Floating office due to COVID-19

hynespa

hynespa

Well-Known Member
Jun 7, 2010
314
Marina Del Rey, CA
Boat Info
2005 420 Sundancer
Engines
T-VD-8.1 S HO MerCruiser (T-420 hp)
My firm's offices have been closed since mid-March and we have been in a mandatory "work from home" situation. Unfortunately my work from home situation is less than ideal - I lack a separate office - so would have to work from the kitchen or living room - and doesn't work well with my wife on Zoom calls all day for PTA and my kids doing Zoom classes.

I made the decision early on to convert my boat into a floating office. For anybody considering the same here are some pro's and con's:

PRO's
  • Gives me some structure to the day because I am getting in a car and "commuting" 20-25 minutes to the marina to go to work.
  • Get's me out of the hair of my wife and teenagers.
  • Gives me solitude to focus on my work calls, etc.
  • I can jump in the dinghy at lunchtime and go across the marina to grab lunch at some places that have carry out or outdoor dining.
  • I have had more than one employee or client say while I'm on camera for a zoom "wait ... are you on a boat!?" (Not sure of they are jealous in a good way or bad way ...)
  • When I have some extended time between client calls - I've been able to progress a few boat projects
CONS
  • The WiFi in my marina can be like a roller coaster. Most of the time it is "OK" but there are times where my calls or video are dropped. I have an LTE modem as a backup when it gets too bad.
  • There are too many days where I am "back to back" on work calls ... and I don't even emerge from my boat "cave" until 6:30 or 7pm at night ... after not even emerging for lunch.
  • Days where I really need to get better about moving. I should try to do some non-video work calls while "walking and talking".
Interested in whether anybody else has turned their boat into a "home office"?

Here is a pic of my basic setup:

61661327829__971EDEB2-6117-4057-87CE-C79B154F03F1.JPG
 
We have the same and a printer. I particularly like the Block M. We have something similar. Even a coaster made of the turf from the Big House that was used '82 to '90.
 
I’m in the same boat. I normally work from home, but my girlfriend is now doing the same. Rather than being stuck in the hotbed that Orlando has become, we have been working from the boat for the past few months.

I’ve got a cheap printer and mobile scanner that have worked wonderfully with my laptop. I’d post a picture, but my “office” is nowhere near as tidy.
 
Going back well before Covid, I routinely would work from the boat. Our trips are normally 10-14 days in length. I tend to work a lot of half days, some full days.

I started off using the table in the galley for everything.

Last fall I saw a lap desk at Best Buy and tried it out. Gave me a lot of flexibility. I can sit on one of the couch's in the salon. Go into a different stateroom, sit on the bed leaning up against the headboard. etc.

The lap desk has a built in mouse pad - was around 30-40 dollars. Best thing I have found to enhance working from the boat.
 
Unfortunately, working "Reboatly" is not an option for me
 
You guys are all lairs. We all know your hardly working. :)


Back in the recession when we where closed Fridays, I used to bring my laptop to work from the boat, so I know how it goes. :)
 
For several months we were working from “home” one day/week. I set up on the bridge and it was great until it got 90*. Then I moved to the salon. that was good too. Best thing is the boat is only 15 min from home now....

Bennett
 
For those that have financed your boats wonder if you can write off a portion of that now? It's funny cause we were just talking about that today in a meeting
 
image.jpg


I have been working from the boat since mid March. Overall it is really good for me. See below some plusses and minuses.

PRO's
  • I also like the routine of getting up and going to the "office" which is all of 2 miles. I ride my bike somedays.
  • Also get's me out of the noisy house with two teenagers taking Zoom Classes and my wife has frequent conference calls and so do I...
  • Gives me easy access to slip in boat projects in my downtime.
  • Love the environment
CONS
  • Missing the Multiple monitors
  • The WiFi in my marina is not always constant but I added a Groove Wifi Extender which dramatically improved the connection.
  • There are days where I am on "back to back" on work calls ... and I don't move as much as I need to...
  • Video Conference Calls are tricky as I don't prefer to publicize that I am working from the boat.
 
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Well I am finally traveling again but before that I was doing a lot of WFB "Working from boat". Hot spot and Uber Eats app was all I needed to make it a great office. Zoom calls from "The Cave" were perfect, got a green screen pop up from amazon and just used the virtual background feature in zoom....worked perfect.
 
I've done this a handful of times now, also working remotely since March. Boat work has been more of a Thursday/Friday attempt when I can pull it off.

The biggest CON I've found relates more to my boat neighbors. I seem to have far too many boat friends that have far more relaxed work schedules than I. Boat pals cracking their first beer at 2PM on a Thursday is not unheard of. And it makes working from the cockpit nearly impossible when it starts. I have to hide away, resist the urge :)

On a more serious note, the other biggest CON for me is the monitor situation. When I'm in my office I work on two 21" screens with my laptop docked. At home I work on one 21" screen with my laptop as a second screen. It's hard for me to work from my laptop alone. It's something I suffer through when I travel but otherwise I try to avoid it like the covid...
 
Stee6043 said:
I've done this a handful of times now, also working remotely since March. Boat work has been more of a Thursday/Friday attempt when I can pull it off.

The biggest CON I've found relates more to my boat neighbors. I seem to have far too many boat friends that have far more relaxed work schedules than I. Boat pals cracking their first beer at 2PM on a Thursday is not unheard of. And it makes working from the cockpit nearly impossible when it starts. I have to hide away, resist the urge :)

On a more serious note, the other biggest CON for me is the monitor situation. When I'm in my office I work on two 21" screens with my laptop docked. At home I work on one 21" screen with my laptop as a second screen. It's hard for me to work from my laptop alone. It's something I suffer through when I travel but otherwise I try to avoid it like the covid...
Click to expand...

I am also addicted to multiple displays. I found a mobile friendly second display for my laptop.

google "laptop mobile display". I got one, works fantastic. Easy to carry, powered from laptop. Works very well for use with laptop.
 
Stee6043 said:
I've done this a handful of times now, also working remotely since March. Boat work has been more of a Thursday/Friday attempt when I can pull it off.

The biggest CON I've found relates more to my boat neighbors. I seem to have far too many boat friends that have far more relaxed work schedules than I. Boat pals cracking their first beer at 2PM on a Thursday is not unheard of. And it makes working from the cockpit nearly impossible when it starts. I have to hide away, resist the urge :)

On a more serious note, the other biggest CON for me is the monitor situation. When I'm in my office I work on two 21" screens with my laptop docked. At home I work on one 21" screen with my laptop as a second screen. It's hard for me to work from my laptop alone. It's something I suffer through when I travel but otherwise I try to avoid it like the covid...
Click to expand...
https://yourslide.com/
I currently have a Asus portable 17" usb-c second monitor I travel with and it works great. Met a guy with this slide and joy set up and now I have monitor envy... he has 3. I think I am going to pull the trigger and order one.
 
rlynch03 said:
Video Conference Calls are tricky as I don't prefer to publicize that I am working from the boat.
Click to expand...
If you use the virtual background you can make it look like you are working anywhere other than your boat. Not sure if you can customize the background but even if you used the Maui beach background you will be assumed to be working from your basement:)
I teach Aviation Maintenance at a Local JC and we are preparing to do some teaching online where possible if the shut down intensifies, I'll definitely use the boat but will use a virtual background as the optics these days are under such scrutiny. I'd be seen as a rich white guy showing off to my under privileged students getting their free education. Wouldn't want them to see what wise choices and living beneath ones means, in time will get them, would we?
Carpe Diem
 
I also occasionally work from the boat. My biggest hurdle is that i typically have at least 2-3 video calls a day now. Pre Covid it was maybe 2-3 a week. I would rather not explain my boat situation to clients or colleagues. So typically i limit my boat office days to Fridays and only join calls via audio. I too work from the bridge when possible. Nice view up there. Not sure if it helps me think or just distracts me....
 
Carpediem44DB said:
If you use the virtual background you can make it look like you are working anywhere other than your boat. Not sure if you can customize the background but even if you used the Maui beach background you will be assumed to be working from your basement:)
I teach Aviation Maintenance at a Local JC and we are preparing to do some teaching online where possible if the shut down intensifies, I'll definitely use the boat but will use a virtual background as the optics these days are under such scrutiny. I'd be seen as a rich white guy showing off to my under privileged students getting their free education. Wouldn't want them to see what wise choices and living beneath ones means, in time will get them, would we?
Carpe Diem
Click to expand...

Being somewhat skeptical of my employees activities i admittedly draw conclusions that they are somewhere they are not supposed to be during work hours whenever they use a virtual background.... But then again i run a sales organization with remote sellers all over the country, so they probably are...
 
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