size of a liveaboard sailboat

My Cruiser Life Magazine

17 Best Sailboats to Live On + What You Should Know First

Many dream of living aboard a sailboat, but finding the right one can be daunting. There are many different types, and countless manufacturers have come and gone over the years. 

Here’s a list of 17 options – a sailboat for every sailor on every kind of budget. 

Table of Contents

17 best sailboats to live on, pros of living aboard a sailboat, cons of boat life.

• Find Your Type of Boat 

Set Your Boat Budget

What size boat to pick, best liveaboard sailboats under 35 feet (< 35 feet), best liveaboard sailboats under 40 feet (35–40 feet), best liveaboard sailboats under 45 feet (40–45 feet), best liveaboard sailboats under 50 feet (45–50 feet), best liveaboard sailboats under 60 feet (50–60 feet), want to live on a sailboat, best sailboats to live on faqs.

• Catalina 34/35
• Panda/Baba 35, Tashiba 36a
• Gemini 105MC
• Islander Freeport 36
• Passport 40
• Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42DS
• Leopard 42/43
• Beneteau Oceanis 473
• Hallberg Rassy 46/48
• Leopard 46/Moorings
• Amel Super Maramu 2000
• Privilege 585

What to Know First

So, boat shopping is a challenge, to say the least. Understanding where to start and what to look for comes down to understanding what you want to do with your boat.

Here’s a look at some pros and cons of living aboard to get you started.

• Seaside living at a fraction of the cost of a waterfront home
• Ability to travel anywhere by water
• Ability to move anytime—not tied to one location/town
• Different liveaboard lifestyle options to choose from: at a dock, mooring, anchoring, cruising (traveling)—tired of one, mix it up for a different experience
• Small living space lacks storage and privacy
• Limited resources: you must meter your fuel, water, and electricity use when not at a dock
• More exposed to the elements and more affected by weather events
• Seating and furnishings are less comfortable than in a house
• Constant maintenance to keep the boat seaworthy and clean

How to Find the Best Boat to Live on Year Round

At first, you might think boat shopping is like looking for a new car. But when shopping for a car, you have a small pool of manufacturers and models to choose from. In the end, you might have five choices and already have an opinion about each maker’s quality and reputation.

Boats are different. We’re usually shopping for boats that are a decade or more old. The manufacturers may have gone out of business years ago. When you total up all the possible makes and models of each type of boat, you might have dozens of choices with brands you’ve never heard of. Yikes!

Find Your Type of Boat

There are dozens of types of boats you could live on, depending on where you want to live and where you want to take it. Most people shopping for a sailboat will choose between coastal cruisers, bluewater boats, and sailing catamarans.

Here are some of the pros and cons of these sailboat types. 

The Coastal Cruiser

• Inexpensive compared to bluewater and catamarans
• Perfect for dock living or near-shore hops
• With modifications and the right outfitting, many have island-hopped the Caribbean
• Many to choose from, and often they are lightly used
• Designs are often race-inspired and faster than typical heavy bluewater boats
• Newer, bigger boat for your money
• Often production boats have low-quality, lightweight builds

Related: Best Trailerable Sailboats

The Bluewater Sailboat

• The best bluewater cruising sailboats are capable of going anywhere
• Built to last and take anything
• Give the most comfortable ride in rough conditions
• Newer examples are expensive
• Good ones sell quickly
• Older vessels may be tired and in need of an extensive refit
• Often lack the living space that coastal cruisers have—narrower beams and transoms

The Catamaran

• Cruising cats have the maximum living space, especially cockpit dining and upper salon
• Light-filled with plenty of airflow, perfect for the tropics and living at anchor
• Larger models (40+ feet) are bluewater boats capable of going nearly anywhere
• A shallower draft than most monohulls allows for more cruising and anchoring choices
• More expensive to purchase, keep, and maintain than similar-sized monohulls  
• The most in-demand vessels, prices are high and good ones sell fast 
• Sometimes hard or expensive to find dock space and boatyards that can haul it out for maintenance

Still unsure which side of the monohull vs. catamaran debate you’re on? Try to get aboard some boats and experience the living space first-hand.

Everyone has a budget when going boat shopping, even if you’re Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk. Establishing how much you can spend on your boat is the biggest factor that will affect your decision, and it’s the backbone for all other decisions. 

You must understand just how much boat costs increase as the size of boat increases. Boats are already expensive, and the average cost of owning and buying a liveaboard sailboat varies dramatically. But when the boat gets bigger, it needs bigger hardware, lines, rigging, sails, motors…everything. And bigger means more expensive, so these costs add up fast.

And then there are your storage and boat maintenance costs, all of which are charged per foot. The marina might charge you $15 per foot/per month for a dock slip, and the boatyard will similarly charge you per foot to haul and store the boat. Divers charge per foot for bottom cleaning, as do detailers for annual compounding and waxing of the hull.

When it comes to budgeting, there are two rules of thumb. 

• Always pick the smallest boat you can comfortably live on.
• If you have an amount budgeted for your boat purchase, spend half on the boat and save the other half for outfitting and maintenance.

As you’ll see below, boats can be grouped by price and size. When you go up in size, you go up in price—often by a lot.

The size of the boat is a factor of your budget, but also of how big a boat you can handle. Most people believe this means driving it and maneuvering it, which is true to some extent. But a good training captain can teach you what you need to know to drive any size boat in just a few sessions. 

No, the size of the boat you can manage refers more to how much maintenance you want to do. The bigger the boat, the more complex and plentiful its systems. There’s more to break on a bigger boat, and more things broken means more time fixing things.

Catamarans compound this by doubling a lot of the systems. Two engines, two saildrives, two hulls to wax, two hulls to bottom paint—you get the idea.

Another factor you should consider early on is getting insurance. Yacht insurance has gotten harder and harder to get in recent years. If you’ve never owned a boat and have no experience, you might be forced to get something small (think an under 30-foot daysailor) to get some experience on before you move up. It’s also difficult because many underwriters won’t write policies for liveaboards. 

As a general rule of thumb, most people will find boats under 35 feet too small to live on full-time. Most of these vessels don’t even have standing headroom. There is often only a “wet head,” one where you take showers while sitting on the toilet.

Boats 35 to 40 feet are good for solo travelers or couples who don’t mind living in small quarters. The beds will be small and accessed only from one side, as in a v-berth or a Pullman-style berth. If there is one, the second bunk is likely only for the occasional guest. 

You’ll get better accommodations when you move up to 40 to 45 footers. The second bunk may be in its own stateroom. The main suite will have an island-style berth that can be accessed from both sides—a huge upgrade for most couples. The head will likely have a separate, enclosed shower. This size sailing yacht makes a good liveaboard sailboat for most boaters.

Boats bigger than 45 feet are best for bigger families. If you often travel with kids or guests, these are the boats for you. They’re extremely spacious and make boat living easy, but the extra maintenance and cost may not be worth it.

The List — Best Sailboats to Live Aboard

All lists, whether found in internet blogs or international sailing magazines, have issues. There’s no one list to rule them all because there are simply too many different boats out there. And everyone uses their boat differently, so the “best” for you might be a terrible choice for me. Different boats for different folks, so to say.

So, what’s the deal with this list? It’s made from personal experience of having seen a lot of boats out cruising. And it’s a list that tries to put aside the fantasies—Oysters and Gunboats are pretty in magazines, but like Ferraris, not many of us will ever own one. So let’s look at some practical boats that fill each size category. 

For every boat on this list, a dozen or more could’ve been included. Use these models to research brands and see which sizes suit your needs.

Boats under 35 feet tend to be best suited for solo travelers or couples comfortable living in small spaces. As always, coastal cruisers in this class have much more space than bluewater boats do. Catamarans in this class are also coastal cruisers—you need more length and volume to get real bluewater performance out of a cat. No matter which type of boat you’re looking at here, storage space on this size of liveaboard boat will be limited.

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Coastal Cruiser Under 35 — Catalina 34/35

If you want to move aboard, you’re on a budget, and you want the most space you can get, it’s really hard to beat an older Catalina. Starting with the Catalina 30, these beamy boats have a surprising interior volume. They make great first liveaboards.

Bluewater Sailor Under 35 — Panda/Baba 35, Tashiba 36

The famous yacht designer Bob Perry drew these Taiwanese-built boats, all tracing their lineage to the older Tayana 37 . They’re updated slightly and built by different yards, but all full keels with cutaways and built for bluewater cruising. They all have gorgeous teak joinery and are comfortable and forgiving at sea. 

Catamaran Under 35 — Gemini 105MC

The Gemini 105M and 105MC were arguably the most popular cat models ever. They’re American-built, with a single diesel engine and a narrow beam that allows them to be parked in a standard boat slip. In the US, this means many more marina choices if that’s how you roll. The boat has centerboards and kick-up rudders, so the board-up draft is a scant 18 inches—gunkholing perfection. 

While some Geminis have crossed oceans, they aren’t made for it. They have average (sometimes below-average) build quality and fiberglass work. However, they’re perfect coastal cruisers and capable of heading into The Bahamas.

The Gemini should be on your shortlist if you’re looking for a cheap catamaran .

Runner Up: PDQ 32

Are you looking for a small cat with better build quality? They didn’t make many of them, but the PDQ 32 is what you seek. It’s an attractive small catamaran with a wider beam. It came with twin outboards in wells, but the LRC (long-range cruiser) option had inboard diesels.

Forty feet is the sweet spot for most cruising couples—big enough to be comfortable and carry enough provisions but small enough that handling and maintenance are manageable. This class of boat has a lot of excellent choices in both coastal cruiser and bluewater boats, making it a good size range to find the perfect affordable liveaboard sailboat.

The catamaran group from 35 to 40 feet has a few very popular choices, but they are right on the edge of being too small for most cruisers. Counterintuitively, these cats are perfect for couples who don’t mind downsizing and traveling lightly. These shorter cats are prone to hobby horsing and don’t provide as comfortable a ride in bluewater as slightly longer cats do. 

Coastal Cruiser Under 40 — Islander Freeport 36

The Islander brand is no longer around, but these California-built production boats from the 1970s and 80s were well-built and well-liked. The I32 and I36 were very popular cruising boats designed by Bob Perry. The Freeport 36 is a before-its-time European deck salon with enormous windows. The swing-down swim platform is another bonus for a boat from this era, as are the Pullman-style berth and forepeak-located head (some layouts). If you can find one in good condition, these boats make excellent liveaboards. 

Bluewater Sailor Under 40 — Passport 40

Yet another boat from the desk of Bob Perry, the Passport 40, is a sharp-looking aft-cockpit bluewater cruiser from one of the best yards in Taiwan. They feature a long fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder. Everything about this sloop is just right for long-term cruising.

Catamaran Under 40 — Prout 38

The Prout 38 traces its heritage back to the earlier Prout Snowgoose. The boat is still being made, now under the Broadblue brand. It’s a sturdy British-built cat made for serious offshoring. While it lacks some of the open feeling that newer charter boats have, it more than makes up for it with its robust and high-quality build.

Runner Up: Leopard 40 (2005-2009)

This early L40 (don’t get confused with the newer ones built around 2020) was designed by famous multihull designers Morelli and Melvin. It’s got more of the things you might expect from your typical charter cat: a sliding salon door, galley-up layout, and a huge walk-through cockpit.

While this seems a small step up from the size of boats above, prices increase rapidly above the 40-foot mark. At this point, the boat’s gear needs to be bigger and heavier, from all the lines and rigging to each block and winch. Engines are now larger four-cylinder diesels, and there’s much more hull area to clean and paint. 

A 45-foot coastal cruiser has enough space to keep a small family happy for short trips or a couple happy for any length of time. These boats usually have island berths in a spacious master bedroom, so no more crawling over each other just to go to the bathroom! Bluewater boats in this class are a little smaller inside, making them just right for most couples doing a long-term cruise.

As far as catamarans go, the 40 to 45-foot range is the perfect sweet spot for most cruising couples. A spacious interior plus excellent seakeeping abilities make these top picks. There are tons of boat choices out there, and most of the best cruising catamarans come from this size group.

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Coastal Cruiser Under 45 — Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42DS

Jeanneau is part of Groupe Beneteau , but their boats often have a more refined finish than Beneteaus. The DS stands for “deck salon.” They feature larger windows that let in more light and have better visibility than a standard cruiser. This is especially welcome if you’re attracted to the living space in a catamaran but need something smaller and more affordable. 

The 42DS also has an enormous island berth, plus a huge twin-helm cockpit with lots of space for entertaining.

Bluewater Sailor Under 45 — Hylas 44

The Hylass 44 is regularly picked as one of the best offshore cruising boats. It’s a center cockpit boat designed by German Frers.  It has a wonderful layout with tons of living space and a large, usable galley. The aft cabin has a large island berth with an en suite head. 

Catamaran Under 45 — Leopard 42/43 (2001-2006)

These early Leopard charter cats are highly sought after on the used market. Like all charter cats, the best finds are the “owners versions” with one hull dedicated to the master stateroom with en suite head and shower. The Leopard 42, which came out in 2002, had a soft canvas cover over the cockpit and was updated to the Leopard 43 with a hardtop. 

Above 45 feet is another big price jump. For beginners, these big boats will require some training and experience before you head out on your own. 

Related: Best Boat for Beginners

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Coastal Cruiser Under 50 — Beneteau Oceanis 473

This big Beneteau came with either 2, 3, or 4 staterooms. Finding the right layout is as important as finding the right boat. The two-stateroom version has enormous berths and lots of storage, perfect for couples with occasional guests or families of three. Most have the standard keel with less than a six-foot draft, making this fin keel/spade rudder boat a rare find. They were built from 2000 to 2005.

Bluewater Sailor Under 50 — Hallberg Rassy 46/48

Hallberg Rassys are well-regarded boats built in Sweden, mostly designed by German Frers. These are high-end boats of the best quality, so don’t expect to find one available cheaply. They’re gorgeous, however, and make wonderful world cruisers.

Catamaran Under 50 — Leopard 46/Moorings 4600 (2006)

If you want a big catamaran, it’s hard to go wrong with the 2006 Leopard 46. Where modern Lagoon and Leopards have tall profiles with tons of windage, this is one of the newest, largest boats that still have single-level living. It has distinctive hull chines that increase living space without increasing wetted surface and plenty of sail area for good performance. In true Leopard fashion, all lines are led to the helm for easy short-handed cruising despite the boat’s large size.

Boats in this class are borderline yachts based on their sheer size. If you were to charter these boats, they’d usually come with a crew. That size means they’re more expensive and more of a handful to manage daily. 

Coastal Cruiser Under 60 — Irwin 54

The Irwin brand is long gone, but many examples are available on the used market. They were known especially for their large center cockpit ketches, like this 54-footer. This is a spacious, big water boat that certainly meets the qualifications of most bluewater boats. They can go anywhere, but they may need maintenance and refit given their ages. 

Don’t get to lured by the low prices of these boats. You’ll have to lay out some serious cash to get one ready to cruise long-range. But if you aren’t opposed to some hard work and projecting, the Irwin can get you a lot of boat for not much money.

Bluewater Sailor Under 60 — Amel Super Maramu 2000 (53′)

Made famous by the Delos YouTube channel, the Amel is a French-built brand of high-quality bluewater boats. Today, this brand’s new models look like many others—wide sterned, flat-bottomed sloops. But the Maramus that made them famous were unique—ketch rigged and ruggedly built, designed to take a cruising couple anywhere. Electric winches were standard on everything to keep such a large boat easy to operate.

Catamaran Under 60 — Privilege 585

Privilege is the French-made catamaran that you don’t hear enough about. Unlike Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot, these are beefy cruising boats ready to take you anywhere. Their construction and fit-and-finish are first-rate, as is the joinery down below. 

Living on a sailboat is an adventure—it’s not for everyone. Finding the right boat is an important part of doing it successfully, but it’s not the only step in preparing for the lifestyle.

You should also consider checking my post on liveaboard catamaran options, to make sure you research thoroughly enough!

What makes a great liveaboard sailboat?

Everyone’s priorities for a liveaboard sailboat are different—a bluewater cruiser looking to sail around the world might pick a very different boat from someone who lives full-time dock life. In general terms, you need to find a boat that is safely capable of taking you where you want to go and has enough living space to be comfortable while doing it. 

Sailing catamarans are some of the most popular liveaboard sailboats because their living space is unmatched. Most are also bluewater-capable cruisers that can go pretty much anywhere. 

What is the best size sailboat to live on?

The size of the boat you’ll be comfortable on long term is a personal choice that depends on your personality and the number of people you’ll be traveling with. Solo travelers may be content with a sailboat around 30 feet, while most couples are comfortable on something around 40 feet. Forty-five to fifty feet is more realistic if you often have guests or kind on board. 

With all of this in mind, however, it’s really important to remember that the costs of buying and maintaining a sailboat increase exponentially with length. Getting the smallest boat you are comfortable living on is always better because that will be easier to manage and keep in the long run.

What are the negatives of living on a sailboat?

People live on their sailboats differently, so it’s difficult to narrow down the biggest negatives. Everyone struggles with the small living space that a boat affords. You’ll have to downsize your possessions to the absolute minimum you need. And getting personal space away from your spouse or family is pretty much impossible on a small boat. 

Why are sailboats so expensive?

New boats require a massive investment in time and resources to produce. The nicer the boat, the more time and skill it takes to build, which makes costs soar. Some production companies, like Beneteau, have found ways to reduce production costs and keep the price of new boats more reasonable. But these boats pale compared to other yachts in terms of overall quality. 

Older used boats can be found pretty cheaply. In fact, it’s often possible to find free or nearly-free boats that are on their way to the junkyard or dumpster. The key is understanding how much work and money it will take to get these boats ready to go again. 

Is it a good idea to live on a sailboat?

Living on a boat is an amazing way to experience seaside living or traveling the world by water. But it’s also a unique, out-of-the-ordinary lifestyle choice that’s not without challenges. 

Before you move onto a sailboat, you’ll want to research the topic carefully and talk to some folks who already to it. Many people start with occasional boating, spending a week or more onboard to try it out. With a little experience, it’s easy to see if it’s something you could do for the long term or if it’s best to keep a land house and enjoy the water occasionally.

Can you live comfortably on a sailboat?

Many people live comfortably on sailboats, but a lot depends on the size of the sailboat and your tolerance for living in a small space. Even the largest sailboats can feel cramped, while some folks love the cozy feeling of living on the tiniest boats. 

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

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What Is The Best Size Sailboat To Live On?

Most sailors I know have wondered what it would be like to live on a sailboat . Like the tiny home craze of a few years ago, it seems a reasonable question. With all the basic systems and conveniences needed for daily living, and on the water. What a grand adventure!

I’ve lived aboard several boats in my life, and I can say there is a romantic element to it, having everything you need right around you, on a magic carpet you can take anywhere you want to go. Yet, for the most part, it also comes with some unique challenges.

I knew a couple with a teenage son who lived aboard a 27-foot sloop. They would spend summers in Annapolis , where Dennis worked floor sales at Fawcett’s Boat Supply. During the winter they would sail south and spend the season in the Bahamas where he helped with construction projects for the local community. I never knew how they did it, but they were always happy and upbeat.

Anyone seriously considering a sailboat as a full-time home, naturally wonders what size boat would be most appropriate. Seems easy enough if the sailboat has the necessary creature comforts. But there are several factors that separate “just getting by” from a comfortable life on the water. However, if we take it in steps, perhaps we can identify enough parameters for you to begin a search.

Let’s set the stage. Of course, there are minimalist young people who want a cheap experience much like modern day hobos, just as there are wealthy families who want all the comforts of a luxury resort in a huge sailing catamaran . When I was young and single, a 30-foot sailboat fit perfectly. The number of single people living on sailboats is surprising, whether they are peddling handmade jewelry in the islands or wandering the world. They are driven by the experience.

( Seen Below: Sailing Zatara is a Youtube channel about a livaboard family that shows daily life on the open ocean. )

I want to consider an adult couple, one or both have careers. For any number of reasons, they decide they want to live full time on a sailboat to experience waterfront living. They also want to enjoy sailing as their schedule and careers permit. Again, they are not vagabond wanderers living on the hook, flip flops and bathing suits their primary wardrobe, living for the moment with no schedule or commitments beyond today.

Our couple have jobs, perhaps work remotely, and they manage mail, bills, a car, are members of the community, and they want to experience boat living.

Let’s also assume the boat will be their primary residence, although it is reasonable to include the possibility the sailboat may be a summer or winter home, which certainly relieves some of the issues when it comes to seasonal wardrobe, holiday decorations, and other living considerations.

A Place to Live

One of the most compelling arguments for living aboard a sailboat is having all your stuff right there with you, in a well-equipped galley/kitchen, a workable head/bathroom, an office desk, permanent bedroom, and storage lockers and drawers. And a dedicated living room to relax, read, watch movies, eat meals, entertain friends, and simply enjoy life. Essentially, all that one needs to live a normal life…and nothing more. I call it the “living module.”

Unfortunately, when people choose a boat to live on, they are often unaware of the compromises they are going to make if the boat has small spaces. After a short time, the reality of boat living may lose its romantic luster. I call that “living in a transformer.”

On a transformer boat, every space must serve multiple purposes, and it becomes necessary to transform saloon settees into a bed, with pillows, sheets, and blanket. The head does double duty as a wet locker, the galley counter serves a workbench, and the V-berth is also a sail locker. To get to one thing requires moving several other things, everything fits together like a puzzle. The smaller the boat the more this is true.

( Seen below: An interior galley and salon on a Tartan Yacht has many of the comforts of home. )

Living this way is confining, particularly if there is more than one person, constantly saying “Excuse me” to move around the boat. And what about if there is a pet?

Imagine if you must move pillows and cushions every evening to turn down a bed to sleep for the night. How about removing all the throw pillows she put on the master berth as an elegant design touch, but there is nowhere to put them? Trust me. This gets old.

Then there is the issue when looking at a boat with a wet head. Taking a shower gets everything in the head wet. That may be perfectly fine for weekend boating but living with that every day will be unpleasant. And while walking down the dock to use the marina showers may be fine for some people, it is not what I signed up for. On larger boats with wet heads, there may be sufficient room for a sliding shower curtain to keep the water on you, and not the rest of the space.

Can you see how some of these issues might begin to chip away at the dream of living aboard? No worries. Let’s keep peeling back the layers, because the more we understand the important issues, the closer we are to answering the question of how big of a boat one needs to live comfortably on a sailboat.

A truly minimalist approach is fine for young people, who don’t yet have a lot of stuff, don’t mind a wet head or transforming every space several times a day. They can overlook dealing with a lack of clothes storage, and very little space for personal possessions.

I’m all for living minimally…for a time. But that won’t do for everyday living at my current stage in life. It is important to recognize this and then find a balance between what the boat can provide and the style of living one is accustomed to, expects, or desires. It is a personal decision about what to compromise on. What am I willing to give up to live on a sailboat? Think of your hobbies and interests. If you enjoy shooting sporting clays, where will you store the paraphernalia of that hobby? The same can be said for camping, golf, tennis, music, and many activities of a full and balanced life.

I have more than a passing interest in photography and would need space for camera gear. My wife loves to arrange flowers. She is quite good, and for years created beautiful flower arrangements for the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel. She would need some space to continue this passion on a boat, along with space for her tools, vases, and the other components of a flower shop workbench. It would be fine much of the time to work out in the cockpit, but where to store everything?

I believe people who are active in life and their community are not interested in giving up everything simply to live on a boat, so the size of the boat must take that into account. It is similar to couples who downsize their big home when they become empty nesters, and move into a townhouse. They must consider space for their sewing and embroidery projects, movie and music collections, music keyboard, even precious art. Every person I know collects something or is passionate about some activity or sport. One can keep golf clubs in the truck of a car, but what about all the other things that requires space aboard?

( Seen below: Sailboat owners are notorious for clever and smart storage ideas. This owner likes to paddleboard, which can take up a lot of room. )

And where does one plug in all the chargers of the modern world? This will overwhelm the chart table on a small boat, which was only intended for occasional recreational sailing. On larger boats, the chart table accommodates navigation and weather instruments, RDF, radios, maybe a sextant, plotter, radar, as well as navigation books and cruising guides.

I used my chart table as my desk, although many vloggers seem comfortable using the saloon table for laptop writing and video editing. I had a plastic tub that contained my “office” supplies, and when I was finished paying bills or whatever, I would store this tub away. I had a small portable printer that tucked behind a settee cushion. My office did not compromise the chart table for its primary purpose of navigating while sailing.

There will always be a need for a proper work bench space for projects and repairs, which might be in the cockpit, but there will also need to be a place to store tools, parts, and the other essentials to keep the boat and engine running.

Then there is the issue of clothes storage for year ‘round living. For most couples, a wardrobe must also include a minimum of “dress-up” clothes. Is there a hanging locker wide and tall enough for a dress or two and blazer? Or do we stick with khakis and Hawaiian shirts? Cold, damp days in the Pacific Northwest will require heavier clothing that take up space, unless one is fine only owning one wool sweater.

There is only so much space for books, CDs, and other stuff. Thankfully, a Kindle or iPad can hold a full library of books and a tablet can store music and movies, so shelf space can be left for other things.

The Essential Galley

Most residential kitchens have a startling number of appliances and specialty tools that we accumulate over the years. Where does one put it all on a boat? Most galleys offer limited space for the tools of cooking, pots and pans, cutlery, plates, serving bowls, baskets. I look around my kitchen and wonder. How could I even begin to consider bringing along a full-size food processor, VitaMix, blender, crockpot, toaster, panini press, popcorn machine, salad spinner, immersion blender, and let’s don’t forget the spiralizer.

The fact of the matter is there is no room for any of it. You simply won’t have the space. Period. A friend who is a well-known foodie told me about her galley in which she routinely creates complex culinary treats and meals for her husband, family, and friends. She gives lectures at the yacht club and writes a food column for a boating magazine. Lori told me she brought aboard a blender, a portable electric mixer, a small food processor, a toaster, and a butane torch into the galley of their Fleming 55 motoryacht. Her cooking aboard really started in the galley on their Beneteau 35 a long time ago.

After several years on the Fleming, Lori realized she only ever used the toaster, none of the rest got touched. And while she carried about 40 different spices in her galley, she only used six seasonings: Italian, Greek, blackening, chili, salt, and pepper.

(Lori is not into baking, so never carried muffin tins, sheet pans, cooling racks, or baking sheets. She also said she prefers disposable aluminum pans for making roasts, which eliminate the need to carry a large roasting pan that won’t fit in the galley sink so is impossible to clean. She also never carried a bread machine on any of her sail or powerboats, as she always found local breads to be much more interesting.)

So, a sailboat with a large galley will be big enough to serve as a liveaboard kitchen, with enough storage space for stores and provisions, and nesting pots and pans. And don’t forget the French Press and electric teapot to make coffee and tea.

( Seen below: The galley on the Hanse 460 is one reason it won the European Yacht of the Year. )

Tanks Are Key

Gone are the days of overboard dumping, so any sailboat of recent vintage will have dedicated tankage for water, fuel, and waste. The size of the boat, and its intended design purpose, will dictate tank sizes, and that is important to consider for living aboard, even if one never leaves the slip. The daily use of water will be significant, as people use the head(s), shower, and sinks. Water will be consumed at a greater rate than weekending, and both gray and blackwater waste tanks will fill quickly—especially if these tanks are small.

Not all marinas can pump out a holding tank at each slip, so figure it a regular chore to move the boat if that becomes necessary. (More areas today have a mobile pump out service that makes the rounds of the harbor and nearby marinas. One contacts the boat by VHF radio to schedule a pump out when it is next in the vicinity.)

Additionally, if our couple plans to live in the same place year ‘round, they must deal with another issue—if they live in Maine or anywhere south to the Carolinas, or in the Great Lakes. Marinas must turn off the water at the dock for the winter, to avoid damaging pipes. (This is not standard practice on the West Coast, except when unusually cold weather forces a temporary shut down.)

Living on a sailboat in Boston Harbor becomes a challenge, although there is a hardy group who do it every year and find it builds character and a sense of humor. In Annapolis, those of us living on F Dock would string garden hoses together once a week and run the long hose down the dock so we could refill our water tanks. We made it work.

Other Factors

If our couple has children, this will change the dynamics of the liveaboard equation, making a larger boat a necessity. For families, especially, the layout afforded by a center cockpit sailboat makes a lot of sense, providing a separation of living spaces important for everyone’s mental health. And there will be a compelling case for needing a washing machine to do laundry.

If our couple has a dog, there will be additional concerns to provide good access on and off the boat, reasonable access down below, and other basics, such as a freshwater cockpit shower. A transom swim platform will also be great appreciated by pet owners, as well as older folks.

If there are watersport interests in addition to sailing, they will also compete for space. A dive compressor comes to mind, with a place for tanks and dive gear. SUPs, windsurfers, and kayaks take up deck space one is unlikely to fit on a small sailboat.

( Seen below: Brownies makes a tank rack that can be installed in any storage area. This one has a compressor on top. )

A Sailboat That Sails

Up to now we have not addressed the sailing abilities of our liveaboard boat. Small sailboats go slower, are much more affected by wind and wave conditions, and are much less comfortable in a seaway. If sailing in protected waters is all our couple is interested in, then sailing performance is less important in our search for a liveaboard home. But there is a huge difference (on many levels) between a sailboat capable of consistently making daily runs of 200nm and a smaller sailboat that hobbyhorses along making 55nm to the next destination.

Obviously, a step up in boat size means greater expense in cost, maintenance, insurance, sails, gear, and fuel. But life is more comfortable on larger boats. I sailed from Newport, RI to Bermuda on an 83-foot sailboat designed to race around the world. The trip was over in the blink of an eye, as she was so quick. I’ve done trips from Annapolis to Bermuda on 30-footers, and while they took longer, were more satisfying because they demanded more of my skill to tweak our speed, unlike a crewed, 83-foot freight train.

I am pretty sure the ideal boat for both living aboard and great sailing is somewhere in the middle.

Before we discuss our conclusions, I want to point out something I found common after living aboard various boats on both the East Coast and the Pacific Northwest. I have noticed that many couples and families, once they move aboard their boat full time, tend not to go sailing very often. The boat becomes their home, priorities and routines get established, and life goes on. Things that used to be stored neatly, now tend to stay out, and there are pillows, blankets, puzzles, running shoes, books, jackets, hats, shoes, tools, guitars, plants, art, remotes, and projects of all kinds all over the boat. And a small tree or plant in the cockpit.

Does this defeat the purpose of living aboard if they don’t go sailing as much? I don’t think so, because the time to experience living aboard may not coincide with the time to go sailing, or cruising. For many it must wait until retirement and learning the boat while living aboard makes tons of sense.

The Magic Number Is…

When researching this article, I came across some truly laughable blogs and websites that suggested boats that were absurdly inappropriate for living aboard. These sites remind me that one can never believe or trust suggestions from an Internet search without verifying sources. How can someone really recommend buying a 30-foot boat from the ‘70s to live on, a boat that is only 9 feet wide and only has a couple of tiny saloon windows for interior lighting, a tiny head with no holding tank or shower, and no storage of any kind beyond enough for a foul weather jacket. Or a sailboat from a builder who only built 40 boats half a century ago!?!

The big takeaway from these sites or blogs, or whatever they are, is an excellent reminder about the importance of using a knowledgeable and experienced yacht broker. A man or woman who knows boats and can navigate the many choices. A good broker does way more than simply handle the paperwork of the transaction. A broker will make this fun. You will learn quickly and benefit from their experience. And show you where to stow a small ironing board and iron.

The best size sailboat to live aboard comfortably, safely, and provide a marvelous living experience spans from the mid-30 foot range to the mid-40s. I hesitate to be black and white about saying 35-45 feet, because I know people happily living on a 33-footer, and I would easily live aboard a Stevens 47.

The Jeanneau 43 is a good sample of a sailboat live on and is at the midpoint in this range, as it carries 130 gallons of water, and is almost 14 feet wide. She has a large, bright interior that is very livable. The Hallberg-Rassy 43 carries 172 gallons of water and a holding tankage of 100 gallons. The Stevens 47 that I mentioned above, while older, carries 200 gallons of water, and it will make consistent 200nm days. Many of the Beneteau models would also make a comfortable liveaboard. And there are dozens of other choices in this size range from reputable builders.

( Seen below: The Jenneau 43 is thought of as a good sailboat to live on. )

Compare boats in this size range to smaller boats, such as the very popular Catalina 30, with over 6,400 boats built. She carries 36 gallons of water and has a holding tank of 18 gallons. Look at interior layouts and pictures of these boats, the galley, saloon, and living spaces, and what storage is available. One will easily see the huge differences among these boats.

You will need to decide how much privacy you need, and how many cabins/staterooms to make this happen. And then discuss the factors of layout, storage, tankage with your broker. He or she will know the reputation of the builder, will introduce you to other options, such as a sailing catamaran, or another boat you may not be aware of. A broker will show you enough boats to help you refine your search for the right boat, within your budget.

Check out as many boats as you can. Some interiors may seem too dark, as the traditional teak treatment was very popular until recently, others find them cozy. Some interiors can feel cramped, especially on older, narrow boats. There are lots of saloon table/settee arrangements, and what works for you is totally personal. Many older boats have almost vertical companionway stairs/ladders, while the newer trend is towards fewer steps that are less steep between cockpit and the interior, which are dog friendly.

Make sure you can fit comfortably in the head, and make sure the hanging lockers and other drawers will satisfy your needs. There is usually a huge storage space under the master berth. How easy is it to access?

Your broker might introduce you to other liveaboard clients who may be willing to share their experience. There is nothing more helpful than hearing what others have already discovered, such as how enclosing a center cockpit provides more living space on a sunny day during cold weather.

Moving around an interior is every bit as important as moving along the side decks topside. Some boats are much easier to move about on deck than others that require gymnastics around standing rigging. Much like tall lifeline stanchions make me feel way more secure on deck, so do interiors where there is something to hold onto. Perhaps not as important for living aboard than at sea, but hey, isn’t your boat going to do both!?!

It is common knowledge there is no perfect boat, and that every boat is a series of compromises. With a few exceptions I agree with these sentiments. But I do also know that living on a sailboat has a charm all its own, without compromise on the right boat.

The liveaboard boat community is special, and I have met some interesting people who live full time on sailboats. While there are the usual community of service staff, artists, and people who work in offices, I have met musicians, consultants, and technology gearheads. When I lived on Lake Union, it was an eclectic group of mixed backgrounds and careers, from medical doctors to one humble fellow who had his PhD in the study of Peregrine falcons.

In Annapolis, the dock was shared by a lobbyist in DC, a lawyer and his wife, and the head of public works for the city. And when a hurricane came to town, the folks on our dock threw a party as we stayed up all night adjusting dock lines to keep everyone’s boats safe.

One winter in Marathon, in the Florida Keys, we lived among a couple dozen liveaboards from all over. While they had traveled south for the winter, none were cruising. They simply lived aboard and were able to move south to warm weather while the snow blew up north.

If you are interested in exploring life on a sailboat, there is much to recommend it. People who live on sailboats belong to a unique community, and there is always room for one more.

Also Read : Frequently Asked Questions About Sailboats

Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles:

• The Unexpected Side Of An Aging Sailor
• What Is The Safest Sailboat?
• Is Sailing A Cheap Hobby?
• What Are The Different Types Of Sailboats?
• Is Sailing Hard?
• How Big Of A Sailboat Can One Person Handle?
• How Big Of A Boat Do You Need To Sail Around The World?
• The Cruiser's Other Dinghy
• Bringing Your Trawler Home
• Your Boat's Fuel Economy
• Extend Your Sailing Life
• Yearly Engine Service And Beyond
• Sometimes It's All About Simplicity
• The Bucket: A True Story
• Essential Supplies For Extended Cruising
• The Exhausting Need To Keep Up With New Technology
• Have A Backup Plan!
• Northern Marine Exhaust Systems Are Better
• Cruising Boats Come Of Age
• Changing Rituals
• Did Wisdom Come To The Ancient Mariner?
• Going World Cruising? Not So Fast
• What Engines Are In Your Boat?
• Letting Go But Still In Control
• Learning To Handle A New Boat
• Improving The User Experience
• A Paradigm Shift In Cruising
• Consider Buddy Boating
• A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating
• Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?
• A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan
• Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska
• The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht
• The Great Loop
• Getting Ready For The Great Loop
• A Winning Great Loop Strategy
• Tips For Cruising South

Hiring A Yacht Captain

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The Ideal Size For A Liveaboard Sailboat

Around 40 feet is ideal for a liveaboard sailboat for most people in general. This size is a good compromise between living space, cost, and ease of handling at sea. There is also an excellent selection of sailboats in this size range at a competitive price, making it a popular and safe choice for the average person or couple.

The question of the ideal size for a liveaboard sailboat gets discussed quite often, and it can be difficult to specify one size that suits everyone’s needs. In my last few years of sailing around the world, I have met and talked to many people living in different types of sailboats of various sizes. It is, however, easy to see a trend in what size most people choose for various reasons.

Whether you intend to sail around the world or cruise in a particular area, a sailboat of around 40 feet will serve you well in most situations.

However, there are several deciding factors to take into account that may lead you towards a smaller or bigger boat. If you mainly plan on living by yourself onboard, stepping down in size might be the right choice for you. Check out this article on how big of a boat you can sail solo .

For those who want to have several visitors or crew frequently, I recommend considering a sailboat at least 40 feet or bigger, depending on the number of people you plan on having onboard. But don’t go too big. There is a good saying that most experienced sailors agree with: Don’t buy a bigger boat than you need.

How big of a sailboat do you actually need?

Different people have different needs and preferences when it comes to comfort. While some thrive well in smaller spaces, others may require more space around them. I like to think of different sailboats as different tools. You want to find the right tool for the right job.

The boat you need is big enough to satisfy your needs and intended use but small enough to fit your budget and your handling abilities at sea.

First, you need to decide what you will use your sailboat for. And be realistic about your capabilities and budget.

Let us take a closer look at some of the most popular sizes.

A sailboat around 30 feet is large enough to fit 1-2 persons who don’t mind living in a tiny space. Having a guest onboard won’t be a problem if you don’t mind the lack of privacy. Sleeping and storage space is minimal, and motion at sea is rough in heavier weather.

Around 30 feet is about the smallest boat recommended for offshore sailing, although some do it in smaller boats. Expect prices to start at around 20000$ for a boat in good condition.

A sailboat around 35 feet comfortably fits 1-2 persons and gives you decent interior volume. Having 1 to 2 guests onboard isn’t a problem, and boats at this size often have at least two separate cabins for sleeping and a good amount of storage space.

Motion at sea will be significant in heavy weather, but you can easily sail this boat by yourself. Expect prices to start at around 35000$ for a boat in good condition.

A sailboat around 40 feet is excellent for 1-3 persons and typically has 2-3 decent-sized cabins with double bunks, making it comfortable to have several guests onboard. Storage space is generous, and a boat in this size range handles offshore conditions well.

You will be faster and more comfortable than the smaller boats in most situations and still be able to sail single-handed. Expect prices to start at around 50000$ for a boat in good condition.

A sailboat around 45 feet is great for 2-4 persons and gives you excellent living and storage space. There is a vast selection of different layouts, whether you prioritize storage or a higher number of cabins for your guests.

The boat will easily handle offshore conditions while making good speed but might be a handful for less experienced sailors to handle alone. Expect prices to start at around 75000$ for a boat in good condition.

A sailboat around 50 feet is big and spacious enough for a family of 3-5 to live onboard comfortably. You can easily invite many friends and still enjoy some privacy. When you get into this size range, the boat will handle heavy weather exceptionally well, but in many cases, it will be hard for a single person to handle.

There are exceptions, however, as many modern boats come with systems to aid you in operating the vessel. Fifty feet is the largest sailboat I recommend for one person to sail alone unless you are very experienced. Expect prices to start at around 150000$ for a boat in good condition.

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150+ Nautical Terms: Illustrated Sailor’s Guide

A sailboat is always a compromise

As you can see in the comparison above, a sailboat is always a compromise. A bigger boat will give you more space, speed, and effortless motion at sea, but it will be more expensive to buy and maintain. Once you get past 45 feet, you get into the size range where you might even struggle to handle the boat alone.

I want to show you a few examples from friends currently living aboard and cruising full-time on their boats.

Living on small-sized sailboats

I have one good friend who lives onboard his Forgus 31-footer and is currently sailing in the Caribbean. He sometimes has 1-2 crew members with him, and he tells me that it can get a bit cramped, but it is doable. That same boat sailed from Norway a few years back with a crew of 4!

Another friend lives on and sails the 35-foot boat he built himself. His comment on the question about the size of his sailboat is that it is OK for one person to live on, but he wants a bigger boat if there were two onboard full-time.

Living on medium-sized sailboats

I live on Ellidah, as you probably know, and she is a 41-foot Jeanneau. Initially, I found her intimidating to handle alone as I started without experience. My skills grew with time, and I now find her simple to sail solo.

She easily accommodates three guests and has treated me well in all conditions we have sailed in during the past 10.000 nautical miles. You can read more about us here.

Living on big-sized sailboats

Two friends of mine are currently living onboard their Beneteau 46. They sail mostly by themself and appreciate the ample space onboard, mainly because of their German shepherd. You should check out their website: Sailing Sunday

At last, I know a couple from South Africa who are out sailing around the world on their 53-foot Amel. A great boat designed to be sailed short-handed, but they tell me the vessel is a handful to manage for one person. However, both of them are experienced sailors and say it is a perfect fit for them.

Final words

Whether you decide to buy a big, small, or medium-sized sailboat to live aboard, consider the things we have looked at in this article, and remember that a sailboat is always a compromise.

Take your time to look at boats, get onboard a few as crew, and get a feel for what is suitable for you. Yachtworld is an excellent place to look at different crafts. Do not rush your decision to figure out what you want to do with your sailboat and calculate a realistic budget.

Then, you can narrow it down to a more specific size range and even start to look at the various types of sailboats available on the market in your price range. Finally, you can decide what the ideal size for a liveaboard sailboat is for you .

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Skipper, Electrician and ROV Pilot

Robin is the founder and owner of Sailing Ellidah and has been living on his sailboat since 2019. He is currently on a journey to sail around the world and is passionate about writing his story and helpful content to inspire others who share his interest in sailing.

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How to choose your liveaboard sailboat (size, performance, etc.)?

What is the best size of sailboat to live on.

Whether you plan to navigate along the coast or sail around the world, the length of your yacht is an important factor to consider. Based on a given number of cabins, a liveaboard sailboat’s size usually varies upon the overall space that is desired.

To have the most comfortable cruising sailboat, this extra space can be alternatively used to:

• Have larger cabins: that is the case on the RM890+, RM970 and RM1070+. These sailing yachts respectively being 30-footer, 32-footer, and 35-footer, all offer the same number of double cabins (2).
• Dedicate a space to a technical storage or workshop
• Have a larger kitchen area
• Have more storage for provisioning, especially when choosing a bluewater sailboat , for transatlantic passage, or circumnavigation
• Have a larger saloon and dinette area, welcoming more guests around the table during a stop on your coastal cruising, for example.
• Have a larger autonomy for extended passages: fresh water and fuel tanks often being correlated to the size of the yachts (and to the number of crew members).

In general, the size of your liveaboard sailboat will depend on what you are looking for in a yacht: your comfort requirements, the amount of equipment embarked, the number of people who are going to be living on board, etc. If you are a solo sailor, you might feel comfortable on a 30-foot yacht but will probably prefer a larger sailing boat if you are traveling as a family (32 ft, 35 ft, 40ft, or more).

Our range: liveaboard sailboats from 30 to 45 feet

RM Yachts, which are all plywood monohull sailboats, are lighter than any given other yacht of equivalent size, built with other materials.

Consequently, they enable the owner to better balance the overall weight of equipment required for a specific navigation plan: coastal cruising, port-hopping, ocean cruising, blue water cruising, sabbatical journey, circumnavigation, etc.

Beyond equipment and comfort, the size of a yacht also has an impact on her motion at sea, her seaworthiness, and her global performance: a hull with a great beam will bring more space (hence more comfort for day-to-day living) but will also be stiffer and powerful (hence higher performance and greater ability to start planning)

RM Yachts hull design, inspired by offshore racers, is well-known for their shape and lines. Their reverse bow increases the LWL.

Taking into account the LWL has an impact on hull speed, that can be calculated as following:

Hull speed: 2,43 x LWL (Length at Water Line)

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Best Liveaboard Boats to Live On Full-Time

Living on a boat represents a significant and thrilling life choice . Departing from the comforts of traditional dwellings and the spaciousness they provide in favor of an unconventional lifestyle is an option that an increasing number of individuals are embracing. Escalating urban living costs, particularly in major cities, coupled with the daily routines of life, have led more people to seek a simplified existence on the water . A previous article examined the merits and drawbacks of residing on a boat. This piece delves into the diverse range of liveaboard boat styles. It identifies the most suitable Boats to Live On for year-round living.

Options for Living on a Boat Full-Time

Best Liveaboard Boats encompass a broad spectrum of possibilities. From stationary houseboats to highly maneuverable sailboats and an array of options, the choices continue to expand with innovative , designer-driven , and spacious vessels .

Ultimately, practically any boat can serve as a domicile. While some may find the space restrictive, it remains feasible . The decision largely hinges on one's preferred lifestyle, whether residing in a water-based community near work and social circles or embarking on seafaring adventures worldwide.

Types of Best Liveaboard Boats

Sailboats for full-time living.

Sailboats, available in various shapes and sizes, epitomize the essence of maritime freedom. They offer an economical means of purchase and travel, as wind power is free . Moreover, finding a berth for a sailboat is generally easier and more affordable than larger houseboats. On the downside, sailboats often have limited space, and smaller models may lack showers or hot water. Size considerations, such as single-handed sailing capability and budgetary factors , are crucial for operational feasibility , as larger sailboats tend to incur higher operating costs.

Sailboats are known for their:

Economical purchasing and maintenance costs. Ease of finding berths compared to larger houseboats . Versatility in terms of mobility. However, they may need more conveniences of larger houseboats and have limited space.

The Best Sailboats to Live On

Whether one seeks a new or used sailboat, the options are vast . While identifying the absolute best sailboats may prove elusive, some standout choices include:

Catalina 38

Produced from 1978 to 1999 , the Catalina 38 sloop offers a comfortable living space for couples. Its thoughtful features, from electrical outlets to a well-equipped galley, provide a cozy cruising experience. Despite limited space, the Catalina 38 is an excellent choice for adventurous living.

Originating from the 1970s, the Hunter 33 , an aft-cockpit sloop, enjoys enduring popularity. With ample interior space, including a full dinette , head , shower , master cabin , and standing room height , this sailing yacht offers comfort. It boasts a contemporary design and a homely atmosphere.

Peterson 44

Slightly larger than the previous options, the Peterson 44 is a double-spread cutter that caters to various living needs. Ideal for small families, it combines affordability with home comforts like a shower , galley with oven , fridge , freezer , three cabins , and a practical center cockpit .

Catamarans for Full-Time Living

For those seeking an ocean-going liveaboard with extensive amenities, including a house-sized kitchen and bathroom , multi-hull boats like catamarans and trimarans excel. The bridge connecting the hulls creates a spacious, well-lit living area above water, with bedrooms within the hulls . These boats offer enhanced stability compared to monohull vessels. However, their higher purchase and berthing costs warrant consideration.

Catamarans are prized for their:

Abundance of space relative to monohull yachts . Full-sized kitchen and bathroom facilities. Enhanced stability in rough seas . Nevertheless, they tend to incur higher acquisition and berthing expenses due to their wider dimensions.

Read also this : Best Catamaran Fishing Boat Brands

The Best Catamarans to Live on

The catamaran market, encompassing motor and sail models, thrives, particularly among Boats that Live On Full-Time liveaboards. Notable models include :

Privilege 435

Founded in 1999, the Alliaura Marine Privilege 435 impresses with its comfort and spaciousness. Its luxurious finishings , latest technology , and navigational equipment create an elegant and homely atmosphere. Featuring four bedrooms and the iconic central 'hull' for added space, it accommodates a range of activities, from living to coastal cruising.

Situated within the Lagoon's range of luxury catamarans, the Lagoon 46 offers comfort and ample space while remaining compact for ease of handling and mooring. It boasts a spacious galley and dining area with abundant natural light , three cabins , a plush master suite , and a generous deck space .

Trawlers for Full-Time Living

Trawlers represent a unique category of powerboats designed for long-distance cruising, ideally suited for Living on a Boat Full-Time . Evolving from their origins as commercial fishing vessels, modern trawlers differ significantly. They feature wider hulls, reduced draft, increased below-deck headroom, and more space for modern amenities. Trawlers often include full-sized kitchens, showers, and multi-level living areas, especially on larger models. Despite potential initial costs and higher operational expenses , their roominess makes them a preferred choice.

Trawlers offer the following advantages:

Ample interior space relative to length . Luxurious designs are akin to penthouses. Compact dimensions for straightforward berthing. However, they typically involve higher initial purchase and operating costs than sailboats.

The Best Trawler Yachts to Live on

Modern newly built or converted trawlers showcase innovative designs and luxurious features. Notable examples include :

Grand Banks 60

Grand Banks has transformed the humble trawler into a long-range cruiser with the luxury of a small superyacht. The GB 60 combines impressive cruise speed , a customizable interior , advanced technology , and a signature deep V hull for a smoother , faster ride .

Beneteau Swift Trawlers 48

Beneteau's Swift Trawlers offers elegance and power , ideal for comfortable living at anchor or long-distance cruising. They feature a central living space with panoramic views , abundant storage , stylish cabins , and efficient engines .

Ranger Tugs R-43

Ranger Tugs specializes in high-quality, affordable vessels. The R-43 boasts a light-filled interior , two cozy cabins with en-suite shower rooms , a chef's galley , wrap-around decks , and advanced tech features , making it suitable for families or friends seeking a shared living experience.

🚀Recommended article:   Types of Boats With Cabins: A Comprehensive Overview

Houseboats for Full-Time Living

Transitioning to life on the water need not entail traversing vast oceans . The allure of awakening to birdsong and the gentle lapping of water against the hull, or reconnecting with nature and embracing a simpler existence, is at the heart of year-round boat living. Sacrificing seaworthiness for space leads to various types of static or houseboats that offer a more residential ambiance.

Non-powered houseboats featuring a steel floating pontoon supporting a mobile home-style structure deliver spacious living areas, large windows, and all the comforts of home. While they can be towed, they typically reside in residential communities along rivers, lakes, sheltered bays, and inland waterways . These houseboats often provide municipal utilities, cable television, and broadband internet connections, offering the best of both worlds.

🚀Recommended article:   Exploring the Most Popular Types of Lake Boats

Powered houseboats are self-propelled residential vessels available in various configurations. While some are suitable for shorter journeys and resemble static houseboats, others possess substantial cruising capabilities . Their squared-off silhouette accommodates ample living space relative to their length.

Houseboats are esteemed for their:

Affordable pricing compared to ocean-going yachts of similar size. Abundant interior space with home comforts. Creative interior design possibilities. Securing a residential berth for houseboats can be challenging due to their popularity ; some are exclusively towed rather than powered.

The Best Houseboats to Live on

Innovative architects have introduced a range of luxurious , creative , and imaginative designs for static and powered houseboats . These designs incorporate floor-to-ceiling windows , roaring fireplaces , and rooftop hot tubs . Some noteworthy choices include:

American Houseboat 'The Zion'

Resembling a house floating on water, these quintessential all-American houseboats measure 14 x 14 feet , providing two bedrooms with an additional loft area for up to eight guests. Featuring ample windows , a full kitchen , and a spacious private deck off the master bedroom , they combine home comforts with the joys of waterfront living.

Gibson Cabin Yacht 5000

Gibson Boats' Cabin Yacht 5000 combines affordability with spaciousness and reliability . It offers a comfortable and well-equipped living space with two or three double bedrooms , carpeting , high-quality electrical appliances , air conditioning , heating , and two full bathrooms .

Bravada Yachts Atlas V-Series

The Atlas V-Series powered houseboats redefine traditional notions of houseboat living. With futuristic silhouettes , expansive windows , two floors , and an array of home comforts , including a fire pit and rear waterslide , they elevate water-based living to new heights.

In conclusion, choosing the ideal liveaboard boat depends on individual preferences, budgetary considerations, and lifestyle goals. Sailboats offer economical and adventurous living , catamarans provide spaciousness and stability , trawlers deliver luxurious long-range cruising , and houseboats offer diverse options for embracing life on the water. Each vessel type presents unique advantages, catering to those seeking unconventional, waterborne lifestyles.

Frequently Asked Questions About Living on a Boat

Is living on a boat more affordable than a traditional home, do i need special skills to live on a boat, can i live on a boat with a family, how do i secure a mooring spot for my boat, are there any legal restrictions on living aboard a boat, can i work remotely while living on a boat, what kind of boat can you live on, how big should a boat be to live on, which boat is the strongest, can you really live on a boat.

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How To Pick the Best Sailboat To Live On (Full Guide)

I see you are ready to sell everything you own, buy a boat, bid your old life farewell, and spend the rest of the new one on the sea. Great choice. Romantic. Adventurous. Nothing gives you the freedom sailboats do. So let's have a look at how to pick the right one. Preparation is the key to success; that is, after all, why you are here.

So how do you pick the best sailboat to live on?

• Determine your budget
• If possible, try to save at least $30,000
• Know where you will sail to choose the right model
• Understand your comfort needs and choose the boat accordingly
• Be honest with yourself about what amenities are important to you
• Make sure you chose the right size

Because this is a complex topic, let's analyze this a bit.

Living on a sailboat can be sublime. The freedom to go pretty much wherever you set your mind to. The oceanic sunsets and sunrises. The neverending cradling. The feeling that you are always home, even though you are always traveling. The fact that you take your home with you wherever you go. Your micro-universe with its own rules. Your design.

Now to have all of the above, you need to pick the right boat . It's like with cars. There is a reason why the roads aren't filled with just one model. Different people have different needs.

There are a plethora of choices that can seem daunting at first. But know that though this is a complex topic, it isn't a complicated one. There are many moving parts to it, but once you know what questions to ask, you will get where you want to go successfully.

On this page:

How this article works, questions to ask yourself when choosing a boat, size matters, the perfect sailboat to live on.

This article is here to have you ask the right questions. If you do and answer them all, you will have thought about the most important categories to consider when choosing a liveaboard sailboat. I will try not to put specific boat models in your head, as I don't want to constraint you. But I want to give you a deep enough understanding of the topic so that you can arrive at the perfect answer yourself.

• What's my budget?
• What's my intention?
• What's my comfort level?
• What things would I like to have?

What's My Budget?

I know this is not the most exciting of categories, but it is important to consider. Regardless of your passion for the sea, this should be the first thing you ask yourself. Why? Well, of course, it is easy for me to recommend to you the Amel 60, a fabulous sailboat large enough for a whole family, built like a tank, to withstand a proper storm, easy to operate with just one person on board yet still compact enough to fit into most harbors. And that recommendation could be the end of this article, which would make for a great read for those who can face the over $2,000,000 price mark. And a disappointment for those who can not.

The good news is that you can most likely afford it whatever your current budget if you want to live on a sailboat. Either now or within a few months of saving. In my article The Cheapest, Smallest Boat to Sail Around the World , I talk about Hurley 22, which can be yours for about $3,000. And that's not a rare find of questionable quality; that is a boat in good condition, ready to go.

The minimal ideal budget is around $30,000

To give you a more concrete idea of how to navigate the vast sea of choices (no pun intended) so that you can successfully reach the harbor of your choice (really, not intended) and drop the anchor at the right place (okay, I'll stop now) let's answer the question 'what is the lowest ideal budget when buying a sailboat'.

Because yes, there are boats for all prices, starting at the aforementioned couple of thousands of dollars spanning all the way to hundreds of millions. Both of these extreme categories come with their sacrifices. A very cheap boat will either be in good condition but quite small or not very well equipped. Or it will be the right size but old and worn down, making you spend money down the line on repairs. On the other side of the spectrum, you'll have the quality and comfort you like, but for a price that could force you to postpone your boat life while you save up.

So at which point does a budget start to be considered a good amount of money to have when setting out to look for a boat? Around $30,000. Starting from around that budget, you won't have to make many considerable compromises in terms of quality, size, or the state of the boat.

Now that doesn't mean you can't get a great sailboat for less. In the age of the almighty internet, some rare finds are truly extraordinary. But imagine it as shopping for a car with two thousand dollars versus twenty.

$30,000 will easily get you a boat around 30 - 50 feet long, 15 - 30 years old, in a good, sailable state, without much money having to be put in repairs or refurbishment. So in case that isn't a possibility for you now, yet one you could save up in a reasonable timeframe, it pays off to wait until you have it. And if you aren't ready for that liveaboard life now but know that ten or fifteen years down the road you will be, start setting aside money with this amount as a good entry budget in mind.

On a side note, It's not all just about the upfront cost. Another thing to consider is the expenses that living on a boat needs. I am talking about potential marina fees, repairs, winterization, fuel, maintenance, all that jazz. Before beginning your onboard life, it is good to know about these and make a calculated decision to ensure that your travels won't get cut short.

I won't spend more time on this topic since it is just a part of the whole liveaboard matter, but do consult our article Average Cost of Buying & Owning a Sailboat , which goes into much more detail about these boat purchase costs as well as costs that wait on the other side once the boat is yours.

Average Cost of Buying & Owning a Sailboat This article compares thousands of sailboat prices at different ages and lengths, and also talks about all the costs of owning a sailboat.

What's My Intention?

This is a big one. If you are planning on buying a liveaboard, know what you intend to do with it. Not all boats are created equal.

Do you plan on staying relatively close to the coast, never very far from a marina? Do you want to sail on lakes, maybe explore some rivers around, never venturing out of sweetwater? Do you plan on staying in a harbor most of the time, taking the boat for a spin occasionally, not far from your home port? Do you want the freedom of a bluewater boat that can go anywhere?

Your choice of a sailboat will be mirrored in this. If you are a lake person , you might want to get yourself a shallow draft boat since you will probably run into many situations where too deep of a keel would limit you from entering. That either means something with a bilge keel or perhaps a wing keel , such as the Moody s31 , a boat that is affordable, decently sized and nicely furnished, to provide that home sweet home coziness you want from a liveaboard. Or, if the Moody's age puts you off and your budget allows it, you can go for something like the brand new GT35 . Both are shallow draft friendly.

If you want to be in a harbor most of the time , you don't have to care about the boat's performance, or its bluewater ability much. You would be spending money that could instead be spent on more comfortable equipment or layout. Why invest in stability for instance, when harbors tend to be in areas protected from the waves. Why care too much about whether all the ratios are correct, whether the sail setup is good enough for extreme conditions, and so on. You won't be making long passages and the times that you take the boat out, you can just wait for good weather, instead of having to face storms. An example of such boats would arguably be smaller Bavarias, Jeanneaus or Beneteaus and similar - sailboats that are capable of ocean crossings, but they are primarily designed for coastal cruising, putting emphasis on comfort and convenience, sacrificing rigidity, weight, tank size and so on.

If you want the freedom of a circumnavigator , you will need a seaworthy boat that will be able to face whatever the oceans send your way. For such scenario, a full-keel boat could come in hand. It will provide enough stability for crossing the oceans and add comfort to your ride when things get bumpy. You will also want to make sure your energy and water management makes sense when it comes to either storing or generating it. Without the ability to be connected to a grid, having solar panels will be something you will want to consider. Also, your boat will have to be in a solid condition, as opposed to those being docked most of the time at a place where help is easy to find in case something breaks.

What's My Comfort Level?

Sure, nobody wants to live on a racing boat that was constructed to be as light as possible without as much as a bench to sit on inside. But even among cruisers, there are various levels of equippedness, ranging from boats that focus on performance and stability, which, at times, can mean sacrificing comfort, to boats that are made to please your senses, even though they might not be the most practical to sail long-distances with.

Now although you might consider yourself an adventurer who needs little more than a rock under your head and a blanket of starry night over you, spending a few days on an uncomfortable boat versus actually making one your home are two very different things. So knowing this is your private moment and nobody sees inside your head, be honest to yourself about what you need. Especially men out there tend to act tough before and regret later.

This is highly personal, varies from person to person, so I won't put ideas in your head, but when looking for a boat, ask yourself:

• Does it feel spacious enough that I won't feel like I'm living in a coffin?
• Can I stand up straight in the salon?

If the space feels cramped, but that's all I can afford size-wise, does the deck make up for it?

• Am I okay with a manual pump toilet or do I want an electric one?
• Is the kitchen well equipped enough for me to store and make the food I want to
• Is the lack of a warm water shower not a problem, and if I want a hot shower, I'll just use my solar camp shower?
• Is there enough storage space for all the things I want to have with me? Is the boat well equipped with enough handles, cup holders, hooks for hanging things, places to sit comfortably?

Simply, has it been designed with the user comfort in mind and if not, am I okay with that?

Last but not least, is the ease of use sufficient, meaning can I reach all I need to reach from the helm or do I have to run marathons around the deck to operate the boat well?

If your answer to any of these questions is negative, don't worry, it's not a dealbreaker. A lot of things can be fixed with aftermarket solutions. But know about them and know that a potential fix will be within your budget.

Generally speaking, coastal cruisers that are primarily aimed at weekend sailors or the charter market are very good at comfort. I am talking about the aforementioned Bavarias , Jeanneaus , or Beneteaus . Then there is Hanse, Elan, Dufour … brands that you will often encounter when chartering a boat. These manufacturers know their target audience well and though they do make boats capable of interesting speeds and impressive crossings, their primary goal is to provide comfort. This means you will always have a handle to hold onto, making the heeled passages more convenient. It means there will be plenty of cushions and storage for all the little things you need. It means that things will be within reach. It means that the sailboat will likely be quite easy to operate since it is designed for people without much sailing experience. All in all, it means the lady or gentleman who designed the boat looked at their sketches thinking 'will this be a pleasant place to be at?' And that kind of mindset is what you need when it comes to living on a sailboat.

What Do I Consider Good Things To Have?

Going further, here are categories to consider when looking for a sailboat to live on. This partially relates to the previous chapter about comfort, partially to practicality. I'm not saying you need all of the things listed below, but know that these are important categories and very 'nice to haves'. They are important elements that many sailors would go for when choosing a liveaboard. So in case you decide not to have them, know about it and be consciously okay with it.

Not all sailboats will allow a grown-up to stand up in them. Though it is not a definite requirement, you will probably want to make sure you can move around the salon freely without the need to bow your head all the time.

Well equipped kitchen

Though you can cut your onions on the dining table just as well, and though you can boil your rice in a portable gas cooker, having a dedicated kitchen space with all the usual amenities is a big plus. That means a stove, sink, some counter space, and ideally a fridge. You want to keep the homeyness alive, which isn't gonna happen if you'll feel like you are on a camping trip. The less improvised certain things are, the better.

Proper Toilet

The above point relates to a toilet too. Though it is possible to do your business overboard or to use those nasty little smelly portable toilets, you don't want that to be the case. Thus a proper room with a proper toilet with proper storage or disposal mechanics will be highly appreciated by the future you.

We've touched upon this before. The portable solar showers or any other improvised way of going about this are a possibility and bathing in the sea has its charm too. But a shower is a shower. Even if it is just a shower head in your toilet room, as is quite often the case.

Interior Lights

The ability to flip a switch and have light indoors is a big one. Portable LED lamps work just as well, but they will add to the feeling of being on a camping trip. And that just doesn't sit well with the feeling of home sweet home.

Power Outlets

Though 12-volt outlets paired with converters work, you don't want to limit your options to that. A classical 120V wiring system with enough power outlets will make you happy when you have to charge your computer, phone, tablet, portable AC, and the smoothie maker you just couldn't resist buying.

That simple, yes. The small, one-room sailboats where the seating space is also your bed, lose their charm very quickly for most people. You want a sleeping place to be a sleeping place and a seat to be a seat. Again, we aren't talking about a 'must-have', but about something that will make you feel like home.

Air Management

Cooking on a boat gets the place steamy. Not mentioning the food smell, which is delicious, but you don't want it to linger for longer than necessary. Since there will be water all around, you want to make sure that your boat is mold-free, ventilated, so that the clothes you are drying indoors don't make the place all humid. This is something quite a few boats underestimate. Many weekend cruisers, otherwise well equipped, forget this, since a couple of days in a humid interior isn't a big deal, especially if you spend most of your days on deck. But a liveaboard is something different.

Comfortable Sleeping Space

A well-rested soul is a happy soul. Again, a few days on a holiday cruiser without comfortable sleep isn't a big deal, but a liveaboard should have a bedroom that is as ideal as possible. That means a large enough cabin with enough ventilation and the possibility to cover the windows with something light proof. One that is ideally close to the helm so that you don't have to run too far if an alarm wakes you up in the night.

Storage Space

Luckily, this is something most sailboats get right. But be sure that yours has all the storage you need. Yes, living on a sailboat will probably mean minimizing your lifestyle a notch, but the few unnecessary things you like to have should have a space of their own.

It matters, it really does. Ideally, you would want to have a sailboat as small as possible, because size costs money and can present handling and maneuvering difficulties.

The trouble is that this 'as small as possible' isn't as small as you might think. A small size presents several issues. Ranging from the obvious lack of space for you and your stuff to less obvious but very important comfort when on larger waves, to even less obvious but equally as crucial lack of speed that goes hand in hand with shorter hulls.

Sailboats have a maximum hull speed. In short, it means longer boats are faster. Learn more about how fast sailboats goes in our article What is the Average Speed of a Sailboat?

Space Constraints

Let's not spend too much time on this one as it is quite self-explanatory. Ask yourself what is the least space you need to feel good on a boat. Not the least space you need, since for that, a 20 foot Flicka suffices, but the least space you need so that you don't feel cramped and so that you can call the place your home. The same goes for storage space. Go as small as you can to still be able to fit all you want on your boat without having the annoying feeling you had to leave behind half of what you consider dear in the world.

Comfort On The Seas

A disadvantage of a small boat is that it is light and so the waves are felt way more than on a big boat. Even in smaller waves, you will feel the difference significantly - a 20 vs a 40 footer is a different world in even just 4 ft waves. A larger hull will point better in large waves, will be easier to operate, and a bit more forgiving.

All in all, living on a twenty footer is more than possible, it just comes with some comfort compromises, as well as the need for better sailing skills.

And then there is hull speed. I don't want to get too deep into the physics of it, partially because it wasn't my favorite subject in school, but long story short, the smaller your boat, the slower you can go. And though if you live on the sea, you probably aren't in a rush to get anywhere, you still want to have a reasonable ability to outrun bad weather as well as the ability to cross long passages in the minimal time possible. Because a longer passage requires more food and water, it means more time when something can break and is difficult to fix, which means more spares… and weighing your small boat down with hundreds of kilos of food, water, and parts, is the last thing you want to do.

Now I know that in the beginning, I said I won't give you specific models so that I don't rob you of the sea of options. But to put all of the above characteristics and ideas into a specific, tangible form, let me show you some concrete examples.

Great Budget Boat To Live On

We started this with a budget, so let's begin with that here too. We established that a great budget to have is around $30,000, but in case that isn't an option, let's see what would be a good choice if the funds are scarce.

And as already mentioned, Hurley 22 wins this category hands down. It is a perfectly seaworthy boat with which you can sail around the globe. It has character, despite its size. It has a separate sleeping space, two couches, a table, kitchen, possible toilet, inboard engine... Hell of a boat for that money.

Great Ideal Budget Sailboat To Live On

Back to the $30,000 budget . If you decide to spend this on a boat, a Catalina 38 would be among the ideal choices. It is large enough even for a couple that doesn't like to feel cramped and needs separate space from time to time. Kitchen, heads, all that jazz is of course included. Catalinas are generally well equipped.

Great Coastal Sailboat To Live On

Going further, we talked about those of you who want to stay in marinas most of the time, taking your boat for a spin sometimes. For this lifestyle, a great choice would, for instance, be the 40 foot Jeanneau Sun Legende . Jeanneaus are constructed to spoil and pamper you. Especially the newer types. Hardcore sailors might frown when you'd wanna take them across oceans, but with their plenty of space, light, and aim at comfort, you won't go wrong.

Great Circumnavigator To Live On

Then we mentioned those of you who need adventure and will spend much time on long crossings. For you, Hallberg Rassy 42F would be a fantastic choice. Swedes don't mess around, this one's built like a bull, to withstand pretty much anything. Its efficiency in terms of space usage is incredible, as is its attention to design. Comfort wasn't forgotten either. Plus it's fast enough to get you across the watery deserts quickly.

Great Big Sailboat To Live On

After talking about some practical equipment elements, of which most of the boats above have plenty, we said that having size helps. So without venturing too far up in terms of budget, C&C 43s or some Peterson 44s are great choices, since they are affordable models with decently long hulls. Of course, if you up the money, you can go bigger, but these two brands are among the choices where, for relatively little money, you start to get quite a lot of space.

Great Practical Sailboat To Live On

And last but not least, know that boats can and oftentimes will be a project. So the practical elements, like air ventilation, shower, heads, 120V electrical system, and so on, can sometimes be added if your boat of choice doesn't have them. Sure, it means some tinkering, and some models won't allow certain modifications. But it is good to approach choosing your future liveaboard with this in mind. Keep a few thousands aside for custom tweaks and keep the fact that tweaking can happen in mind and you will find that your possibilities just grew quite a bit larger.

So there we go. Choosing a liveaboard is a big thing, not unlike buying an apartment or a car. So take your time, make sure you understand what you are getting yourself into, read this article in depth, a couple of times even and before you'll know it, you will be waking up on a boat every morning.

glenda holmes

I’m interested in learning how to live aboard sail boats.

Hello can i have your email address please ? i wanna ask you somthing

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You may also like, 13 best liveaboard sailboats (under 30 & 50 ft).

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Better Sailing

Best Liveaboard Sailboats Under 30 feet

Deciding to leave it all behind and live on a sailboat is a great step to take in your life. Living aboard a sailboat means that you’re going to change your lifestyle and habits. In other words, you’ll learn to live in simplicity and you’ll become a more responsible consumer. In addition, you’ll feel closer to nature. Also, you’ll experience the freedom of sailing from one place to another and most importantly you’ll be able to choose when and for how long you wish to stay there. However, a liveaboard sailboat should be a bit bigger than your average weekend cruising sailboat. And for this reason, there are many things to consider before purchasing the ideal liveaboard sailboat under 30ft. This article will help you choose between the best liveaboard sailboats under 30 ft and find out which one suits you most. So, keep reading!

Before Buying a Liveaboard Sailboat

There are certain factors to take into consideration before choosing the right liveaboard sailboat. The first one refers to the space and amenities you want your sailboat to be equipped with. Liveaboard sailboats usually feature a more complex and spacious layout, with larger sofas and settees as well as comfortable interior features. However, in some cases, storage space is reduced so as to allow space for other amenities. Nowadays, there are several liveaboard sailboats under 30ft that are equipped with both interior space and amenities/additional features. In any case, if you’re looking for a liveaboard sailboat under 30ft to live on, you already know that this size goes mainly for couples, single sailors, and a small family.

>>Also Read: Best Sailboats to Live On

Amenities for a Liveaboard Sailboat

So, let’s now see what are the most important requirements for a liveaboard sailboat?

• Comfortable berths: Having proper and comfortable berths to sleep on is a vital element in a liveaboard sailboat. A well-designed sea berth ensures comfort while sleeping and provides safety in case of any unexpected knockdown, broach, etc. Remember that the berth’s dimensions, location, size, cushions, shape, and ease of access are important characteristics that determine its function and comfort.
• 120V AC Outlets – Electricity : Most sailors require electricity for several tools and utilities from their sailboat; as a result energy needs are increasing accordingly. So, electrical production is essential and so is safety on board. Investing in a good power set-up is a must in order to cover all your devices and equipment. Also, I strongly recommend investing in installing solar panels.
• Standing Headroom : Another important characteristic is having sufficient standing headroom. Like this, you’ll be able to stand up or lay down comfortably.
• Fully-equipped galley: A fully-equipped galley for a liveaboard sailboat is a must. It must have a sink, a refrigerator, storage containers, pots and pans, and an Italian espresso maker, among others. The additional utensils and equipment for your galley will be determined by your needs and the amenities you need.
• Sanitation and bathing facilities: Having a proper toilet and efficiently managing waste is really important. You can either have a cassette, pump-out, or incinerating toilets with safe storage tanks for pumping out or the best choice is to have composting toilets.
• Adequate space for seating spaces : When living aboard you might need different spaces for performing your daily activities. So, additional seating spaces and comfy settees are practical for a liveaboard.
• Ventilation and/or heater: If you’re living aboard your sailboat in a country with warm temperatures it would be useful to be equipped with a proper ventilation system or just by applying DIY ventilation tactics using the portholes. On the other hand, if you live in Northern countries it’s essential to be equipped with a heater on board.

Catalina 30

This model has been in production since 1975 and has been well-refined throughout the years. Catalina 30 ensures both comfort and performance and is by far the most common production boat for sailing open waters. The cabin and saloon layout are really spacious and, as many sailors say, it’s quite comfortable to live on despite its small size. Furthermore, it has a wide beam, great ballast/displacement ratio, and low sail area. In other words, it performs great under sail and ensures stability and comfort. There’s also a fully-equipped galley and electric pumps that supply running water. Lastly, it has a dinette that can serve as a workspace and an enclosed shower and head.

>>Also Read: Beneteau vs. Catalina: Which Is a Better Sailboat Brand?

Nor’Sea 27

This 27ft sailboat is a great choice if you are a single sailor or just sailing with your partner. There are many that agree that Nor’Sea 27 is one of the best compact liveaboard sailboats in today’s market. This is because it features a spacious interior for its size and a wide range of amenities. It comes with a galley, sanitation and bathing facilities, two bunks below the cockpit, and a forward berth that can serve as a dinette. Some great advantages of this model are that you can tow in on a trailer and that it can save costs on slip fees. The price of this sailboat varies from $15,000 to even $100,000 depending on its condition, and additional comforts or features.

Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20

This small 20ft sailboat is a practical, towable, and seaworthy vessel that managed to accomplish many circumnavigations. Even though its small size, the boat is surprisingly spacious and equipped with practical amenities in its interior. The Flicka offers generous space below for a couple to live aboard. It features a fully-equipped galley with a counter, a settee berth, and V-berths. Furthermore, storage space is decent as there are galley lockers, stowage under the deck over the V-berths, and headroom over the quarter berth. The only downside is that it lacks deck space, has narrow side decks, and a short cockpit. In any case, if you’re looking for a spacious but small sailboat to live on you can find the Flicka 20 on the used market for $25,000.

Cal 27 is a popular, comfortable and economical size boat for beginner sailors or for couples looking for their first cruiser. It was first built in 1975 and in 1983 its deck, keel, and rig were refined so as to provide a better performance, steadiness, and comfort. Moreover, it has sufficient area for handling sails and ground tackle and the side decks are wide enough to walk along safely. The interior is really spacious with a V-berth forward followed by an athwartships head and the main salon with port and starboard settees. As for the galley, it extends from port to starboard across the aft end of the saloon. There’s also a dinette table that folds up against the forward bulkhead of the main saloon when not in service. Lastly, storage is limited but adequate for this boat size.

Contessa 28

A seaworthy cruiser that is safe and comfy for a small family or couple to live aboard. A masthead rigged sloop with reasonable performance and quite easy to handle. Furthermore, it features a safe cockpit and versatile accommodation. It has 5 or 6 berths and a small but reasonably equipped galley. In the fore-cabin, the V-berth has storage space below and the quarter berth to starboard has a fold-down chart table. Moreover, there’s a sufficient head compartment which has a toilet and washbasin. The saloon has two settee berths and a fixed table with drop leaves. In today’s market, you can find a well-refined Contessa 28 with a price starting from $25,000.

The Pearson 28 was first built in 1975 and is now out of production. However, you can find this well-designed sailboat on the used market with a reasonable price starting from $19,000. Its modern design features a wide beam, a high freeboard, and a roomy interior; all these make it a great liveaboard sailboat. Moreover, it has plenty of engine power for its size under nearly all conditions. Below deck, there’s well-organized and sufficient space with a quarter berth cabin along the port side, a V-berth forward, and a U-shaped settee with a drop leaf table. Under berth and seat cushions storage space is great for this size of a sailboat.

Also, there’s a small galley along the port side and an icebox on the starboard side. In addition, there’s a fully enclosed head with an integral shower aft of the starboard side. The only downside of this interior is that there’s not enough standing room. In any case, as an overall review, many agree that Pearson 28 is a great liveaboard sailboat for a couple or a small family.

>>Also Read: Best Sailboats Under 100k

Before choosing to live aboard a sailboat keep in mind some important things to consider beforehand. Firstly, the level of space and accommodation you require. In addition, practical features like a fully-equipped galley, sanitation/bathing facilities, extra seating space, and ventilation. For example, there are people that require space and don’t really care about amenities. On the other hand, others pay attention to practical features or amenities whereas space is not really their concern. So, deciding to live aboard a sailboat needs some preparation and thought beforehand but you’ll be rewarded with freedom, simplicity, and tranquility. Whatever your preferences and needs, I hope that this article will help you to find the right sailboat that will provide an adequate level of comfort, space, and amenities.

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

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5 Best LiveAboard Sailboats – Plus 8 Important Buying Considerations

CATALINA 30

Taking the plunge to live on a sailboat is usually a huge decision, especially as living aboard a boat is an exciting lifestyle choice. However, there are lots of things to consider before buying a boat that will suit your needs and also be nearly as comfortable as a traditional home on land.

Whether this is your first time choosing a liveaboard sailboat, or you want to upgrade to a better option, you will find useful information in this article. But before we get into the best liveaboard sailboats and how to choose one, let’s see why living aboard a boat is a great lifestyle choice.

We’ve reviewed some of the best liveaboard sailboats and listed them here to help you choose one that will suit you most.

5 Best LiveAboard Sailboats

Islander 36.

The Islander 36 is the boat for you if you want a well-rounded sailboat with impressive cruising abilities. With close to a thousand of these boats built between 1973 and 1986, the model is one of the successful and best-selling boats of the company.

These sailboats are renowned for their well-adorned cabins, with many featuring exquisite wooden interior trim. Typically, the interiors are spacious and feature a long port and starboard settee. The settee is designed to fold out into a double berth for sleeping. There is also a nav station to port with a quarter berth at the back that forms an extra seat. The boat also has a spacious master berth with an enclosed shower, making this boat one of the best liveaboard sailboats for cruising.

The interior also features plenty of drawers, plus many caned and louvered lockers. The L-shaped galley is to starboard and equipped with an icebox (that can be upgraded to a refrigerator). It also comes with a three burner LPG stove and a double sink.

Perhaps the most eye-catching feature of the interior is the companionway steps that are easy to maneuver. This is by far better than having ladders, as the steps can serve as additional separate seats when you have guests onboard.

The amount of fuel the boat’s tank can take is ideal for coastal cruising. Although Islander 36s can embark on extended trips, you will need to get additional jerry cans for that purpose.

You can check here for pricing and listings .

• LOA:   36 ft
• Beam:   11 ft 2 in
• Ballast:  5450 lbs
• Displacement:  13,450 lbs
• Sail Area:  612 sq ft
• Fuel Tank:  30 gallons
• Water Tank: 56 gallons

 Boats  →

If you are looking for a boat that is tough to beat feature-for-feature and size-for-size, perhaps this model will be of interest to you. Designed for comfort and performance, the Catalina 30 is arguably the most common production cruising sailboat to ever grace the open waters. Despite coming into the market as far back as 1972, their popularity to date is a glaring proof of high performance.

You can expect to find spacious accommodation in this 30-foot sailboat with modern features such as a fully equipped galley and electric pumps that supply running water. The layout features a “suite” style with a V-berth master bedroom that is closed off from the rest of the cabin.

The Catalina 30 also features a dinette that can also serve as a workspace or chart table. The boat also includes an enclosed shower and head, which makes living aboard a comfortable experience.

Check out listings for Catalina 30 here .

• LOA:   29 ft 11 in
• Beam:   10 ft 10 in
• Ballast:  100 lbs
• Displacement:  10,200 lbs
• Sail Area:  446 sq ft
• Shoal Draft: 4 ft 4 in
• Head Room: 6 ft 3 in

 Yachtworld  →

Weatherly, comfortable, spacious, and fast – these are what readily comes to mind when you think of the Nordic 40 .

This large sailboat is perfect for long-distance voyages, so if you intend to buy a boat that will offer excellent accommodation for offshore cruising, you know where to look. Thanks to its large structure, the interior is extremely spacious, making it the perfect choice for couples who want to spend more time aboard a boat.

The standard Nordic comes with top-notch equipment, including a Navtec hydraulic vang and Navtec rod rigging, plus full hull insulation in the entire interior. There is standing headroom available throughout, along with a spacious master bedroom.

The galley is fully equipped with modern facilities and allows for comfortable living. With the standard Nordic 40, there is no worry about storage space. Remote living is a walk in the park with this boat, even if you intend to anchor out for a couple of months at a stretch with enough supplies and provisions.

Keep in mind that these boats are not very common, but if it is the type that appeals to you, it is worth searching out.

Check out listings for Nordic 40 here .

• LOA: 39 ft 9 in
• Beam: 12 ft 5 in
• Ballast: 7,091 lbs
• Displacement: 18,000 lbs
• Sail Area: 756 sq ft
• Water Tank: 120 gallons
• Fuel Tank: 56 gallons

Thinking about taking your entire family for a coastal cruise or even a near-offshore cruising experience? Consider the Hunter 33 , one of the best liveaboard sailboats equipped for such purposes.

One of the longest-lived boats in its category, the Hunter 33 came into the market in 1977 and is still in production to date. The mid-sized sailboat comes with great interior accommodations, with ample room for sleeping and sitting. It comes with two private cabins, which is great for a 33-foot sailboat.

It features a shower and toilet aft the master bedroom. Plus, there is a full dinette and standing headroom throughout the cabin.

In a nutshell, this the perfect sailboat for those moving up in size and want a great boat with modern conveniences for an extended cruising period.

Check here for detailed listing and pricing .

• LOA: 33 ft 6 in
• Beam: 11 ft 6 in
• Ballast: 3,579 lbs
• Displacement: 11,016 lbs
• Sail Area: 625 sq ft
• Water Tank: 50 gallons
• Fuel Tank: 25 gallons
• Headroom: 6 ft 4 in

The Nor’Sea 27 is an excellent choice if you are single or searching for the best liveaboard sailboats for minimalists. This boat is arguably the best compact liveaboard cruiser available in the market today.

The compact boat has a surprisingly spacious interior for a 27-footer. Plus, it features almost every amenity you can find on a larger boat.

For comfort, the small sailboat feels more like a Catalina 30 and comes with a galley, shower, toilet, and two bunks below the cockpit. The forward berth also serves as a dinette.

The design of the sailboat is a huge success and has found a pretty strong following, which explains why it is still in production to date despite hitting the market long ago in 1976. As expected, the little sailboat costs less in slip fees. But the best part is that you can tow it on a trailer, and that’s all legal.

Don’t be fooled by its size, though. The Nor’Sea 27 isn’t cheap. Prices for new ones start from around $150K (with kits starting anywhere from $35K). You find used ones for as little as $15,500 or as much as $95,000 depending on age, quality of finish, and condition.

Find out current listings and prices here.

• Ballast: 3,100 lbs
• Displacement: 8,100 lbs
• Water Tank: 20 gallons
• Fuel Tank: 20 gallons

How to Choose the Best LiveAboard Sailboats – Buying Guide

There are several things to consider when choosing a liveaboard sailboat, but perhaps the most important factor is the level of accommodation that will suit your need. A boat with useful features such as a fully functional kitchen or electric toilets are well and fine, but many traditional sailors don’t really care about limited amenities. Any stripped-down sailboat with basic interior would do just fine.

Most sailors are generally okay with any standard live about sailboats constructed after 1970 since these types typically have adequate ventilation , a usable kitchen, head, and shower. But whatever your preferences, you can be sure you will find something that will provide the level of comfort you need in most modern sailboats.

Here are 8 important factors and requirements we think are crucial when choosing the best liveaboard sailboats.

1. Standing Headroom

There’s nothing wrong with spending a couple of days in a week aboard a boat without standing headroom. However, if living aboard a sailboat is a lifestyle choice for you, consider one with standing headroom. Your body is not meant to crouch or crawl for months or years on end. With time, your back and other muscles will start to take a hit. For your overall health and wellbeing, it is best to choose a sailboat with standing headroom. Our recommendation is 5-feet 10-inch standing headroom or something within that range.

2. Basic Kitchen Facilities

A liveaboard boat without a kitchen can only mean one thing: you will be eating out every single day! While this is okay for some people, others will prefer to cook their own meals at least once in a while, regardless of their culinary skills.

We think a kitchen is a must-have for the best liveaboard sailboats, even if it doesn’t have all the modern facilities. Basic kitchen facilities should include a refrigerator or icebox, a sink, and a stove. If you find one with an oven, that’s a plus, too!

3. Toilet with Plumbing

The fastest way to spread diseases when you liveaboard a boat is to have improper human waste storage and disposal system. Sanitation facilities are among the top considerations when choosing the best liveaboard sailboats.

Using a porta-potty all year long is definitely out of the question. Besides, no one would like to live on a stinky boat or have guests come over a smelly abode. When you choose a liveaboard sailboat, look for one with a built-in and properly outfitted toilet. It should also have a safe sewage storage tank with a proper disposal system.

Many liveaboards prefer to use gym or marina facilities instead of their onboard showers. This is okay, but it doesn’t eliminate the need for bathing facilities on board. Choose a sailboat with a shower for convenience’s sake, even if you don’t use it all the time.

It is important to make sure that your bilge pump is always in good working condition, especially if you have a boat shower that drains directly into the bilge. Keep in mind that whatever goes into the drain will find its way below your floor.

5. Electric Lighting

Having kerosene lamps is okay. In fact, many sailors love to have them because it adds a certain feel and beauty to their boats. But you definitely want to consider the convenience and safety offered by electric lighting. If you plan on living aboard a boat for a long time, you will need some form of reliable electric lighting.

6. Availability of 120V AC

The best liveaboard sailboats come with 120V AC outlets for standard house electricity connections. The availability of electricity is a definite requirement for living aboard a boat. You want to have a way to charge your cell phones, computers, and use other electronic gadgets. A boat with only a 12V outlet is not good enough. It is best to choose a sailboat with 120V AC outlets if you want to enjoy electricity living aboard a boat full-time.

7. Seating Spaces

Apart from the main bed, the best liveaboard sailboats should have additional seating spaces. There should be separate spaces for sitting, working, navigating, and eating, especially if you plan on living aboard for a long time.  You don’t want to be bored with the monotony of using only one space (the main bed) for all your daily activities. Having separate seating spaces has the added advantage of making your day-to-day activities more agreeable.

8. Ventilation

Perhaps the simplest requirement for liveaboard sailboats is ventilation. But it is equally essential, regardless. An opening porthole or a passive solar roof vent should suffice. The important thing to consider when it comes to proper ventilation is a boat that provides a way to let in fresh air without needing to open the main hatch.

Coastal Vs. Offshore Accommodations

And now, here’s one final factor to consider before choosing a liveaboard sailboat. How do you plan to use your boat? Do you want a sailboat that will serve primarily as a long-distance cruiser, or do you intend to use it mainly for coastal cruising?

Your intended use significantly affects the style of interior design that will be suitable for your purpose. Sailboat accommodations are greatly impacted by their cruising purposes. Coastal cruisers are likely to feature more plush layouts, complex interiors, and larger sofas. Also, these boats generally have several amenities, so it is common to have smaller storage spaces in these sailboats.

On the other hand, offshore or long-distance cruisers feature cabins that are designed and arranged to make the journey as comfortable as possible. These sailboats generally don’t have unnecessary furniture and other extras below deck to make room for increased sleeping and storage spaces.

It is easy to get carried away during the physical inspection of a sailboat, especially if the boat is equipped with modern facilities and fanciful, eye-catching amenities. But don’t get swayed by those, even though they are important for improved convenience. Your top priority should be how you intend to use the boat – for coastal cruising or offshore cruising. This should inform your choice of accommodation.

Benefits of Living on a Sailboat

Okay, why should you want to give up living on land and opt for an unstable address somewhere in the middle of the ocean? Is it even safe to do so?

Living aboard a sailboat is an exciting lifestyle that offers several benefits and challenges, too! Thousands of people across the world choose this lifestyle, and because these boats are constructed from high-quality, durable materials, you can be sure it is safe to liveaboard one.

This lifestyle offers liveaboards a cheaper alternative than living in a traditional house. This is particularly the case in waterfront cities where rental apartments and houses in the marina areas are even more expensive.

It is a lot cheaper to live in a boat if you enjoy traveling around the world on the water. And if you enjoy the marina lifestyle, you could take it a step further by owning and living in one of the several best liveaboard sailboats available.

And come to think of it, these boats require some serious investments. What’s the point of buying a “house” on the water without living in it, right? To many people, it makes more economic sense to live in their expensive boats, instead of paying extra rent for a house on the land when there is one idling away on the water.

About Chris

Outdoors, I’m in my element, especially in the water. I know the importance of being geared up for anything. I do the deep digital dive, researching gear, boats and knowhow and love keeping my readership at the helm of their passions.

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Home » Blog » Live on a boat » 7 best liveaboard boats: find your perfect home on the water

7 best liveaboard boats: find your perfect home on the water

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: June 21, 2023

What makes a boat a liveaboard boat?

Just like land-based homes, liveaboard boats come in all shapes and sizes. Having lived on a boat for five years, I’ve seen all kinds of floating dwellings, from scrappy, small sailboats to super yachts.

While in theory, it’s possible to live on just about anything that floats, the best liveaboard boats will offer some combination of seaworthiness, sailing performance, and livability for a reasonable price.

Afterall, one of the major pluses of living on a boat is that it can be a lot more affordable than land-based living.

If you’re searching for a boat online, you’ve probably discovered that there are endless boat makes and models to choose from. But not all boats make good homes ! If you’re new to the liveaboard lifestyle, it can be difficult to know what to look for.

So, I’m going to cover the 7 most popular types of liveaboard boats , their relative pros and cons, as well as three things you should consider when evaluating the liveaboard potential of any boat.

7 best liveaboard boats

These liveaboard boats are the most popular options today. They share some common attributes but vary in comfort, size, seaworthiness and cost.

1. Bluewater sailboats

When Robin and I were shopping for our liveaboard home in Vancouver, BC, we knew we wanted a boat that had bluewater potential. Meaning that it was capable of crossing oceans or even sailing around the world .

We didn’t have immediate plans to travel, but after spending two years at a liveaboard marina in Vancouver, BC, we cast off the dock lines and sailed to Mexico and then Australia.

If you even think you might like to go bluewater cruising one day, consider looking for an ocean-going liveaboard boat. If you’re not sure what makes and models to search for, check out our post on what makes a bluewater boat and our list of the best bluewater sailboats . 

The cost of bluewater boats can really vary depending on their age, condition, and whether or not they’ve been outfitted for offshore.

We bought our 1979 Dufour 35 for $9,000 but probably spent close to $50,000 including offshore upgrades (e.g., replacing rigging, installing a watermaker, adding solar panels, etc.).

Bluewater boats

• Westsail 32
• Amel SuperMaramu
• See our full list of bluewater sailboats

2. Sailboats (monohulls)

If you stick to local waters, you’ll have far more affordable liveaboard sailboats to choose from. According to Discover Boating , a 40-foot sailboat that is designed and built for coastal cruising may cost less than half the cost of a bluewater model, all other aspects being equal. 

Of all the liveaboard boat options, older sailboats are probably the most affordable. They generally cost less to purchase than motor vessels. If you know where to look, you can even find free sailboats .

They can also travel without fuel, making them a low-cost and low-carbon way to explore your local waters.

Living on a sailboat is a bit like living in a basement apartment. Most of the living space on a sailboat is below decks where your sole source of natural light is tiny port holes and hatches.

Newer sailboats are often well set up with plenty of creature comforts. Some even have laundry machines and bathtubs ! However, space is limited so fridges, freezers, and other appliances come in small sizes.

Older sailboats often lack the most basic amenities, things like fridges, freezers, and hot water .

Our 1979 Dufour 35 was pretty bare-bones when we bought it. However, we were able to retrofit and make our lives afloat a lot more comfortable with a few liveaboard essentials , like an electric cooler and a watermaker .

3. Catamarans (multihulls)

Catamaran (double-hulled) sailboats are a major upgrade on the sailboat living scale.

The bridge between the two hulls creates plenty of open airy living space up top with bunks down below in the hulls. You can expect near house-like amenities: kitchen, bathroom, and sometimes even a washer-dryer.

You can sail around the world in style on a bluewater Catamaran. They tend to be popular on trade wind routes because they sail faster downwind than monohull sailboats (though they tend to perform less well upwind).

With twice the space and comfort, expect to pay twice the rent and maintenance. Catamarans are expensive to purchase, have two engines to maintain, and require more room at the dock.

4. Trawlers and tugs

Trawlers and tugs offer the most living space per foot of boat length (i.e. a 35-foot trawler is much roomier than a 35-foot sailboat).

They tend to be light and airy (as much of the living space is above the waterline). They are usually multi-level with living space up top and bedrooms down below.

They can accommodate comforts like big-screen TVs, full-size fridges, showers, and sometimes even bathtubs.

They’re generally great for coastal cruising and fishing and in some cases can even cross oceans. We had a couple of friends who sailed their trawler from Victoria to Mexico.

Of course, you pay for comfort and convenience, so trawlers usually cost more to purchase than a sailboat. Plus, you’ll have to pay for gas if you want to go anywhere.

5. Motor yachts and power cruisers

Motor yachts are the luxury penthouse of boat living.

They’re often designed with spacious, well-appointed interiors that can include multiple bedrooms (or staterooms), full bathrooms, a well-equipped kitchen (or galley), and generous living and entertainment spaces. Some even feature high-end amenities like home theaters and hot tubs.

Their powerful engines give them considerable cruising speeds and range. Depending on the brand and design, motor yachts can be great for anything from local cruising to ocean crossings.

However, all these benefits come with substantial costs. Motor yachts are typically more expensive to purchase, maintain, and operate due to their size and complexity.

The price tag for most new power yachts start at $100,000 and can run into the millions .

If you can afford one, a motor yacht can provide an unmatched liveaboard experience.

6. Houseboats

Houseboats are designed with comfort in mind, offering spacious and well-equipped interiors that often resemble a land-based home. They also have large decks and outdoor spaces—important if you’re a patio person!

Houseboats offer stability, as they are typically flat-bottomed and wide-bodied, which makes them less prone to rocking and thus more comfortable for long-term living.

They’re great for travel in protected waters and some can even be beached on the land. They’re NOT designed to travel long distances or withstand heavy weather.

Many liveaboards keep them permanently moored in a marina.

7. Canal boats

Canal boats have a charming, almost fairytale-like, quality. Historically, they were designed as work boats to transport goods along narrow UK canals. Today, they offer a unique liveaboard option for those drawn to life on the water.

These boats are often well-suited to navigating narrow waterways, allowing access to unique and tranquil locations. However, their lack of stability limits them to protected, inland waters.

Non-boat Bonus! Floating homes

When does a boat become so house-like that it’s no longer a boat? Well, a name change is probably a good indicator.

Floating homes  offer the most house-like on-the-water living experience. They are generally permanently moored and can cost as much as land-based houses to purchase.

Considerations for evaluating a boat’s liveaboard potential

1. living space vs. cost.

If you think your 400 sqft apartment is small, you might be surprised to hear that it’s possible to live in 100 sqft on a boat.

Your living space will be determined by your waterline (length), your beam (width), and the shape of your boat. For example, a 35 ft trawler will offer significantly more living space than a 35 ft monohull sailboat because they tend to be beamier (broader) throughout the hull, versus tapered at the bow and stern.

When comparing boats by length remember to deduct the length of any overhangs like sugar scoop transoms and bowsprits from the total as they won’t affect your living space.

Of course, the more space you have, the more comfortable you’ll be, but this comes at the trade-off of expense.

The boat purchase price, monthly moorage, haul-outs, parts, and maintenance will all increase as a function of boat length (not necessarily boat width unless you opt for a catamaran).

Suggested length for liveaboard boats

If your not sure how much space you’ll need, I would suggest looking at:

• 25-35 ft. range if you’re single
• 35-45 ft. for couples
• 40+ ft. for 2 or more people.

With catamarans, you can go much smaller (because you’ll have double the living space with two hulls) but keep in mind many marinas will charge you for two slips.

Also, don’t get too hung up on the length, some 35 ft boats feel like a 40 ft boat inside, and vice versa. You really have to view a boat to know how your living space is going to feel.

2. Performance vs. everyday comfort

The second big trade-off you will face with liveaboard boats is performance vs. comfort.

Generally speaking, beamier more furnished boats are heavy and slow.

Also, while taller boats with large pilot houses offer more headroom, light, and a second level, they also have more windage which can be a pain when maneuvering around the docks.

The best boats to live on will hopefully strike a balance . I know many liveaboards who contentedly cruise and occasionally race their liveaboard sailboats. I also know people who haven’t taken their boat off the dock in years and prefer to just use their boat as a floating home, often owning a second boat for racing/cruising.

If you don’t plan on sailing your liveaboard boat more than a couple of times a year I would suggest buying a trawler as you’ll have a far more comfortable living space year-round and can charter a sailboat for the one or two weekends that you sail every year.

Layout specifications largely come down to personal preference, however, here are some things to consider as you view potential liveaboard boats.

Cabins (bedrooms)

Many liveaboards prefer a center cockpit, aft cabin layout. The aft cabin affords a standard-sized bed and a private bedroom that is separated from the other living spaces. A good option if you don’t like v-berths or are a morning person living with a night owl.

Another nice feature is a cabin with a pullman berth (these can be in the bow), which provides a standard-sized bed in which you can sit up and read.

Salon (living room dining room)

Some salon designs can be quite awkward, for example, a drop leaf table in the center of the salon can be hard to walk around.

Some designs and layouts afford more natural lighting than others. Pay attention to the position and number of hatches and port lights if you want to avoid feeling like you live in a basement apartment.

Trawlers in general tend to offer brighter and airier living spaces.

If you’re, tall you may find you have to do a bit of research as many sailboats have limited headroom.

Galley (kitchen)

If you’re planning on cooking while underway, an L-shaped galley is preferred so that you can wedge yourself in during rough conditions. 

Other nice-to-haves include double sinks, refrigeration, and dedicated counter space.

Also, if you plan on running a propane stove, check to see if you have space for a large (50lbs+) propane tank in the gas locker. Some older boats will only fit a 5lb tank and while you can work around this, it’s a pain to change and refill your propane tanks every couple of weeks.

The cockpit (boot room and deck)

Having a cockpit that is protected from the elements will expand your living area considerably.

A good canvas dodger and bimini start at $5,000, so it’s a huge bonus to find a boat with good canvas work.

If you live in a cold rainy area, I would strongly suggest a canvas bridge and a full enclosure (if you can afford it). This can be a great place for leaving boots and jackets.

As an alternative you can always tarp your boat, but this can be noisy and you’ll have to pay closer attention to high winds in your area.

The more storage the better! Many newer boats are more spacious and streamlined at the cost of storage space.

Older boats, in general, seem to be more practical in this regard. If you can’t fit everything on your boat, you can look into dock boxes, use a spare cabin for storage, or rent a storage unit.

The head (bathroom)

A single head is all that’s necessary for a couple living aboard, though larger boats often offer two heads (nice for families).

Showers are a luxury and many boats don’t have showers at all. This is less of a problem than you might think because most liveaboard marinas have shower blocks.

In fact, many liveaboard residents don’t even use their boat showers because of the moisture it creates below deck, the water draws on their tanks, and the energy required to heat the water (this may involve running the engine).

Instead many just opt to use the marina facilities. Whether you shower aboard or not, look for boats that have good water tank capacity. Though it is possible to hook up on-demand water in some marinas, most owners of liveaboard boats opt to just refill their tanks every week.

All liveaboard boats are a compromise, and it’s unlikely that you’ll find a boat that meets every item on your checklist.

It’s best to have a short list of non-negotiable features and focus there (for us it was a Pullman berth, 2nd cabin, and storage). Save some of your budget for upgrades as you’ll undoubtedly want to make changes once you move in.

If you’re looking for more information on living on a boat be sure to check out our articles:

Is living on a boat right for you?

Where to live aboard

Find a liveaboard marina and skip the waitlist

5 ways to test-drive the liveaboard life

(WIP) List of liveaboard sailboats

Below is a work-in-progress list of sailboats that would make good potential liveaboard candidates, based on what we’ve either seen or been recommended. If you have recommendations you’d like to add a boat to this list, let us know in the comments below.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

Thom Howard

Friday 8th of February 2019

Great article!

I'd consider adding the Catalina 42 to the list. It has one of the best two or three cabin layouts I've seen. I've got a Catalina 34 right now, which is also nice. But, when I sail off down the coast it will probably be in the 42.

Thursday 14th of February 2019

Great suggestion! Thanks Thom.

John Howard

Monday 19th of March 2018

If there is anything I have learned from living in the subtropics, it would be the benefits of a hard dodger or pilot house. When you are young and salty you may not deem this important, but a roof over your head that does not flap and leak will make life on the hook or line much more enjoyable whatever your age. We have owned may sailboats over the years and most were open cockpit with some sort of canvas dodger. When we acquired "Horizon", a Morgan OI41 ketch, I constructed a curtain sided pilot house that encompassed the entire cockpit and includes the mizzen mast. Maybe the years in open cockpit boats have baked my brain, but the trade off of cool, dry comfort more than makes up for the additional windage and weight.

Wednesday 21st of March 2018

We couldn't agree more! They're wonderful in higher latitudes also. Certainly better bang for your buck than replacing canvas every 10 years. Thanks for sharing John!

Friday 16th of March 2018

I'd suggest adding the Westerly bilge-keelers. For example, the Centaur has quite a lot of below-decks room for a 26-footer, and it's built like a tank. And Westerly made boats in a good variety of lengths.

Sunday 18th of March 2018

Thanks for the suggestion! We'll be sure to include this in our list.

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What Size Sailboat Do I Need? Must-Read Before You Choose

Buying a sailboat is a huge investment and requires planning and forethought before you begin.

Knowing your needs and requirements before you start shopping is crucial to making the buying process easier.

That being said, knowing how big of a boat you need is the first step:

Here’s How to Choose What Size Sailboat you Need:

Consider your needs before buying your boat. If you are a solo sailor or have a huge family, if you cruise or race, or if you want to sail the ocean, your needs and size of the boat will change. Most sailboats range between 15-40 feet. Depending on your needs, you may need 15-25 or 25-40 feet.

Table of Contents

What is the Best-Sized Sailboat for a Family of 4?

You will not need as much room for a family of 4 that is racing and/or daysailing.

You won’t need the stowage for provisions or offshore equipment, and you expect to bump into one another now and then when tacking.

Keeping in mind that all boats are different and headrooms can differ even on boats of the same length, a good size would be 25-28 feet. If the kids are younger, a smaller boat is better, and if they are teens or pre-teens, a larger boat is preferable.

On longer trips, you need more space per person and storage. This is especially true if you are going to be liveaboards.

Liveaboard families will probably need a 36-42 foot range.

What is the Minimum Size Sailboat for Rough Weather?

Most modern sailboats are manufactured to handle rough weather for at least a reasonable amount of time.

Knowledge of construction and rigging and manufacturing standards are very high in the marine industry (liability has made this a certainty over the years).

With that being said, you’d still want to be in at least a 24-foot boat if you want to sustain storm conditions for a significant length of time. A rugged boat like the J/24, while designed as a one-design racer, can take a lot of pounding. 

You would not necessarily want to cross the ocean in that size boat (though it can and has been done), but you can handle most of the rough weather you encounter along the coast.

What Size Sailboat Can you Live on Comfortably?

We need to consider whether you will be living by yourself on the boat or with your family and if you will be staying mostly at a marina or cruising offshore, living from port to port.

Personal preference for accommodations is important here, too. Some people are perfectly comfortable living in Spartan conditions, while others would find it difficult to live without the most modern amenities.

If you live by yourself on board, your options will be wider, as you will not need the room that a family will require. If this is the case, 30 feet is a pretty good choice to live in comfortably.

The Catalina 30, for example, was one of the most successful designs ever as a racer/cruiser and had plenty of space and storage and a comparatively roomy bathroom. The Cataline 30 can also go for extended cruises, so it is a good size for single-living whether you will be marina-based or going on long-distance cruises.

If a family is living aboard, you need a bigger boat.

Staying at a marina where you can spend time ashore is easier, so 36-38 feet can be a comfortable size, but this sized boat will probably become cramped if you live offshore or from point to point.

Offshore, 40-42 feet is a good size for a family of four. If your family is larger, you might have to find a 45-footer for everyone to live in comfort.

What is the Minimum Size Sailboat for Sailing the Ocean?

The record-sized boat to cross the Atlantic is just over five feet in length, but that was a feat of endurance and not a comfortable or safe crossing.

It is generally accepted that about a 30-footer is the minimum you’d want to take across the Atlantic or Pacific, even by experienced sailors.

This is for the combination of speed, stowage, durability, and safety.

What Size Sailboat to Sail the Caribbean?

If you are cruising through the Caribbean for a while, you want to be comfortable.

You will see all sizes of sailboats making their way between the islands, but not all of them are doing it comfortably or safely.

The most common sizes with these factors in mind are in the 30 to 35-foot range, both in monohulls and catamarans. 

Many of these are charter boats, taken by people with little or no sailing experience, particularly the catamarans, so crossings between islands are usually done in calmer seas. Still, boats in this range will be able to handle any unexpected weather.

What Size Sailboat to Sail to the Bahamas?

If you are sailing to the Bahamas from Florida, the passage is not as long or difficult as going through the Caribbean and definitely not as bad as across the Atlantic.

If the trip is planned properly, you will not see any rough weather at all.

The crossing is routinely made by sailboats as small as 20 feet in length. Most sailors tend toward the 22- to 26-foot range in making the voyage safely and easily.

If you want to do it in comfort, you can’t go wrong with your 30-footer.

How Many Guests Will You Have?

Many sailors prefer to sail solo.

If you prefer solo sailing, you will probably not need as big a boat as you do not require the amount of space and storage you would with a crew on board.

This is not always true because you need a larger boat for durability and storage if you are doing distance solo sailing.

For most sailors, though, the company of their friends and family is a prime draw of being out on the water. If you intend to have more people with you, you will certainly need a larger boat.

The more people you intend to take with you regularly, the larger the boat will need to be.

Will You Be Doing Serious or Casual Sailing?

Depending on your level of seriousness, your choice of boat size will vary.

Smaller boats are easier to maintain, more fun to take out on weekends, and don’t have a lot of upkeep. However, bigger boats will end up costing you so much more, need a lot of attention, and will generally require a lot of experience.

Some of the highest costs here are sails. This is not just because of the sail area, but cloth weight and material, as well. So a new mainsail for a 30-foot boat will cost twice or more than one for a 20-foot boat.

Furthermore, marinas charge slip fees based on the boat’s length, or at least the size of the slip. The difference between the slip fees for a 25-foot boat and a 30-foot boat can be hundreds of dollars a year.

Also, larger boats always require more work. Because they are longer, they have more surface area that needs to be cleaned and repaired, more teak that needs to be treated, and more hardware that needs to be maintained and replaced.

A casual sailor is often less inclined to spend the time and money required to maintain a larger boat so that they will gravitate toward a smaller one.

The serious sailor understands the commitment in time and money, so they expect it. Because they are more dedicated to sailing, they usually will end up with a larger boat.

Will You be Racing, Cruising, or Both?

If you are primarily racing, you need to determine whether you will be doing one-design or handicap:

Handicap Racing:

In handicap racing, your boat will be assigned a rating based on its documented performance, and other boats will owe you time, or you will owe them time over the length of the racecourse, expressed in seconds per mile.

This is more about the performance of your crew and their experience as well. In this case, any size boat can compete, though fleets are usually broken up at certain ratings.

So a 22-foot boat will be in a different class than a 40-foot boat, and they will not be competing directly with each other unless the fleet is small and so they are all combined.

One-Design Racing:

In one-design racing, all boats are the same as one another, whether Lasers, J/24s, or Vipers.

If you want to go that route, your choice in size of a boat will be made for you.

If you intend to do both racing and cruising and do not go the one design route, you are free to choose the size of boat that you wish. You will probably opt for a little larger-sized boat, as you are a little more serious about your sailing.

There are many sailboats made with both racing and cruising in mind. This “hybrid design” started in the 1970s with the explosion of sailing’s popularity, and today most boats are made to accomplish both.

The exceptions to this are the pure racing boats, which are generally very uncomfortable to do any pleasure cruising in over any significant distance, anyway.

So, What Boat Size Works for You?

If you are doing casual solo sailing, you might look at dinghies around 15 feet.

A Sunfish-style boat is ideal, as it is easy to sail and get up to speed. Likewise, serious solo racers might look in the 15-foot range, such as Lasers or Moths. These are all trailerable.

If you want to stay in dinghies, there are many 2-person boats, often classic classes like Hamptons or popular boats like the Hobie 16 catamarans. There are many larger dinghies around, such as the Thistle, which has active racing classes and requires a crew of 3.

If you are a casual solo cruiser, you might look in the 19 to 23-foot range. At this size, a sailboat is still relatively easy to handle. There are a variety of small daysailers made with this in mind.

Serious solo cruisers will look for larger boats, as they will frequently be sailing, and frequently it will be distance cruising. Longer boats will have better speed and more room, and these sailors will handle the larger size.

25 to 30 feet is a good size for these sailors, but it is not rare to see an experienced solo sailor taking a 35 or 40-footer across an ocean.

If you are taking out a crew of 4 people regularly, you will be looking in the 25 to 30-foot range as a cruiser, whether serious or casual, with serious being at the longer end. If you anticipate 6 to 8 people regularly, 35 or 40 or more feet will be more comfortable.

Serious and casual racers will be found in almost any size boat from 20 to 45 feet. One design will determine the exact boat if you go that route, but otherwise, there are few limits outside of price.

The determining factors here will probably be the number of crew you can count on and the fleet you wish to compete in.

Casual racers will probably opt for smaller boats here, as it is less expensive and easier to compete short-handed if all of the crew cannot make the race. Serious racers will opt toward the larger boat here, as they are more competitive, and the best competition is usually at the upper end of the fleet.  

Final Thoughts

We’ve looked at the major considerations for choosing the best size sailboat for you and/or your family and looked at what size is best for certain voyages.

Price is something we did not examine closely, except in the context of being a serious or casual sailor, but that will have to fall where it may.

The bigger boat will cost you more. If not in the initial purchase, then it will cost more in the maintenance.

The bottom line is what you want to accomplish in your sailing and how many people in your crew.

References:

The Six Types of Daysailers

Ten Best Sailboats To Live In

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Choosing Your Offshore Escape Vessel

By: John Neal, mahina.com Sailboats

The dream of buying a boat and sailing to exotic islands is a powerful and exciting one and an important part of achieving that dream is selecting the right boat to take you over the horizon in safety and comfort. Here’s how to successfully go about it.

It’s All About Sailing

First, ensure that you enjoy sailing and living on a boat, and unless you plan on single handing, that your partner does as well. If you’re new to sailing, sailing and navigation lessons are an excellent starting point. Try a 7–10-day ASA live aboard cruising/learning experience. Even better, consider a course in an area you’re interested in eventually cruising on your own. If the Caribbean is one of your dream cruising destinations there are several ASA liveaboard programs in the British Virgin Islands which is hard to beat as a fun venue for gaining skills and experience. 

Educate Yourself

Read boat reviews, scan owner’s group websites for troublesome problems specific to certain makes or models, read about yacht design and safety. Go sailing on as many different types of vessels as possible and consider crewing on local races. Take courses on navigation, offshore passage making, marine weather, sail repair and diesel engine maintenance. If your cruising plans include ocean crossings, consider signing up for a sail-training passage where you’ll be standing watch and learning 24/7. The more time and energy you put into obtaining skills important to cruising, the better yacht selection choice you’re likely to make and the more self-sufficient you’ll likely be.

Be Realistic

Many people searching for their dream boat have unrealistic expectations or get fixated on specific design issues. If your plans are for serious offshore cruising, ensure that safety and seaworthiness rate higher on your priority list than in-port comfort and interior volume. Compromise is important when selecting any boat. Chances are you will not find any boat in your price range that exactly meets all your criteria, so be prepared to be flexible.

You should plan to purchase your boat at least 1 – 2 years before departure bearing in mind that it may take 6-12 months of serious shopping to find a boat that meets your criteria. If the boat you purchase is over 15 years old and in need of some work it can easily take 6-12 months or longer to get it offshore-ready. You’ll also want to allow time to become familiar with sailing your boat and getting accustomed to living aboard.

Planning on cruising as a couple? Then each of you must be prepared to singlehand your boat, being conscious of your abilities and limitations. Seasickness or illness may incapacitate either of you, leaving the other person to handle everything. Safety dictates a boat with manageable sails, a dependable windvane selfsteering system and a powerful, dependable autopilot. 

If you’re planning on purchasing a boat over 42’ and aren’t as strong as you used to be, consider increasing your level of fitness and the option of selecting a boat with or adding a furling mainsail, bow thruster and possibly electric winches. This equipment adds cost, maintenance, weight and complexity but being able to easily handle your boat is important and adds to the enjoyment of cruising.

Go Newer and Smaller

To purchase a newer yacht that isn’t going to need an expensive, time-consuming refit, you may need to downsize your ideal size requirements. If this means purchasing a 12-year-old 38’ boat instead of a 20-30-year-old 45’-50’ boat, you will be far ahead; having more time to cruise and reducing your overall cost of ownership. Also, maintenance, insurance and moorage costs go up exponentially with the length of boat.

Boat Age vs Your Age

The older you are, the newer the boat you purchase should be. If you’re in your 20’s, you’ll likely feel like you have more time and energy than money. You’ll have the energy and motivation to work hard on a bare bones boat and then be keen to set sail, with or without a lot of gear that older people frequently deem necessary. If you are over 60 and inexperienced, you should consider a boat less than ten years old. 

Age of Boat vs Time and Cost of Ownership

The older your boat is, the more time and money it will take to go cruising.

On a boat 20+ years old, you can easily spend an additional 50% to 100% of the purchase price replacing rigging, sails, tanks, engine, and electronics and upgrading the electrical system. This refitting process frequently takes one to two years. With a boat that is new or less than ten years old much of the refit time and cost and is saved. 

Another good option is to purchase an older boat that has recently been refit by the seller and is ready to go. It will likely cost slightly more than comparable boats of the same age but will cost far less than outfitting an older boat that has only coastal equipment aboard. 

Finding Your Boat

Websites like YachtWorld.com are invaluable as they cover most of the world. Bargain basement boats priced under $30,000 are easier to find on For Sale By Owner (FSBO) sites. If you’re within six months of purchasing and have your financing in order, you may consider using a buyer’s broker. They should have connections to potential boats that you may not be aware of and save you time by cutting through the “broker babble”.

Market Trends

Currently it’s a seller’s market in North America, with the very limited inventory of quality, offshore-capable boats in the under $100,000 and under $200,000. European prices and inventory are currently substantially better than North America. Catamarans are the hottest category, particularly in North America.

Distress Sales

You may come across vessels that have recently had substantial and expensive upgrades completed yet haven’t cruised anywhere. Often these boats are the result of people who, during the refit and preparation process, have had health or financial hurdles arise or become too exhausted to go cruising. If the sellers have selected quality equipment and undergone an intelligent refit, these distress sales can represent excellent savings of time and money. It’s still imperative to get the right boat for your plans as a great deal on the wrong boat is still the wrong boat. 

Where to Purchase

It is wise to spend considerable time researching and deciding where you most want to cruise and just as importantly, where will be an easy place to purchase and outfit a vessel. Insurance agents and underwriters frequently recommend that you charter in your destined cruising grounds first, at the same time research the selection and prices of boats available, boat yards and outfitting services.

If you’re interested in cruising specific areas before planning long passages, purchasing a boat on location may be a good choice.

• This article is taken from a free 65-page e-book, Selecting and Purchasing an Ocean Cruising Sailboat , by John Neal.
• Download a free list of 158 builders & 424 models of offshore capable cruising boats .
• Boat Selection Consultation & Mentoring Service from mahina.com

LIVE SEMINAR ● OCTOBER 12 ● ANNAPOLIS, MD

Join seasoned sailor and boat-buying aficionado John Neal during the 2024 Annapolis Sailboat Show for an insightful, information-packed live seminar. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the current boat market, the overall purchase process, and essential insurance requirements.

About The Author

Since 1976 John Neal professionally consulted with over 10,000 sailors seeking cruising boats. His experience in the marine industry is unique; 408,000 offshore miles and 50 years worldwide ocean sailing experience plus boatbuilding, surveying and previously owning a yacht brokerage.

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How sinking of luxury yacht off Sicily unfolded

One man has died and six people are missing after a luxury yacht sank in freak weather conditions off the coast of Sicily.

The 56m British-flagged Bayesian was carrying 22 people - 12 passengers and 10 crew - when a heavy storm that created waterspouts struck early on Monday.

Fifteen people were rescued and a search operation for those unaccounted for - who include the British tech tycoon Mike Lynch - is continuing.

Here is what we know about the tragedy so far and how it unfolded.

What happened to the yacht?

The Bayesian was struck by a sudden and powerful storm in the early hours of Monday morning, witnesses say.

It was reportedly anchored to the sea bed outside the harbour at Porticello, a small fishing village to the east of Palermo, when what the Italian coastguard described as a "violent storm" hit.

The storm was so fierce that it caused waterspouts, or rotating columns of air and mist, to appear over the sea.

The vessel disappeared beneath the water at about 05:00 local time (04:00 BST).

A doctor treating survivors said the ship "capsized within a few minutes".

• Follow live updates here
• 'For two seconds I lost my baby in the sea' - yacht survivor
• Who are the missing and rescued?
• What might have caused yacht to sink
• Divers battle 10-minute dive window and debris in yacht search

Witnesses told Italian news agency Ansa that the Bayesian’s anchor was down when the storm struck, causing the 72m (236ft) aluminium mast to break in half and the ship to lose its balance and sink.

However, divers on the search and rescue team have said the ship was "practically intact" on the seabed, raising questions as to whether the mast was broken.

The ship's unusually tall mast may have contributed to its sinking, according to Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the mast acted almost like a sail in the strong wind "especially with it being so high".

The extreme winds could have caught the mast and pushed the yacht over, he said.

Karsten Borner, captain of a nearby boat, said after the storm had passed, the crew noticed the yacht that had been behind them had disappeared.

"We saw a red flare, so my first mate and I went to the position, and we found this life raft drifting," he told Reuters.

His crew took on board some survivors, including three who were seriously injured.

Another witness, Fabio Cefalù, captain of a trawler, said he was about to go out on a fishing trip when he saw flashes of lightning so he stayed in the harbour.

"At about 04:15 we saw a flare in the sea," he said, according to the EVN news agency reports.

"We waited for this waterspout to pass. After 10 minutes we went out to the sea and we saw cushions and all the rest of the boat [that had sunk], and everything which was on the deck, at sea. However, we did not see any people in the sea.”

Another fisherman described seeing the yacht sinking "with my own eyes".

Speaking to the newspaper Giornale di Sicilia, the witness said he was at home when the tornado hit.

"Then I saw the boat, it had only one mast, it was very big," he said.

Shortly afterwards he went down to the Santa Nicolicchia bay in Porticello to get a better look at what was happening.

He added: "The boat was still floating, then all of a sudden it disappeared. I saw it sinking with my own eyes."

One of the survivors, British tourist Charlotte Golunski, told Italian newspaper La Repubblica how she held up her one-year-old daughter Sofia to stop her from drowning.

She said the two of them and her partner James survived only because they were up on deck when the yacht sank.

They were woken by “thunder, lightning and waves that made our boat dance”, and it felt like "the end of the world" before they were thrown into the water.

Charlotte said: "For two seconds I lost my daughter in the sea, then quickly hugged her amid the fury of the waves."

She added: "I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning.

"It was all dark. In the water I couldn't keep my eyes open. I screamed for help, but all I could hear around me was the screams of others."

What is the latest with the search?

Six passengers remain missing and the Palermo coastguard says the search and rescue operation is continuing "incessantly".

The search began on Monday and specialist divers have been working at the site since early on Tuesday morning.

One diver told Italian media the yacht was "practically intact" on its side at the ocean's basin, about 50m below the surface.

The ship's hull is obstructed with furniture and various objects, the Italian fire and rescue service has said.

Divers are looking for ways to access the yacht's cabins, but they have just 10 minutes to search on each dive before they need to return to the surface, the Italian news agency Ansa has reported.

A 1cm thick glass window is also being considered as an entry point.

Francesco Venuto, a spokesperson for Sicily's civil protection agency, told the BBC on Monday rescue teams fear the bodies of those missing "must be" in the boat.

"We've been searching all day with helicopters and boats, we've found nothing. That wouldn't make sense. In these conditions, we should have found something by now," he added.

A specialist caving search and rescue diving team arrived from Rome on Monday, hoping to "achieve results" either during the night or by Tuesday morning at the latest, the director general of Sicily's civil protection agency, Salvatore Cocina, said.

On Monday, the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch sent a team of four investigators to carry out a preliminary assessment of the Bayesian's sinking, the BBC understands.

Who was on board?

There were 22 people on board when the storm hit, including 12 passengers and 10 crew.

The body of one man has been recovered. He has not been formally identified, but the Palermo coastguard said he was the ship's cook. His nationality has not been confirmed.

Among the six people still missing is 59-year-old tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, known by some as the "British Bill Gates".

Mr Lynch founded software giant Autonomy in 1996 and was awarded an OBE for services to enterprise in 2006.

In June, he was cleared of conducting a massive fraud relating to an $11bn (£8.64bn) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.

Afterwards, he told the BBC in an interview he had been able to prove his innocence only because he had the wealth to pay the enormous legal fees required.

The other missing people include Mr Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo.

Mr Lynch's wife Angela Bacares is among the 15 people to have been rescued, with eight of those receiving treatment in hospital, the Italian coastguard said.

Charlotte Golunski, her husband and daughter Sofia were also rescued and were unharmed, but taken to hospital for check-ups.

She said they had been on the yacht with a group of colleagues.

The daily Il Giornale di Sicilia newspaper reported the vessel had mostly British passengers on board, but also people from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland and British-French citizens.

A doctor based in Palermo said the "very tired" survivors were "constantly asking about the missing people".

Dr Domenico Cipolla told Reuters that one woman he treated described the trip as a "corporate holiday", with some of those on board "very young".

"There were a lot of work colleagues, friends, a few husbands, wives, or a couple of friends who had joined in," he adds.

What is a waterspout and why do they form?

A waterspout is similar to a tornado and can form over oceans, seas or large lakes.

The western half of the Mediterranean has experienced severe storms since the middle of last week.

Through Sunday night and into Monday morning, a zone of bad weather passed by the north coast of Sicily.

BBC Weather forecaster Matt Taylor said: "A waterspout is a tornado that has occurred over water rather than land.

"They can form during intense storms, on the base of cumulonimbus/thunder clouds.

"Turbulence, and the wind blowing in slightly different directions around the cloud, can cause rotation under the base of the cloud and the spout to form.

"Like tornadoes, they bring powerful winds, but instead of picking up dust and debris they cause a water mist around the column of rotating air."

What is the Bayesian, and who owns it?

The superyacht can accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites, and is listed for rent for up to €195,000 (£166,000) a week.

It was built in 2008 by Italian company Perini Navi.

The Bayesian's registered owner is listed as Revtom Ltd, which is based on the Isle of Man.

The yacht's name is understood to derive from the Bayesian theory, which Mr Lynch's PhD thesis and the software that made his fortune was based on.

Mr Lynch's wife Ms Bacares is named as the sole legal owner of Revtom, which is registered in the Isle of Man.

The Bayesian completed a number of sailings in recent days, calling at various ports in Sicily, according to ship-tracking website VesselFinder.

A spokesperson for Camper and Nicholsons International, the firm that manages the 2008-built boat, told BBC Verify: "Our priority is assisting with the ongoing search and providing all necessary support to the rescued passengers and crew."

Mike Lynch’s Sunken Superyacht Is Largely Intact, Italian Officials Say

I talian investigators searching the wreckage of the Bayesian superyacht said it appeared largely intact, a discovery that contradicts earlier eyewitnesses who said its mast had snapped when it sank in Monday’s storm.

Divers are reporting that the 180-foot-long yacht was lying on its side on the ocean floor, an Italian coast guard official said Wednesday. “The divers are looking for structural damage on the hull,” the official said.

The early reports from Italian officials appeared to be at odds with witnesses who had said the aluminum mast snapped during a violent thunderstorm when the vessel sank off the coast of Sicily with 22 people on board, including owner Mike Lynch, a U.K. tech billionaire.

The towering mast on the Bayesian stretched nearly 240 feet into the sky—making the superyacht the tallest luxury sailboat when it was built.

Maritime experts said a broken mast of that height could cause serious damage to a vessel, but the design isn’t a safety concern as long as the masts are well maintained and held tightly upright on the hull by cables called stays.

“Bigger masts support bigger sails and higher sailing speeds,” said Takis Tsakos, a veteran captain who also oversees for clients the construction of superyachts such as the Bayesian at yards in Europe and the U.S. “The yacht fans love the bigger masts because they look marvelous and give the vessel more volume. They are especially impressive at night when they are lit up.”

The Bayesian’s mast could have fallen on the hull, damaging it, or could have been uprooted from its base by the strong winds if the stays weren’t tight enough. Yacht captains say loose stays can make a boat tilt as much as 15 degrees even with the sails folded.

“That would have made a gaping hole and water could have rushed in. It was also a relaxed evening—doors and windows could have been open with more water coming in as the boat tilted,” said Tsakos, founder of Athens-based Yachtways GP, which rents out luxury yachts in the Mediterranean. “These will be determined when the yacht is pulled out of the water.”

The people missing and presumed dead in the sinking of the Bayesian include Lynch, his daughter, a top executive at Morgan Stanley and one of Lynch’s lawyers. The group was celebrating Lynch’s acquittal on U.S. fraud charges.

Italian authorities are continuing to investigate the accident and divers are trying to access the sunken hull. Rescue teams located five bodies from the wreck on Wednesday. The body of the boat’s chef was retrieved from the sea on Tuesday.

Masts must meet the safety standards of classification societies that give the green light for a ship to sail and monitor its maintenance over the years. Oversize masts on superyachts are turned by computer so they face the wind straight on and not sideways even when the sails are folded.

“For a vessel of this size to go down, there must have been tremendous ingress of water inside its enclosed spaces,” said Fotis Pagoulatos, a naval architect who has participated in a number of shipwreck investigations. “Its design allows it to stay afloat, even with two compartments flooded.” He said he wouldn’t be surprised if the yacht’s hull is found cracked and buckled from the forces exerted by the freak weather and possibly the cracked mast.

The single-masted Bayesian was built by Italian company Perini Navi and delivered in 2008 to its original owner. The boat, which was taller than it was long, was one of a class of supersize luxury yachts that cruise the Mediterranean and other hot spots.

Formerly known as Salute, it was one of several that Perini Navi built that was 56 meters long. But its sister ships had shorter masts—generally extending 59 meters, compared with about 72 meters for the Bayesian. Perini Navi didn’t return requests for comment.

The Bayesian has been eclipsed by newer boats owned by other billionaires. Jeff Bezos, the Amazon.com founder, commissioned the 127-meter-tall Koru, a three-masted vessel that was delivered in 2023.

The Koru was so tall that in 2022 it sparked a protest over plans to dismantle a bridge to let it sail out of the Dutch port where it was built. Instead, the ship was towed to another shipyard to have its masts mounted.

Still, the Bayesian remained one of the largest private sailing yachts. It was ordered by a Dutch businessman but, in 2005, he was paralyzed in a yachting accident and it was sold on completion to another Dutch owner and renamed Salute, according to yacht brokers.

In 2014, it was sold to an entity owned by Angela Bacares, Lynch’s wife, and renamed Bayesian. It has no racing history, but boats of this size compete in events such as the St Barths Bucket Regatta, an annual race in the Caribbean, and in the Perini Navi Cup, a four-day race near Sardinia.

Perini Navi is known for creating some of the world’s most famous and luxurious sailing yachts, including the 88-meter-long Maltese Falcon, one of the world’s most recognizable sailing yachts, with rotating masts and a futuristic design.

The masts of the Maltese Falcon are 57 meters tall.

Write to Costas Paris at [email protected]

How To Live on a Sailboat

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

June 15, 2022

Living on a sailboat can be a rewarding experience, especially if you come prepared and make strategic lifestyle adjustments.

Living on a sailboat is possible if you find the right boat, stay organized, manage maintenance and utilities effectively, make an income, and choose a suitable marina. Anyone who follows these steps can live a frugal and comfortable life on a sailboat.

In this article, we’ll cover all the major points and lifestyle adjustments necessary to live a clean and comfortable life on a sailboat. Additionally, we’ll cover some of the benefits and go over the technical steps you’ll need to take to keep your boat in good shape.

We sourced this information from experienced liveaboards and included the lessons they learned from living on a boat.

Table of contents

‍ Decide if the Liveaboard Life is Right for You

Living aboard a sailboat can be a rewarding and life-changing experience. Many live aboard for adventure, and others choose to live a more laid-back lifestyle and reduce their living expenses. Regardless of your reasoning, it’s important to consider the realities of living aboard and the sacrifices you’ll have to make.

Living aboard requires careful attention to maintenance, good organization, and an actual desire to live the lifestyle. You can successfully live on a sailboat without experience if you’re willing to make some changes to your lifestyle, reduce the amount of stuff you own, and stay on top of maintenance.

Is Living Aboard Common?

Yes, many people live aboard sailboats. It’s legal in most places, and there’s a relatively large online community dedicated to the practice. The majority of people who live on sailboats do it because they love sailing and the lifestyle.

Liveaboard Sailboat Utilities

Like a house, your sailboat needs utilities if you plan to live aboard. These systems have been well-integrated over the years, so it’s pretty easy to get power, water, and fuel for living aboard. Here’s how utilities work on a liveaboard sailboat.

Power, Water, and Sewage

When living in a house or apartment, the only time you really have to think about power, water, and sewage is when the bill is due—or when it stops working. On a sailboat, these things aren’t so hands-free.

Boats store water and sewage in tanks. Usually, a sailboat has a freshwater tank (for drinking) and a greywater/black water tank (for sewage). Eventually, these tanks will be full and need to be dumped, but you don’t have to rely on your freshwater tank when living aboard.

Most liveaboards hook their sailboats up to shore power using a special marine extension cord and a dock outlet. Water is connected this way as well, and some marinas offer sewage hookups at each dock.

However, you’ll probably have to pump out your septic tank at a separate location every so often. Plus, marinas charge for power and water.

Saving Water and Power on a Sailboat

Conservation is key to a convenient and clean life on a sailboat. You may have unlimited fresh water from a shore connection, but your septic tank will eventually get full. This may necessitate taking shorter showers and other water-saving steps, which are good habits to develop anywhere.

Additionally, your sailboat’s electrical system is designed to operate with or without shore power. This makes it relatively easy to install solar panels or a wind turbine, which (with a battery bank) can completely eliminate your dependence on shore power.

Liquid Fuel

Sailboats usually don’t have electric or gas appliances. Instead, sailboat stoves and heaters usually run on liquid fuel such as kerosene, alcohol, or diesel. Unlike a house, you’ll need to haul in fuel and use it safely and conservatively.

Alcohol stoves are the cleanest, but diesel heaters are the most common. These systems must ventilate correctly and be free of leaks, and you have to clean them once or twice per season to ensure safe and efficient operation.

Liquid Fuel Alternatives

Liquid fuel can be messy, smelly, and dangerous if used or stored improperly. Most sailors don’t like having a diesel tank in their living room (understandably so), so they use practical alternatives.

For heating, you can use an electric heater when connected to shore power, provided your wiring is safe enough. Figure out what gauge of wiring your 110-volt system uses, and hire an electrician to retrofit it if the wiring is too thin.

Another alternative is propane, which is cheap and cleaner than diesel or kerosene. Propane stoves used for camping fit on top of liquid-fuel stoves, and they’re a great choice for cooking when in the dock. Additionally, portable indoor propane heaters can be used, provided you have adequate ventilation.

CO Detection

Always install at least one carbon monoxide (CO) detector in your boat, regardless of what kind of fuel you use inside. A sailboat cabin is essentially a ziplock bag and the perfect environment for carbon monoxide to settle.

Install the meter near the floor, as carbon monoxide tends to sink. Additionally, an extra meter in your sleeping area is a great idea as well. Always test your meter before using a propane heater inside, and keep a window cracked or a vent fan on regardless of the outside temperature.

How to Choose a Sailboat to Live Aboard

Choosing a sailboat to live on is the first step in the process. You’ll have to first determine what kind of a sailboat you want, your budget, and what level of space and comfort you’re looking for.

The smallest feasible liveaboard sailboat (in which you can be hygienic and stand up straight) is about 20 feet in length, though the average size ranges from 26 feet to 40 feet. This is strictly speaking for monohull sailboats, as multihulls like catamarans have very different size and space standards.

The average comfortable liveaboard for one or two people is about 30 feet in length. A boat like this is affordable on the used market and includes everything you need to live a normal and healthy life.

A 30-foot sailboat almost always includes a shower, a full-size marine galley for cooking (with an icebox), a comfortable sleeping area, and a separate space for dining and working. You’ll likely have additional sitting areas too, and a chart table for navigating.

Anything beyond 30 feet will add additional space, but the accommodations will be about the same. A boat 25 feet and longer will likely have good standing headroom, which is a necessity for the vast majority of liveaboards.

Liveaboard Sailboat Prices

Finding a boat is largely a budget issue. Thankfully, there are lots of used sailboats on the market that are suitable to live in and relatively inexpensive. New sailboats cost upwards of $150,000–but don’t use this price as a benchmark for used sailboats.

The majority of suitable liveaboard sailboats can be found for less than $50,000, and a little bit of searching can get you a nice liveaboard for $10,000 or less. This makes the lifestyle an affordable option for many people, especially if you have a house or a car to sell prior to purchasing your boat.

The price of a used sailboat doesn’t necessarily predict its value or condition. Used sailboats, especially those 30 to 50 years old, don’t have pricing guides like cars do. Additionally, the maintenance and docking requirements often prompt owners to sell for far less than they’re worth.

Sailboat Accommodations

The minimum accommodations you’ll need to live aboard are a galley (kitchen), a table for eating and working, and a head with a toilet and a shower. Almost all cabin sailboats have a berth (bed), even if they don’t have anything else.

You’ll want a sailboat with electrical power too. Most sailboats produced after the 1940s are equipped with electric lighting and outlets, so just make sure that they work. All of these features can be found on sailboats 25 feet and larger.

Sailboat Condition

Condition is another important element to consider, and it can make or break your liveaboard experience. A sailboat with mold, leaks, a messed up electrical system, or other systemic problems can hamper the quality of life and be more trouble than it’s worth.

Cosmetic repairs are much easier to deal with than other problems, and you can always reupholster the interior. When given the option, choose a sailboat that’s solid and sanitary over one that looks good but has serious issues.

How to Stay Organized on a Sailboat

Staying organized is a big part of living aboard, and it can make the experience much more enjoyable and practical. In fact, liveaboards say that staying organized is one of the most important skills to develop. Here are some tips for staying organized aboard a sailboat.

Downsize Your Tools

Everyone needs a certain set of tools to live a clean and healthy life. These include cleaning equipment, dishes, pots and pans, and so on. On a sailboat, your primary constraints are space, power, and water, so you’ll have to develop a system that makes the most out of each.

Start with your cleaning equipment. Toss out that large vacuum and replace it with a dust buster. A well-made dustbuster-type vacuum can easily keep a sailboat clean, even if you have pets. It’s worth splurging on the best one you can find, as you’ll get more out of the space and electricity with a high-quality unit.

Next, change your habits to reduce the amount of cleaning you have to do. Try to minimize crumbs and spills by eating only at the table, and use glasses designed for sailboats.

Additionally, you can reduce the size of your cooking utensils and wash them immediately instead of using a second or third pan before doing the dishes. You’d be surprised by how much stuff you can do without if you’re conscientious about what you use.

Dedicate Storage Spaces

Dedicate storage spaces aboard to specific types of items. For example, choose a cupboard for cleaning supplies and figure out how to fit everything you need inside. Keep safety equipment in one area, and be sure to separate dirty from clean items.

For example, you can choose a cockpit locker for storing sails, engine tools, and other items to keep the smell and grime of diesel fuel, oil, and fiberglass resin away from your living space. Sailboats are often filthy because outdoor items are stored inside, but you can break this trend by separating them into logical spaces.

Many sailors store clothing underneath sitting areas, and you can keep them clean by using vacuum-seal bags or plastic boxes. Glasses can be stowed overhead, and books can be kept on exposed shelves.

Buy Smaller Items

This will cost more initially, but using supplies conservatively can offset the cost. Things like soap bottles, toothpaste tubes, and paper towel rolls are usually purchased in bulk but are available in smaller quantities.

It’s cheaper to buy in bulk, this is true. But some items that take up lots of space in bulk simply aren’t worth sacrificing a sitting area or an entire box of clothing for. Over time, you can use the smaller quantities to become aware of how much you use and how to reduce costs.

Reduce Garbage

We produce a lot of trash. Trash is the most useless waste of space aboard a sailboat and also one of the worst contributors to unpleasant odors and unsanitary conditions. The simplest solution is to stop using as much disposable stuff as possible.

A dish rag used instead of paper towels will reduce costs, save space, and last infinitely longer. Avoid buying items with excessive packaging, and if you do, dispose of the package onshore before bringing it aboard.

This is a great opportunity to eat healthier, too. Many liveaboards live without a microwave, as it saves space and vastly reduces the amount of processed food and food packaging trash you produce.

Instead of throwing out extra food every day, cook portions that you can finish. You’ll have to shop more often, but you’ll have more fresh food every day and your health will improve in the long run.

Downsize Your Stuff Collection

The most dramatic shift that new liveaboards have to contend with is the lack of space. There’s simply not enough space on a sailboat to store years of stuff. Unused Christmas presents, old shoes, that workout machine you got at a yard sale—it’s all gotta go.

Things like photo albums and hard drives should be kept (maybe offsite), but other items can almost always be disposed of one by one.

An easy way to choose what to donate or throw away is to lay everything out on your driveway and sort through each item individually. Address each item one by one, and decide if it’s indispensable. After you’ve chosen all of the things you need, the rest of the space can be used for the things you don’t need but want to keep.

How to Make Money Living on a Sailboat

Another necessity when living aboard is money. Unless you’ve got a major nest egg, you’ll need to work and make a living somehow. Decades ago, this was complex, as there were few jobs on the waterfront that paid well and didn’t break your back. But today, you can make a full-time living without stepping foot onshore.

Remote Work and Freelancing

Remote work is the best prospect for making a liveaboard income. The minimum required to survive is between $1,000 and $2,000 per month, and virtually everyone can utilize or learn a skill to make money online.

Freelance careers, such as writing, web design, or coding, are a great option if you have the skills or want to learn, and entry-level opportunities are available. Additionally, personal assistant jobs are a way to go if you have experience in that field or want to give it a shot.

If you already have a job, enquire if it’s possible to work remotely. Today, many types of work can be accomplished remotely, including everything from mortgage underwriting to accounting.

Living aboard is the perfect opportunity to start a career, such as photography. The reduced expenses and location give you an opportunity to learn the ropes without going broke in the interim, and you can do virtually everything involved with an internet connection and shore power.

Boat Repair

Living aboard a sailboat puts you in the best environment for boat repair work. Skilled mechanics, carpenters, and handymen can find work almost anywhere that boats are stored. You’ll have to ask around, but liveaboard mechanics are indispensable in many areas.

Engine repair pays very well—upwards of $50/hour—as local mechanics like liveaboards can charge below shop rates. Fiberglass and hull cleaning gigs can net several hundred dollars per boat, and cosmetic/interior repairs also pay generously.

Finding a Place to Dock

Finding a marina is one of the most frustrating steps to living aboard, as location has a big impact on cost and the viability of living aboard. Some marinas encourage liveaboards, but others ban it outright.

A good medium is a clean marina with a few liveaboards, as these areas encourage responsible living and quickly expel people who don’t respect the area. Piles of garbage on derelict boats are unsanitary and shouldn’t be found in the best marinas.

The best way to find a marina is to call all the local docks and inquire about living aboard, price, and general atmosphere. Additionally, pay each marina a visit to see what it’s like in person. Try to talk with other liveaboards about marina management, hidden costs, and how they like the experience. This can save headaches down the road.

Where to Learn More

The liveaboard community online is sizable, especially on platforms such as YouTube. If you’re looking for insights, spend some time on the internet searching for videos and forums on the topic.

Lots of channels are dedicated entirely to living aboard, and you can learn a lot about day-to-day tasks and realities. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn vicariously and improve your liveaboard experience, and it gives you an opportunity to meet other people who share your new lifestyle.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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