I have been living on a sailboat for over a year now. Took a leap into the unknown when buying my sailboat and so glad I did. Have only sailed a short distance right around this anchorage so far, but hope to go beyond. There is always something to do aboard, yet you can’t afford to do it all at once so budgeting ahead is a must. Caring for a sailboat will keep you busy, so that alone is good for your health.
Keeping track of the weather becomes a habit, ever if you are not sailing. Tides and currents always affect your daily plans. There are free weather phone apps you can download that make it easy to track local weather and beyond. Having standing headroom in a sailboat goes a long way to make life comfortable. Some people spend most of their time in the sailboat cockpit and are not overly concerned about standing headroom.
Lots of debate among those living aboard a sailboat over having a retractable swing keel or not. Retractable keels may need more maintenance but allow the boat to get closer to shore. Most sailboats over 25 feet are keelboats.
Some sailboat cabins come equipped with alcohol stoves, but many don’t. Inexpensive propane stoves with either one or two burners are commonly available at major retail chains like WalMart. Propane stoves are easy to use and usually found in the sporting goods department alongside camping equipment. Having a stove makes living aboard a lot more pleasant in the winter, letting you enjoy a cup of hot coffee or tea on chilly mornings.
Owners who want to live aboard while on a dock or marina may find few options and may be unaffordable where they want to stay. Waste disposal, human or otherwise, can become a problem when living aboard a sailboat. Dumping anything overboard is prohibited and may get you in trouble with neighbors or authorities.