A live aboard sailor shares tips about where to put your boat you want to live aboard.
Where do you keep a live aboard boat? You have three options main.
The first being you can call around and find a marina that allows live aboards; not all do. Living at a marina simplifies thing for many people. There are many conveniences while living in a marina. Many include things like bathrooms, laundry, parking. The downside is the cost, most marina fees are comparable to rental fees. You also have to deal with neighbors closer at hand.
Another choice is a mooring. A moorings is a permanent anchor that you can rent. Many are associated with marinas and some are privately owned. With a moorings, a small boat called a dinghy is required to get you to and from shore. When not attached to land, there is more motion on the boat. It sometimes takes time to get used to the different motion. Moorings also cost money, though not as much as marinas, though most places also charge for dinghy dockage.
The third option is anchoring out, or "on the hook". To do this, you need to anchor outside of and and all marked channels. This option also requires a dinghy. It also requires a good anchor appropriate for the boat's weight and the waterbed it's sitting in. Of all of the options, being on the hook can be the most challenging and adventurous. You need to keep track of your anchor to be sure it doesn't drag.
With both a moorings or anchoring out, you need to produce your own electricity using your engine, a generator or you can use solar panels or water or wind generators. You also need a watermaker, an item that turns salt water to fresh water, you need to stop at a fuel dock to get water or you can tote it out in your dinghy when you travel to and from shore. A holding tank, a boat septic tank, is also needed. Many cities have a "pump out" boat that comes to your boat to empty your holding tank. Other places have a pump out station at fuel docks.
There are also etiquettes to using your dingy. Do not put up a wake in an anchorage. Keep a comfortable distance from the other boats. Always check on fellow boaters if they seem to be having a problem. And remember to have fun with it. Living on a boat is an interesting life, enjoy it (and all the questions you get).
