Buying your first liveaboard can be a daunting task but is also very exciting! Every boat is different and no cruiser is the same but we are confident that this post will help you find the best liveaboard boat for you. With an open mind, read on and have fun searching!
Sail vs Power
We decided on a sailboat that motors well with an average speed of 6.5 knots. Sailing to us is enjoying life at a slower pace, more affordable, and better for the environment. Everyone will have different opinions when it comes to which type of boat to go for so we will leave this area up to you. When in doubt, you could always charter a couple of trips to learn the difference and decide which may be a better fit. This would of course take away from your budget but Tharon and I decided it’d be a great idea to try before we buy.
Attend a Boat Show
Realtors say you should look at about 30 houses before buying a home and I agree with that same mentality when looking at boats. Attending a boat show (preferably one with an option for used boats) is a great start way to seeing boats in all shapes and sizes. This will allow you to walk through favorite brands, give you an idea of which features are deal breakers and to know the style of boat you prefer – Monohaul, Catamaran, or Trimaran. It will also expose you to an incredible network of other people interested in life at sea. Our favorite boat show to attend is the Annapolis Sailboat Show in October which is conveniently followed by the Annapolis Powerboat Show.
Budget
We are lucky enough to still work aboard our boat while traveling fulltime. This helps us to refill our sailing kitty consistently and keep our dream destinations coming true. Unless you have unlimited funds, we highly suggest planning out a budget before making any purchases. It is important to understand what costs will apply to your boating lifestyle from buying your boat, outfitting your boat, and what it will cost on a monthly basis. The range in costs are completely different for each boater we’ve met along our travels. To assist in getting an idea, we’ve put together a quick list of costs to consider. If you’re looking for more details on specifics, feel free to email us at hello@svtipsygypsy.com.
Other Things to Consider
- Vessel Cost – Figure out what you’re willing to spend up front on your vessel. Will you finance or pay in full? This varies drastically per cruiser and is important to set before starting to look at boats.
- Anchoring is Free. Moorings are affordable. Docks are pricey.
– Docks and moorings can be more affordable the longer you stay. - Gas and Diesel – Prices range from country to country and adds up quick.
- Maintenance – An ongoing budget of a variety of boat maintenance items.
– Engine Maintenance – Oil Changes, Filters, Impellers, extra parts, etc.
– Cosmetic Maintenance – Teak, Cleaning, Polishing, etc.
– Bottom Maintenance – Cleaning, Painting, Zincs, etc.
– Haul Out & Storage – This may not apply to everyone but personally believe it is good to haul out 1-2 times per year. - Upgrades – Make a list of upgrades you may need for the boat you are considering, it will give you an idea of what additional costs should be added to the asking price.
– Electrical/Power – Lighting, Batteries, Solar Panels, Alternator, Inverter, etc
– Other Upgrades – Canvas, Upholstery, Sails, Instruments, Tanks, Engine, Refrigeration, etc.
– Even the small things add up but aren’t as important in the intial purchase. - Boat Surveyor – We’ve always paid for one because I always enjoy a second and third opinion. Boats old and newer will have an assortment of bells and whistles to look through. When in doubt, a well-outfitted boat doesn’t mean it’s the best option but it can be.
– Unless you’re buying new, pay for a boat surveyor at least for your first liveaboard.
– Make up a list of pros and cons for the options you’re looking at and be realistic to what you know. - Education – It’s important to know what you’re doing and to feel confident on all aspects of boating. There are classes available for most boating topics and will be another component in your budget.
*I don’t include day to day living expenses in this post but can vary drastically country to country. Prepare accordingly for extensive traveling and stocking up with extra items needed for regular maintenance.
Living Space
Our experience in buying our first liveaboard came after buying a small sailboat for cruising on the weekends and attending two years of the Annapolis Sailboat Show. After learning what we wanted in our first liveaboard, we made a list of must haves and specifics that would help us find the boat for us. For instance, we learned right away that we preferred a larger cockpit for entertaining, we would rather not shower over a toilet, and we would like multiple ares to hold onto when underway. These sort of details don’t come right away but are important to make note of as you start looking at boats.
Preferences + Options
- Cockpit – We spend a lot of time in the cockpit. You’ll want to enjoy this space almost more than any other spot on the boat. Our requirements were to have long enough benches to lounge in and enough space to host multiple people for sun-downers.
- Galley – This is one of my favorite spots on the boat! Our fridge is engine driven and our stove is propane with three burners. We like both of those features but will vary boat to boat. Lots of options here but make sure it will be comfortable while underway.
- Head – Having one bathroom means less maintenance. If you have a bigger crew living aboard then I would prepare for one bathroom per two people. We made sure to have a shower separate from the toilet and a toilet that will be easy to maintain over time.
- Cabins – This will depend mostly on how many people are aboard the vessel on a regular basis. We have two cabins but typically use our second one for storage until we have guests join. Our settees and cockpit can sleep extra people as well but isn’t typically necessary.
-Berths – We prefer a center-line or pull-man berth because they provide more comfortable sleeping space but have flaws in some scenarios. You may decide that a V-berth is tolerable. Know the differences and which you’d prefer when looking at different boats. Also the location on the boat. - Storage – We have quite a lot of storage on our boat and highly suggest having more storage areas than you think you’ll need.
– Think of the items you’ll need to fit into each area of the boat and which items you can live without. Will you bring bikes, kayaks, surfboards, fishing gear, etc?
– Wide side decks have been incredibly nice on our boat. We have Jerry cans stored on the side, a kayak, at times our dinghy, and still enough space to walk around.
– Organize items in bins to help you find things better and maximize your allotted storage space.
More Thoughts
Above is everything we considered when buying our first liveaboard but have thought of additional items you may also want to consider before buying your first liveaboard.
- Are my pets going to be comfortable on the boat?
- Do I want to liveaboard in my home country or do I want to sail further?
- Do I want to sail around the world?
- Will this boat be more work than it’s worth?
- Is there a maintenance log from previous owner(s)?
- Are there manuals for any of the upgrades installed?
- Are there any past mentions of this boat online or in forums?
We decided to jump on the opportunity to living on a sailboat and 95% of the time, we have enjoyable days on the water. We hope you find this guide helpful for buying your first liveaboard and share with us your experience in the buying process. We’re happy to help get you out on the water and live a life at sea. If you need any assistance along the way, don’t hesitate to email us at hello@svtipsygypsy.com
Cheers and thanks for reading!
If you’d like to read more about buying your first liveaboard, read our other article we’ve written for Newport Vessels –> Buying Your First Liveaboard
Thank you to Newport Vessels for sponsoring this blog post. Learn more about them by visiting www.newportvessels.com. If you’re looking for a new dinghy, use code SVTIPSYGYPSY for 10% off.
