Living aboard CD sail in northeast

[David B.]

I am considering making the move to living aboard in Massachusetts year 'round and as a past owner of a CD Typhoon I really like the boats. I am curious if anyone has tried to live aboard and if so what size CD. I would welcome any comments, suggestions, information on living aboard and/or things to consider in making the selection of the boat. Thanks in advance.



DbCfc@aol.com

[Joe Wysong]

I am considering making the move to living aboard in Massachusetts year 'round and as a past owner of a CD Typhoon I really like the boats. I am curious if anyone has tried to live aboard and if so what size CD. I would welcome any comments, suggestions, information on living aboard and/or things to consider in making the selection of the boat. Thanks in advance.

If you're alone, enjoy the solitude.

If you have a companion, get a very, very, big boat.

Joe




tgjournal@gestalt.org

[Neil Gordon]

>>I am considering making the move to living aboard in Massachusetts year 'round ...<<

Heat's not a problem, just space. Just you or you and a family? If you're alone, you could live on a CD28. Sufficient storage space, sleeping and living can be kept separate, etc. Families have lived on smaller boats.

If it was my decision, I'd get the biggest I could afford, consistent with the benefits a smaller boat might have for cruising, etc.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[strider]

I am considering making the move to living aboard in Massachusetts year 'round...

Sarcastic comments aren't very helpful when you're trying to make a big lifestyle decision.

I currently own and am trying to sell a boat that turned out to be too big and too heavy, difficult to manoeuver and dock and haul out, especially just for a routine bottom paint, expensive to maintain and to pay dockage fees for.

My suggestion is to buy a boat that's just big enough to comfortably hold all your essential possessions (clothes,books,hobbies, etc.),with a berth that's long enough to stretch out on and is used only for sleeping, with a galley that has adequate cooking facilities (a propane 2 burner with an oven) and food storage areas (for whatever kind of cook you are), and of course in Massachusetts you'll need a good diesel heater. Most liveaboards in cold climates (I'm in Ontario) build a frame and plastic greenhouse that keeps them cosy. A bubbler system will be needed to keep your boat from being iced in. (I know a place on Lake Ontario near a generating plant where the boaters don't need one because the water is warm!) Adequate headroom is essential if this boat is going to be your home. Will the marina have shower facilities and laundry facilities? Just imagine all that you do in a day and see if you could do it comfortably in this boat.

But don't go too big - it just costs too much! Go small and simple and go now!

2 books that might help you are: 'Gently with the Tides', The Best of Living Aboard, edited by Michael Frankel; and 'Good Boatkeeping' by Zora and David Aiken.

Best of luck!



legates@sympatico.ca

[Paul]

I am considering making the move to living aboard in Massachusetts year 'round and as a past owner of a CD Typhoon I really like the boats. I am curious if anyone has tried to live aboard and if so what size CD. I would welcome any comments, suggestions, information on living aboard and/or things to consider in making the selection of the boat. Thanks in advance.

I would look at it two ways: survive aboard or live aboard. There are huge differences between the two. Personally I wouldn't go with anything smaller than a 33. Anything smaller than that and you may as well live in a van and save marina fees, just kiddin. I think a 33 would be okay for a single person for a year or two but after that I think I would be wanting for more space. A CD36 would be my choice if I were going to live aboard. But the flip side for space is the bigger the boat the bigger the costs for everything. Hmmmm.....how comfortable do you want to be?

[Bill Gold]

I've been living aboard a cd30 (alone) since February in the Northwest. The weather is mild compared with the NE. My point in replying is that I know a couple living on a cd30MKII, a beamier and more liveable boat than the Alberg design. In my opinion, a couple on an Alberg has to love the boat first. But it is fine for me, since I spend a lot of time travelling and otherwise off the boat. I sleep in the main cabin and use the vberth for orderly storage, which can be offloaded easily for guests. Who wouldn't like to have more space?

I am considering making the move to living aboard in Massachusetts year 'round and as a past owner of a CD Typhoon I really like the boats. I am curious if anyone has tried to live aboard and if so what size CD. I would welcome any comments, suggestions, information on living aboard and/or things to consider in making the selection of the boat. Thanks in advance.

billgold@hotmail.com

[Greg Kozlowski]

David,

If it's just you, then I think a 33 would be ideal. In our case we will be living aboard full-time and voyaging, and for us (my wife and me) the 36 is ideal. We lived on her for two months this summer on the hard refitting and found the boat very comfortable for two.

Best wishes,
Greg



koz@seijo.ac.jp