Let's talk liveaboards...

J3ff

The goal was to move to the keys and someday live on a boat.

Going to shoot to be living aboard by the 2nd anniversary of moving here. 

What do you think is the best level board?

Stipulations are keep it under 80,000, preferably under 50 actually. And absolutely no inboard outboards....🤣

MiamiAG

That's awesome! Where abouts are you planning to keep the boat? Less and less liveaboard spots now-a-days.

MiamiAG

Here's my vote. On Brickell Avenue, Miami.

TonyG13

How about a 1960-80's era ChrisCraft in the 40' LOA range? IMO I think they've held up well - both structurally and aesthetically. Plenty of room. Lots of room to work on the engine. Inboard. And you can find a decent one for under $50K.

Handymans342

I will second that boat a Catalina. Or if you can get a catamaran. 

Handymans342

https://www.boattrader.com/boat/1978-hatteras-53-motoryacht-7194673/

Can’t go wrong with a Hatteras. The slip is going to be costly down there

J3ff

Yeah, it's about 20/ft, but that's still cheaper than rent or buying a house.. 

There's Blue water marina, curtis and mangrove marina in Tavernier.. prob wouldn't go south of those three. Up in KeyLargo there's the Manatee Bay Club.. all around the same price, all very nice keys spots. Prob wouldn't do Manatee bay because it's really far from the ocean by water... would prefer to be closer to the reef and the 2 or 3 places people hang out on ocean side.. 

J3ff

TonyG13 said:

How about a 1960-80's era ChrisCraft in the 40' LOA range? IMO I think they've held up well - both structurally and aesthetically. Plenty of room. Lots of room to work on the engine. Inboard. And you can find a decent one for under $50K.

Yeah, hoping to find something like that. Catamarans also look very cool. 

aero3113

@J3ff , do you know how to sail? A lot of cheap options for big sail boats if you do.

LaRea

Do you want a seaworthy boat, or a house that floats?  

J3ff

aero3113 said:

@J3ff , do you know how to sail? A lot of cheap options for big sail boats if you do.

Yes.. Have been a sailing coach certain years of my life.. seaworthy would be good! Although dock queen would be okay too

LaRea

A Chris-Craft would be sweet, but instead of $80k, I'd go $65k and leave $15k for repairs and upgrades.  For example, any boat from the 60's would need to have the entire AC electrical system torn out and replaced before I'd live on it.  

aero3113

How about $55K and have $25K for repairs and to fly some of us down to help??

Handymans342

What do you do with it when a storm hits??

randy56

When you say it's $20 per ft, is that cost per month?  I'm with LaRea,  A boat from the 60's or 70's even 80's and 90's would scare me, fire from old wiring. Most fire's come from boats 25 + years old 

Here ya go. ya may have to negotiate.
https://keys.craigslist.org/boa/d/fort-lauderdale-59-gibson-2002/7188846107.html

LaRea

Handymans342 said:

https://www.boattrader.com/boat/1978-hatteras-53-motoryacht-7194673/

Can’t go wrong with a Hatteras. The slip is going to be costly down there

Maybe that's not the best example.  If you offered to give me that boat for free plus $1000 cash, I'd walk away.

MiamiAG

J3ff said:

Yeah, it's about 20/ft, but that's still cheaper than rent or buying a house.. 

There's Blue water marina, curtis and mangrove marina in Tavernier.. prob wouldn't go south of those three. Up in KeyLargo there's the Manatee Bay Club.. all around the same price, all very nice keys spots. Prob wouldn't do Manatee bay because it's really far from the ocean by water... would prefer to be closer to the reef and the 2 or 3 places people hang out on ocean side.. 

Moving my boat to Mangrove Marine this weekend. If you end up there, let me know.

MiamiAG

I have mine at $25/F + electricity ($85) + amenities charge ($60) per month

Aqua_Aura

That Hatteras should be offering money for people to take it. 

Ian

Yeah, just to get the crap out......

GMSLITHO

houseboat would be the best bang for you buck I think 

Willhound

GMSLITHO said:

houseboat would be the best bang for you buck I think 

Agree. If it's going to be a daily marina liveaboard and not a Great Loop style "travelling liveaboard" a houseboat provides better accommodations and still the ability for trips here and there, albeit at a slower speed. Get a PWC for excitement.
There are some nice catamaran style houseboats out there, and with an outboard no drive issues.
https://www.boattrader.com/boat/1992-catamaran-cruisers-aqua-cruiser-44-6512412/

PickleRick

@J3ff if you drive down to key West you'll see tons of small barges with tiny homes on them.  They use mini splits for cooling.  Build up rather than out so you have dock space for a small boat or pwc to hit the reefs.  You could have a real shower, real toilet, real hot water heater, real fridge, real kitchen appliances.  Your only limit is your carpentry skills and or budget.    


Id go for a saiboat or trawler myself but the problem with using your live aboard as the reef boat would be stowing everything to launch.  Many who live aboard end up never or rarely leaving the dock because of the inconvenience.   We have considered buying a slip in the keys, someting in the 60 ft range and keeping a 30 footer there as a vacation condo then renting the other 20 to 25 ft left over out for a good price on exchange for looking after the boat....call me if it's sinking type deal.

LaRea

Call Coles Point Marina in Virginia.  You could probably get this abandoned Constellation 57 for the cost of hauling it away and paying overdue slip fees.

J3ff

MiamiAG said:

J3ff said:

Yeah, it's about 20/ft, but that's still cheaper than rent or buying a house.. 

There's Blue water marina, curtis and mangrove marina in Tavernier.. prob wouldn't go south of those three. Up in KeyLargo there's the Manatee Bay Club.. all around the same price, all very nice keys spots. Prob wouldn't do Manatee bay because it's really far from the ocean by water... would prefer to be closer to the reef and the 2 or 3 places people hang out on ocean side.. 

Moving my boat to Mangrove Marine this weekend. If you end up there, let me know.

I'm about 5 mins from mangrove marina!

J3ff

This would be a real stretch... but a guy here has one and it's pretty dam nice. Love all the windows. https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1993/bluewater-54-3666813/

YYZRC

J3ff said:

This would be a real stretch... but a guy here has one and it's pretty dam nice. Love all the windows. https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1993/bluewater-54-3666813/

That is quite possibly the ugliest boat I've ever seen.  But I guess it's what's on the inside that counts.

J3ff

Lol.. well it isn't pretty on the outside, that's for sure... but as a home? doesn't seem too bad.. have 11 months to find something!

YYZRC

Didn't @Alswagg mention that Rinker built a big boat (420?) with no running gear and instead installed a wine cellar in the bilge?  Maybe those owners have kicked the bucket and you could buy for a song...?

J3ff

YYZRC said:

Didn't @Alswagg mention that Rinker built a big boat (420?) with no running gear and instead installed a wine cellar in the bilge?  Maybe those owners have kicked the bucket and you could buy for a song...?

Wine cellar in the bilge would be awesome! 

If money was no object, even if it's a little small, I would attempt to live aboard this one:

Pretty sure it would be doable  https://www.regalboats.com/model/42fxo-yacht/

J3ff

shawnmjr said:

Here is another blue water one, has all those windows like the other one you posted but it’s cheaper and just a tad smaller

https://www.boats.com/power-boats/1987-bluewater-yachts-51-coastal-cruiser-7308612/

Yeah, that one is about 50k over priced... dreamers I guess.