Boat Bums
Boat Bums
I was reading the story of a family posted here who are going off around the world in a boat on $15,000 a year for expenses. I lived in Hawaii and Hawaii was well aware of people showing up in boats and wanting to anchor for free. Tahiti has a 6 month stay permit and no longer unless French. I have meet boat people in the Carribean who would not spend a dime. I think we have all seen these people in marinas. They buy a cheap boat and then live in the slip very cheaply. My point is, if if do not have the money to travel, it's no fun and the adventure probably will not last.
Last edited by BK on Mon May 30, 2005 7:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Mark Prouty
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Re: Boat Bums
Very interesting perspective. I wonder what experiences others have had with this kind of moneyless "boat people." This is the first I've heard of them but I'm sure they're out there. Families of them? Why would they do this? It doesn't sound like fun.
http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3059
Different question:
Couldn't someone do this on $15,000? Seems to me like the could if they started with no debt.
http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3059
Different question:
Couldn't someone do this on $15,000? Seems to me like the could if they started with no debt.
$15,000 divided by 365 days =$41 a day for 4 people. A slip is $15- $20 a day when in a marina so $20-$25 for 4. The point of the trip is to land and see the country so you would be in a slip most of the time. Sure, you can do laundry in a bucket and eat cheap sandwiches and try to anchor for free in a place where you know nothing about the laws and rules of anchoring but this is no longer an experience you would want to remember. How long could most last? What about repairs? Sailing is referred to as sailing from port to port to make repairs.
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Russell
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keep in mind guys that this can be done on this budget. You must also factor in the days at sea that costs absolutly nothing. This is a way different lifestyle that you or I are used to. These people are unplugged from our rat race consumer lifestyle that we concider normal. Im sure its a fine way to live but they are on a fixed income and must save where they can. Many of the countrys that they visit 20 greenbacks will get you more than you think(with a bit of barganing of course). You must think different!
Oh, and I actually perfer to anchor out insted of getting a slip.
Oh, and I actually perfer to anchor out insted of getting a slip.
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Catigale
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Not an experiment Id run with my kids for sure.
Im sure some of them rack up psychologist bills in college too....
Four of my colleagues home school 2-4 children in each family, there is a lot of networking that people who do this use to ensure the kids are socialised as well as educated - dont know how you are going to do this at sea....
I think there is a romantic side of this that appeals to anyone who sails, including me...but lets get real.
There are lots of places you can go do the minimalist thing and live on $1 per day instead of a boat buck per day...until you need that kidney transplant or something..
Im sure some of them rack up psychologist bills in college too....
Four of my colleagues home school 2-4 children in each family, there is a lot of networking that people who do this use to ensure the kids are socialised as well as educated - dont know how you are going to do this at sea....
I think there is a romantic side of this that appeals to anyone who sails, including me...but lets get real.
There are lots of places you can go do the minimalist thing and live on $1 per day instead of a boat buck per day...until you need that kidney transplant or something..
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Joe 26M Time Warp
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I never tried it on a boat but I did try the "bum" routine for a summer. Together with my best friend we dropped out, bought a VW 67' microbus and took off. Just 2 years after high school.
Road trip.
We saw every state west of the Mississippi except Ok. & ND. I started with $2k, got home with $600. The bus got it's best mileage @ 50mph, there was a 20% penalty for driving 55, or trying to. Of course it was sort of stylish back then, but it was an adventure and an experience worth a lifetime.
If I was that young and foolish, or maybe if I'm not, I could see an extended solo cruise on a Mac. I wonder what the costs would be if you mostly anchored out, rarely motored, and had solar panels to power all your electronics. Under sail all summer long, I wonder how far you could go through the Great Lakes. And I wonder how much that would cost.
No doubt kids on board for a cruising childhood is one thing, and there's no question learning is a huge part of any long term, non-destination adventure.
Road trip.
We saw every state west of the Mississippi except Ok. & ND. I started with $2k, got home with $600. The bus got it's best mileage @ 50mph, there was a 20% penalty for driving 55, or trying to. Of course it was sort of stylish back then, but it was an adventure and an experience worth a lifetime.
If I was that young and foolish, or maybe if I'm not, I could see an extended solo cruise on a Mac. I wonder what the costs would be if you mostly anchored out, rarely motored, and had solar panels to power all your electronics. Under sail all summer long, I wonder how far you could go through the Great Lakes. And I wonder how much that would cost.
No doubt kids on board for a cruising childhood is one thing, and there's no question learning is a huge part of any long term, non-destination adventure.
Cruising
There are lots of people who home-school their own children rather than sending them to public or private schools. I don't see much reason why you could not "home school" on a boat.
I've read a few short pieces on the income required for cruising long-term, and generally it comes to about $10,000 per person per year at the low end, higher than that if the boat requires a lot of resources to keep up.
I love to fantasize about buying a nice 33-36 footer after I retire and just heading off with no destination foir a few years - but then I'd have a pension to defray the costs as well as pay the boat loan...
- AndyS
I've read a few short pieces on the income required for cruising long-term, and generally it comes to about $10,000 per person per year at the low end, higher than that if the boat requires a lot of resources to keep up.
I love to fantasize about buying a nice 33-36 footer after I retire and just heading off with no destination foir a few years - but then I'd have a pension to defray the costs as well as pay the boat loan...
- AndyS
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Mark Prouty
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Re: Cruising
Hey,Andy26M wrote:I love to fantasize about buying a nice 33-36 footer after I retire and just heading off with no destination foir a few years - but then I'd have a pension to defray the costs as well as pay the boat loan...
Me too!!
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richandlori
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I subscribe to both "Cruising World" and "Latitudes & Attitudes" mags and lats&Atts more than Cruising World focus on the Cruising Lifestyles and run profiles of people unplugging and living aboard. I think that IF you own your boat and are debt free, you could live and adventure for very cheap, 10-15K. Many, many people simply work odd jobs along their route earning enough for supplies and food. If you cut out the $5 double-moca-late-frape-coffee from starbucks (ridiculous) and the $6 lunches from fast food, and all the other junk, you can get by real cheap.
Home schooling is very common these days as our public schools are all but falling apart in all but the upper income school districts. Studies have shown for years that home schooled kids are as "book smart" and as well "adjusted" as any other kids. Remember, home schooling was typical during the founding of this country and without the "distractions" of all the crap...tv....internet...video games...ect, John Adams and his counterparts not only ran farms, spoke more than one language, and happend to throw this country together almost on the side!
I think that given the right circumstances, taking your family out on a boat adventure for a year or two would do more than a fancy prep school and all the cable TV crap combined.
As someone who willingly ripped out the Cable TV from the wall to get the crap out of the house, I may be a bit more of an "extreamist" on the thought of "unplugging". If all goes well, by the time my kids are young teens, I will have a larger boat (keep the mac...let my brother use it for a few years) and unplugging myself for a few years.
Rich
Home schooling is very common these days as our public schools are all but falling apart in all but the upper income school districts. Studies have shown for years that home schooled kids are as "book smart" and as well "adjusted" as any other kids. Remember, home schooling was typical during the founding of this country and without the "distractions" of all the crap...tv....internet...video games...ect, John Adams and his counterparts not only ran farms, spoke more than one language, and happend to throw this country together almost on the side!
I think that given the right circumstances, taking your family out on a boat adventure for a year or two would do more than a fancy prep school and all the cable TV crap combined.
As someone who willingly ripped out the Cable TV from the wall to get the crap out of the house, I may be a bit more of an "extreamist" on the thought of "unplugging". If all goes well, by the time my kids are young teens, I will have a larger boat (keep the mac...let my brother use it for a few years) and unplugging myself for a few years.
Rich
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Catigale
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I hope to go off with Barbara for a year or two after the kids are off in college.
Home schooling in the early days of our country seems a non-sequitur to me on this issue unless you know of examples of those who were home schooled on boats. I guess one could also argue there are quite a bit more things to have to know now to compete in todays world than in the 18th century too.
Our house is devoid of cable and video games, and internet use is basically pbskids.org only. Ive been rewarded by two voracious readers and writers who will read an adult type book from cover to cover without stopping.
Not everyone has the skill set or education to home school their kids - I happen to send mine to a Montessori private school Im really proud of, but I vote for every school budget, even when it hurts, 'cause I do benefit from a good public school system even if my kids dont go there.
The socialisation aspect of kids on a boat is what would worry me. We have thought about home schooling and realised we would like to have 5 like minded parents to setup a minigroup for this purpose. Dont know how you would pull this off in a transient boat environment.
I wouldnt put a lot of faith in "studies that show that" until I know the source of the data and the agenda. In this Microsoft age, I can publish an impressive study on anything in a mole of femtoseconds or fewer.....
Dont mean to homeschool bash - those of you who do this I admire your dedication. I have no doubt that outcomes are good for folks who take this seriously.
...and Joe....Barbara and I were ahead of you in our 1971 VW Microbus from Atlantic to Pacific and back...we even had disc brakes on that puppy....we DID make it to OK but not to ND......
Home schooling in the early days of our country seems a non-sequitur to me on this issue unless you know of examples of those who were home schooled on boats. I guess one could also argue there are quite a bit more things to have to know now to compete in todays world than in the 18th century too.
Our house is devoid of cable and video games, and internet use is basically pbskids.org only. Ive been rewarded by two voracious readers and writers who will read an adult type book from cover to cover without stopping.
Not everyone has the skill set or education to home school their kids - I happen to send mine to a Montessori private school Im really proud of, but I vote for every school budget, even when it hurts, 'cause I do benefit from a good public school system even if my kids dont go there.
The socialisation aspect of kids on a boat is what would worry me. We have thought about home schooling and realised we would like to have 5 like minded parents to setup a minigroup for this purpose. Dont know how you would pull this off in a transient boat environment.
I wouldnt put a lot of faith in "studies that show that" until I know the source of the data and the agenda. In this Microsoft age, I can publish an impressive study on anything in a mole of femtoseconds or fewer.....
Dont mean to homeschool bash - those of you who do this I admire your dedication. I have no doubt that outcomes are good for folks who take this seriously.
...and Joe....Barbara and I were ahead of you in our 1971 VW Microbus from Atlantic to Pacific and back...we even had disc brakes on that puppy....we DID make it to OK but not to ND......