LIVING ON THE WATER. LIVE-ABOARD LIFESTYLE.

Bembridge Houseboats Community. Isle of Wight, UK. This is not a typical live-aboard boat setup. This converted barges and trawler here in Bembridge are more like floading houses.

Living life on the water in a floating home, a yacht, tugboat, trawler or houseboat, on a secure dock, marina or along the riverbed. More and more people ditching life on land for the idea of a long-term live-aboard lifestyle. There is attraction of living year around on the water.

In London alone it is said, more than 10,000 people now living on their boats. 33,000 of Englands inland boats are used as permanent residences. It is often associated with adventure and freedom. On of the most prominent house-boaters is the billionaire Richard Branson who lived in a houseboat in London, long after becoming very successful with his business adventures. Working and living as a successful business man, in this snug space of a houseboat allowed him to have more time with his family and kids.

The Netherlands is another place famed for its waterways, which are lined with 10,000 houseboats. For many is living on a houseboat a lifestyle choice. The actual number of people living on the water in their yachts, houseboats, floating houses on the lakes, the rivers and the oceans around the world is not known. There is no reliable statistic available. But for sure millions of people are living on boats year-round as live-a-boards.

Is this possible for you? Let's look at the pros & cons.

So what are the advantages and disadvantages of a residence on the water? When it comes to living on the water a simple opinion is simply not possible. Cramped quarters of most boats and the inconveniences with the lack of privacy is offset with the freedom to live in every changing settings. Either closest to nature or in a marina setting possibly right in the middle of a busy coastal town, where the waterfront property normally cost a fraction of the cost a homeowner on land is paying.

What's appealing is the simplicity that comes with living on a boat the size of a small but efficient apartment. No furniture, a minimum of wardrobe, limited shelf space, no need to own things just for the sake of owning things. Life is more laid-back on the water, especially where it is warm. Plus the community that is most of the time passionate about their way of life, looking for each other and helping each other out. Marinas are save and secure. Most private operated marinas are gated, crime rates are low, thefts and break-ins are far lower

than in land based neighborhoods. Public marinas are cheaper most of the time, but do not offer the same level of security. More so, some parts of the world can be dangerous, due to known pirate or drug activities. Best is, to avoid waters where the hazard is high.

This said, while the benefits are many, there are also drawbacks worth considering. For example the social stigma of live-a-boarders, are somewhat seen a second class citizen, something like a „sea gypsy“. People a bit outside the society. Being lazy and working less hard for their living, while at the same time living on an oceanfront property and enjoying life. True is, as soon as the boat is payed, the mooring fees, including maintenance of the boat, are far less than what someone is paying for rent on an apartment or house on land. With in return saves you time spending on making money, to earning for your living.

There is not this one typical life-aboard person. There is the life-aboard yachtie who has no where to go. Many times their boat is not operational anymore. Fixing and bringing the boat up to standard cost too much. Money is tight. He or she lives in a setup that they have to be happy with. No matter what.

Then there is the soon to be cruiser. The yachtsman living on board his yacht. Fixing, improving, exchanging, while dreaming of the cruising destinations they will discover one day in the future. Some will never leave the harbor.

Other preparing their yacht as it seems forever and maybe leaving years later one day. Only a few, the real yachtsman and cruiser, are really leaving the harbor in a short time of preparation. Part-time cruisers are also among this group.

Then there is the part time live-aboard. Many breaking up the wintertime in their homeland to live on their floating home in warmer regions away from home.

Then there is this group of people that has no intention of ever going cruising. Here is the intention different, from that of the cruising yachtsman. There you will find all sorts of people living on their boats. Sailors that purpose of life is the weekly Friday night regatta, voyagers that are finished with cruising, retirees, young couples, small families with kids, workers, professionals, doctors, professors, artists, all like living on the water just because it’s a beautiful lifestyle.

Then there is this group of people with economical problems. People having a hard time making ends meet, where living on a cheap bought boat, is the last option. This group of people you will find almost everywhere too.

Live-a boarders are a colorful mix of people, living in their swimming homes, sailing yachts, converted barges, trawlers, tugboats and houseboats. For most people it is a lifestyle choice. There is no big luxury available on boats. Like a large refrigerators, or big toilets, and most of the time a small showers has to do the job. We are not talking about super yachts here.

Nothing can be more liberating and exciting than living on the water. The freedom of moving whenever wanted, the appeal of living close by the nature, even when the weather is harsh sometimes, makes living on the water so exciting and liberating. But the true is also, living in tight quarters on the water is not for everybody. If you wanna find out if it’s for you. Guess you have to give it a try.

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