Gary Pick wrote:Kerry and I are exploring the option of getting a bigger yacht, say 34 ft and living aboard. We need to get out and do a good bit of sailing in Redwing first...just to make sure it's what we want to do. The idea though would be to find a suitable yacht, convert to a schooner junk rig. The money we would have left over would be invested and we'd use the interest to supplement income. This option gives us a cruising home and a good size chunk of cash in the bank, where as selling and buying another house just gives us extra expenses.
I don't want to build another yacht, been there and done that. As 2nd hand Badgers are a bit on the rare side I'll need to look at other possibilities. Such as buying a suitable yacht as I've mentioned above or look for an unfinished project that just requires rigging.
I would be interested in hearing what other would consider to be the required specs for a good live aboard for two but allowing for a visitor or two?
I know the Hans Christen 32 has a very good below deck layout but it requires a good puff of wind to get it moving.
It's an interesting subject.
Like everyone my experience is limited to what I know:
I lived aboard and cruised full time for 2 years with 2 toddlers on a 33' Eric, 1½ years on a 35' Wylo II with 2 kids and a baby and 1 year with 2 teenagers and a kid, this last time without the mother as she was busy otherwise.
Also for the last trip, we did not live aboard full-time as we now have a house to keep the unwanted stuff.
I think my size limitation would be dictated mostly by the ability to carry one but preferably 2 rowing dinghies.
On both boats we had 2 dinghies: a Tortoise and an Elegant Punt on the Eric and a Nymph and a 10½' own design on the Wylo.
Another item that I would definitely have for living aboard is a bicycle but for that the boat doesn't need to be big.
It is also possible to reduce the size of the boat by eliminating the engine but deck or davit space for a dinghy is a must in my opinion.
Cheers
Thierry