Can anyone live on a boat?

Yes, if you are of the right mind and as long as everyone else who lives with you really wants to live this lifestyle of living on a boat. A boat can be a viable alternative to any land based residence although the differences can be dramatic. Life aboard is not all glamour. They move. They’re close to neighbors. Boats offer less space than land based residences. Everyone who wants to try living on a boat should want to be there or life in these close quarters can become very difficult very quickly

What is the first thing I should do if I want to live aboard?

It might seem a bit backward, but once you have a general idea what kind of boat you’d like to call home, it is usually better to research your marina options. In some markets, there are no available slips for live aboards and in others space is not an issue. There are too many people that end up with boats and no place to put them. Some people will even pay for a slip when it becomes available while they continue to locate and buy their boat.

The second thing you should do, after you know where you can put your boat is choose your boat and clearly develop an understanding of the costs.

Is it cheaper to live on a boat or on land?

Like everything else, it depends. There are hidden costs everywhere and luckily there are multiple resources available online to assist you. However, one important question is how many amenities do you want or need? How much work can you do yourself? No matter how much work you do yourself, some things will be at the whim of those marinas/yards that will haul and launch your boat.

Costs include your boat payment, slip fees, live aboard fees, insurance and general expenses of life. (You know like cable, internet, telephone, routine boat maintenance, and operating costs)

Hence, if you have to ask the cost question, then reducing costs and finding ways to live a manageable lifestyle is something you care about.

How big a boat do I need to live aboard?

Many people suggest that to live aboard have a boat, its at least 33 feet in length (10 meters). One of the biggest complaints from live aboard in large vessels is that the maintenance of their large boats is too much. They wish they had a smaller boat that would have been more desirable. I know of a marina that has two liveaboards. They live happily in their tiny 26 foot sail boats In general… make your own decisions. Experts suggest you consider the smallest boat that you’d be happy and comfortable in.

Is it possible to live on a boat and save money versus an apartment or home purchase?

Sure.

Will it save you money?

 That depends.

Some folks choose this lifestyle for the sole purpose of saving money.