buying a live aboard .I would love some information on buying a live aboard with about 50g budget what type? . whats the marina lifestyle like ? fees etc thankyou in advance .Paul
the Longer the boat the more marine fees are. My Id go for a 10 to 12 meter keeps the over heads down
There are many options for a live aboard in your budget. Marina lifestyle is usually friendly and interesting, mingling with the regulars, meeting sailors passing through, watching the passing parade. I liked living on a mooring and travelling by dinghy to work each morning then leaving the hustle and bustle of land behind and going out to the boat for sundowners after work, also a lot cheaper then marina fees.
Select to expand quoteMeg1122 said..
There are many options for a live aboard in your budget. Marina lifestyle is usually friendly and interesting, mingling with the regulars, meeting sailors passing through, watching the passing parade. I liked living on a mooring and travelling by dinghy to work each morning then leaving the hustle and bustle of land behind and going out to the boat for sundowners after work, also a lot cheaper then marina fees.
Me to Meg
I suggest you search every forum/thread/post on the world web , anything is possible in life as long as you don't spend a life time correcting mistakes!
Select to expand quoteHG02 said..
Id go for a 10 to 12 meter keeps the over heads down
Might depend on how many are living aboard HG..... I couldn't think of anything worse then living aboard a 32 footer with my two tin lids.... Unfortunately, they are too young to leave at home. Hence I will be in the market soon (hopefully) for either 40' plus or a cat.
I think if money was no object i would go for a round a bout 40 foot Cat but for 50k you would be looking at a 30 year old 30 to 40 foot monohull
Regards Don
What I am hoping to do Donk, is find a larger boat that is comfortable for a family of 4 to live on for 6 months. Either a bigger mono or a cat (previously I was all for a cat, but they are not cheap). I plan to sell it at the end of the trip but I must also be able to afford to hold onto it in the likely event it doesn't sell quick. Then I would come back down to a 28-32 footer.
But as you said, if money was no issue, then I would get a 40' catamaran......
I know of a mid 2000 Northshore 34 in Sydney that is a really good buy, you could probably get for high 80's? It's a lovely boat, but I dont know of any body that has lived aboard a Northshore, are they any good for that sort of thing?
He bought it new, and I know he is getting no bits at high 90's. Probably a bit dear, but looks like excellent value anyways.
SB
Oh! There is an excellent example of a Davidson 34 coming on the market in Brisbane, that will be around the 40K mark, probably the best I have seen. I love the Davidson 34's, but I can't imagine it would be the comfiest live aboard! I include it for a price reference, I think the year is 1986?
Select to expand quoteShaggybaxter said..
I know of a mid 2000 Northshore 34 in Sydney that is a really good buy, you could probably get for high 80's? It's a lovely boat, but I dont know of any body that has lived aboard a Northshore, are they any good for that sort of thing?
He bought it new, and I know he is getting no bits at high 90's. Probably a bit dear, but looks like excellent value anyways.
SB
Too small to liveaboard comfortably but a nice boat. However, you can get an earlier Northshore 38 for $65K and they are liveaboard size.
If its only one person and your not looking for a performance sailing boat the Mangrove Jack has volumes of room
I've lived aboard a 32' yacht (3 years) and a 42' yacht (5 years), as a couple and been comfortable and happy on both. I think factors such as layout and the way you need and decide to live go a long way to determining how comfortably you can live on a particular sized yacht. If you're a man who needs to have every household tool on board or living with a woman who needs all her make up, hair accessories and a huge variety of handbags, clothes and shoes then a 32' most likely isn't going to satisfy you. But not everyone is like that, some people like to hoard items, some are minimalist, only requiring the basics to be happy, some people are very organised and tidy, others not so. I know there are some 28' yachts such as the Catalina 28 MKII that I could comfortably live aboard, the larger the yacht is the more expensive everything becomes; marina fees, sails, winches, rigging, hardware, etc, handling and manoeuvering become more difficult and some larger yachts can't be sailed effectively without additional crew so every time you sail you're reliant on and have to have other people on board, lots of variables to consider.
I lived aboard a Seawind 24 for more than 3 months its was a spartan existence 
. I am hoping Ill find enough room on my H28 it all will be compromise just the same. lots to sort out
Thankyou Meg great advice but apparently you can only get insurance if its on a dock type setup
