It was this time last year that I arrived in Hampton and began this whole liveaboard phase. I was pretty sure it would only take 6 months to a year to get the boat ready and save up enough money to head South. Obviously that ain’t happening… I’ve made a lot of progress on a personal level, and I’ve made at least a little progress on the boat. But, neither me or the boat is ready to leave just yet.
I know I complained about the winter and the fact that I despise cold weather (and quite a few other things). And now I’m hating the paralyzing mid-summer heat, punctuated by a gloriously climate controlled cabin. But, all-in-all, it’s a good place to stay for a while. And lets be honest here, I really have no choice in the matter. I simply can’t afford to leave yet.
It’s not so bad though. I do have a job, and I’m still moving forward with the boat. I’ve read a lot of other blogs over the years, and it seems 2 years is just about the minimum for a normal refit process. Some people take upwards of 5 years after buying their boat before they’re ready to cruise. I think my one year plan was just a little too optimistic… I can deal with that.
I almost had myself convinced that I’d be able to take off in February when I get my taxes back. And I’m going to hold that open as an option… But, the reality is that money would be better served either going into savings or into the boat, or a little of both. I’m gonna have to haul this thing out eventually and do a better job on the bottom work. So maybe that’s where that money will go. I don’t know yet, but the fact is, the boat needs about another $5k into her before she’ll be officially cruise ready. I think I’ve only put around $2k into it so far. If you know boats, you know that’s not very much at all… And when I say ‘cruise ready’, I mean pretty bare-bones cruising, but with good gear and low-maintenance systems.
I was hoping I’d be a little more adventurous and just take the boat south before it was actually ready. But, I’ve learned enough this year to realize that’s not very smart. Being minimalistic is one thing, being un-seaworthy is completely different. I want my boat strong and sustainable, and that’s all there is to it. I’m also finding that total minimalism is not really what I want. My boat is a home, and I want a decent, comfortable, home that I might be able to share with someone else in the near-future. Although, it might be a bit too small for that, but at least if I have her fixed up, I’ll have a much better chance of selling it and upgrading to a bigger boat.
One thing is sure, I’m happy where I’m at right now. I mean, I hate that money is so tight and I can’t always do the things I want. But at the end of day, I’m pretty comfortable with this lifestyle. The old me is long gone and I love looking forward these days. I feel like for the first time in my life, I actually have a future. And I even feel like I have some level of success already. Of course, it’s easier when you don’t measure success with material wealth, but it’s success none the less.
So, another year it is…
Another year of work. Another year of pleasant happiness. Another year of progress.
I can deal with that.
Hey,
I ran across your blog two weeks ago, and just loved it. It was great to see all your planning and prep that went into your journey. I follow a sailing couple on YouTube that live on a Vega, Lealea. Check them out sometime, they are west coasters but are very fun. Cruisinglealea.com or something like that, a simple YouTube search should do it.
Anyway, I'm rooting for you.
Thank Lyle
Yep, I'm subscribed to their youtube channel. Great vids, and they keep a very nice blog. I like how they do things and keep it simple. Pretty sure they just sailed from Hawaii to Alaska and the vids are starting to come out.
Yeah, when you mentioned Vega, it reminded me of them. So, what's the problem with fitting a woman on with your 30'? They only have a 27, and fit a couple and their cat, Bri…lol.
Well, I think she must be a very unique woman. I know of a few others live on sub 30 footers as well, but they are really very rare. So, I know it's possible if I where to meet the girl of my dreams. It's the “normal” girls, like the dozen or so I've met this past year, that are so inclined to fit themselves into a 30 footer. Or the sailing lifestyle in general…
Also, The layout of the boat is very important. The vega and other boats, like the pearson triton, have much more cruise friendly interior layouts. The triton has no galley, but it has the most comfortable berths I've ever seen. Because of the no galley thing, the Alberg 30 makes up for all the Tritons shortcomings…The vega also has very comfy berths and a much better galley than my Tartan. Both of them have slightly smaller heads, but they way they are setup is actually more comfortable to use them than the T30.
The starboard berth on the T30 is almost 100% useless. And the fact that the table is not easily removable, like the fold up/down tables, or the modified table over the berth on LeaLea, makes the port berth difficult to get in and out of. It's actually a very comfy berth, but putting 2 people in it to sit back and watch a movie or something is not so simple.
Sleeping 2 in the V-berth is not a problem at all, but sleeping is very small part of living aboard.
The other issue is the storage space. Because the T30 has mid-cabin engine and tankage, the storage space is limited and mostly spread out into less accessable areas of the boat. I literally have no place to put my own clothing, let alone a second persons clothes, along with all their other stuff. For example, Most of the galley/food storage takes up the starboard berth storage spaces, instead of being in the galley. And all the stuff that would normally fit under the cabin bunks is split up between the quarter berth storage and the V-berth.
The T30 is an exceptional boat for singlehanded cruising or long-distance racing. But it's just not designed for living aboard or long-term comfort.
The Vega is a particularly well designed boat. But even then, it would take a particularly well suited woman to live on it with her man.
So yeah, I still have hope, but I like the idea of girls not running away just because they can't use the bathroom comfortably and they can't imagine how they could fit themselves into my life/boat.
I would never put an animal on a small boat. That cat, Bri, does not appear happy to me. And neither to do the many small dogs and cats I see on other boats around here.
can't edit comments, few types there… I mean “NOT so inclined” in that first paragraph.
I wrote that reply a bit hastily this morning…
I don't want to sound like I'm blaming the boat entirely. I'm sure it's just a matter of meeting the right person. And I'm positive there's atleast few girls out there who would fit right in with me and this boat. I just haven't met one yet… But, I do believe they are few and far between.
It's my own personal opinion that this boat is too small for two people. The right girl might think it's perfect, or some other couple might think it's a step up from their 26 footer, or whatever… I would still recommend this boat to anyone, but it would be up to them to decide if it's right for their own situation.
A lot of the shortcomings of this boat are not too difficult to mitigate. But, I have to decide if I want to take on major projects, like completely remodeling the bathroom, rebuilding the hanging locker to make better storage space, redesigning the galley storage space, etc… Unfortunately trading up to a bigger boat is no simple matter for me. So no matter what, I have to make the best of it until the right opportunity presents itself.
I have a 1976 Cortez 16 that my buddies and I got together. We live in the Phoenix metro area, but plan on taking her to Catalina Island one of these days. I know it is small, but we are pretty adventurous. We repainted the deck and cockpit, upgraded the interior lights to leds that we got from autozone and installed new switches and wiring. Although this is our first boat, it seems there will always be projects with any one we get, regardless of size.
Lyle,
Thats awesome! Looks like a really great boat. I love a good daysailer and I truly think that's best way to cruise. It definitely takes an adventurous spirit though, but it sounds like you have it.
Your right about the projects, but I think the important thing is that it's your first boat. I've come to believe that your first boat will do nothing but teach you about your next boat
Good luck and don't let that adventure ever end
That's a very good point, the first boat being a
learning boat. Practicing on a $1600 boat is a little more forgiving. Note to self… Don't buy a boat where you will want to paint the deck, although it looks awesome, it was a huge task. Also, we thought truck bed liner would make great non slip surfaces, works great but cracks with the fiberglass. (Still looks great, but next time I'll use sand.)
On a side note, check groupons for scuba lessons. My girlfriend and I got certified for $200 a piece. I too thought of becoming an instructor, there are a lot of classes required. But I think you're right in going for open water certification, a friend of a friend in San Diego walks through marinas and asks people if they need cleanings and make a decent amount doing it in spare time. Tanks are cheap to rent and if you are only working at a 10 foot depth, you could use inexpensive gear.