Living aboard ....now my 3rd time and now over 12 years, first 6 working full time.
When working full time and not using the boat a lot (which often becomes harder when you liveaboard a small one as theres too much crammed in), there is a lot less adventure to it.
Often it is just more difficult living compared to a dirt dwelling but with a close up water view.
Trying it out in short durations is a good way to see if it is a fit.....
....but if you dont already have a boat, selecting a small liveaboard becomes a tug of war over livability versus a boat you want to use on a regular basis.
this goes to open room arrangement versus more cabins/spaces.
boat design and use often determines that to a great degree on smaller vessels.
3rd time, 12 years, obviously demanding since not at once. Congrats!!!
Now, when you have that conclusion that in that case it is less adventurous, would you still skip that step in the process if you could turn back, or you valuate it now as one reach experience which had to be done?
Well, it seems that I am happy since I already have a boat.
IIRC, it still gets cold there in winter...
So I'll mention in the cold areas around here, availability of water and pumping out the holding tank (mandatory within our 3 mile limit, assuming an MSD is fitted) in winter can be challenging. And then there's heating. And then there's icy docks and/or cold commuting from boat to shore if anchored out or on a mooring buoy.
None of that is necessarily unsolvable; just helps to know in advance what you may have to consider.
FWIW, we are currently "camp-aboards" on our 42. I don't see us being comfortable on this particular boat as no-kidding full-time liveaboards, even though we have good features and good storage space. Just not enough elbow room for all our other hobbies.
-Chris
Yes, cold is the biggest problem and that is why I am skipping it still, if "not possible" for us in warm months, then no point of investing in "winter heating" equipment, well it does, but more in a long term way. I have never chosen to be at a buoy in "home" marina, it is really wasting of time. I agree with your description "camp-aboards", that would definitively be our first attempt. Never thought of "hobbies" I do at home, I will try to remember all of those.
Lived on and worked from my boat (Regal 2785, 30 LOA) for just two weeks last summer with my dog. Wife just visited on the weekends. It was fine, but I was ready to come home once it rained for 3 days in a row. Tough to do serious work from the boat (no true desk) and tough from the clubhouse too (everyone wants to chat). One more week would have been too much for me.
But of course I was dying to get back the following weekend.
Sounds totally realistic, but from my perspective I think that you would have a greater chance succeeding it if you have been together with your wife. This way, even you yourself did not take it seriously enough. Though, there are different personalities, too. Rain, well, we should learn from guys in Netherlands about it, if they would have thought that way they would have nothing, but they take their raincoats and do everything the same as it is not raining, even driving bicycles, so we are actually just spoiled (although I am still learning that, trust me newly learned fishing passion helps a lot, just find what motivates you). I hear you about the desk, that can be a problem for the back, but it depends of boat layout.
Many factors can be involved with this including the physical dimensions of the couple, their physical health, their mental health, their age, their upbringing, the comfort level they are used to, acceptance of safety risks, financial resources and even sleeping habits. Then you have said little about the boat. House boat? Trawler? Express cruiser? Some of the living spaces can be smaller than a prison cell.
Back in the day I grew up, there was a back to nature movement. It was mostly land based, but the concept is largely the same. Certainly, some survived it and still live that way today. For most, it was a dismal failure.
Certainly it can be done and if you did it for 3 weeks, you might be able to go for 3 months. Going through a winter in Europe on a boat won't be fun. And keep in mind, mother nature is UNDEFEATED.
Yes, I will upload a boat layout. Thanks for the motivation and opinion that we can do it, that same opinion made me believe that we could do it. Yes, mother nature is to be respected.
It all depends on what you and the significant other are use to or can get use to. My daughter is a college professor in Japan. A 30' live aboard would probably have about the same space as her micro apartment.
Have met 2 couples doing the great loop on Ranger Tugs. My reservation on smaller boats deals with how long between pump out, fill water tank, and getting groceries.
Ted
Exactly, it depends how spoiled we are, but it also should be taken into consideration how old, healthy and fit are the people (we are about 35, your daughter is probably young, too). Truth about the period between refills. We can get around 7 days when cruising with 260 liters water tank (we learned that, from about 2 days in the beginning). Now should be even more since we have bought two solar bags, 20 liters each.
I would never, ever under any circumstances elect to live on my 40’ Silverton. Our boat is our toy. We also are in the north east where zero degree days do happen, often during winters and of course snow.
It takes a large boat to enjoy comforts of a live aboard. Now can one live aboard in a smaller boat? Sure! Some people even live in tents although many not by choice.
I understand what you are saying, but as I have already talked about cold days, I will not repeat myself, but I do respect the facts that you are pointing, even though you have bigger boat/toy.
OK, here are the layouts, but, mind that our boat is a bit different inside, it is just that I have drawings for this version. Instead of explaining the differences I will attach a couple of photos.