In the Gangplank Marina in Washington, DC, liveaboards make up about a third of the marina’s 300 slipholders. Residing on boats as small as 33 feet, these boat owners have traded in life on land for floating homes. On weekends, the marina neighbors share coffee with "part-time" boat owners and transient boaters just passing through. Capitol Hill is a five-minute drive away.
All over the United States, marinas offer an alternative lifestyle for those boaters willing to buy a boat, rent a slip and stay a while.
How Does Living Aboard Work?
Marinas generally have a limited number of liveaboard slips and restrict other slipholders from sleeping aboard a certain number of consecutive nights. In some cases, such as the Gangplank Marina, liveaboard privileges are so coveted that waiting lists are said to be years long.
Most marinas with liveaboard boaters offer water and power hook-ups for each slip. In some cases, marina staff will visit each boat once a week or so to pump out waste from the boat's holding tank(s). Some marinas offer wireless internet access, shower facilities, general stores, clubhouses, pools and on-site restaurants, while others may have only basic water and power.
Liveaboard Compromises
Whether living aboard a smaller sailboat or a larger yacht, compromise is a way of life for liveaboards. Space is scarce and boat owners routinely give up common landlubber amenities like dishwashers, washing machines, bathtubs and gourmet kitchens. In extreme weather, boats can be hard to keep cool or warm, and smaller vessels especially are subject to violent rocking in storms or when another boat creates waves with its wake.
Boats require maintenance, which can be costly. Home improvement is made much more difficult by having to order marine-rated products. Talented boat repair professionals who charge reasonable fees are in high demand in many areas.
Rewards of Living Aboard
For many, the rewards of living aboard far outweigh the compromises. Living aboard can be inexpensive if the boat owner chooses an older fixer-upper vessel and is able to do work herself. Such a boat might cost as little as a few thousand dollars, with slip rental running only a few hundred dollars a month.
Boaters are notoriously friendly, and generally make great neighbors. Some marinas have yacht clubs to coordinate social activities, while other marinas just have a boat owner who informally takes the lead. It’s common to see liveaboards out on their decks enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning or cocktails at night, and it’s considered good form to invite anyone who walks by on the dock to come aboard. Liveaboards watch out for each other, and will take immediate notice if someone who doesn’t belong is aboard a neighbor’s boat.
The greatest reward for many liveaboards is the ability to untie their boat and go. For many, living on a boat full-time is the only way to afford the purchase of a vessel. Some boat owners take their boats out frequently, for short cruises up the river to a favorite waterside restaurant, or for longer weekend trips. A few weeks of vacation might be spent traveling down the coast or docked in another city. And for some adventurous liveaboards, living on a boat might mean heading out to sea and lands far away.
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