Brand new to the forum here. I don't have a boat but my wife and I recently stayed for two nights on a Sea Ray 380 Aft Cabin in California. The boat itself wasn't cared for very well by the owner, be I just loved staying on the boat and thought it was a great size and layout. We only stayed two days and two nights, but it got me thinking about the future. I've always loved boats...especially boats with cabins that you could actually "live" on, and while I am only 40 years old now, I would love to try and live on a boat for a few years when I retire. This is still along way off, but I started looking at prices for a used 380AC and even the 420AC (1999-2004 vintages roughly). The cost of these boats is quite a bit less than the cost of the house I own now. While I know there are a ton of costs when it comes to boat ownership...besides the cost of the boat...I just wondered if people really can live successfully full time on a boat like this or not? Is the cost of a boat like this not an issue, but rather the fuel cost and marina costs? My wife and I have owned three different motorhomes over the past few years, and while we only vacationed with them and never lived in one full time, we certainly don't mind the smaller quarters. For myself, I am an anti-pack rat type of person (minimalist), and the older I get the "less" things I try to own and keep.
If people do live on "smaller" boats like the Sea Ray 380 and 420 AC, can you actually travel pretty far with it or do most people just live on them in a slip on a marina? Ideally, my "dream" would be to live on a boat like this during the Summer months in a place like the Lake Michigan area, and then take the boat down to the coast of Florida or the Caribbean for the Winter. Not sure if a boat like this could make that sort of trip or not, or if the cost for fuel alone would be too astronomical, but just interested if this kind of thing can be done or not on an average man's budget (assuming I sell my house and have monthly retirement income). My impression is that these Sea Ray aft cabin boats are more designed for weekend getaways and not full time living, so maybe I need to look at something else. I just really like Sea Ray products, and I love the aft cabin yachts!
If people do live on "smaller" boats like the Sea Ray 380 and 420 AC, can you actually travel pretty far with it or do most people just live on them in a slip on a marina? Ideally, my "dream" would be to live on a boat like this during the Summer months in a place like the Lake Michigan area, and then take the boat down to the coast of Florida or the Caribbean for the Winter. Not sure if a boat like this could make that sort of trip or not, or if the cost for fuel alone would be too astronomical, but just interested if this kind of thing can be done or not on an average man's budget (assuming I sell my house and have monthly retirement income). My impression is that these Sea Ray aft cabin boats are more designed for weekend getaways and not full time living, so maybe I need to look at something else. I just really like Sea Ray products, and I love the aft cabin yachts!