas, business ideas.

We sat almost a week in the anchorage in Lookout Bind, waiting for the perfect weather to head offshore again.

When the time finally came we rounded Cape Hatteras in a completely flat ocean, with all sails deployed to catch the light following winds and the gulf stream pushing us north. A completely flat Tranquility moved at five knots on course, in one of the most relaxing sails I remember.

The infamous Cape, known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” could have a pleasant and friendly face, and we were happy to meet that instead of the angry and violent doppelgänger.

With good weather conditions we crossed in front of the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, with the bow of Tranquility pointing finally North and we wanted to keep that happening for the longest possible time.

Ocean City, MD was next and its easy inlet and presence of an affordable marina and shopping facilities were all conjuring to stop. I remember looking at the charts and asking Kate “How is Ocean City?”. She replied that she spent a few summers there when she was a child. “It’s a crazy place you must see.”

After three weeks at anchor we needed to replenish our fresh water supply and restock our pantry. With some 300 miles to get to New England it was one of our last chances to stock up, especially because we were hoping to sail non stop to skip New York harbor and make landfall somewhere in the Block Island area.

We hit the hot/cooler line when we reached the port of refuge in Cape Henlopen in Delaware. Finally at night the temperature cooled down enough and blankets came out of storage.

Winds were not quite helpful for a few days so we stayed in the protection of the bay, ready to jump out any time the weather looked good. To kill time we visited the town of Lewes and the surroundings. It was my first time in Delaware, everything looked nice and tidy, but after all I wasn’t much impressed.

When the weather window arrived we crossed the Delaware Bay on a straight line to Block Island, in the company of frequent warnings from the National Weather Service. Further up in the trip, even if we were sailing almost 40 miles offshore from Long Island, the microcells and thunderstorms hit us twice in one night, bringing the usual strong wind gusts and torrential rain, but the “squall drill” was already deeply engraved in our brains and we took it as a routine.

Approaching Block Island, a big lull in the winds slowed us down. We calculated we had enough daylight time to make it to Fairhaven, MA, but the big puffy nylon sail had to come out to help us make some slow progress to destination.

More than two years after the maiden voyage, Tranquility was back at the beginning.

CRUISING IN NEW ENGLAND – AUGUST TO OCTOBER 2016

There are different type of cruisers out there.

Some are more goal oriented, put their intended destinations in a neat schedule and then charge on completing the list.

Others have a clear final destination but then move on a more relaxed pace, and play by the ear along the route.

Some others follow an erratical journey with a vague aim and become easily entangled in local communities, to the point that it takes a big effort to build enough escape velocity and depart again.

Kate and I belong to this last type.

We like sailing long passages, but we enjoy exploring places for long stretches of time, letting chance and our attitude lead us. There is nothing more dangerous in living the cruising lifestyle than hanging out just with cruisers.

I’ve always felt more drawn to relate with locals when I visit a new place. The perpetual motion of our life afloat introduced us to a galaxy of different people. Some of them became friends, trustworthy points of reference and patrons. Soon we received invitations for house sittings, pet sittings or we became the recipients of pure acts of generosity.

We either look very desperate living on our tiny 29 footer, or people really like us. Maybe both.

The hospitality in Fairhaven, MA was unprecedented. Since the very beginning a generous couple of empty nesters, the Sullivans, took us under their wing offering a shelter during the hard times of the Tranquility’s rebuild.

At that time we didn’t have a chance to enjoy the lovely summer in this beautiful stretch of the US East Coast. Buzzards Bay, the Elizabeth Islands, Vineyard Sound, Newport, Long Island Sound were just a few hours sail away but we were stuck in a boat yard putting together Tranquility piece by piece.

Traveling was limited by the amount of work, but meeting local people and becoming embedded in the culture of the area became a fun alternative.

The Southern Coast of Massachusetts has a strong maritime lore that dates back to the Europeans’ landings and to the age of whaling. New Bedford is famous for being “the city that lit the world” before the discovery of oil led to its financial crisis.

Fairhaven was also the place where the Spray, a wooden ship that “wants some repairs”, was handed to Joshua Slocum, the first man to solo circumnavigate the world in a small yacht, setting sail from that very coast in 1895.

During the summer these locations become rather posh and expensive touristic traps, that pose a very serious threat to our cruising budget. Because the season is short at that latitude, the industry gets aggressive to take advantage of every warm day when tourists invade the most popular destinations.

Local authorities are filling the anchorages with mooring fields, where you have to pay a hefty sum to tie up to a mooring ball. Docking to a marina is even more expensive. Areas where you can anchor for free are becoming a rarity and they usually are located far from any point of interest.

Luckily, our network of benefactors came to the rescue. Freddie and Heather, a couple from the clique of Fairhaven friends, offered us the use of their mooring ball tucked in Little Bay, as their Tartan 34 was receiving extended work that summer on dry dock.

Our typical day involved rowing for three hundred yards to the boat ramp where we pulled up and secured our dinghy and jumped on the bikes we borrowed from John Sullivan, locked to a post and ready to take us around.

We occasionally helped Freddie and Heather, staying at their place and taking care of their three dogs when they needed to take a trip out of town. I also celebrated my second birthday in the area, making pizza for a large group of friends.

Pizza, and in general cooking Italian food, is something that Kate and I are happy to do for the people who kindly welcome us. It’s the minimum we can do to pay back the generosity we receive.

It is also an excuse to hijack a fully equipped kitchen for a few hours, enjoying the perks of refrigeration, abundant fresh water, and countertop space that are reduced to a minimum on our tiny boat.

After paying our respects to friendly Fairhaven we set on a small journey with Cuttyhunk as the first destination. A pleasant upwind sail in the smooth waters of Buzzards Bay preceded our approach to the anchorage North of the island.

This rock with a little more than 100 houses on top is the westernmost of the Elizabeth Islands, extending southwest from Woods Hole. Some of these islands are private and property of the Forbes family.

Cuttyhunk has little more than a dozen year long residents, with barely one mile of paved roads where golf carts are the only traffic. It is a perfect place for a short hike in the maximum quiet.

Of course while there we visited the library. They are always on our visit list. Libraries have always been a friendly place, whether to find entertainment or do some hard work, or simply spend time wandering by the shelves, peaking at the free books for a new acquisition.

Libraries served many time as harbor of refuge and nomadic workplace.

As expected the library was very small, but holding a respectable collection. In such a quiet place books must be very sought after. The librarians immediately identified us as visitors and offered us raffle tickets that were due in an hour. Last minute tickets, how could we resist that?

On the side, with a whispering tone of voice even if nobody was there, they let us now that the chances of a win were high, because of numerous prizes and little tickets sold.

We left the island with a brand new hand knit throw donated to the raffle by a resident, a ceramic coffee mug and a tote bag with the Cuttyhunk library logo on top, all items that proved to be very helpful onboard.

Another friend, Clarissa, invited us to tie Tranquility to her mooring ball, this time in Newport Harbor. All of the sudden we were transported into one of the most exclusive yachting cities on the East Coast, a place where I lived for five months the first time I came to the US to spend more time with Kate.

For a European, New England is a soft landing spot in North America, and its sailing tradition allowed me to fit right in the middle of it, finding a job in the Superyacht industry which is very active during the summer months.

Tranquility was moored right in the center of the carnivalesque parade of Labor Day tourists, Superyachts, and classic racing boats. There are better days to visit Newport, but our unplannable voyage doesn’t take into account what’s better or desirable.

After Newport, Tranquility kept pointing West to Long Island Sound bringing us to discover Stonington, on the Connecticut side, only for the reason that we knew there was the possibility to anchor for free in the protected harbor.

Another appointment with a free mooring ball was waiting Tranquility on Long Island. Nina and Dustin invited us to a sailing rendezvous in Dering Bay, on Shelter Island, where we rafted up with other boats for a weekend party and then we again were invited to the use of a mooring ball, this time in Snag Harbor, in the Hamptons. What are the odds?

It was an interesting place to be, and thanks to the hospitality of our friends we could hang out a little for nice walks into town, even though we felt a little out of the picture, with our tiny boat among big and fancy yachts.

After our tour ended, we decided to head back towards Fairhaven, where we planned to leave the boat while we traveling to Italy to visit my family, and to let the tropical weather calm down.

Back in Fairhaven Shipyard, I saw the familiar silhouette of Aventura, a sailing yacht I worked on during my time in Newport. Paulo the captain had done a very skilled and complicated maneuver to dock the 108′ yacht in a tight spot, and came out smiling when he saw me.

The ocean is so wide but in a way it is incredibly small as encountering people happens all the time. Voices and rumors travel far and wide on the ocean, and you are always way less than six degrees of separation from any sailor.

November was again our chance to sail away from winter. As birds following their instinct, we prepared Tranquility and ourselves waiting for a good day to clear New Bedford’s hurricane barrier and begin our second winter migration.

The second winter migration seemed worse than the first one. Maybe it’s just the effect of memory fallacies, because sailing 800 miles in winter without autopilot must not have been all this fun.

This time we were not in such a desperate hurry, Tranquility also had a more comfortable interior layout and trustworthy self steering to give rest to the crew.

We left Block Island and its wind farms to starboard while charging ahead for the Delmarva peninsula and Chesapeake Bay, ignoring where the weather would force us to stop.

Weather windows in the North Atlantic are usually very short and unpredictable, and indeed after a little less than two days into the trip, the wind was mounting to gale force from the West.

It was not too bad, because wind blowing offshore doesn’t travel long enough over the water to generate big waves, but to me in the cockpit of Tranquility, they looked mountainous. With about 10′ waves and 30-35 knots of wind, it was hard to keep our course to the SW and the coast looked far and unreachable.

The weather radio talked about a wind shift to the NNW, which would have been beneficial in helping us gain miles towards the coast, and eventually get in reach of a point of refuge, but the announced shift was late to the appointment.

Once the winds finally switched to the NW we could set a course for Ocean City, MD, again the right place at the right time.

A known harbor is always preferable and the inlet was a relatively easy one, even if this time we had to face a big swell right at the entrance.

As usual, landfall happened at night, and we headed straight to the same marina with cheaper rates, tying up tranquility in the same spot we took the previous Summer.

At the marina, we defrosted for a couple of days, also taking a good stroll to a deserted city, creepy and fascinating at the same time. Then we went up at anchor waiting for the next departure.

This time wind took us to Cape Charles, VA, a location that we were happy to visit as it was highly recommended by our friend Paulo on Aventura. There we explored the area by foot, because the grocery store was 2.7 miles from the dock, and experienced once again how subversive is to be walking in America. And dangerous, of course.

One of the big advantages/disadvantages of sailing life is that we have to walk a lot. This is good for our mind and body, and to experience places at a slow pace.

Unfortunately the United States are one of the worst countries to visit on foot. With the exceptions of big cities and National Parks, everything else is built for automobiles, and people on foot become pedestrians, another label subordinated to vehicular traffic, something you become aware of only when walking is your only choice.

From Cape Charles we moved to the other side of the Chesapeake Bay, at the mouth of the ICW. We were ready to take the “ditch” to skip the dangers of Cape Hatteras in winter time, but before starting the inland waterway we visited family for thanksgiving, after docking Tranquility in Hampton VA, that had a downtown marina with reasonable weekly rates.

After the brief holidays we started moving again. In front of us there were long motoring hours along rivers, channels and sounds with one eye on red and green markers and the other on the depth sounder.

Short days and long nights put us in bed after early dinners and up after the sun finally shined. Our sleeping bags and each other’s body temperature were our best allies, even our cat Beta limited his night roaming to snuggle with us and find warmth.

Beaufort, SC

The electric drive had to work hard again. Moving carefully everyday to put some miles behind us, we stayed at anchor and saved money where the temperature was in the 40s and we dug into the sailing budget to dock and use shore power when it plunged well down into the 30s.

The good thing about this winter voyaging? It was that we could read a lot, write, cook hearty meals, and listen to the radio.

The Intracoastal went by as usual. We stopped in familiar places, and other ones never visited before. After Beaufort, NC we sailed only offshore, making landfall in a new for us place, Murrels Inlet, just South of Myrtle Beach. The island was surrounded by tidal pools and covered with green lichens underneath. We hopped around in our rowing dinghy looking for the scars of an older Gentlemen’s Club now completely reclaimed by nature. It was also an opportunity to get some oysters for dinner.

Savannah, GA

We kept sailing offshore, under numerous layers of insulated clothing, trying to stay dry and somewhat warm during the watch hours. The last passage stretched into Christmas Day, and we spent it offshore from Savannah with the only company being dolphins playing in front of Tranquility’s bow.

We arrived in Jekyll finally, the end point of a migratory journey made of cold, brumal gloomy grey days, all the way down from the always disturbing presence of Big Military ships in the Norfolk area, to pockets of wilderness and ferine presence that surprised us all along the coast.

Sailing the good and bad parts of the East Coast is a never ending discovery.

LAST DETAILS IN FLORIDA

The main way I do my part in financing this sailing journey is by working on bigger yachts as professional crew. I had been doing this full-time for 4 years and since we started living aboard it became a part-time occupation, mainly through temporary gigs to deliver yachts or as relief for permanent crew on leave.

Migration is a powerful force and unfortunately the peak season for this type of job coincides with the change in seasons, when we also need to sail our own boat to warmer places.

Every time, I live this moment with joy and frustration. Joy because I have this incredible luck to be able to sail my own little boat, and frustration because to continue this trip I need to be able to make some money, yet I have to let go of a lot of business.

The winter of 2017 was different, and luck turned to my side. Tranquility was headed to Jekyll Island Marina, our little hideout in the marshes, where we planned to spend New Years Eve with Kate’s parents who were on an intercept course with us while driving South to warmer Florida.

Migration is indeed a powerful force that speaks to our deeper instincts.

Once tied up in Jekyll Island we got a message from Paulo–Captain of Aventura–who was still in Fairhaven attending to last minute jobs in the shipyard.

He is from Portugal and surely loves the heritage of the area, where a lot of Portuguese families migrated, but it was already too late in the winter and his message was brief and direct.

He needed extra crew to deliver the yacht to Charleston, SC. It was still in Fairhaven Shipyard on dry dock.

We were in the perfect situation to accept the job. We had a secure spot to leave the boat in the marina, and Beta could go roam the backyard of our former house in Brunswick, joining the crew of animals under the cares of our friend Susan, who kindly took him in.

The jump from cool and humid Georgia to the frozen Fairhaven was a shock. But we didn’t lack the technical layers to face winter, nor the enthusiasm and eagerness to make some money.

We joined the regular crew in a beautiful rental house in the woods of Marion. While out of the water, the main systems of the yacht like sanitation and heating are shut down as they need salt water to function, and so everybody was living on land.

Long hours of work in the cold brought back profound respect for construction workers that face the outdoor conditions all year long. Kate immediately bonded with the Venezuelan chef assisting her in running all the errands necessary to provision the boat and keep the crew fed and happy. The short term employment stretched way longer than expected. Superyachts with a big budget are not immune to the quirkiness of boat life, where planning just does not work as in other realities.

A series of delays, including a broken travel lift, two consecutive snow storms of epic proportions and a last minute fuel polishing system malfunction left Aventura stranded on the hard concrete while everybody wanted her in milder climates.

All this hard work and delay was rewarded by an uneventful and smooth sailing. Aventura covered the entire trip under power, three days to cover a distance that took Tranquility a month.

Once back home on Tranquility we quickly proceeded South to Jacksonville, FL. Kate had a precise mission in her mind: treat her back pain, hoping that the proximity to the health services of a city like Jacksonville would help in finding good treatment.

While there we had a surprise party (as surprise as it can be for a couple that share the same mobile phone) for Kate’s Birthday with many friends and family converging to Jacksonville to celebrate Kate but also to wish us happy travels.

When the time of departure arrived we had a clear target in our mind: Panama. This is the country where Kate and I met for the first time in 2011, and we both had not been back since. We still had friends there that we regularly spoke to and we wanted to hug them.

Panama is a very biodiverse country, touched by two oceans, with hills and mountains covered by rainforest, and surrounded by numerous tropical islands, all packed in a small, accessible territory served by decent infrastructures. Even if it’s not the cheapest Central American country, it is still very affordable.

It is also a relatively safe location regarding crime and violence, statistically outside of hurricanes’ and tropical storms’ range, a place to stop longer than one season if we wanted.

There we also had the option to continue towards the Pacific if we decided to, or alternatively, to explore the Caribbean side of Central America.

With all the boxes checked, we had to pick which route would get us there. We picked the “Eastern Way”, leaving from Florida to cross the Bahamas on a SE route all the way down to the Windward Passage, the gate between Cuba and Haiti that opened the way to the Caribbean Sea and offers a straight shot to Panama.

The aforementioned reasons constituted a mental picture that offered a strong motivation to helped us defeat the gravitational pull of comforts of known places and the vicinity of friends and family, to finally get Tranquility and ourselves bound to distant destinations.

ACROSS THE GULF STREAM; THE TOURISTIC BAHAMAS

I have always regarded the Bahamas as a cruising ground for rich American tourists who take advantage of the proximities of these low lying islands to spend their vacations in resorts with expensive price tags.

My skepticism was fueled by prejudice, and I am glad sailing there proved me wrong.

The popularity of the Bahamas is due to their incredible beauty, and the options to enjoy this cruising ground are accessible to the self-reliant sailor, especially when you venture further away from the most popular areas. Having your own boat helps exploring exclusive places on the cheap side.

But before enjoying the wonderful scenario of these low lying islands surrounded by turquoise waters, we had to take Tranquility across the infamous Gulf Stream.

At the dockside, online and everywhere you engage in sailor-talk, the crossing of the Gulf Stream is always a lively topic. This warm current generates in the Gulf of Mexico and runs along the East Coast of the US, bringing warm tropical waters up North, all the way to Iceland.

Between Florida and the Bahamas, the huge mass of water of the stream is compressed in a narrow 30 miles wide stretch where the current attains speeds of up to 2.5/3 knots, influencing navigation.

Under specific conditions, particularly in strong northerlies, the action of the wind against the current lifts steep waves that can put in danger even bigger boats, or at a minimum provide a memorable ride.

The terror of the Gulf Stream crossing creeped in our cabin too, as we were preparing to set sail from West Palm Beach, where we hung out at anchor between millionaires’ yachts, waiting for good weather.

The privilege of not having to follow time constraints and schedules always plays an important role on the safety of our passages, and we always try to wait for the best conditions.

We did our homework, and eventually left at 11pm, when the ebb tide flushed us out into the ocean.

The night was quiet and lit by a bright moonshine. We had compensated for the drift of the Gulf Stream setting our course due East and expecting to be pushed some twenty miles to the North.

Our calculations were a bit too conservative, but none the less daylight brought us the view of an incredible palette of blue and azure that brightened gradually as the ocean floor raised to form the Little Bahamas Bank.

The lee of the uninhabited Mangrove Cay hosted us for our very first night and the next day we left for Grand Cay. After paying $150 plus some other fees to a customs officer whose office was his backpack, we obtained the cruising permit for 12 months and the immigration stamps for 90 days.

That was it. We were in the Bahamas, and even if our mid-term goal was Panama, we had about 400 miles to cover in these wonderful waters.

Our snorkeling gear that had been stuffed down low in lockers finally received good use. Exploring the coral reefs not only brought us dinner in the form of lobsters, conch and other delicacies, but opened up a channel to a world made of wonderful creatures.

At night Kate would shine our spot light and hypnotize marine life, witnessing the passage of fishes and weird invertebrates until, out of nowhere, a huge loggerhead turtle, the size of a truck wheel, swam under the boat. Kate was extremely excited, as she felt this was a reward for her loyal years spent in “turtle patrol”, protecting the life of turtles, saving them from crossing Georgia causeways or removing plastic from the ocean.

Sailing at night in the Bahamas is not recommended, as shoals and reefs are not exactly marked on charts, so we would jump from one beautiful anchorage to an during the day, and if we liked the surroundings, stop longer to explore the bay or the island.

Of the little area we visited in the Abacos during our march to the Windward Passage, Double Breasted Cay and Manjack Cay were our favorite spot.

Before heading offshore in the Atlantic, we looked for a place to dock and perform our marina routine: showers, laundry, boat wash down and deep cleaning, filling up water.

Our visit to Green Turtle Cay also coincided with a couple of days of strong winds and several squalls brought in by a cold front, but Black Sound proved to be a very protected spot and we barely felt the bad weather.

Clean and restocked, we head out toward Cat Island, facing again the Atlantic Ocean.

AGAINST THE WIND: THE LESS TOURISTIC BAHAMAS

In 2013, days after Kate and I purchased Tranquility, I took a delivery job from the Bahamas to St. Martin, sailing a similar route to the one we were attempting.

It was January, when trade winds never give you a break, even when I was aboard a 98′ with a powerful diesel engine I remember a wet and uncomfortable ride against the wind and the waves for few days in a row.

With those memories in mind, we were facing a similar route on a small, practically engineless sailboat.

Tranquility is not an upwind sailing machine like many modern designs, but her fine bow and narrow beam help in going atop and across waves, and her long keel keeps a steady groove over the water.

Every boat has a limit she cannot surpass, an invisible wall that can only follow very closely. Tranquility’s limit is perhaps 50 degrees off the True Wind Direction (TWD), and with stronger winds and pounding waves we probably get as much as 55 degrees.

This means that we can only go upwind following a zig-zag route, that makes us sail a longer course than the straight line from Point A to Point B.

A calm day with light winds was the perfect opportunity to leave Whale Cay and enter the deep Atlantic ocean again. The headwinds had decreased to 10 to 15 knots, and as light as 7 knots at a time, but the Atlantic still brought 5 feet or higher waves.

Somehow I felt that the ride was more comfortable than the short steep chop we faced sailing the shallow Abacos, and also less labor intensive as this time there were no shoals or reef to dodge.

We had planned two long tacks to reach Cat Island, and we let our selfsteering system handle the boat.

Even so, the trip was uncomfortable, as Tranquility sailed close to the invisible wall of wind. Too close and she would come to a stop, too far and we would be heading further away from the intended destination, sailing a longer distance. This time there were no anchorages in between and we sailed for full days and nights.

We hung in there with our world heeled 20 to 25 degrees from the horizontal line while the boat was slamming loudly into the incoming waves.

The journey was slow and uncomfortable, but soon we were able to see Cat Island from the distance, and luckily we were approaching in daylight.

This island has the highest elevation of all the Bahamas, and on its highest point a Catholic priest John Hawes (aka Fra Jerome) built a monument to faith, minimalism and simple living in 1939.

Before becoming a monument, the hermitage had been a place of worship, but also a homestead-for-one, with interesting features like a wind tunnel for climate control and everything one needs to live a simple life: a dormitory, a pantry, an outdoor bathroom, a cistern with a hand pump for rain water.

As we walked through the building I felt at ease. A short person like myself could have anything necessary for living in that place. It may be the reason I feel at home on a tiny sailboat.

Another treat of Cat Island was that in many anchorages we were the only boat–and humans–in sight. The incredibly beautiful waters and scenery made us feel like the richest people on Earth. Nothing else was necessary.

We indulged in this quiet paradise, as much as we could and when the weather was good again we kept sailing trying to go SE but instead ending up doing the same zig-zag course, going East first, then South, then East and so on, always following that invisible contour.

Tranquility was making progress and as she took us South, the winds started back to the East, which helped with boat speed and to finally head straight to our destination: Great Inagua, the last island of the Bahamas before the Windward Passage.

We arrived there in the early morning, anchoring in Man-O-War Bay. As we read it is a less rally option compared to the anchorage of the only inhabited settlement, Matthew’s Town, which receives the swell coming from the southern tip of the island.

We chose the northern corner of the bay to drop our anchor, near a dock that served as an abandoned US intelligence facility, tasked to control traffic in the Windward Passage through a blimp.

Kate loves industrial archeology and she always researches every place we visit for interesting features. A spy facility from the US government sounded cool in her mind and she took me on a tour of the dismantled facility.

The waters and the snorkeling was also exceptional and we spent more than a few days messing around, spearfishing and encountering two big blacktip sharks lurking from afar.

These beautiful creatures are very shy, and we could only see them for a few seconds before they took off for the deep blue waters.

When our supplies were running low we had to find a way to get to Matthew’s Town, so we sailed there and looked around for a place to anchor. The anchorage was extremely unprotected because of the swell coming from the South end of the island, and Tranquility was rolling from side to side incessantly.

A small basin with flat waters and good shelter from the was still under construction by Dutch contractors, and used mainly by Bahamian government ships and Haitians sailing vessels that traded goods.

There was no real place to tie up for a pleasure vessel, but we were more concerned of spending the nights rolling like crazy in the outside anchorage, and after a brief dinghy reconnaissance we decided to come in and moor the same way the Haitians do, with a stern anchor and a line to shore from the bow. We then ferried ashore using the dinghy to cover the few feet that separated us from the boulders ashore.

The dusty, noisy and hot basin was worth the discomfort because we could replenish our propane supply, get drinking water, buy cheap fruit and vegetables from the Haitians and get few other supplies from the grocery store.

We found the people living there very friendly and not used to seeing many cruisers or tourists. Matthew Town is a company town, built and maintained by the only big employer of the island, Morton Salt, which has a production site there.

In Man-O-War bay we could see the big white salt hills towering around the salt pans, and that’s where we went with our clearance paperwork filled and our passport stamped. We spent few days after clearing out to get ready for the long passage to Panama.

“Waiting for the weather” is a common destiny for cruisers. We often check weather forecasts, analyze our needs and judgments to foresee what a passage would look like, and if it’s going to be reasonably safe and/or comfortable.

Then at a certain moment we need to weigh anchor, as perfect conditions may not ever appear.

CROSSING THE CARIBBEAN SEA, OUR BIGGEST SAILING TRIP

Imagining routes and landfalls is one of the perks of sailing your own boat on your own terms. It is a special time for imagination, fantasy, desire.

For a while we sat in front of charts and sailing directions thinking about visiting Haiti, maybe stop in Jamaica as well.

Every option requires collecting information about immigrations,custom procedure and cruising fees, but also checking climate patterns and weather conditions, and matching them with where we intend to make landfall, including alternative points of refuge and a list of safe harbors.

Foreseeing trouble is one of the most practice skills in sailing, but there is a limit in analysis and planning, and then it comes the moment to lift the anchor and go, all the calculations could be useless in the end and improvisation becomes the only tool left.

While we were in Great Inagua, Tropical Storm Brett had already blasted from Venezuela to the southern tip of Jamaica, crossing the Caribbean Sea in a perpendicular way to our intended course.

With the tropical weather getting hot (2017 would be the year of infamous Hurricane Irma and Maria) we scrapped the idea of stopping in Haiti and Jamaica, and instead we decided to head straight for Panama, which lies out of hurricane reach.

Thanks to the good internet signal in Great Inagua we monitored the tropical waves coming out of Africa, trying to find a good timing to sneak out between them, and start the 750 miles that separate the last island of the Bahamas from Panama, crossing the Caribbean Sea, an open stretch of ocean surrounded by land and islands on its 4 sides.

Eventually we were on a beam reach charging very fast to the Windward Passage where the wind died leaving us bobbing around in calms for one day. It was only when we cleared the southern tip of Haiti that we started our Caribbean Sea crossing on a SSW course.

The trade wind–fueled by passing tropical waves–brought us steady strong winds. The first tropical wave brought 20 to 30 knots from ESE bringing hazy skies.

It was right on our beam so Tranquility was moving fast, but unfortunately the waves were big and they would often crash on deck and soak everything they encounter…including the watch keeper.

For the following days we experienced very similar conditions, sustained winds of 25 knots, gusting up to 30, and 7 to 10 ft waves that translated into permanent use of foul water gear and a constant change of clothes.

With hatches and portholes shut, the cabin turned into a steaming hot sauna, with soaked garments hanging everywhere in the hope they would dry.

Everything became quickly wet. Ourselves, our clothes, the towels, eventually the beds. For six days we were on a port tack dealing with this situation, and the other two were spent in hot windless days, bobbing around at the mercy of coastal currents that pushed us east of our intended destination.

Three tropical waves passed us during this leg, each bringing stronger winds, but nothing too severe, still the discomfort amounted to fast progress to our destination. With average daily runs well above 100 nautical miles the trip lasted eight days, two of which in dead calm, during the Windward passage and the last miles to Panama.

The arrival in Puerto Lindo at night generated a brief marital disagreement on where it was safe to drop the hook. We were exhausted, and after sailing in circles while shining our spotlight we dropped the anchor in the unknown dark bay cluttered with other vessels. For the first time after 8 days Kate and I went both to sleep at the same time.

Six years and 1,746 nautical miles later, we were in Panama again, quickly polishing our Spanish language previously used only to order food in Mexican restaurants and enjoying the abundance of life in the tropics.

At first we came into Linton Bay Marina, for deserved showers, a pizza and to decompress from the harshness of the sailing trip, and to wash and dry everything. Soon enough we established ourselves in Costa Arriba, the part of the coast East of the city of Colon, becoming residents in the anchorage, meeting new friends and learning our way around the area.

History in Costa Arriba goes back to the Age of Discovery. Gold and silver from Peru was transported on ships to Panama City, and then overland on mule trains to the harbors of Nombre de Dios and Portobelo to be loaded on galleons and sent to Spain.

This trail was known as the Spanish silver train, and attracted the attention of competitors and thieves. Privateer Francis Drake often engaged Spanish virreys on this very coast, fighting to win the economic war and controlling the shipping of gold and silver to the Old World.

The Isthmus of Panama was known as the Spanish Main, and Drake spent years of his adventurous life in these waters acting as a thorn in the Spanish side.

In 1572 He managed to sack the town of Nombre de Dios and one year later he seized the silver train, burying the treasure on the beach where he later retrieved it. He returned in the same waters twenty years later, after a failed attempt to seize San Juan, Puerto Rico. He died of dysentery while anchored off Portobelo and was given a burial at sea. Many diving expeditions attempted to find the body, all without success.

I know quite a bit about Francis Drake because Kate found far off connections to the English privateer in her family tree, while researching her ancestry.

Today Costa Arriba is still a wild coast for boats and people, because of many rocks and reefs, few far apart anchorages, most of which are extremely uncomfortable or dangerous in strong sea conditions.

It can be very bad during the dry season, from the end of December to April, when strong trade winds travel all the way from Africa to the Caribbean sea, raising big waves that finally smack onto this rugged coast, a characteristic that still endures from the time Spanish galleons were anchoring in this difficult area.

Central America in an Old Toyota Pickup

It is also one of the poorest areas of Panama, and it has been inhabited by the descendents of enslaved Africans who escaped slavery to hide in the jungle. The towns are small, colorful and have no services other than Chinese mini markets, schools and small public clinics. Colorful and noisy old school buses, imported from the US, travel along the only road that connects these distant towns and villages, providing the only form of transportation for many locals, as well as us.

Further East toward the San Blas it all gets more and more remote, smaller and weirder. We have visited the area by boat from the San Blas islands to Puerto Lindo, using the few good anchorages available, meaning we were either in Puerto Lindo or in the San Blas.

Our favorite cruising ground was the San Blas archipelago, which offers infinite possibilities for anchorage and is one of most beautiful, safest, and cheapest place I’ve ever sailed to.

The Gunas are the indigenous group that inhabit and rule those islands. They despise the name San Blas, which comes from the Spanish colonists and call their land Guna Yala (Guna land or Guna mountain). The islands stretch on a NW to SE direction towards the border with Colombia, sheltering the coast from the Atlantic swell and creating a peaceful and quiet area, where Gunas sail on their dugout canoes they call ulus.

The beauty of the ocean–the mainland covered with virgin rainforest, the islands with reefs and white sandy beaches, the flat anchorages in protected lagoons–all work together to create a unique place.

The crystal clear waters cover an incredible palette of blues. Reflections of the light from the sky on the different shoals and bottoms along the reefs span between the dark blues of deep waters, to the golden brown of sand banks, from the dark greens of seaweed beds to the browns, greens and reds of the coral heads and reefs. It’s an invitation to underwater exploration, easy snorkeling and great fishing and spearfishing.

The Gunas have been living in this unique ecosystem for hundreds of years, and they preserved a unique culture, their own language and follow strict rules. Considering what a good job they are doing managing the natural resources, we have to give them credit for keeping their land and their life as authentic as is possible in this globalized world. The shy but friendly Gunas show you the way to live an authentic life immersed in the natural environment.

The beauty and relaxed life of Panama acted on us as a brake, slowing down our voyage to a full stop. Again we became entangled, building relationships with local people.

But as we planned to move forward, we pulled Tranquility out of the water once again, for some scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and extra modifications we design along the route. That’s why we are currently in a Turtle Cay marina, a boatyard close to Nombre de Dios, which is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the continental Americas.

The boatyard is a green field of mowed grass surrounded by a building with the office, bathrooms and shower, a laundromat and the internet router that does not connect to the internet most of the times. All around tropical forest, palm trees and beaches remind us that this is not one of the usual boatyards we grew accustomed to.

The breaking waves crashing on a deserted beach and the distant town of Viento Frio are the exclusive view we enjoy from the cockpit of the boat.

We still have fantastic dreams of how we can improve the boat. And then there is the reality of a limited budget, limited time, and limited desire for hours of dirty work. We always try to remind each other to keep what’s working, and try to do our best with what we have.

Despite being 53 years old, Tranquility proved to be reliable and capable of taking us further. The limit is always our imagination, our grit.

It is at times difficult to follow this unscripted path, as goals and objectives may fade into the background while every day you find yourself grasping for meaning and sense, missing family and friends and having to constantly make decisions that regard safety and finances. The days we have in front of us are unknown, yet it is so easy to try to fit them in a perfect planned schedule. But plans have a short life on the ocean, as reality always likes to mess with them.

But luckily the most important day is always today, and small progress over time is the basis of big adventures. As we feel accomplished to have reached our goal, is time to dream about new distant destination.

Happy trails!

15 Things That Change When You Live on a Catamaran

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So, the dream of living on a catamaran is starting to look like a reality. You hit the internet to read as much as you can about life aboard.

I get it. For one, I was going to be ready for this big adventure and all the challenges that come with it. There was no way I was going to be caught unprepared. (Yeah… right.)

Preparing for Sailboat Living

When we moved on our sailboat, I quickly learned you have to experience this liveaboard lifestyle to understand the challenges.

It’s been almost two years of living full-time on our sailing catamaran. So, I decided to look at the day-to-day things that are different from our habits in land-based life.

Many things we didn’t think twice about have a massive impact on our lives on the boat. Things like water conservation, provisioning, cooking, cleaning, and adjusting to a small space all take time and energy.

Here are some of the big changes to everyday habits that we discovered living on a catamaran.

1. Laundry on a Boat

A few years back, I was one of those people who threw most things in the hamper after one wear. It was just easy.

Unless you have the convenience of a washing machine onboard, it’s not so simple to run a load of laundry.

It costs money, and it can take a lot of time to haul your clothes around. Alternatively, handwashing is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and hard on your water usage.

To minimize laundry, you have to think about what you wear and how you wear it.

Summer Washing

In the summer, you can get sweaty just sitting on the boat.

I learned to wear quick-dry items like leggings, swimsuits, and UPF tops I could easily handwash with a small amount of water. If you can stretch the life of your outer clothing, you can clean undergarments and swimsuits in a small collapsible tub.

Winter Washing

Re-wearing clothes in the cooler months is much more comfortable than in the summer months. If it’s not dirty, I don’t wash it. If clothes smell or I’ve been doing boat work, I move them to the dirty pile. Just paying attention to these details reduces laundry. And the less you wash your clothes, the longer they’ll last.

2. Cooking Aboard

There are a few aspects of living on a boat that heavily influence your cooking.

Space. Access to ingredients. Water conservation. Ventilation.

If you only have a small area to prep, you learn quickly to do it in stages. Prepping vegetables, putting ingredients away as you work, and washing dishes as you go is also essential.

Access to Ingredients

Before boat life, recipes were iron-clad when I was cooking. But without the convenience of running to the store, they’ve become more of a guideline. You learn how to adjust recipes based on what you have on hand. You get comfortable substituting vegetables, different spices, and acidity for flavor.

Water Conservation

When off the dock, fresh water is at a premium. How much water you carry (or make) will dictate how you cook.

We do a few things to conserve water in the kitchen . Wash dishes in saltwater first. Use an Aquabot for pressurized cleaning. Cook pasta with a small amount of water. I’ve also embraced one-pot meals to save water on cleanup.

Ventilation

Our catamaran is “galley up,” so it’s easy to open the cockpit window above the stove to release heat and steam. But that’s not always enough.

We use the thermal cooker in the summer to avoid heating up the boat. You can make beans, rice, broth – even casseroles or banana bread without expelling heat in the boat.

READ NEXT: For more tips and ideas for cooking on a boat, check out our lists of easy and versatile meals on a boat and sailboat galley essentials .

3.  water usage.

When off the dock, water is a high commodity on a boat.

Even with two 80-gallon tanks, water can go fast if you aren’t paying attention.

You can minimize water through small changes to your habits, including:

• cooking pasta with a few cups of water
• swapping soap for hand sanitizer
• rinsing dishes on the sugar scoop
• we even recycle the cat’s stale water in the herb garden

Me, I love hot showers. Just steaming for like 30 minutes, that’s my kind of heaven. So learning to shower with less than a couple of gallons of water was a big hurdle.

Conserving water can be a challenge, but you’ll be surprised what you can save when you use it thoughtfully.

We had days in the winter when we used less than 5 gallons. It just takes a little practice, as with most things on a boat.

READ NEXT: For more tips on conserving water, check out our guide to saving water on a boat .

4. sustainable practices.

When you live in a small space, you realize how many disposable items you are harboring.

When we first moved on the boat, the paper towel storage alone took up half a cabin.

Not only are you losing storage, but those disposable items are just that, future trash for you to deal with.

Ditching paper towels, plastic bags, and other single-use items saves space and money. As a bonus, you get to feel optimistic about creating less trash.

Here are a few sustainable options we switched to:

• Reusable “Unpaper” towels
• Cotton napkins
• E-Cloths, microfiber towels
• Beeswax wraps
• Foldable reusable bags
• Glass straws
• A quality set of plastic containers in various sizes

READ NEXT: Zero Waste Swaps for Small Spaces for more eco-friendly options.

5. fridge space.

The residential fridge. Something I took for granted as a landlubber. A fridge door full of condiments, anyone?

Managing food in a tiny fridge requires strategy and a little education.

Learning what you NEED to keep in the fridge is helpful. Sure, it’s nice to have cold ketchup, but necessary? No.

Sriracha, soy sauce, hot sauce, mustard – out you go.

We also switched to almond milk and tofu brands that only need refrigeration after opening. This way, we can still stock up without loss of fridge space.

The Right Storage

Once the condiment bottles are out, having the right storage makes all the difference.

Containers need to be the right size to fit inside shelves on the door and inside the fridge. You want various sizes, so you don’t need to use a huge container if you have a smidgen of something.

Prepping Vegetables

You can save more space by chopping fresh veggies when you get back from the store. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and hardy greens can all be prepped ahead. I store any scraps in the freezer for homemade vegetable broth .

6. Provisioning

Keeping track of your grocery store when you live on a boat is crucial. You probably won’t be able to run back to the store because you forgot the butter.

Stocking Up

One of the nice benefits of living on a catamaran is the space.

We tend to stock up on these when we can.

• Beans (dried and canned)
• Grains, pasta, oats
• Canned and dehydrated vegetables
• Baking goods and almond milk
• Oils, vinegars, spices, nuts, seeds
• Wine and beer

Most of the time, we are hand-carrying our groceries. So when we have the opportunity to have a car, we load up on heavy items.

When we plan to be at a marina, we have a list ready for Amazon and Walmart.com to have shipped.

READ NEXT: Get a detailed overview of stocking your boat in our Practical Guide to Sailboat Provisioning .

Supplementing fresh food.

We keep a variety of veggies on hand: dehydrated, canned, a little frozen, and fresh. When cooking, I use a little bit of everything to stretch fresh foods.

We have a nice space in the cockpit where we keep potted fresh herbs. They can really step up a dish!

As a bonus, they add to the coziness of the cockpit living space.

7.  Downsizing Your Closet

Before I started to plan for boat life, I had a giant wardrobe. I love clothes. And I had been collecting them most of my life.

Believe me, when I tell you cutting my wardrobe down to less than 100 items was a long, emotional process.

A Minimalist Wardrobe

The less you have, the less you need to care for.

Aim for a wardrobe of pieces you love that work for living on the water. It’ll be easy to get dressed, and you’ll be happy in your clothes. And if you are managing your laundry (see #1), you won’t need many clothes.

The owners’ version of our catamaran has great storage. I can easily see all the clothing in my wardrobe. I only need to store a few off-season items under our berth.

READ NEXT: For what type of clothing to have on your sailboat, see What to Wear Sailing . Or see How to Downsize Your Wardrobe for more on getting rid of clothing.

8. temperature control.

Spoiler: you don’t have much control of temperature at anchor. And what power you have isn’t as easy as turning the dial on the thermostat.

On a catamaran, you can pretty much open up the doors and hatches on the bridgedeck and get a cross-breeze on a hot day.

I was surprised that Georgia in August (as miserable as it was during the day) was never unbearable at night. We used Breeze Boosters over our cabin, and it worked wonders moving the air around at anchor.

Cold Nights

When it’s cold on a catamaran, you know it. There’s no insulation, and the boat cools down quickly. Below 40 at night is chilly.

Fortunately, if the sun is shining, it can heat the bridgedeck nicely in the morning.

Down blankets, the right clothing, and foul-weather gear will keep you from becoming an icicle.

9. Storing Things

On a boat, you can’t just throw your things in a locker and forget them. Nope.

You’ll need to plan when storing clothing, personal items, and food.

Mold, leaks, and bugs are all things to be concerned with.

Essential oils, bay leaves, vinegar, and plastic bags will be vital to protecting your items.

You’ll also need to think about where you store things and how accessible they are. It becomes a bit of a puzzle to make sure you keep items you often use in an easy-to-access location.

READ NEXT: For storage tips, check out Helpful Boat Storage Ideas for Liveaboards .

10. slowing down.

A big part of living happily on a boat is moving at your own pace.

It is being in the mindset of appreciating what you are doing now and not continually looking to the next move.

When we first moved aboard, there was self-imposed pressure we should be moving faster – doing more.

When we finally slowed down and started to embrace the here and now, we enjoyed the boat so much more.

11. Your “House” Breaks (A Lot)

When things go wrong on a boat, they tend to go really wrong.

A pro and con of catamarans is there are a lot of duplicates. It’s great to have a backup, but it also means double the maintenance. Two hulls, two engines, two heads… you get the picture.

On the plus side, when our starboard engine broke, we were trying to maneuver through a bridge. We had to turn 260 degrees to turn toward the bridge, but one engine is better than none!

The hardest thing in these moments is keeping your head when everything is against you.

We try to slow down and take a breath if the situation allows. Once any immediate concern is taken care of, we take a breath before diving into solving the greater issue.

12. You Learn to Live Intentionally

Our decision to move on a sailboat was for the rewards of the lifestyle.

One of the most significant rewards is being intentional with space, time, and money.

Living on a boat offers freedom from your stuff. It allows you to live more simply.

On the boat, we get to spend more time with each other. We only have what we need because space is limited.

Don’t get me wrong. A boat requires time and money. But we are intentional about how we spend those when maintaining our floating home.

READ NEXT: Our article on the cost of living on a sailboat breaks down expenses by category.

13. appreciation for nature.

Living in the Colorado Rockies for over a decade, it was easy to love the outdoors. But living on the water creates a deeper connection.

You wake up to the water lapping on the boat. The sun dances off the waves, throwing reflections across the cabin.

Walking outside at anchor and seeing the birds hunting for breakfast is a morning routine. And a sea turtle drifting by for a visit is not uncommon. Even relying on the sun for power and the wind to travel is part of the lifestyle.

All these experiences bring you closer to nature and beg you to slow down, breathe, and take it in.

14. Personal Space

It doesn’t matter how much you love your significant other. If you live on a boat together, you will be looking for some “me time.”

When you sleep, eat, shop, travel, and take care of a boat as a team, that’s a lot of togetherness.

How We Find Space

It’s nice to create spaces for personal time in a small space like a boat.

A big plus of a catamaran is you can create a few separate spaces.

We have four main spaces where we spend time: the cockpit, the trampoline, the salon, and the owners’ berth. Ensuring these areas are comfortable and cozy helps us find our own spaces in a tiny floating home.

Sometimes, it’s not about physical space but mental space.

I like to have personal time while I’m cooking. It’s something I enjoy, and I can put on my headphones with a show or playlist and tune in while I cook.

Even a quick solo kayak adventure is rejuvenating if we are in a nice anchorage.

15. Minimalism

Embracing minimalism was a change we made going into boat life. But it’s not the typical view of minimalism that has become trendy these days.

Minimalist Lifestyle on a Boat

The typical “rules” of minimalism aren’t as clear-cut on a boat.

We have a lot of extras when it comes to spare parts and tools. Some parts can be hard to come by, and with two engines, you need double the spares. Not to mention, things never break when there’s a West Marine around the corner.

We also have a lot of non-perishable food and duplicate personal care items. It’s easier to stock up when we have the opportunity. This process keeps our routine shopping to mostly fresh items.

How We Live Minimally

On the flip slide, we don’t have a lot of extra stuff – extra clothes, additional personal items, disposable items.

We don’t have more typical things you would find in a house, such as a dishwasher, microwave, or washer/dryer. We are minimalists with water and power when we’re off the dock. 

We aren’t the typical minimalists, but we use space intentionally. And we continue to evaluate our needs based on this lifestyle.

READ NEXT: Check out our full guide on ways to downsize and live minimally .

Can you live on a sailing catamaran.

After a year as liveaboards, many of your daily habits will change. We are still adjusting and finding the best ways to adapt to life on a sailing catamaran.

You lose many conveniences of the modern world, but it’s entirely possible to live without them. It comes down to deciding which comforts are important to you.

How you use space, time and money will shift. You’ll learn to be sustainable, thoughtful, and more self-sufficient.

Living on a boat is a unique experience. No matter how long you do it, it has the power to change the way you live in the future for the better.

Want to learn more about cruising on a boat?

For more on the reality of boat life, the cost of living aboard, and tips for life on the water, view our complete guide.

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Or view our web story.

Morgan, the founder of The Home That Roams, has been living nomadically for over five years. She began her journey traveling across the U.S. in a motorhome and cruising on a liveaboard sailing catamaran. Currently, she lives full-time in a travel trailer, sharing resources on RV living and boat life to help others downsize their lives and thrive in an alternative lifestyle.

11 Comments

That’s really great post. I appreciate, Thanks for sharing.

Glad you liked the post!

So glad I found this site, looking forward to exploring the rest of it! But here’s my first question, as someone who’s still in the "dreaming" stage: This article tells me that the most basic aspects of day-to-day living are a constant source of concern and effort. Yet there are yachts nicer than most five-star hotels. So what’s the price point (or size point, or whatever point) where your daily concerns don’t revolve around things like do we have enough water to cook dinner and how bad do my clothes really smell? Does frequent marina access solve these issues? Is there a way to live on a boat where it’s easy, or does that only happen in Jimmy Buffett’s songs?

Hi Frank and Lola, thanks for stopping by and asking some great questions! Generally, the number of conveniences onboard a boat directly correlates with the time and dollars needed to have those conveniences. So when you think of the hotel like yachts, also think about the captain and crew and resources it takes to keep them running. It’s the same with smaller yachts. Even when you have the systems, you still have to manage your power or resources to run the watermaker or watch the weather and route plan to get to the marina. This is one reason a lot of boaters opt for fewer systems.

I had to laugh in agreement at your Jimmy Buffett reference – I think Jimmy must be doing a lot of day boating, haha. I personally feel that if you had around a 45-foot cat and a big budget to outfit it, you could have a lot of modern conveniences (watermaker, large solar setup, washing machine, etc.) However, living on a boat is never going to be easy IMHO. You have to put in the effort to live on the water!

I hope this was helpful and didn’t discourage you. My goal is to provide a realistic view of the lifestyle!

Agree. Especially #11. We live on a monohull so only have one head to contend with. Also whatever the purchase price, expect to spend 10% a year maintaining said boat. Things break at the most inconvenient times and improvisation is absolutely key.

Hi Breanna, #11 is definitely a big one! And of course, the head is always interesting. The first time we had a real maintenance issue with the head I posted on Instagram and announced my husband and I’s relationship had officially made it through our first serious head malfunction, haha. As you mentioned, Improvisation is also so crucial! We tend to get pretty creative with solutions 🙂

What entertainment do you use on a long haul, such as books, cards, chess. How do you plan the nights such as sleeping or on watch. Do you use automatic steering.

Hi Stephen, we like Audible for downloading books, I also like to download podcasts. We also use an external drive for movies. We do have and use an autopilot onboard. We don’t have experience with long passages, but The Boat Galley has what I think is a great article on the subject, you can find it here! https://theboatgalley.com/passagemaking-and-sleep/

Thanks for such an informative post. We’re in the process of buying a 42ft catamaran and plan on sailing up the east coast of Australia next year…scary and exciting!

I see that in some of you photos you have a gorgeous looking cat 😊 I’m planning on taking our 6 year old cat with us on the trip. Do you have any tips and advice on how to make life more comfortable and safe for a cat onboard and how to get them acclimatised to boat life?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Dee

Hey Dee, this is so exciting! I’m sure there’s lots of planning and preparation in your future but in a good way 🙂

I have a post about sailing with cats that you can find here – https://thehomethatroams.com/blog/cat-on-a-boat/

But in general, I would say to take it slow and keep a close eye on them in the transition period while they’re testing their limits. Our cat is good at finding any open compartments, so when you’re working on things or storing things, make sure they don’t slip in! You will probably want to use a life jacket in the beginning at anchor, as well as keep a good eye on them until they become more comfortable. The top of the bridgedeck seems to be a favorite spot for cats since they can see so much from up there!

Best of luck on your new adventure! – Morgan

Wow. Thanks for sharing your experience. Unfortunately, not all people experience that, so we must enjoy every second. Nice post!

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11 Amazing Spots Around the World to Liveaboard a Boat (With Pictures)

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Living onboard a boat in the Caribbean was something I really enjoyed; there was a type of simplicity to life. Make no mistake living on a boat is very different from living on the grid and takes a lot of hard work.

But the upsides are big, fewer distractions from the intense life on the grid and quality time with the people on your craft!

In this article, I have put together the 11 most exciting places worldwide to live aboard your boat. I have looked at factors such as money, but this is mainly a text focusing on the more exciting examples.

If you want to know more about liveaboard here in Florida , then I recommend you read this article that I have created

Table of Contents

11 Most Amazing Spots in The World to Liveaboard a Boat!

This list intends to inspire you and give you some ideas of where you might possibly spend your days in the future. Since taste is an individual preference, I have not listed them in any order; they are all exceptional places!

As you will also see, this list only contains warm-weather spots; if you’re into the cold stuff, then this is not for you 😉

1. The Bahamas

Although the Bahamas might not be the perfect place to liveaboard, it almost didn’t make the list since it’s very secluded and more suited for traveling through than a place to live.

But having a list like this and not mentioning world-famous cruising grounds like the Exumas or Bimini Island wouldn’t be fair.

I loved sailing in the Bahamas; it is the perfect mix between being isolated and still being able to get help if something happens.

And speaking of the weather, it’s incredible almost year around. The wind blows from the east with a steady breeze, which is just perfect since the islands stretch from north to south, making it possible to travel in every direction almost any day.

The Bahamas even has this weird island where, supposedly, a long time ago, there were pig farmers, but the farmers have moved off the island, and all that is left are the pigs.

And I’m talking giant pigs that, when you close in on the island, will jump in the water and swim up to your boat to get some food.

Give them food if you want to, but if you are in a dinghy, they will try to get on board, and some of the people we met told stories of pigs even puncturing dinghies.

2. Miami, USA

This one is a little odd; Miami per se isn’t a cruising area, even though the Florida Keys are around the corner. But the cool thing with Miami and Miami Beach is that there are multiple places where you can anchor for FREE! This means you can bring your boat and park it in the water next to buildings worth millions of dollars.

It’s like having a two-bedroom apartment in Miami Beach. Get dressed and dinghy off to dry land and enjoy everything that Miami has to offer, all within walking distance!

Even though I said that the anchorage is free, Miami Beach is definitely not, so in the long term, you won’t save any money in Miami.

And once you are tired of the beach, head on over to Boca Chita or any other of the small islands of the bay. Make sure you bring bug spray, but don’t worry about music; there will be plenty of powerboats supplying more than you would ever need.

3. Mallorca, Spain

I have spent a lot of time here, my mom used to live here with my dad, and we would come here every year. The island is impressive, a small gem in the Mediterranean.

High mountains are combined with crystal clear water and marinas everywhere. You want to enjoy the big city hustle of Palma Nova or cruise around the island and stop for an espresso at Port de Soller.

If you’re a trail runner like me, then you will have plenty of mountains to explore; there is a 110 km long trail on Serra de Tramuntana, which I can recommend that you make day trips along.

Renting a car and traveling the island is cheap; it will take you a day or two and is perfect for when you’re tired of the sea.

I would say that Mallorca is reasonably priced, considering its location in Europe and being a very popular place with tourists.

4. Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town was something that surprised me; South Africa, in general, offers incredible diversity. Not only in the political realm but in nature, in cape town, you will see everything from the fantastic table mountain to the great white sharks.

You can head up to the Kruger national park and see lions, elephant rhinos, and all types of cool animals. , I would suggest you take a road trip through this wonderful country.

South Africa might have a bad reputation regarding safety, at least in my home country of Sweden, but I found it to be just like many other places in the world.

There are places you should go to, and there are places you definitely should not. All of this information is easily accessed by asking the locals.

The locals are friendly, and just like any other country, you must listen to their advice to stay safe.

Other than that, South Africa is free to explore, and I definitely think you should!

5. Cartagena, Colombia

Colombia is one of my absolute favorite countries; not only is there a lot of salsa and good food. The people living in Colombia are the friendliest I have ever met.

The city of Cartagena is a little bit of a tourist trap, but once I had spent some time there, I started to like it more and more.

The old town of Cartagena is amazing, with a lot of activities and ancient castles. Whether you’re ready to party or chill out at the beach, Cartagena has something for you.

Since Cartagena is located on the Caribbean coast, there are a lot of “reggae” culture and vibes along the beaches that surround the area.

And if you’re in Colombia, you should definitely visit some more places like Medellin, Cali, or the remote and beautiful mountains of Nevado del Tolima.

And make sure you talk to the locals; they have a great history, and many are eager to share stories about the new Colombia. I believe Colombia will be one of the world’s biggest attractions in a few years.

There are many marinas available in Cartagena , and they are reasonably priced. Most people during transit will just anchor outside, but for a more extended stay, that will probably be pretty tough since the.

There are water taxis, powerboats, and jet skis all over the place. But once you get inside the marinas, it’s all nice and quiet.

6. Southern Thailand

I first went to Thailand when I was around twenty years old; we actually flew to the wrong airport, which kind of made us a little confused in the beginning.

But the good part was that we landed in an amazing part of Thailand where most tourists don’t go. From Krabi, we took a boat to the island off the west coast named Koh Lanta, which became our home for the coming month.

The area around Koh Lanta is full of small islands, beautiful weather, and amiable people. I can recommend getting your divers license in Thailand, it is cheap but far more critical; the diving will be something that you never forget.

The province of Krabi, where Koh Lanta is situated, is also the home of Rai Leh, a real sweet spot for those who like to climb or do other outdoor activities.

You might have also heard about the island of Koh Phi Phi, where the movie The Beach was filmed back in 2000. Phi Phi Island is a special place; the diving is fantastic. If you’re into partying, this is also an excellent place for that.

But the most extraordinary thing is, in my opinion, is the sailing, the Clearblue water, and the sensation of being at 20 m of depth surrounded by 80F water is something special!

Living in Thailand is cheap, and cruising is terrific.

7. Tasmania, Australia

Although being a pricy place to stay, Australia has some well-known sites well worth the price tag. One such place is the island south of mainland Australia called Tasmania.

Tasmania is a cruiser’s choice, especially in the southern part of the area of Hobart; here you will be able to see dolphins, whales, and other animals of the sea.

It is also a place for finding your very own secluded beach, maybe a place to  beach your catamaran  and explore a deserted island. I also have a guide on how to live on a catamaran .

Most of the islands are also very protected, which can be a nice change of pace if you recently came here overseas.

Croatia is one of the most famous destinations for sailing vacations around the world, and this is for a good reason. With over 1000 islands, there are plenty of places to sail around and discover.

Although wintertime in Croatia is not like the Bahamas, you will still be able to enjoy the cooler weather if you prepare yourself and the boat properly.

Many say Croatia is the French Riviera during the 50s, unspoiled and full of opportunities for quiet anchorage even at high season.

Sailing in Croatia is mainly about anchoring in the free, but there are also some marinas in Dubrovnik, Trogir, and Split worth spending a night or two in.

I would argue that the best month is in September, this is when most of the tourism has died down, but the weather is still great, which means you have all those islands to share with a lot fewer people than during the high season.

Staying in Croatia also gives you access to the entire Mediterranean Sea.

9. Southern Bali, Indonesia

Bali is nothing special, but at the same time that it is truly amazing, yes that sounds a little bit counterintuitive, but you’re looking at a list of the 11 best places to live on a sailboat, and all the places are amazing 🙂

So what I mean is that Bali is a place to sail and live where you will enjoy beautiful beaches and a lot of sun.

But you won’t really find that special thing that some other places have, like the Bahamas with the perfect wind in relation to the islands, or The British Virgin Islands with its perfect set up for cruising.

10. The British Virgin Islands

I wasn’t supposed to include this on my list, but then I changed my mind, just like the Bahamas; this just needs to be on here.

BVI is probably THE most popular of all cruising grounds; it is the best combination of proper infrastructure and the ability to disappear to a remote island for some time of your own.

The weather is stable most year-round, except during hurricane season, of course. Since sailing infrastructure is so good, you will find marinas everywhere, and most of them are safe and secure from the weather.

You will find sun-soaked beaches in abundance, shipwrecks to dive on, and theme bars all over, this is combined with the French Caribbean cuisine, and you have the recipe for success.

The BVIs took a hard hit during Hurricane IRMA in 2016 but have since started returning to their previous glory with many volunteers helping out to remove rubbish that was blown into the sea and onto coral reefs.

11. Whitsunday Islands, Australia

Most people know of the great barrier reef, but not all have heard of the Whitsunday Islands. Being a chain of 74 islands, it’s the closest to the Caribbean, you will get on this side of the world.

As often common in Australia, there’s an abundance of wildlife, sunny beaches, and see-through water making it the perfect spot for snorkeling.

And since there are only four of those islands that offer resort accommodation, the area is much less developed than those in the med.

A fun fact is that Whitehaven Beach is 98 percent silica, which makes it incredibly white, and some say it’s the most beautiful beach in the world, but I’m not so sure.

What are The Worst Places to Live onboard a Boat?

I would definitely say that  any place that is cold and rainy . Livin on a boat, especially if it is a small one, makes the outdoors your living room, which is fantastic when the weather is good, but it would suck if it were to snow in my living room 🙂

I would also say  safety is a big concern,  I wouldn’t want to live in a place where I wasn’t reasonably safe, and I say “was” not “felt.” On many of my trips, I have come back home only to find myself surprised that I’m alive; for example, people still think Colombia is very dangerous; it’s not, and neither is South Africa if you travel smart.

What is a Good Liveaboard Boat?

The right liveaboard boat is something that is big enough to ensure you have all the creature comfort that you need but is small enough so that you can afford the costs.

Can You Live on a Boat in a Marina?

In most places, yes, but some countries or marinas will not allow people to live on their boats in the marina. Such was the case when we were fixing the hole in our hull in Miami.

What are The Benefits?

There are some nice benefits, life gets simple, not easy, but straightforward. No phone connection means you cant google stuff and get notifications from Facebook or ads.

You become very close with your crew, and you will get to know them and yourself in a more profound way.

What Are The Downsides?

I would say the constant work on the boat; there is always something that needs to be fixed and something that needs to be planned for. If you are stationary in a marina, this is not much of a thing.

But if you’re a sailing liveaboard, everything breaks, all the time 🙂

General Rules For Liveaboards

You really have to get in contact with the marina that you want to live on; many places don’t accept people living on the boat full time.

I have also excluded any price figures in the text since it varies greatly depending on what you are looking for, how long you’re staying etc., but the general guideline is that the longer you stay, the cheaper it gets.

If you’re planning a winter liveaboard trip , I’d be happy to share some helpful tips.

Also, make sure you stay in a well-protected marina with minimum swells coming in; I would recommend that you choose a marina to try for a month until you commit to something longer.

Make sure you have the right papers; this includes Visa, work permit, etc.

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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17 Best Sailboats to Live On + What You Should Know First

Many dream of living aboard a sailboat, but finding the right one can be daunting. There are many different types, and countless manufacturers have come and gone over the years. 

Here’s a list of 17 options – a sailboat for every sailor on every kind of budget. 

Table of Contents

17 best sailboats to live on, pros of living aboard a sailboat, cons of boat life.

• Find Your Type of Boat 

Set Your Boat Budget

What size boat to pick, best liveaboard sailboats under 35 feet (< 35 feet), best liveaboard sailboats under 40 feet (35–40 feet), best liveaboard sailboats under 45 feet (40–45 feet), best liveaboard sailboats under 50 feet (45–50 feet), best liveaboard sailboats under 60 feet (50–60 feet), want to live on a sailboat, best sailboats to live on faqs.

• Catalina 34/35
• Panda/Baba 35, Tashiba 36a
• Gemini 105MC
• Islander Freeport 36
• Passport 40
• Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42DS
• Leopard 42/43
• Beneteau Oceanis 473
• Hallberg Rassy 46/48
• Leopard 46/Moorings
• Amel Super Maramu 2000
• Privilege 585

What to Know First

So, boat shopping is a challenge, to say the least. Understanding where to start and what to look for comes down to understanding what you want to do with your boat.

Here’s a look at some pros and cons of living aboard to get you started.

• Seaside living at a fraction of the cost of a waterfront home
• Ability to travel anywhere by water
• Ability to move anytime—not tied to one location/town
• Different liveaboard lifestyle options to choose from: at a dock, mooring, anchoring, cruising (traveling)—tired of one, mix it up for a different experience
• Small living space lacks storage and privacy
• Limited resources: you must meter your fuel, water, and electricity use when not at a dock
• More exposed to the elements and more affected by weather events
• Seating and furnishings are less comfortable than in a house
• Constant maintenance to keep the boat seaworthy and clean

How to Find the Best Boat to Live on Year Round

At first, you might think boat shopping is like looking for a new car. But when shopping for a car, you have a small pool of manufacturers and models to choose from. In the end, you might have five choices and already have an opinion about each maker’s quality and reputation.

Boats are different. We’re usually shopping for boats that are a decade or more old. The manufacturers may have gone out of business years ago. When you total up all the possible makes and models of each type of boat, you might have dozens of choices with brands you’ve never heard of. Yikes!

Find Your Type of Boat

There are dozens of types of boats you could live on, depending on where you want to live and where you want to take it. Most people shopping for a sailboat will choose between coastal cruisers, bluewater boats, and sailing catamarans.

Here are some of the pros and cons of these sailboat types. 

The Coastal Cruiser

• Inexpensive compared to bluewater and catamarans
• Perfect for dock living or near-shore hops
• With modifications and the right outfitting, many have island-hopped the Caribbean
• Many to choose from, and often they are lightly used
• Designs are often race-inspired and faster than typical heavy bluewater boats
• Newer, bigger boat for your money
• Often production boats have low-quality, lightweight builds

Related: Best Trailerable Sailboats

The Bluewater Sailboat

• The best bluewater cruising sailboats are capable of going anywhere
• Built to last and take anything
• Give the most comfortable ride in rough conditions
• Newer examples are expensive
• Good ones sell quickly
• Older vessels may be tired and in need of an extensive refit
• Often lack the living space that coastal cruisers have—narrower beams and transoms

The Catamaran

• Cruising cats have the maximum living space, especially cockpit dining and upper salon
• Light-filled with plenty of airflow, perfect for the tropics and living at anchor
• Larger models (40+ feet) are bluewater boats capable of going nearly anywhere
• A shallower draft than most monohulls allows for more cruising and anchoring choices
• More expensive to purchase, keep, and maintain than similar-sized monohulls  
• The most in-demand vessels, prices are high and good ones sell fast 
• Sometimes hard or expensive to find dock space and boatyards that can haul it out for maintenance

Still unsure which side of the monohull vs. catamaran debate you’re on? Try to get aboard some boats and experience the living space first-hand.

Everyone has a budget when going boat shopping, even if you’re Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk. Establishing how much you can spend on your boat is the biggest factor that will affect your decision, and it’s the backbone for all other decisions. 

You must understand just how much boat costs increase as the size of boat increases. Boats are already expensive, and the average cost of owning and buying a liveaboard sailboat varies dramatically. But when the boat gets bigger, it needs bigger hardware, lines, rigging, sails, motors…everything. And bigger means more expensive, so these costs add up fast.

And then there are your storage and boat maintenance costs, all of which are charged per foot. The marina might charge you $15 per foot/per month for a dock slip, and the boatyard will similarly charge you per foot to haul and store the boat. Divers charge per foot for bottom cleaning, as do detailers for annual compounding and waxing of the hull.

When it comes to budgeting, there are two rules of thumb. 

• Always pick the smallest boat you can comfortably live on.
• If you have an amount budgeted for your boat purchase, spend half on the boat and save the other half for outfitting and maintenance.

As you’ll see below, boats can be grouped by price and size. When you go up in size, you go up in price—often by a lot.

The size of the boat is a factor of your budget, but also of how big a boat you can handle. Most people believe this means driving it and maneuvering it, which is true to some extent. But a good training captain can teach you what you need to know to drive any size boat in just a few sessions. 

No, the size of the boat you can manage refers more to how much maintenance you want to do. The bigger the boat, the more complex and plentiful its systems. There’s more to break on a bigger boat, and more things broken means more time fixing things.

Catamarans compound this by doubling a lot of the systems. Two engines, two saildrives, two hulls to wax, two hulls to bottom paint—you get the idea.

Another factor you should consider early on is getting insurance. Yacht insurance has gotten harder and harder to get in recent years. If you’ve never owned a boat and have no experience, you might be forced to get something small (think an under 30-foot daysailor) to get some experience on before you move up. It’s also difficult because many underwriters won’t write policies for liveaboards. 

As a general rule of thumb, most people will find boats under 35 feet too small to live on full-time. Most of these vessels don’t even have standing headroom. There is often only a “wet head,” one where you take showers while sitting on the toilet.

Boats 35 to 40 feet are good for solo travelers or couples who don’t mind living in small quarters. The beds will be small and accessed only from one side, as in a v-berth or a Pullman-style berth. If there is one, the second bunk is likely only for the occasional guest. 

You’ll get better accommodations when you move up to 40 to 45 footers. The second bunk may be in its own stateroom. The main suite will have an island-style berth that can be accessed from both sides—a huge upgrade for most couples. The head will likely have a separate, enclosed shower. This size sailing yacht makes a good liveaboard sailboat for most boaters.

Boats bigger than 45 feet are best for bigger families. If you often travel with kids or guests, these are the boats for you. They’re extremely spacious and make boat living easy, but the extra maintenance and cost may not be worth it.

The List — Best Sailboats to Live Aboard

All lists, whether found in internet blogs or international sailing magazines, have issues. There’s no one list to rule them all because there are simply too many different boats out there. And everyone uses their boat differently, so the “best” for you might be a terrible choice for me. Different boats for different folks, so to say.

So, what’s the deal with this list? It’s made from personal experience of having seen a lot of boats out cruising. And it’s a list that tries to put aside the fantasies—Oysters and Gunboats are pretty in magazines, but like Ferraris, not many of us will ever own one. So let’s look at some practical boats that fill each size category. 

For every boat on this list, a dozen or more could’ve been included. Use these models to research brands and see which sizes suit your needs.

Boats under 35 feet tend to be best suited for solo travelers or couples comfortable living in small spaces. As always, coastal cruisers in this class have much more space than bluewater boats do. Catamarans in this class are also coastal cruisers—you need more length and volume to get real bluewater performance out of a cat. No matter which type of boat you’re looking at here, storage space on this size of liveaboard boat will be limited.

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Coastal Cruiser Under 35 — Catalina 34/35

If you want to move aboard, you’re on a budget, and you want the most space you can get, it’s really hard to beat an older Catalina. Starting with the Catalina 30, these beamy boats have a surprising interior volume. They make great first liveaboards.

Bluewater Sailor Under 35 — Panda/Baba 35, Tashiba 36

The famous yacht designer Bob Perry drew these Taiwanese-built boats, all tracing their lineage to the older Tayana 37 . They’re updated slightly and built by different yards, but all full keels with cutaways and built for bluewater cruising. They all have gorgeous teak joinery and are comfortable and forgiving at sea. 

Catamaran Under 35 — Gemini 105MC

The Gemini 105M and 105MC were arguably the most popular cat models ever. They’re American-built, with a single diesel engine and a narrow beam that allows them to be parked in a standard boat slip. In the US, this means many more marina choices if that’s how you roll. The boat has centerboards and kick-up rudders, so the board-up draft is a scant 18 inches—gunkholing perfection. 

While some Geminis have crossed oceans, they aren’t made for it. They have average (sometimes below-average) build quality and fiberglass work. However, they’re perfect coastal cruisers and capable of heading into The Bahamas.

The Gemini should be on your shortlist if you’re looking for a cheap catamaran .

Runner Up: PDQ 32

Are you looking for a small cat with better build quality? They didn’t make many of them, but the PDQ 32 is what you seek. It’s an attractive small catamaran with a wider beam. It came with twin outboards in wells, but the LRC (long-range cruiser) option had inboard diesels.

Forty feet is the sweet spot for most cruising couples—big enough to be comfortable and carry enough provisions but small enough that handling and maintenance are manageable. This class of boat has a lot of excellent choices in both coastal cruiser and bluewater boats, making it a good size range to find the perfect affordable liveaboard sailboat.

The catamaran group from 35 to 40 feet has a few very popular choices, but they are right on the edge of being too small for most cruisers. Counterintuitively, these cats are perfect for couples who don’t mind downsizing and traveling lightly. These shorter cats are prone to hobby horsing and don’t provide as comfortable a ride in bluewater as slightly longer cats do. 

Coastal Cruiser Under 40 — Islander Freeport 36

The Islander brand is no longer around, but these California-built production boats from the 1970s and 80s were well-built and well-liked. The I32 and I36 were very popular cruising boats designed by Bob Perry. The Freeport 36 is a before-its-time European deck salon with enormous windows. The swing-down swim platform is another bonus for a boat from this era, as are the Pullman-style berth and forepeak-located head (some layouts). If you can find one in good condition, these boats make excellent liveaboards. 

Bluewater Sailor Under 40 — Passport 40

Yet another boat from the desk of Bob Perry, the Passport 40, is a sharp-looking aft-cockpit bluewater cruiser from one of the best yards in Taiwan. They feature a long fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder. Everything about this sloop is just right for long-term cruising.

Catamaran Under 40 — Prout 38

The Prout 38 traces its heritage back to the earlier Prout Snowgoose. The boat is still being made, now under the Broadblue brand. It’s a sturdy British-built cat made for serious offshoring. While it lacks some of the open feeling that newer charter boats have, it more than makes up for it with its robust and high-quality build.

Runner Up: Leopard 40 (2005-2009)

This early L40 (don’t get confused with the newer ones built around 2020) was designed by famous multihull designers Morelli and Melvin. It’s got more of the things you might expect from your typical charter cat: a sliding salon door, galley-up layout, and a huge walk-through cockpit.

While this seems a small step up from the size of boats above, prices increase rapidly above the 40-foot mark. At this point, the boat’s gear needs to be bigger and heavier, from all the lines and rigging to each block and winch. Engines are now larger four-cylinder diesels, and there’s much more hull area to clean and paint. 

A 45-foot coastal cruiser has enough space to keep a small family happy for short trips or a couple happy for any length of time. These boats usually have island berths in a spacious master bedroom, so no more crawling over each other just to go to the bathroom! Bluewater boats in this class are a little smaller inside, making them just right for most couples doing a long-term cruise.

As far as catamarans go, the 40 to 45-foot range is the perfect sweet spot for most cruising couples. A spacious interior plus excellent seakeeping abilities make these top picks. There are tons of boat choices out there, and most of the best cruising catamarans come from this size group.

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Coastal Cruiser Under 45 — Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42DS

Jeanneau is part of Groupe Beneteau , but their boats often have a more refined finish than Beneteaus. The DS stands for “deck salon.” They feature larger windows that let in more light and have better visibility than a standard cruiser. This is especially welcome if you’re attracted to the living space in a catamaran but need something smaller and more affordable. 

The 42DS also has an enormous island berth, plus a huge twin-helm cockpit with lots of space for entertaining.

Bluewater Sailor Under 45 — Hylas 44

The Hylass 44 is regularly picked as one of the best offshore cruising boats. It’s a center cockpit boat designed by German Frers.  It has a wonderful layout with tons of living space and a large, usable galley. The aft cabin has a large island berth with an en suite head. 

Catamaran Under 45 — Leopard 42/43 (2001-2006)

These early Leopard charter cats are highly sought after on the used market. Like all charter cats, the best finds are the “owners versions” with one hull dedicated to the master stateroom with en suite head and shower. The Leopard 42, which came out in 2002, had a soft canvas cover over the cockpit and was updated to the Leopard 43 with a hardtop. 

Above 45 feet is another big price jump. For beginners, these big boats will require some training and experience before you head out on your own. 

Related: Best Boat for Beginners

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Coastal Cruiser Under 50 — Beneteau Oceanis 473

This big Beneteau came with either 2, 3, or 4 staterooms. Finding the right layout is as important as finding the right boat. The two-stateroom version has enormous berths and lots of storage, perfect for couples with occasional guests or families of three. Most have the standard keel with less than a six-foot draft, making this fin keel/spade rudder boat a rare find. They were built from 2000 to 2005.

Bluewater Sailor Under 50 — Hallberg Rassy 46/48

Hallberg Rassys are well-regarded boats built in Sweden, mostly designed by German Frers. These are high-end boats of the best quality, so don’t expect to find one available cheaply. They’re gorgeous, however, and make wonderful world cruisers.

Catamaran Under 50 — Leopard 46/Moorings 4600 (2006)

If you want a big catamaran, it’s hard to go wrong with the 2006 Leopard 46. Where modern Lagoon and Leopards have tall profiles with tons of windage, this is one of the newest, largest boats that still have single-level living. It has distinctive hull chines that increase living space without increasing wetted surface and plenty of sail area for good performance. In true Leopard fashion, all lines are led to the helm for easy short-handed cruising despite the boat’s large size.

Boats in this class are borderline yachts based on their sheer size. If you were to charter these boats, they’d usually come with a crew. That size means they’re more expensive and more of a handful to manage daily. 

Coastal Cruiser Under 60 — Irwin 54

The Irwin brand is long gone, but many examples are available on the used market. They were known especially for their large center cockpit ketches, like this 54-footer. This is a spacious, big water boat that certainly meets the qualifications of most bluewater boats. They can go anywhere, but they may need maintenance and refit given their ages. 

Don’t get to lured by the low prices of these boats. You’ll have to lay out some serious cash to get one ready to cruise long-range. But if you aren’t opposed to some hard work and projecting, the Irwin can get you a lot of boat for not much money.

Bluewater Sailor Under 60 — Amel Super Maramu 2000 (53′)

Made famous by the Delos YouTube channel, the Amel is a French-built brand of high-quality bluewater boats. Today, this brand’s new models look like many others—wide sterned, flat-bottomed sloops. But the Maramus that made them famous were unique—ketch rigged and ruggedly built, designed to take a cruising couple anywhere. Electric winches were standard on everything to keep such a large boat easy to operate.

Catamaran Under 60 — Privilege 585

Privilege is the French-made catamaran that you don’t hear enough about. Unlike Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot, these are beefy cruising boats ready to take you anywhere. Their construction and fit-and-finish are first-rate, as is the joinery down below. 

Living on a sailboat is an adventure—it’s not for everyone. Finding the right boat is an important part of doing it successfully, but it’s not the only step in preparing for the lifestyle.

You should also consider checking my post on liveaboard catamaran options, to make sure you research thoroughly enough!

What makes a great liveaboard sailboat?

Everyone’s priorities for a liveaboard sailboat are different—a bluewater cruiser looking to sail around the world might pick a very different boat from someone who lives full-time dock life. In general terms, you need to find a boat that is safely capable of taking you where you want to go and has enough living space to be comfortable while doing it. 

Sailing catamarans are some of the most popular liveaboard sailboats because their living space is unmatched. Most are also bluewater-capable cruisers that can go pretty much anywhere. 

What is the best size sailboat to live on?

The size of the boat you’ll be comfortable on long term is a personal choice that depends on your personality and the number of people you’ll be traveling with. Solo travelers may be content with a sailboat around 30 feet, while most couples are comfortable on something around 40 feet. Forty-five to fifty feet is more realistic if you often have guests or kind on board. 

With all of this in mind, however, it’s really important to remember that the costs of buying and maintaining a sailboat increase exponentially with length. Getting the smallest boat you are comfortable living on is always better because that will be easier to manage and keep in the long run.

What are the negatives of living on a sailboat?

People live on their sailboats differently, so it’s difficult to narrow down the biggest negatives. Everyone struggles with the small living space that a boat affords. You’ll have to downsize your possessions to the absolute minimum you need. And getting personal space away from your spouse or family is pretty much impossible on a small boat. 

Why are sailboats so expensive?

New boats require a massive investment in time and resources to produce. The nicer the boat, the more time and skill it takes to build, which makes costs soar. Some production companies, like Beneteau, have found ways to reduce production costs and keep the price of new boats more reasonable. But these boats pale compared to other yachts in terms of overall quality. 

Older used boats can be found pretty cheaply. In fact, it’s often possible to find free or nearly-free boats that are on their way to the junkyard or dumpster. The key is understanding how much work and money it will take to get these boats ready to go again. 

Is it a good idea to live on a sailboat?

Living on a boat is an amazing way to experience seaside living or traveling the world by water. But it’s also a unique, out-of-the-ordinary lifestyle choice that’s not without challenges. 

Before you move onto a sailboat, you’ll want to research the topic carefully and talk to some folks who already to it. Many people start with occasional boating, spending a week or more onboard to try it out. With a little experience, it’s easy to see if it’s something you could do for the long term or if it’s best to keep a land house and enjoy the water occasionally.

Can you live comfortably on a sailboat?

Many people live comfortably on sailboats, but a lot depends on the size of the sailboat and your tolerance for living in a small space. Even the largest sailboats can feel cramped, while some folks love the cozy feeling of living on the tiniest boats. 

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

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Sailboat Life

Sailboat Cruising and Lifestyle Magazine.

How to Live on a Sailboat for Beginners

This is a guide for how to live on a sailboat – but be warned, if you have any desire for the liveaboard lifestyle, you might quickly become on of us! Living aboard a sailboat requires an enjoyment of water, being okay with small living, and a sense of adventure. It’s not hard to begin living on a sailboat, but a few tips can help.

Let’s consider a few basic liveaboard questions first:

Is it living on a sailboat a good idea?

Living aboard a sailboat give you freedom that you won’t find in any other lifestyle. A suburban house can not be moved from place to place. But living on a sailboat gives you the options to live anywhere – literally in any country in the world! Living aboard a sailboat offers such a unique feeling of freedom to explore that you won’t find anywhere else.

Is living on a sailboat hard?

It is tough to live on a sailboat in a place like San Francisco where everyone is trying to escape super-high rent. In resort areas, many marinas have years-long waitlists for a liveaboard slip, and these slips cost double than a regular slip. However, not all places, in fact most places are easy to liveaboard.

Are you thinking about living aboard? Well, it takes time, planning, and preparation to being living on a sailboat. Here are a few videos to help you make a few calculations.

Adjusting to Liveaboard Life

Today, Emily sits down with 3 other female friends in the harbor to chat about how they transitioned from being landlubbers to liveaboard sailors in recent years. We’ll let you in on the conversation, and 4 different perspectives (though there are MANY others in the world).

• Emily, 34, aboard Temptress – liveaboard for 5 years
• Kris, 57, aboard Sixth Girl – liveaboard for 1 year
• Meredith, 44, aboard Tla Hla – liveaboard for 3 years
• Hannah, 26, aboard Sojourner – liveaboard for 2 years

How to Afford and Start Living Aboard

Your dream is to become a liveaboard? You want to know more about sailboat life, and what it means to live on a sailboat? You want to know how to afford living on a sailboat and how to afford staying liveaboards? How it feels to daily hoist the sail and follow the wind?

Start Small, Start Now

One philosophy in getting started living aboard a sailboat is to start small, start now. That doesn’t mean you have to buy a major refit project of a sailboat. You can get started in a small 24 foot single cabin boat for less than $10,000 or a mid-size 36 foot sailboat (see video below) for less than $60,000. Or grab a 1980s fixer upper that’s 42 feet in length that costs $25,000 – but beware, a fixer upper is a major expense even when you do it yourself.

Is Living Aboard for You?

No one can answer this question except you. However, if you enjoy freedom, have a sense of adventure, and love the water, then you might enjoy living aboard a sailboat.

We hope you enjoyed this how to guide for life on a sailboat for beginners. Leave us a comment or question a below.

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Saved Up For This Dream

Top 10 Sailing Locations in Colombia

Published by oceanwave on may 3, 2023 may 3, 2023.

One of the most popular pastimes for visitors to Colombia is sailing. Colombia offers a variety of sailing sites for both expert and inexperienced sailors, with its magnificent coastline, calm waters, and picturesque islands. There is something for everyone, whether you want to spend a leisurely day on the water or go on an exciting multi-day sailing adventure. We’ll look at ten of the sailing locations in Colombia in this article. We will provide comprehensive information about each location, including its distinctive features, activities, and liveaboard possibilities, from the well-known Cartagena to the undiscovered Baru Island and Nuqui.

This guide will assist you in creating the ideal sailing experience in Colombia, whether you want to charter a catamaran or take part in a guided sailing excursion. Pack your bags, gather your sailing supplies, and get ready to explore Colombia’s breathtaking waterways.

Here are some of the top sailing locations in Colombia along with their top attractions.

On Colombia’s Caribbean coast, in the historic city of Cartagena, visitors may enjoy a bustling mix of nightlife, cultural history, and beautiful beaches. It draws a lot of vacationers each year and is one of the most well-liked sailing locations in Colombia.

In the waters near Cartagena, catamarans are frequently seen, and you can easily rent one to tour the stunning coastline. The Rosario Islands, the walled city, and the San Felipe de Barajas Castle are a few of Cartagena’s prominent tourist destinations. For those who want to live aboard their boat while taking in the breathtaking landscape, live-aboard options are also available.

San Andres Island

San Andres Island is a tiny Caribbean island off the coast of Colombia that is home to some of the world’s most exquisite beaches and crystal-clear waters. With calm waters and ideal breezes for cruising, it is a great place for sailing aficionados to visit. To tour the stunning coastline and adjacent islands like Providencia and Santa Catalina, you can charter a catamaran. On San Andres Island, there are also liveaboard options that let you take advantage of the breathtaking sunsets and the tranquil island lifestyle.

Santa Marta

Santa Marta is a charming coastal town with lovely beaches, crystal-clear waters, and breathtaking scenery that is situated on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. With great wind conditions for sailing and a selection of catamaran rental alternatives, it is the perfect vacation spot for sailing aficionados. Sail to the nearby islands of Gaira and Taganga, take in the stunning beaches nearby, or explore the Tayrona National Park.

In Santa Marta, there are also liveaboard options that let you remain on your boat and take in the breathtaking scenery.

La Guajira is a stunning, inaccessible area on Colombia’s northern coast that offers unique sailing opportunities to intrepid tourists. For those who want to discover the untamed and spectacular coastline with its gorgeous beaches, clean waters, and distinctive sceneries, it is the perfect place to go. You can hire a catamaran to tour the adjacent islands and take in the distinctive cultural legacy of the local Wayuu population. La Guajira offers liveaboard possibilities as well, so you may enjoy the beautiful sunsets and tranquil island life.

Baru Island

Off the coast of Cartagena sits the lovely and uninhabited island of Baru, which has some of most gorgeous beaches and clearest waters for sailing locations in Colombia. It is the perfect location for people who want to get away from the city and enjoy the tranquil island lifestyle. You can take a boat rental to explore the adjacent islands, take advantage of the stunning beaches, or go to Playa Blanca’s natural pool. On Baru Island, liveaboard possibilities are also available, letting you to take in the breathtaking sunsets and the serene island ambiance.

Bocas del Toro

Situated in Panama, close to the Colombian border, Bocas del Toro is a well-known sailing location. For those who want to discover the magnificent archipelago with its beautiful waters, coral reefs, and picturesque beaches, it is the perfect place to go. You can take a catamaran tour to discover the adjacent islands, take in the breathtaking scenery, or go to Red Frog Beach. In Bocas del Toro, there are also liveaboard options that let you take in the breathtaking sunsets and the tranquil island lifestyle.

Islas del Rosario

The Islas del Rosario are a collection of tiny islands off the coast of Cartagena that are home to some of Colombia’s most exquisite coral reefs and marine life. With its clean seas and vibrant coral reefs, it is the perfect location for scuba divers and snorkelers. You can hire a catamaran to travel to the renowned San Bernardo Islands, take in the breathtaking scenery, or explore the adjacent islands. On Islas del Rosario, there are also liveaboard options that let you take in the breathtaking sunsets and the serene island ambiance.

On Colombia’s Pacific coast, in a small hamlet called Nuqui, visitors can enjoy distinctive sailing locations in Colombia adventure. For those who want to discover the untamed and breathtaking coastline with its gorgeous beaches, clean waters, and distinctive species, it is the perfect place to go. You may explore the local beaches, take in the breathtaking scenery, or go to the nearby hot springs by renting a catamaran.

In Nuqui, there are also liveaboard options that let you take in the breathtaking sunsets and the tranquil coastal lifestyle.

To discover more about various sailboats, yachts, and catamaran types you can check out this Sailboat Data page. You may discover comprehensive details on different sailboat models and their performance here, making it easy for you to pick the best boat for your requirements.

Caño Cristales

The majestic Caño Cristales river, which flows through the middle of Colombia, is home to some of the most breathtaking and extraordinary natural scenery on earth. For those who want to explore the magnificent waterfalls, vibrant rocks, and pristine river waters, it is the perfect place to go. Although you can’t sail on the river itself, you can rent a catamaran to explore the nearby lakes and lagoons or just take in the breathtaking scenery on land. Near Caño Cristales, there are also liveaboard options that let you take in the breathtaking sunsets and the serene river environment.

In the Caribbean Sea, San Andres Island is a magnificent and distinctive island that has some of Colombia’s most beautiful beaches and clearest waters. It is the perfect location for individuals who want to relax on the beach, explore the magnificent coral reefs, or engage in water activities like snorkeling and scuba diving. You can hire a catamaran to travel to the well-known Johnny Cay Island or to explore the adjacent islands and stunning scenery. On San Andres Island, there are also liveaboard options that let you take in the breathtaking sunsets and the serene island ambiance.

Tips for a liveaboard in Colombia

Here are some pointers for a liveaboard in Colombia:

• Prior to living aboard in Colombia, it is advisable to examine the many marinas and harbours that are available. Before setting sail, make cautious to verify the weather, local laws, and safety precautions.
• Pick the right boat: A successful liveaboard experience depends on your choice of boat. Take into account elements including the boat’s size, facilities, and appropriateness for long-term habitation.
• Space is at a premium when living onboard in Colombia, so it’s crucial to pack efficiently. Bring any necessary gear for water activities or fishing, as well as clothing appropriate for the warm, muggy weather.
• store up on supplies: Having restricted access to supplies when living aboard in Colombia makes it crucial to store up food, water, and other necessities before setting sail. Think about taking a solar-powered generator or battery bank, as well as a water filter or purifier.
• Learn the language: Being able to communicate in basic Spanish will be useful when living abroad in Colombia, particularly when conducting administrative responsibilities.
• Always put your safety first when living onboard in Colombia. When sailing, be sure to wear a life jacket, adhere to local regulations, and secure the boat when leaving it unattended.
• Discover the local culture: In Colombia, living on a boat offers a rare chance to get to know the people and learn about their way of life. Spend some time getting to know the adjacent towns and villages, sampling the cuisine, and becoming familiar with the way of life there.

Visit our sailing locations page for some incredible ideas and places to explore if you’re feeling motivated to organize your sailing holiday. Start preparing for your upcoming sailing excursion right away with Ocean Wave Sail !

To sum up, sailing locations in Colombia have a variety, each with its own distinct charm and attractions. There is something for everyone in this lovely country, whether you want a vibrant and cultural experience or a remote and daring excursion. You may explore these locations at your own leisure and take in the breathtaking landscape by renting a catamaran and living aboard.

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I gave up my tech job in Seattle to live on a sailboat. I've fought off pirates at 3 a.m. and it was terrifying — but I'll never go back to my old life.

• Brian Trautman has spent the past 14 years living on a 53-foot sailboat, sailing to 46 countries.
• He quit his tech job and sold his house to embark on his journey, where he met his wife.
• The couple fund their adventures by creating content about living on the boat.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed interview with Brian Trautman, a 47-year-old sailor and content creator who lives aboard a sailboat with his wife and daughter. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I started working for Microsoft after graduating with a degree in electrical engineering in 2002. I quit to start a software-development company with friends in Seattle .

During this time I stumbled upon a book about how to cross an ocean in your own boat. That idea, though seemingly unattainable, stuck with me as an amazing thing to do.

One morning in the late 2000s I was stuck in traffic on my commute when it hit me that my favorite part of the day was staring out of this bus window. It was the only time I wasn't consumed by the thoughts of customers and developers.

I immediately knew I didn't want that life. I gave my business partners my year's notice in 2008 and started selling everything to buy a sailboat.

I had some experience sailing. I'd owned a small boat that I took out on a lake many afternoons — but that wasn't much to prepare me for crossing an ocean.

Starting my lifelong sailing adventure

I bought SV Delos, a 53-foot Amel Super Maramu sailboat, for $390,000 in 2008. I sold my house in Redmond to make a down payment and got a marine mortgage to cover the rest. The boat was eight years old at the time, so it was cheaper than buying new.

I set off on my sailing adventure in August 2009 with enough money to last 18 months. My initial plan was simply to make it to New Zealand.

I figured that by then I'd be mentally prepared to return to work in Seattle, sell my boat, and reenter my previous life.

But by the time we landed in New Zealand, I'd fallen in love with sailing. When the initial money ran out, I took on engineering work on superyachts to refill the coffers.

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Auckland is a big refit center for yachts based in the South Pacific, so it was a great place to make several hundred dollars a day working on engines and troubleshooting electrical problems.

We also took on crew members who paid a share of our expenses to be part of our next sail to Fiji.

Four months into my time in New Zealand, I met Karin, my future wife, who eventually joined me sailing full-time. I've now traveled to 46 countries on the boat.

We work up to 4 hours a day creating content to finance our travels

We finance our travels by relying on crowdfunding and Patreon support and on our YouTube. We have 832,000 subscribers. We also sell SV Delos merch.

But some of the best times we've had on the boat were at the beginning when we had no money.

When we couldn't afford fuel, we had to sail everywhere, and that led to adventure. We've had times when we traded magazines for lettuce and tomatoes, and we learned to make our own beer.

Now our days are spent creating content for our YouTube channel , which we launched with regular content in 2012. The channel wasn't profitable until 2015. During that time we used savings to fund the journeys and keep us afloat financially while we filmed and edited content.

On any given day it's a mix of filming and giving notes to video editors. I also do behind-the-scenes work like invoicing vendors and paying bills.

If you exclude boat maintenance, I work three to four hours a day, as does Karin. We have plenty of time to spend afternoons enjoying the beach.

We also now have a remote team of seven employees who help produce videos. They also ship Delos merch.

What does it cost to keep the boat running?

We're paying $10,000 a year to insure the boat. Fuel costs vary widely from year to year depending on how far we travel. On average, fuel costs us $3,000 a year.

Our monthly costs for food and living run about $3,500 to $4,000. Generally, anchoring a boat is free. If there's a big storm coming that requires us to lift the boat out of the water, it'll cost $1,200 to get it out and back in.

We do have some luxuries on board, like 2,000 watts of solar power and lithium batteries, a freezer that can store enough meat to last us four months, and stills to make our own moonshine. We make our own fresh water and take hot showers.

Starting a family onboard

Karin and I had been sailing for nine years together when we found out at the start of 2019 that Karin was pregnant.

Karin's from Sweden, where there's great free public healthcare. We left the boat with my brother and his girlfriend, who continued to sail Delos across the Atlantic to Antigua.

Karin and I flew from Florida to Sweden for Sierra's birth in August 2019. When she was 4 months old, all three of us flew back to Antigua to reboard Delos and sail the Caribbean.

We got married in Antigua that year.

Sailing the world has highs and lows

One of my favorite memories on the boat was after we'd just sailed 3,000 miles in 19.5 days from Mexico to the island of Fatu Hiva, part of French Polynesia. We were so excited just to be walking on dry land.

We met a local who gifted us bananas and grapefruits. His generosity was so touching. We then went swimming under a waterfall — it was a perfect day.

Sailing can also be dangerous. Our boat has been boarded illegally three times — in the Solomon Islands, western Papua New Guinea, and Madagascar — always at about 3 a.m. It's terrifying when this happens, but we scream bloody murder and the thieves flee.

This happened in 2011, long before Sierra was born. Karin happened to be away at school. Before that, we never locked anything when we were off the boat, and we'd sleep with the doors open. We've since been more careful, including instituting night watches with a spotlight when sailing in areas where we felt uncomfortable.

We keep machetes and fire extinguishers as weapons in the event of another emergency. But so far, having that spotlight to signal that people are awake and vigilant has been enough to deter criminals.

The hardest part is acknowledging this is not a wise financial decision

A boat is a depreciating asset. But with our YouTube channel, we've found a sustainable way to make money along the way.

For us, this choice has been well worth it. This is our life now, and we plan to keep living on the water indefinitely.

To anyone who's considering taking on an adventure like ours, or any adventure whatsoever, I say: Go before you're ready. You'll never be 100% prepared for any journey.

Watch: What it takes to build a 164-foot superyacht

• Main content

How Much Does it Cost to Live on a Sailboat Full-Time?

What is the cost of living on a sailboat full-time? And can it be affordable? Yes! Absolutely it can.

It’s a dream for many to leave the land behind with its 9 to 5s, crowded cities, and traffic and take to the sea. To live aboard a sailboat for an extended period, maybe even indefinitely.

However, before casting off and setting sail into the sunset, one of the first questions, and perhaps the first hurdle to living this sailing lifestyle, is knowing how much such an adventure will cost.

Contrary to popular belief, boat life isn’t exclusively for wealthy people. In fact, living on a sailboat can be very affordable. Of course, a lot depends on where you’re planning to sail and what kind of lifestyle you want. Regardless of your budget, there are a number of common costs associated with living on a boat full-time that all sailboat owners should consider.

*All example costs given in $ USD

How Much Does Living on a Sailboat Full-Time Cost?

Living aboard a boat will generally cost somewhere between $500 and $10,000 per month at either extreme. For most, it’s probably somewhere close to $1,500 – $5000.

We spend somewhere around $2,500 per month living on a boat in the Mediterranean . That’s about $1,900 per month in living expenses plus a further $600 per month on boat-related expenses like servicing, repairs, boat insurance, and storage.

At the budget end of liveaboard life, are sailors living on smaller, older boats that they own outright, in areas where they can anchor regularly or have access to cheap mooring. In this case, overheads will be very low. If you can keep living costs down by cooking for yourself, not burning too much fuel motoring (either by sailing everywhere or simply staying put), and reducing maintenance and servicing costs by DIYing everything then live-aboard-life can be very cheap albeit very sparse.

On the other end of the spectrum, families leasing large, new boats that they use to explore widely can easily spend 10s of thousands in a single month.

Your cost of living on a sailboat will be completely dependent upon your own financial situation and personal aspirations for life on a boat. Let’s look at the various costs associated with living on a boat full time.

The Cost of Buying a Boat

One of the most obvious, and certainly the biggest, costs associated with the liveaboard life is the initial cost of purchasing a vessel to live on.

The cost of a boat will depend on your budget and criteria.

Realistically, a safe and seaworthy boat equipped for living aboard and with enough space for an individual or couple starts somewhere around $20,000. This will buy an older boat around thirty feet, but one that is sound and hopefully well maintained. There is no known upper limit for what you can spend on a boat, however, at the pointy end of the cruiser market, newer 50-foot monohulls cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and brand-new catamarans can cost over a million dollars.

To get an idea of how much a boat suitable for you and your crew’s needs will cost in your region head to Yacht World and plug in your criteria.

Other costs associated with purchasing a sailing vessel include:

• Pre-purchase survey reports – These are generally charged per foot and can cost between $10 – $25 per foot depending on the region your boat is in. Boat build material may also factor into the cost with wooden boats attracting higher inspection fees.
• Insurance – Liveaboard sailboat insurance, including third-party insurance which is almost universally mandatory, will vary substantially based on region, insurer, and boat value. On average an annual insurance policy should fall between $500 and $1,500 annually . Boat insurance is generally cheaper than home or vehicle insurance.
• Registration costs, once again will vary from region to region and based on the size of your boat and onboard motor. Registration itself usually costs several hundred dollars for a liveaboard-sized boat . It may be a one-time payment or an annual payment. Be aware, that there may be other costs associated with boat registration, for example, some authorities might require used boats to be hauled and inspected and any issues rectified which can quickly increase the cost of registering your boat.

Costs of Maintaining a Boat

Once you’ve bought a boat, the endless work and expense of maintenance begin immediately.

The old ‘rule of thumb’ is that maintenance costs for a boat will be around 10% of the purchase cost.

Older boats will require more maintenance more frequently and owners should err on the side of caution and may need to budget for more maintenance depending on the age and condition of their boat. There is a lot of equipment on a boat and ‘nautical’ products always seem to attract an inexplicable but hefty premium.

Engine, electrical systems, kitchen, safety equipment, ropes, anchors, sails, rigging, navigation, dinghy, outboard, the hull itself, the list of systems that may require spot repair or total overhaul at any given time goes on and on.

Being able to predict a potential range of maintenance costs will require having an accurate assessment of your maintenance needs. You can do this by keeping careful inventory and monitoring your systems.

Start with the recurring annual costs. For example:

• Inboard engine service
• Haul out, clean, and paint
• Outboard engine service

Next, consider which systems haven’t been updated or are starting to show signs of wear and anticipate potential maintenance or replacement costs. Try to stay on top of these issues as they arise to keep maintenance costs stable. For example:

• Sail Service (or Replacement)
• Worn out Rigging
• Electrical systems
• Electronic equipment such as sounders, navigation equipment or VHF radio
• Expiring safety equipment like flares, life jackets, EPIRB, and safety raft

Finally set aside some contingency funds, say 10% of the boat’s value to address the unexpected issues that will invariably arise. For example:

• Damaged rigging and equipment
• Plumbing issues
• Engine Issues
• Hull damage

For an in-depth look at some average costs for common boat maintenance tasks check out this article by Improve Sailing .

Costs of Mooring a Boat

No matter how ‘off grid’ you plan to get, at one point or another, you will need to moor your boat.

Like everything else, mooring and docking costs are wildly variable. The amount you will spend will depend largely on the size of your boat, how you plan to use it, and where you plan to sail it.

Boat size is perhaps the most significant variable when it comes to mooring. Prices are usually calculated per square meter. The longer and wider your boat is, the more expensive the mooring. For this reason, catamarans are generally the most costly sailboats to moor.

How you use it will also affect the amount of money you spend on mooring fees.

• Will you stay in one area year-round? And thus be able to get a much cheaper annual marina berth, rather than transient nightly berths which are much more expensive.
• If you plan on sailing your boat far and wide, do you want to spend a lot of time off your boat enjoying new places, attractions, and restaurants on the land?
• Are you a novice sailor not comfortable sleeping at anchor or sailing in bad weather
• Do you have a smaller boat without amenities like large water tanks, a water maker, or a large solar electrical system to comfortably sustain long periods away from the port?

These questions will help you understand how regularly you might want to moor the boat. However, you probably won’t know for sure until you begin sailing.

The costs of mooring are also very much dependent on where you plan to dock. Even within the same country or region, one place very popular for sailing with many amenities and attractions may be much more expensive than a nearby marina in a less popular area. You can easily research prices for marinas in a particular area to get an accurate idea of prices. If you are planning to remain mostly in one area, consider that long-term leases can offer far cheaper rates than transient mooring prices.

Marinas are the most obvious places to more but also the most expensive. Many regions have mooring buoys or public wharves that might be free to use or be far cheaper than a marina but lack facilities.

To summarise the cost of mooring your boat is highly variable but you can easily calculate a potential range of costs based on your specific situation.

If you have a small monohull and plan to spend the majority of your time on the anchor, only coming into a marina a few times a month in very bad weather or to resupply, and you choose your marinas carefully, you’re mooring costs could conceivably be kept under $100 a month.

If you have a larger catamaran, enjoy the safety and convenience of mooring in marinas, and plan to visit the most beautiful and famous sailing grounds in the world marina fees could easily exceed $2000 a month.

For most, it will be somewhere in between based on personal preference and budget.

Personally, currently sailing in Greece, we spend about $450 a month on marina fees. We have a small boat, a 29-foot monohull but we usually spend two nights in a marina each week, sometimes even more if there is poor weather.

Winter Marina Berth Costs

Sailors in areas with challenging winter conditions may choose to spend the summer months sailing from place to place spending time on anchor and in transient berths, and over winter continue living on their boats but permanently moored inside a marina. These semi-annual marina berths often cost less than berths in the summertime as many boats will be dry-docked and there is no demand for transient berths. Certain marinas have winter communities that return each year to wait out the winter in comfortable marinas with like-minded liveaboards.

Dry Docking

Some seasonal liveaboards may live on their sailboat only for the warmer months, and haul it out each winter for cheap storage. In areas that experience disadvantageous weather in the off-season dry docking your boat for the winter can be a cost-effective solution. Dry docking involves pulling the boat from the water and storing it on the land for the winter. Storing the boat on land is far cheaper than mooring your boat in a marina. Dry docking also provides an opportunity to perform maintenance on the hull.

Costs of Sailing a Boat

The wonderful thing about a sailboat is that the wind is free. Ostensibly you could liveaboard without any costs for traveling save for the costs of maintaining sails and rigging. In reality, if you plan to travel with your boat you may end up using your motor more than you thought. That being said, fuel costs for a moderately sized liveaboard boat (30 – 40 feet) should be negligible especially compared to transport costs on land.

We travel very slowly, we work during the week and do most of our sailing on the weekend. Often we travel less than 50 nautical miles a week. Say we sail half of that time that is 25 nautical miles a week to motor (basically nothing). Our boat tops out at a little over 5 kn. This means we might motor for about 5 hours at top speed we are burning about 2 to 3 liters of diesel an hour. Our fuel consumption is a paltry 10 – 15 liters per week! In 2022 marine diesel costs $2 a liter which puts our fuel costs at $20 – $30 a week.

Some weeks we have to travel more, and some less, sometimes there is more wind, sometimes less but overall fuel costs on our little sailboat are very manageable

Let’s look at the other end of the spectrum, a 50 foot Catamaran that has to cover a lot of ground sailing in a region without much reliable wind, but a lot of swell. Say this boat needs to travel 100 NM a week using only the motor and burns fuel at a rate of 12 liters an hour. With a faster top speed of 8 kn the larger boat might use 150 liters of fuel each week which in the current climate would cost around $300 per week.

Costs of Living on a Sailboat

The day-to-day cost of living on a sailboat will likely be similar to your day-to-day cost of living on land. We have included our budget here as an example of our weekly costs of sailing in the Mediterranean.

This hasn’t changed much for us. We still cook most meals onboard and go out to eat when we are in a marina.

We spend about $80 a week on groceries and another $70 on eating out. However, your own personal grocery budget on land is a pretty good indicator of what you might spend living on a boat.

We spend another $50 a week buying wine and beer and budget a further $50 for going to the bar. We set aside $12 for coffee from a cafe on the weekend.

Phone and Internet

This one comes as a bit of a surprise to most people but our total phone and internet costs are less than $500 per annum. We have one entry-level smartphone that cost $250. We use data-only sims in the places we sail and are currently using a $50 Cosmote Three Month Unlimited Data sim in Greece. When in a marina we can often access marina wifi.

Using this single phone and single prepaid data sim we are both able to work using video conferencing as well as stream television and upload our own movies and photos to social media. The limitations of relying on a smartphone are that you usually need to be in sight of a cellular tower. As we are sailing in Europe and stay close to shore this is not a problem for us. But this might be too limiting for some.

Other phone and internet gear that full-time sailors might consider are mast-mounted wi-fi hot spot which provides a dedicated hot spot 24/7 and greater range than a smartphone thanks to their powerful antennae and positioning. Antenna boosters for wifi and cellular data are also cost-effective ways of increasing your range.

The truth is that cellular data is so cheap and so readily available along the coasts of most major sailing destinations that a modern smartphone is all most sailors will need these days. However, for those intrepid explorers planning long passages far from shore, another solution may be required.

Satellite internet is the only option to stay connected if you plan to sail offshore. The cost of satellite internet has been prohibitively expensive for most for a long time. Startup costs of purchasing entry-level marine satellite dishes cost thousands of dollars and very basic plans with a small amount of data and slow speeds cost thousands more each year. Large amounts of high-speed internet at sea and the infrastructure to deliver it can easily cost 10’s of thousands of dollars.

Hopefully, as satellite internet becomes more widely adopted, the prices of satellite internet comes down giving off shore cruisers an affordable way to access high speed internet.

Entertainment

Boat life is rarely boring. We spend weekends sailing, anchoring in new bays and beaches, swimming fishing, and cooking.

When we reach a new town or city we will often spend a night in a marina, once or twice a week. This gives us the opportunity to leave the boat to explore a new area.

In total our entertainment spend boils down to

• Netflix – Free using Mum’s login details
• Spotify – $12 per month
• Bars – $50 per week
• Restaurants – $80 per week

Final Thoughts About the Costs of Living on a Boat

Of course, the cost of living on a sailboat full-time will be different for everyone. The biggest factors will be the boat you buy, how you use it, and where you intend to sail.

Sailing can be bare bones, basic, and frugal, it can be reasonably comfortable and moderately priced or it can be luxurious and mind-bogglingly expensive and everything in between.

Whatever your budget and whatever your sailing style, you are really only limited by your imagination.

Hopefully, we have given you a starting point to think about the cost of living on a sailboat full-time. But if you have any questions or comments please let us know below!

Looking for more sailing content? Have a look at these recent articles:

• The 13 Best Sailing Vlogs And Sailing Blogs (According to Us)
• 10 Things We Hated About Sailing Albania (And 5 Things We Loved)
• Buying a Boat In Croatia

Want to save this Cost of Living on a Sailboat Full-Time blog post for later? Pin it!

In 2016, I had been dumped by my girlfriend, fired from my job, and the lease on my house was running out. Facing moving back in with my parents, 26, jobless and alone I decided to listen to the message the universe was trying to send me. I took off on my first solo backpacking trip, with a one-way ticket to Bangkok and a well-thumbed Lonely Planet guide. From there I wandered Southeast and Central Asia, traveled the Great Steppe, and made my way across Russia and throughout Europe.

In Estonia I met Kelli, who, despite having a less frantic travel style, shared my my restless spirit and passion for exploration. Together, we embarked on a new journey, van life. Over four years we travelled across three different continents with three different vans.

In 2022, as the world began to re-open post COVID we took an opportunity to realise a long held dream, to live aboard a sailboat. Since then we have spent two summers in the Mediterranean, sailing and living aboard our little sail boat Whisper. When we aren't sailing we continue to live our nomadic lifestyle, guided by a philosophy of slow travel and self directed adventure be it by van or backpacking.

We find excitement through our journey into the unknown, stillness and content in the beauty of the places we discover and we find ourselves in the vastness of our world.

Hopefully, we can help you find what you're looking for too. Get lost with us and find your own path.

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> > Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. 18-10-2011, 09:20   Boat: Gemini 105MC 34 ft hull#753 (AKA recreating lots) as the law does not really allow liviaboards but there are several that do. Soon the marina will close the pumpouts and they actually recomend going out in to the and dumping sence it may be below freezing at night and there outside is turned off. There's no portable pumpout services availiable within 200+ miles and 4 locks down stream and we don't own a portable pumpout. I have ask the WA state's official group that promotes pumping out what they would do and was given no answer at all and at there booth at the shows the same group acted as if we were not in the same state sence we are not on . sailing here is awsome and as snow skiers we like the fresh air with no alergic pollen and dust. Any ideas?????? that is affordable?? 18-10-2011, 10:09   ??? 18-10-2011, 10:12   Boat: Gemini 105MC 34 ft hull#753 ??? 18-10-2011, 10:28   Boat: None at this time Last time I checked they cost as much as a portable pumpout unit. 18-10-2011, 12:28   Boat: Gemini 105MC 34 ft hull#753 18-10-2011, 12:34   Boat: None at this time 20-02-2014, 14:34   Boat: Wheeler Shipyard 83' ex USCG and use an incinolet , but have decided to go to a type II MSD with conventional toilets. People that dump sewage and other things are why it's hard to find a spot. County doesn't even want . Instead of getting better, it will become much worse. I live on a military disability pension and other small that is enough to allow me to . I don't dump sewage, why do you? Lepke 20-02-2014, 17:22   Boat: Mac 26X thread. Hopefully the local cops will catch the OP in the act and solve the issue. Having seen the majesty of your home waters, it's a shame anyone would dump into the water in our modern world. , Thread Tools Rate This Thread : Posting Rules post new threads post replies post attachments edit your posts is are code is are are are Similar Threads Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post Capt. lulz Liveaboard's Forum 103 11-11-2011 07:46 vipermagic Liveaboard's Forum 6 17-10-2011 02:25 Stede Liveaboard's Forum 45 20-08-2011 17:51 JanetGroene Liveaboard's Forum 1 07-08-2011 15:29 No Threads to Display. - - - - - - - Privacy Guaranteed - your email is never shared with anyone, opt out any time. Second victim of Labor Day boat crash found dead in Connecticut Authorities have found the bodies of both men who remained missing four days after a boat carrying nine people crashed into a jetty along the Connecticut shoreline OLD LYME, Conn. -- Authorities on Friday found the bodies of both men who had been missing for four days after a boat carrying nine people crashed into a jetty along the Connecticut shoreline. State environmental conservation police officers located the first body in the mouth of the Connecticut River between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme shortly after noon, about a quarter-mile (four-tenths of a kilometer) from the site of the accident, Police Capt. Keith Williams said. The second man's body was found around 4:30 p.m., the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said in an emailed statement. Both men's names are being withheld pending family notification, officials said. The crash killed another man, Christopher Hallahan, 34, of Westbrook. Connecticut, and injured six other people who were taken to a hospital. Authorities responded to the accident shortly after 9 p.m. on Monday and found the 31-foot (9-meter) motorboat half submerged and significantly damaged near an Old Saybrook marina where the river flows into Long Island Sound. Police said the boat struck a jetty at the mouth of the river. The cause of the crash is being investigated. The passengers were returning from a day trip to Block Island, Rhode Island, and it appeared none of them were wearing a life jacket, police said. The dayslong search has involved divers, drones, aircraft, sonar and remote-operated underwater vehicles with cameras, Williams said. The accident happened near where another boat crashed on Labor Day 2023, sending four people to a hospital. Environmental conservation police pushed back at the suggestion that the spot is particularly hazardous. Popular Reads Utah woman killed her 3 children, herself in vehicle, officials say Sep 6, 2:57 PM A small plane from Iowa crashed in an Indiana cornfield, killing everyone onboard Sep 6, 3:28 PM Police have upped their use of Maine's 'yellow flag' law since the state's deadliest mass shooting Sep 6, 1:12 PM Underwater tunnel to Manhattan leaks after contractor accidentally drills through it Sep 4, 6:42 PM Hawaii can ban guns on beaches, an appeals court says Sep 6, 5:57 PM ABC News Live 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events Today's news Reviews and deals Climate change 2024 election Newsletters Fall allergies Health news Mental health Sexual health Family health So mini ways Unapologetically Buying guides Labor Day sales Entertainment How to Watch My watchlist Stock market Biden economy Personal finance Stocks: most active Stocks: gainers Stocks: losers Trending tickers World indices US Treasury bonds Top mutual funds Highest open interest Highest implied volatility Currency converter Basic materials Communication services Consumer cyclical Consumer defensive Financial services Industrials Real estate Mutual funds Credit cards Balance transfer cards Cash back cards Rewards cards Travel cards Online checking High-yield savings Money market Home equity loan Personal loans Student loans Options pit Fantasy football Pro Pick 'Em College Pick 'Em Fantasy baseball Fantasy hockey Fantasy basketball Download the app Daily fantasy Scores and schedules GameChannel World Baseball Classic Premier League CONCACAF League Champions League Motorsports Horse racing New on Yahoo Privacy Dashboard 'I have to get out of here so I can live': Captain survives explosion; will he boat again? NORTH PALM BEACH — Capt. Tim Hoban wants to return to the water if his badly burned body lets him. He wonders if he ever will. His boat went up in flames on the morning of Aug. 24 after he had docked it at Lott Brothers, a fishing-supply store along Northlake Boulevard, and had started doing a maintenance check before his day's charters. “Next thing I knew, I was unconscious and engulfed in flames,” the 47-year-old Lake Park resident said from his bed at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami this past week. “I jumped off the side of the boat into the water and started screaming for help.” Nearly half of Tim’s body sustained second and third-degree burns. He is recovering at Jackson's trauma center and hopes to go home this week, after receiving skin grafts onto the burns covering his legs, feet, hands, back and face. Hoban called his wounds “the most painful thing” he has ever experienced, especially when they are cleaned, which happens daily and can take hours each time. His greatest comfort has been his wife, Ashley, who has helped him to eat and take his first steps since the explosion. The boat damaged beyond repair was a Grady-White Express 330, a white 33-foot saltwater fishing vessel Hoban named the "Island Hopper" and called his “baby.” The thousands of fishing and snorkeling charters he's run from it for the past decade have been his family’s main source of income. A friend has launched an online fundraiser to help cover the Hobans' living expenses as he heals. “His vessel and all his fishing rods are a loss and his way of making a living is gone,” said Jonathan Witkowski of Palm City, Tim’s friend for more than 20 years. “I just felt bad." How Palm Beach Gardens is growing: A first look at Miller Medical Center, rising off Interstate 95 What happened? Captain, wife recall day their boat, and world, exploded Distinguished by a full red beard and a bright smile, Hoban grew up boating in Jupiter and The Bahamas and caught his first fish at 2 years old. Friends describe him as kind, generous and easygoing. Witkowski said Hoban loaded up his boat full of supplies and took at least four trips to the Bahamas when Hurricane Dorian struck the islands in 2019. As is part of his daily routine, Hoban docked at Lott Brothers early that Saturday to buy ice and bait. There, he tried to replace a broken float switch on his boat, a part which detects water in its bilge tank. As he flicked a lighter to apply a "heat shrink" connector to cover and protect the switch's electrical wires while they are heated, fuel vapors built up below the cabin, and the boat exploded. Hoban caught fire along with it. A deckhand from Lott Brothers heard him as he fell into the water and threw Hoban a life ring. Hoban said he swam, grabbed onto barnacles and pulled himself onto the dock with parts of his skin and clothes singed off. He then found a water hose and sprayed himself down while screaming. When paramedics arrived to take Hoban to St. Mary’s Medical Center in an ambulance, Hoban immediately told them to call his wife and tell her where he was bound. “I love my wife and I’m so sad she almost lost me,” Hoban said. “I was on fire and all I could think was, ‘I have to get out of here so I can live.’ ” Ashley was driving to Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach to meet Hoban with breakfast when the boat exploded. Her heart sank when she saw smoke coming from the marina behind Lott Brothers and the business surrounded by fire trucks. She said she knew it was him and drove straight to St. Mary’s after speaking with a police officer at the site. “My hands were shaking so badly that the officer made me promise I wouldn’t drive like a maniac,” said Ashley Hoban, 44, who grew up in Texas and works with Hoban on the boat. “He said, ‘You have to be there for your husband, so don’t hurt yourself in the process.’ I focused on that.” At St. Mary’s, doctors gave Hoban a CT scan to check for internal damage and, in the first bit of good news, didn't find any. They then put him on antibiotics and other medication and inserted a breathing tube before flying him 70 miles south to Jackson Memorial in a helicopter a few hours later. Boat fires may be more common than people realize. The U.S. Coast Guard counted 232 of them nationwide in 2022, with most of them fuel-related explosions, leading to 128 injuries and five deaths. How Palm Beach Gardens is growing: Publix, shops, restaurants coming to Avenir Town Center Doctors say captain's body should heal. Will his boat charter business? Amid his pain, Hoban has already cleared a critical hurdle in his recovery: He survived the first week after the fire. That first week is the most critical time for patients with significant burns, said Dr. Robert Borrego, the medical director at St. Mary's trauma center. It's the time when the risk of infection — and of mortality — are at their highest. Skin protects the body from bacteria, and infected skin can lead to fatal conditions such as sepsis. The skin grafting that Hoban was receiving last week should reduce that risk. Borrego called grafts “the key” for patients with substantial burns because it helps the wounds to heal and reduces the patient's pain. Still, it is possible the grafted areas and burned skin won't function exactly like they did before, potentially leaving burn patients with mobility issues. “One of the worst areas for burns are the hands, because we all use our hands for our livelihoods,” Borrego said. “A lot of challenges follow (patients) as far as being able to reuse their hands.” Burn victims also feel pain while damaged nerve endings regenerate. Second and third-degree burns can impair them to the point where people can lose feeling in some areas completely. The pain that a patient feels while nerve endings regenerate is often part of the path to healing, Borrego said. Many people with significant burns are looking at recovery time from around six months to one year to “go back to normal,” Borrego said. Here’s what is left of a boat which exploded on the morning of Aug. 24 in North Palm Beach. Capt. Tim Hoban caught fire along with it and is recovering from burn wounds at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Video by Hoban’s friend, Jonathan Witkowski. pic.twitter.com/CxGOBYtBQd — Maya Lane (@mayalaneyy) September 6, 2024 Borrego said people with mostly second-degree burns who spend lots of time aboard boats should be able to get back on the water once they heal. They just need to protect their skin from the sun as much as possible. He said burn patients are susceptible to Marjolin ulcers, a type of cancer that can occur in burned skin and happens to patients who don't get skin grafts, so the damaged skin constantly tries to remodel. After the captain goes home from the hospital, he will get physical therapy and visit a hospital once a week for wound care for at least several months, Ashley Hoban said. Burn patients can relearn how to pick things up, apply pressure and walk in physical therapy, which some may attend for years after the incident. As Hoban copes with his pain, he realizes the sizable challenge ahead if he were to return to the water. After recovery, he would still need the money to buy a new boat. The one that exploded was from a salvage lot, and he spent nine months remodeling it. "I bought that boat cheap and put all my heart into sanding it, gel-coating it, fixing its thru-holes and putting new power on it," Hoban said. "I don't have the energy to do that now. I love being a captain and I'm really good at it, but I just can't even walk right now." A taste of Lake Park: Three restaurants to sample this humble town's rich dining scene Hoban's friends know him to have a resilient spirit and are certain it will help him as he rallies after the fire. Witkowski has witnessed it personally. Hoban and Ashley would pick up bartending and food delivery shifts at Stadium Grill in Jupiter — which Witkowski's family owns — when charters were slow to make ends meet. Witkowski remembers moments like these as he watches Hoban deal with the darkest moments of his life. "Tim just has a real love for the water and gets very enthusiastic about it," Witkowski said. "When you go fishing with him, he gets really hyped up. When you leave, you feel like you're more than a client. You're like a friend or family to him. " "He’s a good guy with a good heart." Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at [email protected] . Support local journalism: Subscribe today . This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida charter captain recovering after boat explodes Recommended Stories Week 2 reactions: ewers has got swagger, nebraska pommels colorado and is notre dame officially in trouble | college football power hour. Caroline Fenton, Jason Fitz & Adam Breneman take a dive into the biggest results from college football Week 2 including Texas’ toppling of Michigan, a narrow Penn State win vs. Bowling Green and unexpected heroics from Northern Illinois against Notre Dame. 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Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player In Miami Beach, you can live on your boat, but getting to land is not so easy Miami beach live-aboard boats. More than 100 people live aboard sailboats and other vessels anchored just off Miami Beach. For years, some in the posh seaside community have not been happy about people just offshore. Greg Allen/NPR hide caption MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — For Carlos Leon, living on a boat anchored off this posh seaside community, is the ideal lifestyle. We, The Voters Housing experts say there just aren't enough homes in the u.s.. The weather is good, except for the occasional hurricane, and the water is inviting. During the COVID pandemic, he and his girlfriend, now wife, bought a 41-foot sailboat and anchored it in Biscayne Bay. “It’s like 400 feet, 500 feet from Miami Beach land,” he says. They share their floating home with a long-haired German Shepherd. But, because of some new policies adopted by Miami Beach, for Leon and more than 100 other people who live on their boats, getting to land for shopping, work or just to take a walk, is no longer an easy proposition. To step on land in Miami Beach, Leon says, “I have to bring my dinghy with a paddleboard, tow it 150 feet from land.” His wife takes the paddleboard and “me and my dog swim to the dock.” When he wants to go to Miami Beach, Carlos Leon leaves his dinghy 150 feet offshore and swims to the city-owned boat launch. Greg Allen/NPR hide caption Under an ordinance recently adopted by Miami Beach , Leon and the other liveaboard boaters can’t leave their dinghies or even their paddleboards at a city-owned boat launch or they’ll face a $1,000 fine. This small community is anchored in state waters and legal, as long as they remain 150 feet offshore. Leon says. “Obviously, we have to have our tanks, our toilets, our anchors, anchor lights, everything, up to code. But if everything is up to code, we’re good. We’re legally here.” When Black boaters faced discrimination on the water, this yacht club became a refuge But being legal isn’t the same thing as being welcome. For years, some in Miami Beach have not been happy about the small community boats just offshore. In December, Miami Beach commissioner David Suarez spearheaded a move that cut off an essential lifeline for the liveaboard boaters. At his urging, the commission voted to remove a public dock next to a supermarket. At the meeting he said, “I’m going to try to limit the amount of access that the people who live on these boats that come to the mainland. Because they can’t live on a boat forever. They have to come to the mainland to get food, water and necessary supplies.” With their dock gone, liveaboard boaters began using a city-owned boat launch as a place to leave their dinghies while they picked up groceries or ran other errands. But the commission soon responded, banning dinghies and imposing a big fine for violators. That’s made things difficult for the liveaboard boaters, Leon says, especially those who are elderly or not up to swimming 150 feet to the only place where they now can legally come ashore. “Every other area is illegal to use,” Leon says. “So, I’m becoming a criminal just to get to land.” Live-aboard boater Barbie Wynn can't leave her paddleboard at a city-owned boat launch for more than 20 minutes without facing a possible $1000 fine. Greg Allen/NPR hide caption Suarez calls the liveaboards “boat squatters,” and in an interview said the regulations are “justified and necessary.” Members of the West Avenue Neighborhood Association agree. The group represents Miami Beach residents who live in the condominiums that line Biscayne Bay and look out on the community of live-aboard boaters. The association has raised concerns about pollution from boats that illegally dump their waste into the bay, about the damage their anchors cause to seagrass and about the cost of dealing with derelict vessels abandoned by their owners. With An All-Female Crew, 'Maiden' Sailed Around The World And Into History Susanna Purucker, a condo owner active with the group, says liveaboard boaters are enjoying the benefits of living in Miami Beach without the responsibilities. ”You’re not paying property taxes. You’re not paying to even keep your boat in the water. It’s just, if I can use the word, free-loading, because it is.” The liveaboard boaters have formed their own group, the Miami Beach Boaters Association . Carlos Leon says they’re considering suing the city for what they believe is a violation of their civil rights. He says, what’s at stake is a whole way of life. “Because if we move, then Key West, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, everybody’s going to say, ‘Okay, let’s follow what this guy did because it worked.’ And then, guess what? No boaters will be able to get to land,” Leon says. Miami Beach is in talks with the state over plans for a mooring field for boats in the bay. Depending on how it’s done, it could bring regulation to the liveaboard community or it could be used to drive them away. miami beach 10 Best Sailboats To Live In Living aboard a sailboat is an exciting lifestyle choice, but there are lots of considerations you’ll need to make. ‍ First and foremost, you have to pick a boat to live in. Unless you plan on sleeping under a canvas tarp, it’s essential to find a sailboat with a proper cabin. Cabin sailboats became common in the United States during the early 20th century, but size and amenities vary widely between boats.   For example, early wooden sailboats generally featured very sparse accommodations below, typically consisting of a pipe berth, oil lamps, a coal-fired stove and a bucket privy—typically without standing headroom. Fortunately, the majority of cabin sailboats came with a lot more than a bucket to wash with. In this article, we’ll go over some of the most important considerations to make when choosing a sailboat to live on . After, we’ll give a top-ten list of the best used liveaboard sailboats you can buy today. Table of contents Why Live Aboard a Sailboat? Thousands of people choose to live aboard their sailboats.  It’s an alternative lifestyle with a host of benefits for those willing to deal with the added challenges.   Liveaboards can move their entire house on the water, and it’s typically cheaper to live on a boat than in a traditional house. This is especially true in major waterfront cities, where rent in the same area as the marina can be several times more expensive.   Some people love the marina lifestyle, and others travel the world.  All-in-all, living aboard a sailboat can be a rewarding, enriching, and financially-freeing lifestyle choice. What to Consider when Buying a Liveaboard Sailboat The most important thing to consider when buying a liveaboard sailboat is what level of accommodation you need. Some people aren’t bothered by limited amenities; in fact, many traditional sailors prefer a stripped-down and basic sailboat interior. However, many others appreciate useful features such as electric toilets and a full galley. You can find virtually every creature comfort on board a modern sailboat, so it’s up to you to decide what level of convenience you expect. ‍ For most people, a standard cruising sailboat interior from after 1970 will suffice, as these typically include a usable galley, shower, head, and ventilation. Offshore VS Coastal Cruising Accommodations Sailboat interior design is dependent on certain criteria, such as the sailboat’s intended use. Long-distance cruising sailboats have cabins arranged to suit such a journey. Long-distance sailboats usually remove any unnecessary furniture or extras down below to increase storage, and sleeping options are altered to ensure easy access, which allows the crew to regain control of the boat in a pinch. Coastal cruisers tend to feature a more luxurious layout, with larger sofas and more complex interior features. Additionally, storage space is generally reduced to allow for the inclusion of other amenities. Whichever style you choose should reflect both how you plan to use your boat and what level of comfort you need. What Makes A Great Liveaboard Sailboat? For this article, we’ve outlined a few requirements which we believe identify an excellent liveaboard sailboat : Standing headroom (at least 5’10”) While many people live aboard boats without standing headroom, it’s still a nice feature to have.  Months or years spent crawling or crouching can wreak havoc on your back and body, so standing headroom is a necessity in this list. 120V AC availability Electricity is a definite requirement for our liveaboard list.  Boats without 120V AC outlets present major challenges to liveaboards, as there’s no way to charge most computers or cell phones.  Some boats feature a 12V outlet, but full-time liveaboard boats should have standard house connections for electricity. Galley facilities Unless you plan on eating out every day, a galley is a must for our list.  We define an adequate galley as a facility with a sink, ice box or refrigerator, and a stove.  An oven is an added bonus, but one can usually be added along with a new stove. Electric lighting Electric lighting is a matter of both safety and convenience aboard boats.  There’s nothing wrong with kerosene lamps; many sailors adorn their boats with them.  However, a long-term liveaboard boat should feature safe and reliable electric lighting. Toilet with plumbing Sanitation facilities are vital on board a sailboat, especially if you live on it.  Improper human waste storage and disposal will spread awful diseases.  Plus, nobody wants to live on a stinky boat or use a porta-potty all year long.  We required each of our ten boats to have built-in and properly outfitted toilets, plus safe storage tanks for pumping out later. Bathing facilities are also a must on most liveaboard sailboats.  However, many liveaboards opt not to use their on-board showers in favor of marina or gym facilities.  That being said, it is very convenient to have a shower on your boat.  Keep in mind, some boat showers drain directly into the bilge.  If you use your onboard shower, be sure to keep the bilge pump in working order and remember that anything you put in the drain ends up below your floor. Separate seating spaces We think a liveaboard sailboat should have extra sitting spaces on board, apart from the main bed.  A place for sitting, eating, working, and navigating is essential when living aboard long-term, and the added convenience of a separate space will make day-to-day activities much more enjoyable. Ventilation Last but not least, we believe ventilation is essential for any liveaboard sailboat.  This is the simplest of requirements, as a passive solar roof vent or opening porthole should be sufficient.  In short, there should be a way to let fresh air in without opening a main hatch. Top 10 Liveaboard Sailboats Here’s a list of the top ten liveaboard sailboats that you can purchase used today. These are in no particular order, but each boat meets or exceeds the requirements of a great liveaboard sailboat. Remember, the features listed for each of these boats could vary based on age or trim, so be sure to check back to this list when inspecting a boat. Without further ado, here’s ten of the greatest liveaboard sailboats ever produced. 1. Catalina 30 {{boat-info="/boats/catalina-30"}} The Catalina 30 is one of the most common production cruising sailboats ever. Thousands of these reliable and robust fiberglass boats still sail, despite the fact that they first entered the market in 1972. This 30-foot boat features a modern and spacious interior, with all the accommodations you’d expect on a boat its size. Most models feature a large and useful galley, along with running water supplied by electric pumps. The Catalina 30 also featured a ‘suite’ layout, with a master bedroom V-Berth closed off to the rest of the cabin by a door. An enclosed shower and head make it a pleasant boat to live on. The layout of the Catalina 30 also featured a dinette, which serves as an excellent chart table or workspace as well. 2. Islander 36 {{boat-info="/boats/islander-36"}} The Islander 36 is a well-rounded liveaboard sailboat which also has impressive cruising capabilities. While manufacturing ceased in the 1980s, the I-36 was the company’s best-selling model with nearly a thousand built. Islander boats are known for some well-adorned cabins, and many featured elegant wooden interior trim. Like the Catalina 30, the Islander 36 includes an enclosed head with a shower and flush toilet. The interior layout of the I-36 is spacious and well-designed, featuring a long port and starboard settee which folds out into a double-berth for sleeping. An enclosed shower and spacious master berth make it a very well-rounded option for cruising and living aboard. 3. Contessa 32 {{boat-info="/boats/contessa-32"}} Contessa Yachts produced their venerable 32-foot cruising and racing sailboat from 1970 until 1990, but custom boatbuilders still manufacture the yacht today. It’s well-known for cruising capabilities, but it has a lot to offer as a liveaboard as well. The traditional cabin is thoughtfully designed, featuring a fold-up table in the center of the cabin floor. The spatially conscious design of the Contessa 32 makes it an excellent option for the no-frills and organized sailor. This vessel features a separate master bedroom, along with a head and shower in the hallway between the compartments. 4. Pearson 34 {{boat-info="/boats/pearson-34"}} Pearson produced their excellent 34-foot sailboat during the 1980s. This medium-sized cruising yacht features an extremely spacious interior with plenty of floor space to move around. The layout is complex, but not overwhelming. The galley nook is functional and features convenient overhead storage for utensils giving it a ‘home-y’ feeling. The head is enclosed and spacious, including a bathroom sink and mirror. The separate master bedroom is also enclosed with ample clothing storage throughout. Out of all the boats listed so far, the Pearson 34 should feel most like a traditional living space to most people. If the Pearson 34 seems a little too compact, be sure to read on and check out the next two boats on the list. 5. Nordic 40 {{boat-info="/boats/nordic-40"}} So far the largest boat on our list, the Nordic 40 is a super-capable offshore cruiser with excellent liveaboard facilities. This relatively rare boat features an extremely spacious interior, which is more than ample for a couple to live comfortably. Standing headroom throughout, a spacious master bedroom, along with a nearly full galley allows for superbly comfortable living in any climate or region. The extra storage aboard makes remote living possible, so owners can anchor out for weeks or months at a time with enough provisions to last. While this boat isn’t very common, it’s still worth keeping an eye out for it while searching for a liveaboard sailboat . 6. Peterson 44 {{boat-info="/boats/kelly-peterson-44"}} The Peterson 44 is what’s known as a ‘center-cockpit cruiser,’ featuring a split-cabin both fore and aft. This spacious interior layout maximizes living space without decreasing sailing capabilities. The boat features a master bedroom and bathroom, along with another cabin, berth, and head behind the cockpit. In addition to two bathrooms, it features a full galley, booth dinette, and settee. All these extras combined with excellent storage make it an excellent liveaboard option. Pearson is well-renowned for building excellent boats, and their interior quality is above average. 7. Nor’Sea 27 {{boat-info="/boats/norsea-27"}} The Nor’Sea 27 is a classic compact sailboat, which is ideal for minimalist or single people living aboard. The interior is surprisingly spacious for its size, featuring all the amenities you’d expect on a larger boat. This beautiful little boat likely mimics the comfort of a Catalina 30, and should cost less in slip fees. The interior features a toilet, shower, and galley. The forward berth converts into a dinette but features two other bunks underneath the cockpit. Production of the Nor’Sea 27 began in 1976, and it’s still produced today. And the best part—you can legally tow it on a trailer. It’s arguably the ultimate compact cruiser/liveaboard available today. {{boat-info="/boats/cal-34"}} The Cal 34 is very typical of mid-range sailboats of the 1970s. Produced between 1968 and 1975, this basic but comfortable yacht has a lot of potential as a liveaboard. The interior is simple and spacious, without much luxury or adorning. However, less features make for less maintnence, and everything you’d need is available in the Cal 34. A master bedroom, shower, and toilet are all standard, along with a well-arranged galley and comfortable sitting area. The boat features ample storage for clothes, food, and gear. All mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems aboard are easy to maintain, plus the cabin is well-designed. 9. Catalina 38 {{boat-info="/boats/catalina-38"}} Another classic Catalina sailboat makes the list, with a well-thought-out interior that’s spacious enough for a couple to live comfortably. Catalina produced their 38-foot sloop between 1977 and 1990, and it came standard with many excellent liveaboard features such as electrical outlets throughout the cabin. Also, the head is spacious and includes a sink, which is always very convenient. With plenty of places to sleep, there’s no need to fold away the galley table to get some rest. The Catalina 38 is another fantastic mid-sized sailboat for living aboard, especially if you aren’t quite comfortable inside a Catalina 30. 10. Hunter 33 {{boat-info="/boats/hunter-33"}} The last boat on our list is also one of the longest-lived in its category. Hunter produced their 33-foot sailboat starting in 1977, and it’s still in production today. This handy mid-sized boat features excellent interior accommodations, with plenty of sitting and sleeping areas to choose from. In addition to a full dinette, it features a toilet and shower aft away from the master bedroom.  Such an arrangement is a great option for sailors, as it allows the use of the head without moving too far away from the controls. Standing headroom throughout the long cabin makes for a very comfortable long-term living arrangement. The galley has plenty of storage space and the L-shaped layout allows for easy and efficient use. At the end of the day, you’ll get to choose the liveaboard sailboat that works best for you. Check out some of the boats we mentioned and get an idea of what they offer. Use this list to help identify features that you need, and perhaps avoid features that you don’t want. When it comes to living aboard, there’s a lot more to consider than just your boat. As long as the boat you choose is in good condition, you’ll likely end up falling in love with it. Either way, consider these top-ten liveaboard sailboats when you’re on the hunt for your boat. Related Articles Best Liveaboard Catamaran Sailboats 5 Best Liveaboard Bluewater Sailboats Living On A Sailboat - Pros & Cons How To Live on a Sailboat Daniel Wade I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing. by this author Best Sailboats Most Recent What Does "Sailing By The Lee" Mean? October 3, 2023 The Best Sailing Schools And Programs: Reviews & Ratings September 26, 2023 Important Legal Info Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Similar Posts Affordable Sailboats You Can Build at Home September 13, 2023 Best Small Sailboats With Standing Headroom December 28, 2023 Best Bluewater Sailboats Under $50K Popular posts. Can a Novice Sail Around the World? Elizabeth O'Malley June 15, 2022 4 Best Electric Outboard Motors How Long Did It Take The Vikings To Sail To England? 10 Best Sailboat Brands (And Why) December 20, 2023 7 Best Places To Liveaboard A Sailboat Get the best sailing content. Top Rated Posts © 2024 Life of Sailing Email: [email protected] Address: 11816 Inwood Rd #3024 Dallas, TX 75244 Disclaimer Privacy Policy 434 COMMENTS Life on a Sailboat: Everything You Need to Know About Living on a Living on a sailboat full-time is often romanticized as a life of endless sunsets, gentle waves, and freedom on the open sea. Many dream of casting off the lines and setting sail for a horizon of adventure and tranquility. However, the reality of life aboard a sailboat can be as challenging as it is rewarding, as frustrating as it is relaxing ... Is sailing in Colombia a viable option? Pitstop to Panama. If you are sailing from the Caribbean to the Panama Canal, Santa Marta on Colombia's north coast makes the ideal pit-stop. It is one of the only places to pull in conveniently ... Boat Life: Living the Dream with Latina Sailor Dutch-Colombian couple living on a sailboat in the Caribbean————————————————————————————Want to see real-life ... Sailing in Colombia Sailing in Colombia is different from the ideal conditions in the Eastern Caribbean: trips are a lot longer and other cruiser boats not as common. Conditions can be rough, with strong winds, and navigating is challenging with incomplete charts. ... Living aboard a sailboat, blogging about the places we visit and the adventures we have. Love ... The Insider Truth About Living on a Sailboat A yacht requires an engine to run. One of the coolest things about living on a sailboat is that so long as the wind is favorable, you can sail for free. Set the sails and enjoy cruising without spending a cent on gas. On a yacht, you'll always have to pay to play. Driving a yacht has a smaller learning curve to it. Living In A Sailboat: An Insider's Guide To Sailboat Life You can get it cheaper but there are no recommended surveyors in Sicily so we made the decision to fly one in from the UK. That way there weren't any language barriers either. We were slightly unlucky that the marina the sailboat was in was such an expensive one to get a lift out, you can get lifted out for more like £200-£300 ($250 - $380 USD) in other boatyards. Live Aboard Sailing, Full-time living on a sailboat All photos courtesy of Fabio Brunazzi. By Fabio Brunazzi. Hi, my name is Fabio and at a certain moment in my life I decided that I wanted to sail and live on a small sailboat. It was an unconscious decision, that revealed itself in stages. The first step was living aboard a sailing yacht in a group of remote islands of Venezuela, without even ... 15 Things That Change When You Live on a Catamaran Things like water conservation, provisioning, cooking, cleaning, and adjusting to a small space all take time and energy. Here are some of the big changes to everyday habits that we discovered living on a catamaran. Table of Contents. Preparing for Sailboat Living. 1. Living On a Boat Full Time One parting thought: Living on a boat full time and traveling is like having three or four full-time jobs. Each requires 30-40 hours per week when you include labor, research, and thinking and planning. Boat ownership — basic maintenance and cleaning. Cruising full-time — destination and route planning, weather study. Living On A Sailboat Some cons are cramped living space, having your home rock when the weather turns nasty, and small living space. There are many variables to consider when creating a list of pros and cons for living on a sailboat. Whether you live at anchor or at a dock, one con for sailboat living is the general lack of space. 11 Amazing Spots Around the World to Liveaboard a Boat (With Pictures) I also have a guide on how to live on a catamaran. Most of the islands are also very protected, which can be a nice change of pace if you recently came here overseas. 8. Croatia. Croatia is one of the most famous destinations for sailing vacations around the world, and this is for a good reason. How To Live on a Sailboat Living on a sailboat can be a rewarding experience, especially if you come prepared and make strategic lifestyle adjustments. Living on a sailboat is possible if you find the right boat, stay organized, manage maintenance and utilities effectively, make an income, and choose a suitable marina. Anyone who follows these steps can live a frugal ... 17 Best Sailboats to Live On + What You Should Know First Coastal Cruiser Under 35 — Catalina 34/35. If you want to move aboard, you're on a budget, and you want the most space you can get, it's really hard to beat an older Catalina. Starting with the Catalina 30, these beamy boats have a surprising interior volume. They make great first liveaboards. What It's Like To Live On A Sailboat Living on a sailboat is a perfect lifestyle that presents both sides of the coin: the bad and the good. While it is a tremendously rewarding experience that gives you the freedom to explore some of the most exotic places in the world, it has its fair share of challenges. This is a unique lifestyle that's not meant for all. How to Live on a Sailboat for Beginners One philosophy in getting started living aboard a sailboat is to start small, start now. That doesn't mean you have to buy a major refit project of a sailboat. You can get started in a small 24 foot single cabin boat for less than $10,000 or a mid-size 36 foot sailboat (see video below) for less than $60,000. Or grab a 1980s fixer upper that ... Top 10 Sailing Locations in Colombia San Andres Island. San Andres Island is a tiny Caribbean island off the coast of Colombia that is home to some of the world's most exquisite beaches and crystal-clear waters. With calm waters and ideal breezes for cruising, it is a great place for sailing aficionados to visit. To tour the stunning coastline and adjacent islands like ... Living on a sailboat: Everything you need to know about boat life Liveaboard Boats. The liveaboard boat life is one of freedom and adventure, whether you're doing coastal cruising, crossing oceans or living in a marina. Here, you'll find the best liveaboard boats, including small sailboats, catamarans and power boats. I Travel the World With My Family Working and Living on a Sailboat The living area inside the 53-foot sailboat. Brian Trautman. Our monthly costs for food and living run about $3,500 to $4,000. Generally, anchoring a boat is free. If there's a big storm coming ... How Much Does it Cost to Live on a Sailboat Full-Time? How Much Does Living on a Sailboat Full-Time Cost? Living aboard a boat will generally cost somewhere between $500 and $10,000 per month at either extreme. For most, it's probably somewhere close to $1,500 - $5000. We spend somewhere around $2,500 per month living on a boat in the Mediterranean. Living Aboard on the Columbia River in Winter Join Date: Mar 2011. Location: Pacific NW, sailing the Columbia River, USA. Boat: Gemini 105MC 34 ft hull#753. Posts: 951. Images: 3. Living Aboard on the Columbia River in Winter. Were headed into our second winter living aboard (AKA recreating lots) as the law does not really allow liviaboards but there are several boats that do. Soon the ... How to Retire on a Sailboat On average, the cost to dock a liveaboard sailboat ranges from $600 to $3,000 per year. This is considerably cheaper than rent in most places. That sail, slip fees vary widely between locations and cities. Some marinas charge per foot of length, with prices ranging from $5 per foot to upwards of $300 per foot per year. Second victim of Labor Day boat crash found dead in Connecticut Second victim of Labor Day boat crash found dead in Connecticut. Authorities have found the bodies of both men who remained missing four days after a boat carrying nine people crashed into a jetty ... 'I have to get out of here so I can live': Captain survives ... Boat fires may be more common than people realize. The U.S. Coast Guard counted 232 of them nationwide in 2022, with most of them fuel-related explosions, leading to 128 injuries and five deaths. 5 Reasons NOT to buy a live aboard sailing boat After three years of living on a sailing boat full time, we've learned the hard way about some of the genuine difficulties in living on a sailing boat that w... Miami Beach cracks down on live-aboard boaters : NPR Miami Beach is tired of a community of live-aboard boaters anchored just offshore. It's adopted policies limiting their access, including making it illegal to tie up dinghies at a city boat launch. 10 Best Sailboats To Live In Living aboard a sailboat is an exciting lifestyle choice, but there are lots of considerations you'll need to make. ‍First and foremost, you have to pick a boat to live in. Unless you plan on sleeping under a canvas tarp, it's essential to find a sailboat with a proper cabin. Cabin sailboats became common in the United States during the early 20th century, but size and amenities vary ... This couple pays $2,236/month to live on a 65-ft houseboat in ... Maisy Dewey and Harrison Kent live on the houseboat in London with their dog too. catamaran gulet motorboat powerboat riverboat sailboat trimaran yacht