posted on Dec, 18 2009 @ 12:22 AM
As someone who seriously looked into living on a boat, and having one that could take extended trips, which boat to get is really very simple. I’ll
break it down into steps for you:
Step1) Find the boat your are interested in. (in my case I wanted a sailboat to save on fuel, and I wanted the biggest boat I could possibly
afford since I was going to live on it. Boats get more expensive as they approach 50 foot, then they start to decrease in price… I found out why
that is…Slips…)
Step 2) Have the Boat inspected.
Step 3) Find out how outrageous the cost of boat insurance is, especially for a large boat. (Many insurance companies will not even insure a
large boat, a wood boat, or a boat over a certain age limit.)
Step 4) Try and apply for a loan on a large, expensive piece of mobile property that can sink, and that you can take out of the country if the
bank decides to repossess it.
Step 5) Research the cost of slips per foot, and the cost for a "live in" slip. (Normally, way more then the boat payment + Insurance itself,
it is nearly impossible to find a "live in" slip for a boat over 60 feet, and if you do, expect a VERY hefty monthly rent payment)
Step 6) Find out the cost of utilities including such things as water, and pump out service.
Step 7) Find out how much the hull maintenance on a large boat costs (which includes pulling it out to have it painted, have barnacles removed
etc).
Step 8) Find out how much it costs to replace canvas and ropes.
Step 9) Find out how much a diesel overhaul costs.
Step 10) Find out how much diesel the boat burns an hour (even sailboats must run on the engine at times), how big the tank is, and how much a
fill up costs.
Step 11) Find out what the cost is to equip a boat for extended time at sea (what it costs to generate power, use of solar panels,
desalinization equipment, radios, weather radar, etc)
Step 12) Find out the cost and hours involved with getting your captains license.
Step 13) Decide not to buy a boat until after I hit the lottery…
You can bypass some of that stuff if you are adamant about doing this. You can live offshore, and zodiac in for supplies, but even then, the boat has
to come in once awhile for certain supplies, and maintenance. You could learn to fix your own engines, clean your own hull, mend your owns ropes and
canvas, repair your own electronics, etc., but you will still need to purchase the parts, and it will quickly become a full time job. Wood boats are
the absolute worst to try and take care of.