Let's talk liveaboards...

J3ffJ3ff Member Posts: 4,224 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited October 2020 in General Boating Discussions
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....🤣
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Comments

  • MiamiAGMiamiAG Member Posts: 210 ✭✭
    That's awesome! Where abouts are you planning to keep the boat? Less and less liveaboard spots now-a-days.

    2013 290 ec - Volvo Penta D4/DP
  • MiamiAGMiamiAG Member Posts: 210 ✭✭



    Here's my vote. On Brickell Avenue, Miami.
    2013 290 ec - Volvo Penta D4/DP
  • TonyG13TonyG13 Member Posts: 1,438 ✭✭✭✭
    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.
  • Handymans342Handymans342 Member Posts: 10,375 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I will second that boat a Catalina. Or if you can get a catamaran. 
  • Handymans342Handymans342 Member Posts: 10,375 ✭✭✭✭✭
    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
  • J3ffJ3ff Member Posts: 4,224 ✭✭✭✭✭
    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.. 
  • J3ffJ3ff Member Posts: 4,224 ✭✭✭✭✭
    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. 
  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,752 ✭✭✭✭✭
    @J3ff , do you know how to sail? A lot of cheap options for big sail boats if you do.
    2008 330EC
  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 8,054 mod
    Do you want a seaworthy boat, or a house that floats?  
  • J3ffJ3ff Member Posts: 4,224 ✭✭✭✭✭
    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
  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 8,054 mod
    edited October 2020
    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.  
  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,752 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How about $55K and have $25K for repairs and to fly some of us down to help??
    2008 330EC
  • Handymans342Handymans342 Member Posts: 10,375 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What do you do with it when a storm hits??
  • randy56randy56 Member Posts: 4,085 ✭✭✭✭✭
    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
    Boat Name : 

  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 8,054 mod
    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.








  • MiamiAGMiamiAG Member Posts: 210 ✭✭
    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.
    2013 290 ec - Volvo Penta D4/DP
  • MiamiAGMiamiAG Member Posts: 210 ✭✭
    I have mine at $25/F + electricity ($85) + amenities charge ($60) per month
    2013 290 ec - Volvo Penta D4/DP
  • Aqua_AuraAqua_Aura Member Posts: 2,702 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That Hatteras should be offering money for people to take it. 
    1997 Bayliner 3988
  • IanIan Member Posts: 3,057 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yeah, just to get the crap out......

    Regards,

    Ian

    The Third “B”

    Ravena Coeymans Yacht Club

    https://www.rcyachtclub.com/

  • GMSLITHOGMSLITHO Member Posts: 1,605 ✭✭✭✭
    houseboat would be the best bang for you buck I think 
  • WillhoundWillhound Member Posts: 4,240 ✭✭✭✭✭
    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/

    "Knot Quite Shore" - 2000 FV270 (Sold)
    2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)
  • PickleRickPickleRick Member Posts: 4,321 ✭✭✭✭✭
    @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.
  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 8,054 mod
    edited October 2020
    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.


  • J3ffJ3ff Member Posts: 4,224 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 2020
    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!
    Post edited by J3ff on
  • J3ffJ3ff Member Posts: 4,224 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2020
    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/
    Post edited by raybo3 on
  • YYZRCYYZRC Member Posts: 5,396 ✭✭✭✭✭
    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.
    2008 350 EC on Georgian Bay
  • J3ffJ3ff Member Posts: 4,224 ✭✭✭✭✭
    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!
  • YYZRCYYZRC Member Posts: 5,396 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2020
    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...?
    2008 350 EC on Georgian Bay
  • J3ffJ3ff Member Posts: 4,224 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2020
    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/
  • J3ffJ3ff Member Posts: 4,224 ✭✭✭✭✭
    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. 
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