Bay Pelican
Moderator Emeritus
One approach to whether you are making a good decision is to estimate the expense of keeping a boat in your location of choice and then compare it to fairly inexpensive housing in the same area.
In any area the number of marinas that permit full time liveaboards is limited. Find one in your location and determine the cost per year. if you plan on cruising your marina expenses as a transient will increase. If you plan on living aboard at anchor then your boat requirements will take a step up in initial cost as your will need to generate electricity somehow. A dinghy and outboard now are called for.
Many marinas will require boat insurance, figure in this cost. Electricity and water costs charged by marinas need to be estimated.
Here in the Midwest inexpensive housing can be rented quite cheaply. Whether you can live aboard with a family for the same amount or slightly more than a rental in your location of choice is a question for you to determine before you buy the boat. Boats require maintenance to operate and keep afloat. Used boat pricing is such that you may not recover your "investment" in a fixer-upper when you resell.
Give this some detailed thought as to what you are planning to do and why. The boating lifestyle is great but it is no bargain.
Marty
In any area the number of marinas that permit full time liveaboards is limited. Find one in your location and determine the cost per year. if you plan on cruising your marina expenses as a transient will increase. If you plan on living aboard at anchor then your boat requirements will take a step up in initial cost as your will need to generate electricity somehow. A dinghy and outboard now are called for.
Many marinas will require boat insurance, figure in this cost. Electricity and water costs charged by marinas need to be estimated.
Here in the Midwest inexpensive housing can be rented quite cheaply. Whether you can live aboard with a family for the same amount or slightly more than a rental in your location of choice is a question for you to determine before you buy the boat. Boats require maintenance to operate and keep afloat. Used boat pricing is such that you may not recover your "investment" in a fixer-upper when you resell.
Give this some detailed thought as to what you are planning to do and why. The boating lifestyle is great but it is no bargain.
Marty