Shout-out to live-aboards

We live on our 500DA, and have for the last 7 yrs. We sold our house, put everything into storage also (what a waste ) Original plans were to buy another house at the beach near our boat. Prices in this area were shooting up by the hour, so decided to wait and let the dust settle. After a few years, we decided we loved living on the boat, so stopped looking for houses. The 500Da in very comfortable, massive bed, great shower and large living area. We also have camper canvas, so a large area to sit outside as well. So 7 years later, stuff still in storage, have probably paid more for storage than the stuff in it is worth (haha). Our future plan is to move to northern Florida in a few years. all we gotta do is start the boat and go.

 

The past few years we have rented our house out for the summer and lived on our 400DB. It's just my wife, me and the dog. This fall we put our house up for sale and now are living on the boat full time. Our plan was to cruise the coast and winter in FL. Well that has changed. We stayed on the boat through the winter except for a long trip to Fl in Feb. I will say that the DB is more open than the DA. There is definitely no cave feeling. When we want to socialize we can have 10-12 people comfortably on the boat. Where we stay there are about 10 other live aboards. We are close enough to our kids to celebrate the holidays there. We may buy a condo in Fl for the dead of winter, but I never want to own a house again.

 

I think, when we move to Florida we will buy a small condo and buy a 400DA like yours, we have friends with one and I really like it. Bridge boats are nice, but a lot of bridges to deal with that a Sundancer can scoot under. I always figured I could rework the bed on a 400, to make it larger. I would like to see some others chime in here.

 

Closed on the house today. Moving onto my 2000 420AC 5/19/16. I can't wait. We will probably keep it near Jacksonville, FL after taking it to the Bahamas for a long weekend. I didn't bother with storage. Gave most stuff to the kids and are sorting through the rest. Most of it is going to Goodwill or Salvation Army. I'll be a home builder without a home. Looking forward to learning from those of you with more experience.

 

I sure hope more people post on this thread. I can see us living aboard, I don't know that my wife can... yet. :wink: Our plans are similar to some of those expressed here, buy the condo in Florida...spend a lot of time cruising the coast, the Keys, the Bahamas. The discussion here has already brought bridge boat and dancer experiences....invaluable to me right now.

A question we are asking ourselves is bridge boat vs sundancer for extended stays aboard. My wife feels like the bridge boat is a better choice. I'm sure there's no cave feel. As mentioned above, a larger sundancer with camper canvas enclosing the cockpit.... there are benefits to a lower profile two deck boat. I think a bridge boat can be smaller than a DA needs to be regarding spacious-feeling.

Hopefully some of you are up for a pm or two after i research this topic more and organize my thoughts better.

 

So you're saying, if you had a small condo in Florida, you could be happy with a smaller boat? You don't mention how much time you spend on your boat away from your home dock.

 

Right now we do 4 or 5 trips a year, 3 or 4 days at a time ( still got that nasty work thing ) Should really retire in a few years, then travel a lot. so I think we can still get by with a little smaller boat. I like the Cats or Cummings, good fuel mileage, these Detroits are a little thirsty for extended traveling.

 

10 to 12 days a month every month - going on 7 years - beautiful Lake Mead -523 miles of shore line-great marina friends-boat size is perfect-party with 10-feeds 6 and sleeps 2!

 

I still have that work thing too my brother. Just a little while longer. I think what you do is very realistic, especially for someone living on his boat. We don't live near out boat so we are subject to many things, always jonesing for boat time. Man I really appreciate your perspective. Food for thought.

 

Almost a crime to call 523 miles of shoreline in year round boating weather a Lake. That really sounds great.

 

I lived aboard mine for just shy of one week less than a year....

I jumped aboard a few years ago on Nov. 7th and walked off Nov. 1st to do a road trip across the country...Then hopped a flight to Oahu...

Now, I live on her about half time.

 

My only concern with liveqboards in a marina, is they are ALWAYS there. I try to avoid them, but I like my privacy in such tight quarters and don't want to see the same guy in the slip 5 ft away every weekend. Some space is nice. Just my .02.

 

Could not have said it better.
I have met some really great people in marinas. A lot of people are "really great" short term. Long term... not so much...maybe.

 

And now your name makes even more sense RollerCoastr. Cedar Point area is really nice, we like Lakeside/Marblehead too. I think Sandusky is the second or third most visited city in the country. I know, it's hard to believe.

 

I understand the gray cloud that hangs over many liveaboards. There are many that deserve that reputation. We had a couple at our marina that had crap all over the docks and boat, looked like junkyard. The marina removed them. We live on our boat out of choice. I have had a very lucrative past, owned 2 businesses, which I sold a few years back. I now work part time as boat broker. Our boat is professionally detailed 3 times a year, most people dont believe our boat is a old as it is. We have a group of friends that come every weekend and wish they could do what we do. I love getting up in the morning, sitting in the cockpit with a cup of coffee, looking out over the Intracoastal. Its a million dollar view that I did not pay for.