\u201cWe will live on a boat, but only if you buy a catamaran!\u201d Our kids declared their wish (in surprising consensus) from the deck of our monohull. <\/h4>\n
We had to deliver. And we did. <\/p>\n
We sold our house, cleared all debt<\/a> and bought a catamaran. <\/p>\n With our extremely limited budget<\/a><\/strong>, confusing time frame, in the height of the COVID pandemic, we made it work<\/strong>. Here is what we learned along the way, mistakes we made and our tips for you<\/strong>. <\/p>\n All human-generated, all based on our real, personal<\/a> experience<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n Here are all of our Boat Life posts.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n When searching for a boat, visit the obvious and popular websites, but think outside the box too<\/strong>. The best deals might be hidden treasures. Read browsing ideas below<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Boat shows<\/a> are our favorite places to compare brands and models<\/strong> and grab essential boat gear<\/a> at a discount. <\/p>\n We have attended both the Annapolis and the Miami boat shows<\/strong> and highly recommend them. Miami is a bit busier, but there is a wider selection.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n All the boats at boat shows were out of our price range<\/strong>, but this is how we decided we did not care for the angular Fountaine Pajot and the captain was too tall for most Lagoons.\u00a0<\/p>\n Boater\u2019s Tip:<\/strong> Boat shows gather cruising communities and are excellent places to meet other boaters-to-be.\u00a0<\/p>\n While looking for a catamaran, we had a bit of an unfair advantage. We had already lived on a boat<\/a> for two years and had lots of boating friends.\u00a0<\/p>\n But boating friends can be found anywhere<\/strong>. Join the boating communities on Facebook, attend gatherings<\/strong> and before you know it, you will be invited to tour any boat. <\/p>\n Just ask.\u00a0<\/p>\n Our catamaran was not listed for sale. We found it by asking a listing agent, who happened to know that it was for sale and connected us with the owners.<\/em><\/p>\n Boater\u2019s Tip:<\/strong><\/strong> Take a walk in a water-front neighborhood and ask a few people if they know of any neighbors selling their boat.\u00a0<\/p>\n How about some inspiration? A few websites offer listings of catamarans for sale by owner<\/a>. We toured them all, while searching for our cat.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here are a few to browse:<\/p>\n YouTube is a great place to watch tours of various models<\/strong>. With boating becoming quite popular<\/a>, many people document their adventures aboard their catamarans.\u00a0<\/p>\n Our YouTube Channel<\/a> helped us sell our Privilege.<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n Pick a few channels closer to your kind of adventure<\/strong> (solo, couple, family) and follow them. We had a couple favorite channels, which we used to get some idea of boat life.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Boater\u2019s Tip:<\/strong><\/strong> If sailing with kids, screen a few episodes to ensure they are kid friendly. People do all kinds of nonsense, to get a few extra \u201clikes\u201d.<\/p>\n Facebook groups are another great resource<\/a> for finding catamarans. We had lots of responses, when we decided to sell ours. People are very active on these groups.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Here are a few to join and start browsing:<\/p>\n Of course, the classic boat browsing Yachtworld is a great resource<\/strong> for finding catamarans.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you know the brand you like the most, you can also sign up directly with the manufacturer<\/strong>, they usually have a newsletter.<\/p>\n They will send you recent price drops<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n When deciding on the right cat for you, budget does not always come first.<\/strong> Keep in mind the following:<\/p>\n If you are making arrangements<\/a> for just a few months, or a year of living on a catamaran, making the best out of the short time aboard is a must<\/strong>. <\/p>\n Reselling a catamaran after a year is much easier, than after five or ten. Look for a catamaran that requires as little work as possible<\/strong> (they all will require work<\/a>). <\/p>\n But do not rush<\/strong> into boat purchases. There are plenty for sale.<\/p>\n Boater\u2019s Tip:<\/strong><\/strong> Always add at least a couple of months to your cruising start date, and work backwards, when planning repairs and upgrades.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you have time to buy a catamaran and fix it for a few months<\/strong>, or even a year, you will have time to finish all the work before you start cruising. <\/p>\n Any boat will require work, regardless of age and condition. <\/p>\n We were stuck with a monohull and a catamaran<\/a> for a bit, which was not ideal, but we did not want to be rushed into buying<\/a> a catamaran, just because we had no place to live.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Boater\u2019s Tip:<\/strong><\/strong> Not being pressed for time will greatly reduce your initial cost and will grant you more negotiating power.\u00a0<\/p>\n Helpful money posts: The time you plan to spend cruising and preparing the boat will influence your budget. <\/strong><\/p>\n A well-outfitted catamaran, around 42-44 feet will cost you at least $250K<\/strong>, for an older boat (early 2000\u2019s). For a 3-4 year-old boat, 46 feet or larger, prepare around half a million. <\/p>\n Catamarans are becoming more desired<\/a> each cruising season, so they tend to hold their price<\/strong>. <\/p>\n We wanted a catamaran under $80 000, but we had no established end date for cruising. And the work it required<\/a> pushed us back more than half a year. We lived in a boat yard for five months.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Boater\u2019s Tip:<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> Catamarans are popular. You might be able to resell at a minimal loss. Or break even, if you are lucky. Or make money, if you are prone to miracles.\u00a0<\/p>\n We think that buying an older boat is better.<\/strong> New boats will have problems too, and repairs are waiting for you. Add these to the already high price tag.\u00a0<\/p>\n Older boats have been handled by a few captains, and might leave a surprising collection of half-finished upgrades, but they have proven themselves in the water<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Our buyer<\/a> sent us the deposit and did not ask for a survey at all, because Joe was able to deliver the cat with a 7-day sail. <\/em><\/p>\n If the boat can handle that well and a family lived on it<\/a> \u2013 what more can you ask for?<\/p>\n Ultimately, price is a defining factor for many new boat owners, taking new boats out of the equation fairly quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n Boater\u2019s Tip:<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> The boaters might have a YouTube channel, so you can see the boat in action.\u00a0<\/p>\n We love Privilege, and we toured tons of boats<\/strong> (in our price range). Privilege offers the perfect compromise between comfort and performance. <\/p>\n Since we lived on and sailed a Privilege<\/a>, we can attest to their cruising comfort<\/strong> and speed when needed, while keeping the crew happy<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Lagoons and Leopards are the so-called production boats<\/strong>. They are very popular and offer a nice variety at more affordable prices. Speed-sailors call them \u201ccondomarans\u201d\u2026<\/p>\n Cruising life<\/a> is over 90% at anchor, so where are you rushing to?<\/strong><\/p>\n At the other end are the performance boats, Catana, HH, Outremer<\/strong>, and others. They are known for their speed, sometimes at the expense of the perfect 360 view (the salon sits lower). They are also more expensive. <\/p>\n Boater\u2019s Tip:<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> Production boats offer a greater variety of affordable choices. On the flip side, they are your classic chartered boats.<\/p>\n Many of the so-called production catamarans are formerly charter boats<\/strong>, as the companies are updating their fleet.\u00a0<\/p>\n If the catamaran was managed well, buying a previously chartered boat is a good option.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, keep in mind that these boats are outfitted for a brief fun-in-the-sun<\/strong> vacation, not liveaboard life.<\/a> You will probably need to spend money to outfit the boat for long-term cruising.<\/p>\n Helpful posts \u2013 Boat Gear and Gadgets<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n We prefer to look for boats previously owned by a single owner. Especially families. Families tend to take care of their boats.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n But, it might be hard to trace back all the owner<\/strong>s and all the repairs and upgrades they made.\u00a0<\/p>\n Boater\u2019s Tip:<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> If buying a boat off of charter, research the charter company and buy from a reputable and well-reviewed one.\u00a0<\/p>\n If planning to live at a marina, you can think of your catamaran as a small apartment<\/strong>. The boxy design of newer catamarans makes them excellent for living on anchor, or at a marina.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you plan to cruise a lot, you should consider the performance<\/strong> as well. Cruising comfort<\/a> can make or break a dream. <\/p>\n We have seen it. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Then again, if you have not sailed different cats, there is no basis for comparison.\u00a0<\/p>\n Boater\u2019s Tip:<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> Any passage, on any boat will make you seasick<\/a>. Do not let that affect your decision.<\/p>\n If you are not planning on cruising much<\/strong>, then solar panels, water-maker and a good dinghy will not be too high on your list. These can all be added later.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you plan to leave asap, or want that one year of a perfect cruising time aboard, look for a catamaran already outfitted<\/a> for blue-water cruising:<\/strong><\/p>\n Ask and inspect for:<\/p>\n Our super low budget<\/a> meant we had to upgrade all the systems. Unfortunately, we sacrificed cruising time for this.<\/em><\/p>\n If sailing as a couple, or solo, a 38-40ft catamaran should be more than enough.<\/strong> However, if sailing solo, we believe a monohull is the way<\/a> to go. <\/p>\n If living on a catamaran with a family<\/a>, I would look for at least a 42 ft boat.<\/strong> They will still allow for a good layout and separation of space<\/a>, while also offering comfortable cruising.\u00a0<\/p>\n With five of us aboard, our Privilege 42 <\/a>worked great.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Boating friends of ours chased their dreams<\/a> on a 39ft boat. Spending 6 months on land, and the other 6 exploring the Caribbean and beyond. There are many ways to cruise.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Boater\u2019s Tip:<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> Younger kids can share a cabin; some might decide to sleep in the salon. Older kids will be grateful for privacy.<\/p>\n Number of cabins, location of the galley<\/a>, soft vs hard bimini, ease of handling the main sail and location of the helm\/s \u2013 all matter in the long run.\u00a0<\/p>\n Do you want three or four (or five) cabins?<\/strong> On many cats, one of the hulls is an owner\u2019s suite, with a cabin, a spacious bathroom and even a small nook for an office. <\/p>\n This layout might be easier to re-sell<\/a>, especially if it is a smaller boat. Many young, or retired couples prefer this.\u00a0<\/p>\n We were looking for a 4-cabin layout, having three older kids<\/a>. We wanted each to have their private space. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Fun fact<\/strong> \u2013 the only time our kids had separate rooms, was while living on a catamaran<\/a>. All our land homes have been with 2, or 3 bedrooms.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Another consideration is the galley<\/strong> \u2013 above or below. Below is not as popular, but frees up space in the salon. It is my preferred option and another reason why we love Privilege.\u00a0<\/p>\n The cockpit and the bimini cover<\/strong> are a big deal, if sailing in the tropics. Hard bimini offers much better protection from the elements. <\/p>\n No matter how well we coated our soft bimini to waterproof it, nothing worked for very long, against the torrential rains of the Caribbean.<\/p>\n Boater\u2019s Tip:<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> Think about reselling too. Many people like the galley above, hard bimini and an owner\u2019s suite.<\/p>\n With Joe being 6\u20194\u201d, I have to mention ceiling height. If you are not able to fit <\/a>inside your own home, it will start bothering you<\/strong>.<\/p>\n1. Browse Catamarans<\/h2>\n
![\"Miami](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG-1865-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nBoat Shows<\/h3>\n
Friends and neighbors<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>45 Epic Sailing Movies We Will Watch Over and Over\u2026<\/a>
85 Beloved Sailing Songs (and Karaoke). The Only Playlist you Need.<\/a>
81 Best Sailing Quotes & Captions. Stuff Boaters Really Say.<\/a><\/p>\nFor-sale-by-owner websites<\/h3>\n
YouTube<\/h3>\n
Facebook Groups<\/h3>\n
Brand Websites<\/h3>\n
2. Choose the Right Boat.<\/h2>\n
![\"1995](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/img_7205-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nSabbatical vs indefinitely.<\/h3>\n
Time before sailing away.<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>I Don\u2019t Think I Can Live Without\u2026 Think Again. How to Remove Suburbia Stuff and Travel.<\/a>
The Cost of Living on a Boat for our Family of Five<\/a><\/p>\nBudget<\/h3>\n
Old vs New<\/h3>\n
Brand<\/h3>\n
Buying a Chartered Boat.<\/h3>\n
Stationary vs Cruising Lifestyle.<\/h3>\n
Outfitting the boat.<\/h3>\n
Number of people aboard.<\/h3>\n
Layout<\/h3>\n
Captain\u2019s height.<\/h3>\n
![\"anchorage](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG-6617-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Red](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/img_9774-768x1024.jpg\")
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