Need info from living aboard

[Brenda]

I am new to the forum = maybe I can get my questions started. as I am sure I will have a lot of them as we get deeper into this. Let me start by saying that my husband and I are looking to purchase a Hatteras in the next three years ( when I can retire for the 2nd time) we are planning on selling our 2200 sq ft home in favor of a 43 ft Hatteras and living on it full time for a minimun of 2 years ( I want to do the Great Loop)However I am not sure exactly what to expect. I would like to hear the pros and cons from some of you guys living aboard

 

[Pascal]

been living aboard for 5+ years now...love it!

i woudnt' live on anything smaller than my 53 though... even though it's a little bigger, the 53 is probably easier to handle on the loop thanks to the lower helm and side doors to the deck. May cost a little more than the 43 initially but maintenance, etc... will be nearly the same.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Us poor folks live on a 43'...... But for the 2 of us, it's fine.

But would agree that the 53' is a ton bigger than mine is. Have delivered 3 of them and they are NICE.......

We went from a 4/3 house with double garage and 20x20 workshop to our boat in June,2000......

But now having 6 grand kids, if they threaten to all come visit, I can just cast off the lines and go before they get here....

 

[holtcl]

We've been living aboard the 44TC and find it fine for 2 people. My definition of a liveaboard boat comes when you have the laundry facilities aboard. Take the plunge- you will love it. When I first came on board, I stored my good furniture in one of those "PODS" for one year just in case I didn't care for it but turns out that was a waste because now I would not go back to a land base. It is helpful to have a storage unit for the stuff you can't fit on board.

 

[Captned]

I think one tends to drink more living aboard, maybe its just me! LOL
7+ years, 1978 46 Convertible, Miami Beach.

Captned
MBMM

 

[Brenda]

Thanks guys -- it will be just the two of us living on the boat-- does any one have any experience with their mail such as medicaines from the VA? I agree we will have to have a washer and dryer Have to keep hubby busy doing something besides cooking

 

[ThirdHatt]

Brenda, when you and Robby went aboard BigBill's 58YF during the Gulf Coast Hatteras Rendezvous, what did you think? The reason that I ask is that there are smaller versions of that boat with the same interior layout that can be had for less money than the mid 1980's 43MY of Jack's that you guys boarded and loved. The older 50MY is a prime example. Those boats are the most space for the least amount of money in a classic Hatteras.

Search Yachtworld and go look at and board as many older Hatt's as you can.

Also, I think you guys would really enjoy the Trawlers & Trawlering list. That forum has many trawler and sailboat types that are very penny-wise (much more so than most motoryacht and Hatteras folk) with respect to solar power, restricted genny use, watermaking, etc while living on the hook. There is alot of excellent info there from many full time liveaboards on a fixed income.

GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[JoJoDiver]

Hi Brenda,

Sounds like you have a wonderful adventure planned. We're lived aboard for about 11 years, full time. We were aboard a 35' Luhrs for about 2 years and the rest of the time was aboard our 53' YF. Before purchasing the 53' we were actually looking for a 48'. We have never regretted the decision. As a matter-of-fact, if we had to do it all over again, we would have gone to the 58' YF. But at the time, 35' to 53' was a HUGE jump for us.

As far as cruising stuff...

I don't know how much boating experience you both have but if you're not too familiar with the rules of the road, I would suggest a power squadron course at the very least. Getting your USCG Captain's license would be very useful but you have to have a certain number of hours logged in before you can take the course. In all honesty, it won't really teach you how to physically handle your particular boat but the information learned is priceless.

If you are going to travel along the ICW and anchor out at night, I would suggest planning the night before - mileage you would like to cover, options (at least 2, preferably 3) as to where you would like to anchor. Sometimes recent shoaling, too many boats in the anchorage, wrong wind direction, etc. might prevent you from anchoring in your first choice. Therefore you want to give yourself plenty of time to make it to your next option. Have good cruising guides and charts aboard to make it easier. (I can suggest many for the Chesapeake Bay and the Caribbean).

Never leave port without your vacuum sealer. Keeps the moisture out of all your food (flour, rice, etc.)

Remove as much packaging as you can from stuff so you can minimize the trash onboard between ports.

Have a water maker if you plan to be away from civilization for extended periods.

If you're going to be traveling rather than staying put, you don't need nearly the clothes you might think. You're not going to be with the same people in the next port, right?

On the other hand, you'd be surprised what a small world the cruising community really is, so find yourself a practical way to write down people's names, boat names, how you met, etc. For example, even though I like to have things on my computer, it was inefficient to have this info stored there. Most of the time, people would pull into port, see our boat and hail us on the VHF. Who has time to boot the PC? I kept small, two ringed binders next to the radio with the cards sorted alphabetically by boat name. Within the first 5 or 6 months, we had well over 100 boat names. We are now in the thousands. It was not unusual to have someone call us on the VHF or SSB whom we hadn't seen in years. And I don't know about you, but my memory is great, it's just not very long! LOL

Anyhow, there's a bunch of other stuff but since I'm not sure what type of questions you would like answered I'll just stop for now.

Cheers,

 

[stormchaser]

I'd agree with those that said that if at all possible, get a 1510 series (50, 53, 58). Its the PERFECT layout for a live aboard in my opinion. The odler 50s are a bargain sometimes. This one look particularly appealing: http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...rrency=USD&access=Public&listing_id=4184&url=

 

[sandspur1966]

I live aboard a 15-10 58 MY in NY and agree that, with prices the way they are, the extra room in these boats far outweighs any savings.

as far as cruising, and presuming little prior experience, I would suggest a bare boat charter or two to start and then once a boat is purchased I would suggest some shorter cruises to learn the vessel before embarking on "the Loop."

 

[Nonchalant1]

We just completed the Great Loop Route cruise in our 53MY recently. It's a great boat, and with the current boat market the 53MY a great buy. We lived onboard for 10 months doing the loop and my wife didn't want anything smaller than the 53MY for extended living. For your husband, it has a galley with a regular home type 19 cu. ft. refrigerator, a regular home type stove with large oven and glass cooktop, a microwave, toaster oven, the usual washer/dryer, and LOTS of storage compared to the smaller boats. The 43s and 44s are great boats, but go see them and the 53MYs and look closely at the galleys, living space and the storage.

BTW - If you want to do the Great Loop, you need a boat that can get under the 19 ft. fixed bridge at mile 300 of the Illinois River system. Out 53MY has a folding radar arch for that purpose. Also, if you want to see what doing the Great Loop in a 53MY is like, see my picture-book blog at http://www.dougandkathysboatlog.blogspot.com/ and scroll down to October 2006 when we started the cruise. It's a wonderful experience.

Doug Shuman

 

[Finalee]

I have been on board my 43 DC for 3 years. Love it. All the appliances are new. Also have a washer dryer combo. This makes life easy.
I travel 4 or 5 times a year either up the Bay or south to Manteo. It is great to just untie and go. My cockpit area is heated and cooled giving me nearly 725 square feet of living space. The 43 is easily single handed.

 

[bobk]

I maybe the only guy who feels less is more. I retired aboard a 41' Taiwanese SUNDECK trawler in 2002 and was absolutely comfortable with the size. It didn't have a W/D and that was no issue to my wife. She preferred to do laundry at the marina facilities because she met folks and could pick their brains about the areas we cruised in.

The sundeck in our opinion was key. It adds a lot of liveability. Anyway my admiral wanted a larger boat with a third stateroom for all the times we would have grandkids aboard with their parents. We bought a 48MY, and used the three SR's only a couple of times. It would have made more sense to rent a motel for the guests.

That said, I like most everything about the 48... especially the huge sundeck. It's enclosed and where we (now I) spend the most time when not underway. I'm particualrly partial to the galley/dinette down layout, the lack of ladders and did I mention the sundeck? Oh yes, I did. Now if it only came with twin Ford Lehman SP135's..... or a single 3208 natural.

Bob
Chateau de Mer
1981 48MY

 

[stormchaser]

That said, I like most everything about the 48... especially the huge sundeck. It's enclosed and where we (now I) spend the most time when not underway. I'm particualrly partial to the galley/dinette down layout, the lack of ladders and did I mention the sundeck? Oh yes, I did. Now if it only came with twin Ford Lehman SP135's..... or a single 3208 natural.

Bob
Chateau de Mer
1981 48MY

I feel the exact same way about living on our 53, but I like having the salon on the same level as the aft deck. I also wish my boat had twin smaller engines...maybe a nice pair of John Deer 4045Ts. That would give me a nice 8-8.5 knot cruse burning about 3-3.5 GPH total burn. When/if I ever have to do a full repower...I'm down powering a LOT.

 

[Bugsy]

A lot of rave reviews by 53 MY owners but I want to put an oar in the water for the 48 MY. She basically has TWO salons (saloons) so that you can entertain in comfort if so inclined or maintain separation if circumstances dictate. We had a very nice galley down to port with dinette to starboard forward of which there was a twin berth stateroom with private head incl. shower.

Aft of the galley and up the steps was the main salon which accomodated two large wing-back chairs; coffee table and leather couch. Down stairs and further aft were the guest stateroom and head and the master stateroom and head.

Up from the salon was the aft enclosure which was HUGE.

My wife and I lived on "French Lady" for 4 years until she was "scooped up" in St. Maarten and re-named "Lyndal K." Unfortunately, those purchasers encountered tragic circumstances and she was sold again. We saw her once more (tears in our eyes) in Miami Beach marina in 2006

We have since lived for many months at a time on a 43 C. No problems but I feel like we went from an estate to a condo.

 

[Brenda]

Thanks guys for the info-- We went to new Orleans today and looked at a 43DC--it was nice, however it did not have the space we need--also no dingy or davit, which is a must to get the Motorcycles on and off There just is not enough storage in the galley. I guess we are going to have to look at the the 48 MY if not something bigger, at least we have time to search and find what we want, when we find what we are looking for we will both be happy and know what we have because of the research. I love the idea of the double queen staterooms on the 48MY and the extra storage in the galley. we will just have to keep looking and talking.

 

[nyrussell]

Brenda,

Just got in from a power squadron meeting!!!! Great organization! Or the CGA (Coast Guard Aux. Ask Walt). Our take from 3 years living aboard nw including the birth of our daughter. Size of the boat initially means little compared to choice of cruising and eyour ease of docking. We live on a 40' DC MY in NY Harbor and until our wee one gets older it is large enough. I would like a 53 as that would be a reat next choice, but the costs got up significantly too. Dockage is more, fuel is more, maintenance might be more...

Look at the newer 40's and up or the 70's 53-58 yf (yachtfish). They will all work depending on other decisions you make. How much stuff you need is an important one. We had 2 of 3 dock boxes and the V-berth packed with the babies clothes until lately.

I will second the statement of a 53 but make an informed decision. Also, get a few books on engine maintenance etc as that will also be a necessary evil. Look for some of the threads that have been posted by the people who live aboard. Also, look at joining T&T (Trailers and Trawlering list) and the Liveaboard list at liveaboardnow.org as there is useful info there as well.

This list has some of the most experienced people i have met and they are all great (current person excluded LOL)

Welcome aboard as well and ask away!

Noel, Yukari, and Erin (who is no longer the youngest here LOL)

 

[GJH]

Brenda, see my reply to Robby on the "Flush Decks" thread. You may be catching a dangerous (but fun) virus!