LIVE ABOARD . . . on the hook & on the cheap

[SURV69]

to be certain, the Great Lakes are most definately Great.

My hope is to put in the Great Lakes(Erie to start), live in a marina and continue my business for 2 years or so(having an efficiency apartment too), then within a year of retirement begin my sojourn of the Great Lakes.

Hopefully, after I break the bonds of the marina life, I hope to make use of the New York Barge system to spend my winter months(or more) in warmer climates. It would be at these times, I would tend to make ports of call in Bahamas, the Outer Banks, or even Key West.

With two of the most stable countries in the world on either side of our Great Lakes a sailor can't help but to feel in a safe and secure environment. About 4000 miles of shoreline along with leeways between 30 and 70 miles means an awful lot of sailing from one politically friendly port to another. Both countries also offer citizen friendly infrastructure, wich is very important.

I've always liked the Great Lakes . . . the "Poorman's Ocean".

[eric3a]

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[richandlori]

How true Eric, people say you can live on the cheap...by very few actually detail the real cost of their "living cheapy"! About the only site I know of on the web is: bumfuzzle . They did a 4 year trip and listed their expenses for every month.

We plan to do something very simular because it is just so hard to get info on what it really costs, BUT that could be because some can eat on $20/day while others spend that as the TIP for their dinner! Some spend every night in a Marina ($300-$500/month) while some anchor out and only spend 1-5 nights in a marina/month. So the costs can really swing based on your style. We have poured WAY too much money into the boat refit...but it will (ok...should) help keep out boat fix it costs low during our Cruise.

Our Cruising budget for our family of 4 is $2000/month. We could go over a bit and "survive" but the lower we keep the monthly cost, the more things we can do and the longer we can stay out before the kitty is gone and it's time to head back to the real world.

[Night Sailor]

Certainly your situation, and dream as you describe it, and is doable, without difficulty. Even in a Mac. Several are now doing so in an X, including some on this forum.

One could spend about two hundred years seeing new places by boat on just the east coast and inland lakes and rivers I think, following the seasons like the wild geese.

For one person in 26 ft is fine, and anything larger is asking for more expense in every concievable category of boat expenses. After all, read Lynn and Larry Pardey's accounts of their long term voyaging on their home built 24 ft, engineless sail boat, Serrafyn and you will find it works with planning and forthought..

[eric3a]

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[richandlori]

Great site! Thanks Eric.

[Divecoz]

Who has read any good. . . "Cruising the Great Lakes" Books as of late?
I never really thought or think of it as I think of the G.L.'s as cold and only better than nothing while I am trapped in the Chicago Area waiting for the housing market to come back from the dead. Before then it was waiting to retire. . go figure. But as I may have a few years here waiting.
I can do short trips to the warmth in the cold and cold times of years for a few weeks and or a few months. You Make do if that's all you can do for the moment.

[richandlori]

Dive...how far has the market tanked in Chicago? Here in the central valley of Ca....we are down at least 20%. A house selling for $400K (cheap by Ca standards) now sells for $300K!

I know lots of people...6 I can think of off hand...that bought in the last 3 yrs and now are making payments on a house worth LESS than they bought or could sell for...and I have a friend in the bay area that had to cancel his cruising plans due to the meltdown.

[SURV69]

BUT the use of a BIG CAT and foreign shore sailing is not in my interests.

When I look at the allotted costs, I see so much, so, so much waste, in comparison to my way of living.

ALSO, by staying stateside, a lot of costs and other headaches become less.

I'm willing to bet, that aside from the winter freeze, I could thoroughly enjoy staying in the Great Lakes for many years and I'm willing to bet I can find "mistique" in "American" ports of call all along the Great Lakes.

To me, a soujourn down the Erie Barge system, the Hudson and the Intercoastal, would be tantamount to the thrill of a circumnavigation and anchoring in the back-bays of the Outer Banks would be just as enjoyable(and probably moreso), than a port of call in the French Rivera.

SINCE I'm in America . . . all the way, I can work as I wish or as I must, all along the way.

Maybe it's all in the perspective, but for me the sailing's the real thrill . . . not the ports of call . . . per se'.

[Divecoz]

To answer Rich and comment to Surv69

Rich we haven't tanked like much of the country but the market slowed way down. We are not seeing the foreclosures many are seeing , but no one is waiting on the steps when you awake in the morning with your asking price in cash in their hand.
Surv69 I may have to learn to enjoy the area till we sell. I have a hard time because I have done a bit of warm water sailing and a lot of warm water diving and deep-sea fishing and None of that is available in the Great Lakes. I want to move to where the weather suits my cloths . I want to drop my anchor in 5 to 30 feet of 79 degree crystal clear water and jump over the side with a pole spear and come back with a snapper or a grouper or a hog fish or lobster or Conch! Not chilled to the Bone so Bad I think I might die and I am afraid I might not, and that the shaking and the pain will never stop.
All I can figure out so far is for some reason GOD wants me here for now.
I guess I best first address that situation....

[beene]

Who has read any good. . . "Cruising the Great Lakes" Books as of late?

I find THESE are very informative and a must have if wanting to cruise the Great Lakes region including the well known Trent/Severn Waterway system.


G

[Divecoz]

Here are some brief ideas to the actual cost of cruising from several perspectives $$$$$.
http://www.ithakasailing.com/stories/cw_stories_9.htm
Tried to add a link within a link doesnt work for me. Anyway Rich and poor alike have yet to live on what they thought they could.
Not on $9 K a year and all the way thru to not on $60 K a year.
Lets try this link as well.
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f2/ ... -4296.html

[richandlori]

Thanks for the link Dive....great info!

[Catigale]

Link to costs of six cruisers

Exec summary - short term cruising is about 2k per month, longer term about 3k per month to allow for expensive repairs. A lot of cruisers spending 10-20k per year on travel back home!

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Trips outside of the USA would be just that . . . trips. In my mind there's no better place to visit than the good ole USA.

Being aboard a shallow draft simple rigged vessel, 30' to 36', seeing the good ole' USA would be a nice way to spend 2-4 yrs. Never getting into a hurry in order to visit and see new folks and sites would be rewarding.
Everytime I look at a documentary about the Great Loop, the writers always seem gratified.