A25 as a liveaboard?

[JT48348]

I hear you. But while the Pardys inspired generations of people to dream of minimalist cruising or even give it an attempt, they are extreme minority. Well known and well loved no doubt. But it's like comparing a weekend cyclist and referencing a Tour de France competitor. It's not the mainstream.

Cruisers aren't the mainstream. Rv'ers might be touching the mainstream. They're in the Walmart parking lots and it's a viable retirement gig in a given situation. Long distance cruising and live aboard (which is what we're talking about) are not mainstream. Far fewer people doing it at all --minimalist or in a sub 30ft tiny space.

I don't think armchair minimalist cruisers really know what they are saying when they say take a twentyfive foot 40 year old boat to Central America and live aboard it.

Romantic? Yes

Practical? No


I don't see it.

[Sunsetrider]

Such a buzzkill.

[Jay Knoll]

Sunset

We've been all talking about the boat ignoring the elephant sitting on the dock.

Your fiscal situation is tough. At today's exchange rate your $19200 CDN pension? is the equivalent of $14464 US dollars. I don't know what your tax situation is so I'm assuming that is all pretax -- available "spending funds" are likely to be less. So unless you are going to be on the hook most of the time down the ICW marina fees are going to take a big hunk out of the cruising kitty. I don't know what the current Canadian regs are regarding health insurance, but back in the 90s our Canadian cruising friends had to go back to Canada for 6 months to maintain their coverage. Leaving the boat and returning home will entail storage and travel expenses which will put further strain on the budget.

Don't abandon the dream, but get a sound understanding of what you are able to do based on your resources. Can you build up your assets by working longer and using that time to test your ability to live aboard? If the boat isn't set up for winter living in a cold climate (few really are) can you rent out your house in the warmer months (AirBNB?) and move aboard full time to see how you like the live about experience? Can you work longer (or get a second job) to build up the cruising kitty? Do you have skills that would enable you to earn an income while you're cruising?

If you're going to try to live on the hook a good solid dinghy and outboard will be a necessity, along with a bike for transportation ashore.

My hometown has a great municipal marina and many snowbird boaters spend the winter months here. I've put a link to the current rate sheet in this message so you can have a sense of what you might face in the line of fees. Not all marinas are as live aboard friendly. This one has great showers, a boater's lounge, good dinghy dock and free public transportation with a stop at the marina. This is a popular place, during "season" there may be 2-3 boats rafted on each mooring. Liveaboard mooring fees would be $405.70 a month, that would be approximately 34% of your monthly pretax income.

http://www.covb.org/vertical/sites/%7B8 ... F25%7D.PDF



I don't think anyone is raining on your parade, we're just trying to share our experiences and help you get some perspective on your alternatives. Everyone cruises differently if it works for you that would be wonderful. The numbers might work out for you in a cheaper country, but you have to get the boat there and that will cost money. Just as few of us would leave port in the face of a raging gale but would wait until the weather was good, if you have faith in the ability of your economic resources to support your dream then go for it.

Jay

[Sunsetrider]

Settling in the US and A is just out of the question for too many reasons to count. The whole point is to retire in a suitable climate, a country that welcomes expats, with a low cost of living and reasonable health care. None of that applies to South Florida or anywhere else in the US. Whether I can get there by Albin 25 is still open to question but it sure would be fun to do it that way instead of buying a plane ticket.

I am too used to being able to get what I want when I want it, so I need to transition to a different mode of living before jumping into frugality with both feet. The current plan is to take 2 more years of earning to get in a better position to chuck it. But bear in mind that my CPP, whether or not in CDN funds, will go a lot further out of North America and where the cost of heating and cooling and eating bananas is reduced to zero.

[DesertAlbin736]

I was thinking of the Pardys in their moderate-size gaff-cutter, the TALESIN. When I say "a lot" I'm talking about cruisers in general, World-wide, not "a lot" in any particular marina. The marinas near me on Lk Michigan are mostly full of boats that never go anywhere, even on weekends.

Yes but... Lin & Larry Pardey are/were a special case, which FYI their 29 foot cutter Taliesen was designed by Lyle Hess, father of the Montgomery 17 sailboat, the Balboa/Ensenada 20 among others, and inspiration for Jerry Montgomery's design of the Montgomery 15 pocket cruiser (I owned and sailed the 2nd Montgomery 15 ever built from 2001 to 2005, but that's another story).

Lin and Larry Pardey are one of a kind hard core sailing purists, and don't even have an engine in their boat. "Taliesen" also carries 85 gallons of fresh water, not the 14 or so of an Albin 25

[smacksman]

Yes, I think it is possible.
Earlier this year I cruised 1800 miles in 'Free State' on a 'shoe string' budget.
Many marinas let you use their facilities for an hour or so when you filled up with fuel. They were cautious at first that I would take advantage of their hospitality but were happy when I didn't cause them trouble. A shower, disposal of gash and take on water in exchange for fuel and a pump out seemed a reasonable exchange.
I love America and Americans but most find it very hard to live without what I call 'luxuries' and they call 'essentials'. The best way to see if you can live without 'essentials' is to cruise for a month down to the Chesapeake by yourself. It will take in a few locks; some off shore sailing; some brisk weather in open water I expect; planning anchorages; entering and leaving marinas by yourself and generally a broad spectrum of of the life of a cruising liveaboard as against a static liveaboard.
Static liveaboards are often quite different, I found. Most were old sailboats with a wrecked engine, no sails and sometimes no spars. Always at anchor with a luxurient growth below waterline. They had a good dinghy+20hp outboard which could move the sailboat if needed. If they worked, then a car ashore parked at a marina that charged a nominal sum for use of facilities and parking the dink.
If you just want the adventure, like me, then sail down the ICW to Key West and sell it there or Fort Lauderdale then buy a boat or cabin in Central America.
Above all - have fun! But also have an 'exit stratagy' if it turns out not to be fun.

[Sunsetrider]

Sounds like a sensible plan, Smacksman. Thanks for the helpful input!

[tego]

Sunsetrider, I would recommend going down to central america to check it out first, but I think you will find you need far less money to live well down there. I recommend you talk to a few "expats" down there and get the lay of the land first, but you will find also that medical, dental, food and lodging will cost less than half, or less, of what they cost here. There are several books available on retirement in that area, and I'm sure there are internet sites also. Don't let some of these guys rain on your dream. It's definitely doable. Good luck, Ben PS, I almost did it myself, but mama didn't want to leave the grandkids so far away.

[Sunsetrider]

hanks Tego - I have done a lot of the homework and have even visited Panama, going back to explore further in January. I take note of all the advice and then check it out for myself to make a decision.