Living Onboard Part1- Changing your lifestyle

Many years ago, when a very famous rat observed to an equally famous mole that there was nothing quite as good as messing about in boats, he uttered one of the truest statements ever made. To me, there's simply nothing that approaches boating for sheer enjoyment and satisfaction. And of all the infinite shades of "messing about" that you can do in a boat, living on one would just about top the list for me.

When I'm asked why, I find it difficult to answer because, at times, it can be pretty ordinary. Running out of water halfway through a shower, finding the bunk soaking wet because the hatch was left open, or returning to the beach after shopping to find someone has "borrowed" your dinghy ... But all of these hassles fade into insignificance when I'm sitting on the afterdeck with a cold beer, watching the sun go down.

Now, I realise that living aboard a boat is not for everyone, but if it's part of your dream, you might enjoy my latest series of articles. I've lived afloat for over 16 years on one boat or another, so I've picked up a few tips along the way that make life aboard easier and more enjoyable.

So let's start right at the beginning ... One day you decide to move aboard. At this point, you may not own a boat or your current boat may not be suitable - so it's headfirst into the market to see what's on offer.

Size, in this case, does matter. The bigger the vessel, the easier it is to live on. But there are a lot of other considerations. For instance, big boats occupy big berths - which cost big dollars. If money is of little importance in your decision, then that's probably you on the 80ft cruiser that I wave to every morning.

However, if you're one of us lesser mortals, you'll have a budget. Having a different lifestyle to most is one thing, but if you struggle to afford it, you'll struggle to enjoy it. To my mind, a 30ft boat is about the minimum size for comfortable living, be it a yacht, powerboat or whatever. I enjoy my creature comforts and don't intend to give them up because I choose to live on a boat.

Having decided what size craft can be shoehorned into your budget, the next question is "What style?" This is basically a choice between sail, power and houseboat.

Of these, a houseboat is by far the easiest to make a home on because they are more like a house than a boat. But they have a few hefty drawbacks. A large proportion of houseboats, for example, are one-offs built by people with varying skills. Some are exceptionally well constructed and are even reasonably good sea boats in enclosed waters. (The number of charter houseboats are evidence of this.)

However, an awful lot are constructed like a small cottage that just happens to float - and the marine environment attacks these craft unmercifully. Horrendous stories of leaking pontoons, corroded aluminium walls and dry rot abound, so be very cautious if you're thinking of buying one.

In my experience, houseboats can be extremely difficult to sell and don't, in general, command much of a price compared to other types of craft.

Another drawback is the amount of water they occupy. Typically, a 30ft houseboat will require a berth that could accommodate two similar length yachts or powerboats. This can lead to hefty fees, as generally marinas want to be paid proportionally.

Also, the very nature of a houseboat tends to make it an ungainly beast when it comes to manoeuvring in and out of marinas. For this reason, a lot don't go to the trouble and simply stay put. If this appeals to you, go for it. However, if you've shifted aboard with the intention of moving around your particular waterway, a floating block of flats can be a bit of a handful.

Finally, houseboats are often numbered among the unloved by some marina operators. These operators think they make a marina look a bit like Hong Kong's harbour.

Personally, I think a well presented and maintained houseboat can be just as appealing to the eye as a trim racing yacht. Equally, any rusty old hulk festooned with washing and home to a tribe of undesirables is going to look bad anywhere, be it power, sail or a houseboat.

If you lean toward sailing craft, then the more modern designs have a lot to offer. I am amazed at the amount of room that can be squeezed into yachts of modest proportions, particularly those of European design. The thought and plain good engineering that has gone into craft of this type would put a lot of powerboat manufacturers to shame.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of older yachts, say, 30-odd years old. Accommodation always appears to have been an afterthought and is almost always up in the pointy end with all the leaks. The bunks are great if you like to sleep on your side with your knees bent. (Any other position is out of the question.) And from a technological point of view, the cooking facilities on such yachts are similar to those that Noah installed.

Furthermore, cabin lighting often consists of one 12V bulb of single digit wattage supplemented by a kerosene lantern - its main function being to convert prodigious amounts of fuel into soot, which of course coats everything.

The broker will be using phrases like "turn of the century charm" and "they don't build them like this anymore", but don't be swayed. Remember, you want to live on this thing, and I suspect are going to need a few more comforts than this type of craft can offer.

The last style is, of course, the powerboat - and, yes, I'm prejudiced in favour of this form because I own one. I own one because when I went out to buy a boat with the idea of living aboard, a power cruiser seemed to offer a lot more than a houseboat or a yacht.

Although the average houseboat has a lot more room to live in than a cruiser, its lack of seakeeping qualities meant that I would have been confined to totally enclosed waters, and I'm not ready for that just yet. On the other hand, extensive cruising, particularly offshore, was not on my list of things to do. And although I love sailing and have owned several yachts, this was not the time to repeat the experience.

I wanted a boat small enough to handle on my own, yet large enough to equip with a variety of comforts such as a washing machine. Other criteria were the cost of the vessel, as insurance premiums are a factor (currently over $20 per week) and are based on the purchase price.

I also wanted a boat with lots of glass for great views, a flybridge and a large cockpit, so in the end it was hard to go past a Grand Banks 32. Although they are no longer manufactured, there are still quite a few about. (They are advertised from time to time with various brokers.)

I have never regretted my decision but that doesn't mean that it would be right for you. The point I'm trying to make is that if you are going to buy a boat with the object of living on board, then you will be seriously concerned with a lot of factors that may not apply to purchasers of similar craft that have fishing as their main objective.

Well, let's assume that your search has been successful, and that you're just about to put that deposit on the craft of your dreams. Everything should be plain sailing from here, right? Possibly. But every Eden has its share of serpents, and boating is no exception.

The biggest serpent that you may encounter is of the bureaucratic kind. Some states and localities do not permit living on board a vessel under any circumstances. I am of the opinion that if you and your boat meet all statutory requirements regarding sanitation and safety then public servants have no business dictating when and where you can use the fruits of your labour.

I offer a few interesting scenarios. Consider a person who hires a boat from a charter company for two weeks and has an enjoyable time exploring our waterways. Is that person living aboard? No, they're just on holidays.

Consider next a person who buys a boat and takes long-service leave of six months and has an enjoyable time exploring our waterways for that period. Is that person living aboard? No, they're just on holidays as well.

Lastly, if a person does the same as the other two, but for a longer period, does that constitute living aboard? Well, er, probably have to think about that ... The point is, what is the definition of living aboard a boat? This is really tricky, and I would hate to have to frame the legislation, let alone defend it.

If a person anchors in one spot for more than three nights, does anyone have the power, let alone the right, to move the boat along? And more to the point, for what reason? Does the resident of a harbour-side mansion object? Well, they may have purchased the view but hardly the right to dictate what can appear in it.

I have never heard of anyone being prosecuted for living aboard a vessel, but I suppose it could happen. How it could be proven in a court is beyond me. If it's lawful to visit your boat, sleep on board, eat on board and make general use of it, how can it be unlawful to do it continuously? I rest my case.

After all, the freedom that a boat confers is one of its main attractions, and we should ensure that it stays that way. I would hate to think that in the future it would be necessary to obtain a "Messing About Licence (Boating)" before being permitted aboard. This licence, duly stamped, noted and of course, paid for, (nominal fee, like the equivalent of a month's pay) would have to be exhibited on the outside of the hull for inspection by the relevant authorities.

The licence would entitle the owner to mess about in their boat, during daylight hours, for a period not exceeding three days per calendar month.

Messing about in excess of this would be viewed as extremely anti-social behaviour and incur the severest penalties imposed with the full weight of the law ... blah ... blah ... blah. Frightening to contemplate. Ratty and Mole would turn in their graves!

I would never encourage anyone to break the law, so instead of calling it "living aboard" lets refer it as "extended use of your boat" and leave it at that. You make up your own mind.

Other serpents abound, but we'll leave them for later articles. Next month we'll meet some friends of mine who have taken the plunge. Maybe we can learn from their experience. Be prepared to do without a lot of things that you now take for granted and be prepared to change your way of life. But then, isn't that what started this dream in the first place, changing your lifestyle? Happy messing!