Guide to Living Aboard - part 1

Living aboard can be a great experience whether it is to save rent or allow you to explore the world. A large part of this is the strong sense of community among those who live in a marina, which is extended to liveaboard cruising boats.

What type of boat?

The best boat depends largely on what type of lifestyle you intend to lead while living on the water.

Sailboats

Sailboats are great for long-distance travel. As they rely on the wind, they are relatively eco-friendly with low fuel costs. On the other hand, you need to take quite an active role in cruising the boat.

Trawlers

Trawlers are designed for long-ranges, are stable and offer ample space. Compared to sailboats, they are shallow draft and fuel-efficient when motoring, making them popular for extended journeys.

Houseboats

Houseboats cannot handle open waters and travel at slow speed compared to other types of liveaboards. Conversely, they provide spacious interiors, large deck areas and have many of the amenities you would expect of a land-based home. They are perfect for those who want a stationary lifestyle in a marina or calm waters.

Motor Yachts

Motor yachts combine comfort and performance, offering high speeds and top-of-the-line amenities. These boats are ideal for those who want to travel quickly and in comfort.

Luxury Yachts

Depending on the size of the boat, they can have fulltime crew and resemble a luxury apartment. Living quarters are spacious, usually with ensuite bathrooms, formal dining areas and a lot of exterior space probably across multiple decks.

Multihulls

Multihulls offer added stability, separate living spaces in (usually) two hulls and ample deck space. Conversely, if they are sailing boats, they perform relatively poorly when sailing upwind, which can limit your choice of destination.

How big a boat?

The right size will depend on your goals and how many people will be living onboard. This can be a complex decision with bigger not always being better. While you should talk to an experienced boat broker or those with liveaboard experience, a few examples are:

·       At the budget end of the scale, a person or couple in relatively calm waters might be comfortable on an 8-9m sailboat while a family will need a larger boat

·       If you are going blue water cruising, a larger boat may be needed for its sea keeping qualities as well as to stow gear such as spare parts, extra fuel and water, a second anchor and additional sails

·       The large living areas of a multihull may look appealing however they require a larger, more expensive and less available docking space than a monohull

If you have any questions, Yacht Services (Asia) has specialists in yacht charter, ownership and management. Contact us at any stage and we will be happy to assist.