A yacht allows you to live the dream and be king or queen on the open sea. Living on a boat might seem like an impossible task but it can actually be quite easy. The hassle of finding places to moor, unload supplies and move things around is eliminated once you own your own vessel. Yachting also gives you the opportunity to travel at your leisure without having to deal with the hassles of hotels, hostels and public transport. If you want to know more about this lifestyle, read on!
What You Need to Live on a Yacht
A yacht
If you plan to live on board and purchase a yacht, you are well on the way to owning your own floating home. Yachts come in a variety of sizes and can cost anywhere between $50,000 and $2 million. The larger the yacht, the more comfortable it is, but you will need to spend a lot of money to achieve this level of luxury. If you plan to buy a yacht, you will also need a marina or docking slot, mooring or anchoring services, fuel, spares and insurance.
A home
Depending on your lifestyle and preference, you might choose to live on your boat full-time. However, this is not the most practical option. Home living can be extremely expensive and challenging, so you may instead choose to live on your boat for a few months each year and then move back to land. In order to make this work, you will need to purchase a home that will accommodate your boat.
A boat
If you plan to live aboard your yacht full-time, you will not only need a boat, but you will also need to purchase any necessary fittings, equipment and spares. You will also need to find a convenient spot to moor your boat and ensure the area is secure.
Live on Dry Land While You’re at Home
If you decide that you want to live on your boat full-time, you can live aboard while you are at home. Many people choose to live on dry land and commute to their boat each day. This might work for you if you have family and friends nearby who can help out with the logistics of living aboard a boat. Sharing the workload can make this transition effortless. You can also live on dry land and have your boat as a backup. If you have bad luck with the marina or dockage, you can always use your boat as a place to stay temporarily. Having a boat at your disposal can also help you escape from an unsafe situation. For instance, if your marina is experiencing some security issues and it is too dangerous to move onto the dock, you can always use your boat as a place to stay.
Finding a Home for Your Yacht
Finding a home for your yacht can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. You can find a yacht slip at your local marina and ask the manager if they are interested in selling their space. Alternatively, you can look online at sites like BoatUS to find a home. The key is to find a home that has unlimited access to water, is close to the marina and will not cause any problems for your other boats. If you want to find a home in a specific area, you can also do this online.
Think about the lifestyle that you want. Do you want to be on the coast, near a metropolitan area, or out in the boonies? Once you have this information, you can start searching for homes close to water. You can also use the tool available on BoatUS to help you find the perfect home.
Finding Places to Moor and Anchor
Finding a place to moor your boat can be a little tricky, especially if you are new to the lifestyle. You can search for marinas online, or you can ask the manager of your marina if they know of a suitable location. If you want to find a remote mooring, you can search online for boat ramp locations, or ask the manager of your marina if they know of any remote locations.
Once you have a place to moor your boat, you will need to anchor it. There are a number of ways to anchor your boat, but the most common methods are: the rode, the fender, the cleat and the buoy. You can use the rode to anchor your boat to the ground, but this can be difficult and dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.
Safety First – Protecting Yourself While Living on Board
Most boat owners are aware of the risks of living on board, but accidents can still happen. If you live on board, you need to protect yourself from three main dangers: falling, drowning and fire. You can prevent falls by making sure that your boat is secure and safe. You can also make sure that you have a first aid kit on board so that you can help anyone who falls and get them to a hospital quickly.
Water is your best defence against drowning. If you are on board your vessel, you should always wear a life jacket and make sure that the vessel has a whistle and buoy. If you are near a body of water such as a swimming pool, ocean or a river, you can also use these water safety strategies to keep yourself safe.
Fire is the most dangerous threat when living on board, so you need to make sure that it is kept away from your vessel. If there is any sign of a fire, you need to get off the boat as quickly as possible. You can use buckets to put out small fires, but make sure that they do not get out of hand. If a bigger fire breaks out, you need to find shelter as quickly as possible.
Final Words
The lifestyle of yacht ownership can be rewarding and exciting, but it can also be quite dangerous. If you are not careful, you could fall overboard, drown or suffer a fire. Living on a boat can also be very expensive and challenging, so you need to be prepared to live a dangerous lifestyle. Ensure that you take safety precautions and make sure that you are protected from falling, drowning and fire.
