Living aboard for a summer & fall

[Randy Smith]

I lived on my boat for a winter. If you really want to know the details, [email protected] were goods and bads.....I would do it, especially in the Summer.....not the right reason to buy a Mac....but if you had one, it is a nice cozy little home, with the right considerations and planning..........wanta talk, write me...... Randy

[Mark Prouty]

I will have this summer and fall off in Vancouver,BC, thinking of purchasing a 2005 26M to live on for this period. Has anyone surpassed 46 days living on a 26M? And your thoughts?

On Lake Superior, I lived for 3 weeks in a 20 foot sailboat with my son. It was one of the best vacations ever.

I looked at an '05 M earlier this week. I liked the sliding galley. Removing the head door and and installing a curtain accross the V birth access would give a master bedroom suite configuration. There is certainly plenty of room for storage especially after a few minor mods.

Heck with a shower. Jump in and clean off occasionally. It will make the simple pleasure of a warm shower very pleasant.

The ability to use that big outboard is a giant advantage. On my trip, there were places just out of reach of the 6 -7 mph max hull speed with my sailboat's small outboard. It was this trip when I decided to buy a Mac.

Go for it. I'd do it with my Mac if I had the time off.

Get white not blue. Blue shows blemishes too easily. IMHO.

[Mackenzie]

Yes, thank you again, I am also a life long camper, and feel the Mac is the boat for me, so I think it is time to make the order.....

Visiting Alaska is part of my plans, so I will be in touch.

Thanks for you help.

[Andy26M]

One of my favorites sayings comes from Bob Bitchin' in Lats&Atts magazine, it is something like:

"The difference between an ordeal and an adventure is your attitude."

If you view hot showers as an absolute requirement for an enjoyable day and will be miserable without one, then living on a Mac will be an ordeal. If you can find enjoyment in a quick dip in the icy lake for a rinse off, followed by the snuggly feeling of getting dry and warm again afterwards, it'll be an adventure.

Do you carefully choose your sailing areas to ensure you are always within cell phone range so people can call you? Or do you know exactly where you'll lose cell phone connectivity and purposely get there ASAP to keep the dastardly device silenced?

I think you'll find that you can come up with similar comparisons/ contrasting perspectives for every issue of onboard living - is it a bare necessity for living, or is a frivolous luxury best left to the daily humdrum life you are trying to escape by going sailing? Is it a must-have gadget or just another excess complexity to break and cause stress?

Given the choice between an (1) all-expenses paid week at Club Med with sexy waitresses, beautiful beach with hundreds of oiled bodies, and disco every night or (2) all expenses paid trip to a patch of flat sand with a tent, a firepit, an outhouse, a little bit of beach, and not a soul for 5 miles in any direction, which would you pick?

- AndyS

[NautiMoments]

Mackenzie, I am with the local MacGregor club in Vancouver here and several of our members travel up and down the coast for several weeks at a time. We have one member who took HER 26x to Florida and sailed around there then to the Bahamas. She lived on the boat for 7 MONTHS the first time and I believe 5 - 6 MONTHS the second time. It is all in what comfort you expect and how you setup your boat. There is many mods that you can do to the boat to make it more livable.
If you want to buy a new M you will need to order soon as the supply is very limited. If you want more info on the club or such just send me a personal email to [email protected]

[Idle Time]

If you live in the north ...then go with the blue...soaks up the heat

If you live in the warmer climates....do the white....reflects heat



I'm jealous. Lucky to get hubby out for a week or two.

[Scott]

When I was in high school I lived on a 27' Columbia for 4 years albeit by myself. The two years preceding that my dad and I lived on a 35' together. I was the infamous boatyard rat.

2 years anchored out and 2 years in a marina on the 27'.

Those were the days, wouldnt trade em for a bag of cash. Nothing like getting up 2 hrs before school and rowing in rain or shine to take a COLD only shower in an open beach shower then hitching 40 miles to school every day.

It teaches you a lot about what you can live without!

Or to paraphrase, I walked uphill backwards both ways or something like that.

[Moe]

We have one member who took HER 26x to Florida and sailed around there then to the Bahamas. She lived on the boat for 7 MONTHS the first time and I believe 5 - 6 MONTHS the second time.

Would that be Sarah? Is this the boat?

--
Moe

[richandlori]

for goodness sakes guys, spend $60 on ebay and buy a ZODI hot water heater!!! why all the forced suffering and walking to school both ways in snow (uphill)?



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... nfirmEmail

I used this baby two days ago in my backyard and OH ya...warm (if not too hot for the Admiral) shower water!!!

Rich

[aya16]

rich hows the pressure, is it better then a sun shower? does it get to 100 deg. like the ad says?

[NautiMoments]

Yes Moe, that is Sarah. The reason she is THINKING of sellings is not that she does not love the boat. I hope she keeps it and joins us on the cruises. She is one adventurous woman.

[dclark]

Kinda depends on what you call living. As long as it's in a marina with clean restrooms and showers at the end of the dock, nearby laundry facilities, and plenty of resturant choices, then I don't see much of a problem. Could be an enjoyable few months. You'll still probably want some basic upgrades such as running water, shore power, and basic entertainment (maybe a stereo and TV's/DVD player - the flat panels are reasonably priced these days and take little room.) You'll also want to consider things you need to store such as clothing. If you need to get every morning, put n a suit , and head to the office, then that may get old real fast.

I dn't think I'd buy it to live on. At least not for any length of time. But for a few of the summer months, it sounds like fun.

[NautiMoments]

I know what you mean Dave. But if I was cruising the Gulf & San Juan Islands or the Bahamas for a few months I could probably do it. I am adding many thinks to our boat in preparation for longer trips. I don't think Sarah was dining out at restraunts constantly but I know she was visiting many boat anchored around her. It's all in lifestyle. Some would not consider being on a boat smaller than a 36' and others would not consider buying the slower white hull.