How cheaply can you buy and live on a small boat? Where to anchor, living costs?

What part of the U.S. would be the best to anchor free for days at a time?

As you can tell, I know absolutely NOTHING about trying this. I just thought maybe someone could get me started.

What type of boat would work best for living.

I am used to living in a VERY small place. So, a small boat would be fine for me.

Pontoon? Sailboat? Cheap choices?

I see many people who live on sailboats all over South Florida.

I am used to living in a regular van, so the smaller the better to save on gas, maintenance and purchase cost.

Get a 38' Caliber LRC.

Good for you.

I'm already institutionalized and now only live to serve the borg.

Do it!!!!!

But, I have no idea how expensive living like that is.

Plus, the cost of the coat itself.

Since I would be alone and have never sailed, most of my traveling would be with the inboard motor.

What?

Thousand of small catamaran houseboats all over the USA. Lakes, rivers, ocean.

Some have propane for cooking, heat. Some are all electric.

Most small ones have outboard motors.

Boating anywhere is expensive… People do it because they love being on the water. I have a sailboat, and have spent a while touring Costa Rica, but usually the places on the water are more expensive to get supplies. Repairs, maintenance, fees, registrations… etc. It all requires money.

Now on the other hand, if you are "raised behind the mast", and have skills, like diesel mechanic, working with fiberglass, etc. then you can get into an area where you can make money working, and then move on. That is a great part of it.

I knew a guy who for years would buy older catamarans in Cali, and sail them to South FL via the canal, work on the boat as he went… surf and live on the cheap, and then sell the boat in FL…. but the market was favorable back then for him to do it… He never made money, but kept up his lifestyle.

BOAT stands for Bring Out Another Thousand, and the phrase "it's just a hole in the water you throw money into" are accurate…. But it is a lovely experience.

I'll sell you my sailboat though!

Can you tie up anywhere for a few days? Upkeep cost? Regulations?

Boat.

Bust

Out

Another

Thousand

Oh boy , there are tons of inland house boat regulations . Quality houseboat is about 100k - keep in mind you'll need power , fuel and water
Id say it works blelow 35'th paralel US where water don't freeze in winter

No, I'm on a small SS monthly budget. I was hoping to combine cheap living with adventure around U.S. waterways.

In most navigable rivers, you can tie up to a tree or rock... For free if in the right spot.

lol, been there done that..
It's a lot harder than one might at first think.
You know what they say about a boat; it's merely a hole in the water to dump money into.
It's definitely doable and many people do but doesn't always measure up to the fantasy..
The ocean is not a static place like a parking lot. You need to have the skills to handle your vessel first and foremost.
Recommend you should be comfortable on the water before thinking of doing it full time.
Good luck, there are many books and people that can help. Maybe someone else has more advice. Personally now that I'm older I appreciate having a bed that stay still...
and not humping jerry cans of water and fuel plus groceries and laundry in a dingy lol

Good post, thank you.

The main subject of discussion among people who live on their boats is if they use the toilet on them or not.

It is much more than it is cracked up to be.

Search Craigslist.

[link to losangeles.craigslist.org]

There are a lot of cheap boats available. The really hard part for me is the living costs, i.e. the maintenance cost, the fuel costs, anchoring fees, regulations, food, water, location.

Each Marina will have different rules about living on the boats while docked.

I bought my boat for 900 bucks...best 900 bucks I ever spent :) she's only 19 ft but has everything I need comfy bed kettle cooking facilities

At the moment I live on a marina with showers water laundry facilities and it cost me 150 bucks a month as well as being out of the rat race and a lot if other peppers live here too

I live aboard and with all the money I save I can soon buy a bigger boat as soon as I've fixed what needs fixing on this one...and just keep doing that till I've got the boat I want...I highly recommend the life and I could never go back to living in a house or apartment now...

You can drop a buoy anchor in most places in the Chesapeake bay.

I'd suggest you go to 'liveaboard/crusing' forums to ask questions there.

I really want a very small boat because as I said, I'm used to living full time in a van. I want to travel with the boat and anchor along a river instead of living in a marina if possible.

I would prefer a small bunk, a one burner stove, a small galley, a head/toilet.

My goal would be to slowly go up the central waterways from south to north and then back with the seasons.

I only have about $2000 a month to live on. Possible?

Beware in the United States, though.

The Coast Guard does not require a reason to board you.

That also goes for international waters if you are a US flagged vessel.

Then you want the ICW.

In Coastal British Columbia I know dozens of people who live aboard their boats. They mostly do not use the smaller ones 'at sea' very often. For a single person to comfortably live aboard a sail boat it seems to ME TO BE, about 27'. You can pick up a later model Catalina at very cheap prices and they are excellent sailboats. But sailing is a skill. SO if you just plan on living aboard it and puttering around now and then (it depends where you get live aboard moorage of course), it would be a fine craft. Get a 4 stroke if it has a 2, it's just easier.
For a 27' sailboat here, it costs about $178.00 a month then they now have privately metered each boat for power consumption. $2.00 for about a 15 minute shower, the walk to the shower/shitter is about 2 minutes. Boat people are generally friendlier then most IF YOU ARE NOT always asking for stuff and lend a hand back in return. If you have basic (12v) electrical skills, basic small engine repair skills and basic carpentry skills you can live on a boat of this size rather comfortably. Moorage here comes with fine wifi.
I don't about the US. But it seems pretty close in boat pricing, moorage fees etc from here to Mexico from what I have heard.
The 27' Catalina (see if you can find an 89' they widened the hull for more living space) my friend just bought (and we sailed over from Vancouver Island to the Mainland) cost him in total $3500.00 including motor replacement. He now pays almost nothing out of his Disability of $1200.00 CDN to live and enjoys his lifestyle. Albeit he doesn't take it out.
If you are not going to take it out find a cheaper, converted fishing boat or some such vessel.

DO NOT BUY A WOODEN BOAT!

Thanks!

You can forget renting a slip at a dock if money is an issue.