Most of us occasionally dream of buying a liveaboard and leaving the crap behind.
What is it thats important to you in choosing a liveaboard? size, space speed, safety etc.
What will it cost you to get it?

If we are talking live aboard on the move and not parked in the one spot all the time, my priorities go something like this:-

1. Comfortable separate sea berth accommodations for minimum three people.
Why? While most of the time it may be only two people living aboard, when doing longer passages having three hands aboard makes the work a lot easier and more importantly SAFER. Each crew member MUST have their own bunk in which he/she feels comfortable and is able to get their required sleep/rest time.
Forget about SEX at sea. That is what you do on the beach in the moon light.

2. It naturally follows that the next requirement for the yacht is the water and stores carrying ability to sustain three people for 30 days.
Why? Even though anticipated passages may never be more than 14 days in duration, when one, or three in this case set to sea they are putting their lives in the hands of Neptune who can and often is a very hard taskmaster. He could decide to put the foolhardy to test to see how hardy they are.

3. Speed capability.
Why? As Joe Adams said, the faster a yacht is, the safer it is, and a number of other reasons. Slow boats are boring, fast boats are exciting. Fast boats get into the anchorage early for sundown, sundowners and BBQs while the slow boats are still out there trying to bash their way in darkness.

The above criteria obviously include seaworthiness and are all possible on a 30 footer such as a Spencer 30 or with a bit more style on a Lotus 9.2 as I have.

All that you mentioned..so for me a cat- my choice would be a galley down catamaran, something like a 4 cabin Seawind1000. One cabin for a storeroom, they have a full bathroom with seperate shower, and two cabins for visitors. Fit in a 10m pen if needed and not too bad to insure. 90cm draught and 8-9 kts is pretty easy to achieve. 400l of water. The two solar panels with a possible 3rd are plenty. Preferably one with a hard top to extend the saloon back another metre. Over 6'2" standing room throughout. They're not cheap but pretty good value for a well designed and thought out catamaran.

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cisco said..
If we are talking live aboard on the move and not parked in the one spot all the time, my priorities go something like this:-

1. Comfortable separate sea berth accommodations for minimum three people.
Why? While most of the time it may be only two people living aboard, when doing longer passages having three hands aboard makes the work a lot easier and more importantly SAFER. Each crew member MUST have their own bunk in which he/she feels comfortable and is able to get their required sleep/rest time.
Forget about SEX at sea. That is what you do on the beach in the moon light.

2. It naturally follows that the next requirement for the yacht is the water and stores carrying ability to sustain three people for 30 days.
Why? Even though anticipated passages may never be more than 14 days in duration, when one, or three in this case set to sea they are putting their lives in the hands of Neptune who can and often is a very hard taskmaster. He could decide to put the foolhardy to test to see how hardy they are.

3. Speed capability.
Why? As Joe Adams said, the faster a yacht is, the safer it is, and a number of other reasons. Slow boats are boring, fast boats are exciting. Fast boats get into the anchorage early for sundown, sundowners and BBQs while the slow boats are still out there trying to bash their way in darkness.

The above criteria obviously include seaworthiness and are all possible on a 30 footer such as a Spencer 30 or with a bit more style on a Lotus 9.2 as I have.

There are a couple of very nice Lotus's on yachthub.
A great design inside and out.

If your talking full time liveaboard cruiser, A mono over 42 feet or Cat over 40. That's my opinion after 10 years living aboard 37 and 42 foot yachts. Watermaker , genset and enclosed cockpit a big bonus.

There's a big difference between a 42 ft mono and a 40 ft cat. Think you mean 50ft mono at least in this comparison.

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Offthegrid said..
There's a big difference between a 42 ft mono and a 40 ft cat. Think you mean 50ft mono at least in this comparison.

Mono over 42 foot , 45 would be perfect , as would a 40 foot Cat

I have just found a Martzcraft 35 Centre Cockpit on Yacthub.
Incredible amount of space.
Could someone put it on Seabreeze and tell me how to do it, if you have time please.

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Bundeenabuoy said..
I have just found a Martzcraft 35 Centre Cockpit on Yacthub.
Incredible amount of space.
Could someone put it on Seabreeze and tell me how to do it, if you have time please.

https://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/martzcraft-35-centre-cockpit-cruising-yacht/230317

It it appears to be a lovely fitout.
Incredible amount of space? Well that depends on what your use too regarding living arrangements. I would compare it to living in a smallish floating caravan.

I lived aboard a pretty light (2100kg) 28 footer for four years all up when I was younger, but that was not actively cruising. We plan to cruise our 36 footer, which is not a huge boat for her length and I think it will work perfectly well. Improvements in sails, watermakers, inflatable toys (SUPs, Windsups, RIBs, etc), and electronics (you no longer need a CD storehouse, 100kg of books and lots of charts) may have reduced demand on size and displacement.

Personally I'm quite happy hot bunking at sea and would be quite happy sailing two up, as do so many cruisers.

Overall, though, it's like asking what sort of place you need to live in ashore. Some people want an acreage and a house with four pool rooms and a jacuzzi in each home theatre, others would prefer an inner city flat.

From my last trip up north ,I would say 30 to 40 year old fibreglass yacht around 32 to 35 ft seemed to be very popular for liveaboard extended cruising. Lots of flash new boats ,but they were rushing home back to work . My 32 ft liveaboard is fitted out with two showers , a red bucket and a green one . probably the old adage of the one you have is perfect .

Hi Bundeenabuoy

What do you think about the 349 as a live aboard

Regards Don

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Donk107 said..
Hi Bundeenabuoy

What do you think about the 349 as a live aboard

Regards Don

Are you talking about a the Catalina Donk?

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southace said..

Donk107 said..
Hi Bundeenabuoy

What do you think about the 349 as a live aboard

Regards Don

Are you talking about a the Catalina Donk?

Hi Southace

No the Jenneau 349 that Bundeenabuoy has recently purchased

Regards Don

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Donk107 said..

southace said..

Donk107 said..
Hi Bundeenabuoy

What do you think about the 349 as a live aboard

Regards Don

Are you talking about a the Catalina Donk?

Hi Southace

No the Jenneau 349 that Bundeenabuoy has recently purchased

Regards Don

I thought he just found a martzcraft Roberts on yachthub today?

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Donk107 said..

southace said..

Donk107 said..
Hi Bundeenabuoy

What do you think about the 349 as a live aboard

Regards Don

Are you talking about a the Catalina Donk?

Hi Southace

No the Jenneau 349 that Bundeenabuoy has recently purchased

Regards Don

Hi Donk

I think he's entered into a share boat arrangement.

For living aboard for more than a month or so, especially in this (Tas) part of the world, some sort of a pilot house. Mono or cat.
(edit) and shallow draught.

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southace said..

Bundeenabuoy said..
I have just found a Martzcraft 35 Centre Cockpit on Yacthub.
Incredible amount of space.
Could someone put it on Seabreeze and tell me how to do it, if you have time please.

https://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/martzcraft-35-centre-cockpit-cruising-yacht/230317

It it appears to be a lovely fitout.
Incredible amount of space? Well that depends on what your use too regarding living arrangements. I would compare it to living in a smallish floating caravan.

A 26 square metre studio at Kirribilli with balcony, views and parking costs $800,000.
This boat seems good value at one tenth the price and if you don't get along with the neighbours, drop the mooring and sail away.

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Donk107 said..
Hi Bundeenabuoy

What do you think about the 349 as a live aboard

Regards Don

I am very happy with my quarter share purchase.
I get to use it every Friday and and a long weekend every four weeks.
This is my third boat share agreement and they have worked for me.
To have near new is such a pleasure, but has probably spoilt me for life.
The Jeanneau 349 also loves 15-20 knot winds.
My wife and I are very happy with the purchase.
Like a lot of wives she doesn't need to leave the berth to be happy.

I agree with Cisco that storage space is a consideration for me, in a liveaboard.

After living aboard for three years I am very comfortable on a 33 footer. If I had to pick though I would say 40 is the magic number. Especially for two adults. You need room for a water maker, large battery bank and the associated toys that make cruising fun. You still need to be able to single hand when required.
You can do it easily on smaller (I am) but that extra storage room would be very handy. One of the must haves on my next boat will be an island bed. I'm done with trying to make V berths.

Also the ability to catch clean and crumb fish, and a working washing machine and aircon system are my requirements for a full time livaboard.

You are so full of yourself southace and that photo is not even on your boat is it??

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southace said..

Also the ability to catch clean and crumb fish, and a working washing machine and aircon system are my requirements for a full time livaboard.

No lemon?

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cisco said..
You are so full of yourself southace and that photo is not even on your boat is it??

I was full last night after eating my fleshly caught seafood on my yacht.

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Bundeenabuoy said..

southace said..

Also the ability to catch clean and crumb fish, and a working washing machine and aircon system are my requirements for a full time livaboard.

No lemon?

Prefer thousand island dressing bundeenabuoy with crumbed seafood,
I tried a salt n pepper crumb the night before was just a packet mix but was still very tasty and I was so full for myself. ??

that's making me hungry. have you tried panko crumbs?

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fishmonkey said..
that's making me hungry. have you tried panko crumbs?

No what are they? I did see a cooking show using coconut crumbs looked good.

I crumb a lot of the seafood I catch, i crumbed some cooked prawns over Christmas and they turned out a treat. Now that's got to make you hungry!

Back on topic, a good sized enclosed cockpit with zip down clears and the ability to sail or lounge in wet or windy conditions , good electronics that can be seen from the wheel and a good quality BBQ for the hot nights when you don't want extra heat down below. I'm fully self contained my only reason I need to go to go ashore is for work , tucker , beer and a ton of water !

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southace said..

fishmonkey said..
that's making me hungry. have you tried panko crumbs?

No what are they? I did see a cooking show using coconut crumbs looked good.

Japanese-style bread crumbs. yum.

www.chowhound.com/food-news/54616/how-is-panko-different-from-breadcrumbs/

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southace said..

Back on topic, a good sized enclosed cockpit with zip down clears and the ability to sail or lounge in wet or windy conditions , good electronics that can be seen from the wheel and a good quality BBQ for the hot nights when you don't want extra heat down below. I'm fully self contained my only reason I need to go to go ashore is for work , tucker , beer and a ton of water !

Reevesby Island. Are you one of the visiting yachties working at the Homestead?