Tips for Living Aboard a Ship

Many people around the world choose to live aboard ships or other floating vessels. This is because the price of water rights is generally far cheaper than the premium that people pay for land. This factor of frugality combines with a sense of adventure that people feel when living aboard boats, and makes for a wonderful experience.

If you are interested in living aboard a boat the first step is to decide where you wish to reside. The general area will often suffice for this requirement. The next step is to find a big list of marina's in that area. After you have done that you may call the marina's, and ask them if they have any liveaboard slips available. The name "slip" refers to the water rights to "park" a boat or other vessel. If you have found available liveaboard slips you can consider yourself quite lucky because in many areas they have become quite a commodity. Moorage rates generally run from 200 dollars a month for a small ship to 1,000 dollars a month for a very large ship.

After you have found a possible moorage location, the next step is to find a suitable boat. Boats come in all sorts of sizes, but generally if you plan to be living aboard 25 feet is probably the minimum length to consider. It is said that a 26 foot boat can house a couple if they don't mind the cramped quarters, however, many couples believe that a 38 foot boat is the minimum length for a happier liveaboard experience. If you have any nautical experience you can choose a boat for its sea qualities, but many people live aboard ships without ever having them leave the docks.

Some boats you may find for sale come with transferable moorage. This is the ideal situation because you do not need to worry about transporting the boat to its new marina (a feat that may be quite difficult for the novice skipper). In order for a boat to be at a marina it must be insured. This is because when a boat sinks it can often release oil or make waters unusable, it can often cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to clean up a boating accident.

After you have purchased your boat and moved it to the marina, then it is final time to move aboard! The liveaboard lifestyle may satisfy many frugal minds, while at the same time soothing the constant quest for adventure that some people may have.