Living On The Water – Tips For Living On Your Own Boat
Living on a boat on the open sea may sound like an adventurous and romantic idea to many people. It is certainly guaranteed to be an adventure, but it will not always be easy. Living on the water takes careful planning and a lot of adjustment since you will have to live in a very limited amount of space. If you are thinking about taking your life out on the sea, remember that there will not be storage space for all the comforts of home. But, on the other hand, you will be able to see and experience things that you never could on the land.
One mistake that many people make is imagining that life on a boat will be very similar to life in a small house. While there are similarities, living on the water means putting all your possessions precariously close to the water at all times, which means they could very easily become damaged. Your boat itself will also require quite a bit of upkeep since the elements are not easy on even well constructed vessels. Before you start living aboard, it would be wise to become skilled in various boat repairs and understand the inner workings of your vessel as well as is possible.
It will be at least occasionally necessary for you to dock your ship and get supplies from the mainland. While many marinas have showers, cable television connections, laundry rooms, and electricity, not all are friendly to boaters who live on the water. It would be best to investigate what marinas in your area or where you will be traveling to are happy to accept live-aboards in order to avoid problems.
Living on the water is easiest when you can be as self sufficient as possible. That includes producing electricity with solar panels, hauling water, and disposing properly of waste water. Many books, blogs, and other resources have helpful suggestions on how to make living on the water a reality.