Given the opportunity, would you: buy a second house and get a smaller, but capable sailboat currently or (option 2) get a liveaboard boat to live on full time for a few years what would you choose? Even thinking about current status of USA etc how that will affect assets etc

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Quint87@reddit

Liveaboard 100%. For next 5-10years.

Housing market is going to open up very soon.. its just statistics and age of homeowners.

Interest rates will drop and markets will have more inventory.

We also do have to contend with large corps buying up single family homes.

Also, when it comes to big life decisions, do what is most practical for you and your situation.

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Gone2SeaOnACat@reddit

Only if they do something to stop the investment groups from buying up houses to lease and creating artificial scarcity.

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Morgan_Pen@reddit

Going full send on the overboard doesn’t mean you have to go huge. The bigger the boat the more expensive each individual expense is.

I just bought a 34 foot boat that I’m living on and even renting a slip year round is cheaper than any housing option.

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This. Liveaboard a 34' is my goal, but ive already started on a pearson 26. I wanted something easier to learn sailing, with minimal costs to maximize success, while being just minimum viable to live on. The P26 nailed it. Catalina 25 would have been fine, too.

What i pay for the slip...that gives me housing, water, electricity, access to the bath house with hot showers and free laundry...costs me less than what some home owners pay just for their electricity.

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Kibbles_n_Bombs@reddit

I bought a 34 to try live boarding. Wish I had found one with a dry head, but other than that it’s a nice size.

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RedditIsRectalCancer@reddit

Get one of these and wipe the walls down after a shower, makes a big difference. https://cleantools.net/products/the-absorber-9

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Gone2SeaOnACat@reddit

Living in the Pacific Northwest on a boat and surprised at how well a cheap peltier dehumidifier dries out the boat without consuming a ton of power.

The come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Dehumidifiers-2000ml%EF%BC%89Dehumidifiers-Sq-ft%EF%BC%885800-Dehumidifier-Basements/dp/B09WJ119KS

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simplyexistingnow@reddit

Agreed. There's too many factors in the question to really determine which one's a good deal. Plus other factors like age and family Dynamic Etc

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NPHighview@reddit

Whenever I get the urge, I chat with a friend who has a charter license. He rents the sailboat, invites a few other folks, and off we go.

Either that, or I take a "sailing lesson" somewhere: Lake Tahoe (wonderful!), Annapolis, South Haven, Michigan. MUCH cheaper to sporadically rent than to make the commitment to own.

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crosaby77@reddit (OP)

Different yolks for different folks I like the demand of responsibility of taking care of things and figuring out the puzzle so to speak and can’t get that without ownership really

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CrazyJoe29@reddit

A boat is a liability. Real estate is an asset. There are VERY FEW business cases for buying sailboats.

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Living_Stranger_5602@reddit

YOLO
That being said, if-may-will-could there be a cohabitant and/or procreation in the nebulous future(?!) 3.YOLO

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vanalden@reddit

The saddest people in sailing are those who are trapped on a boat. They sold their home to buy the boat, it has depreciated and they now have an old boat that's not worth much and can't afford to buy a house. They're getting older, maintenance is becoming a problem, their income is dwindling against cost of living increases, their health needs are increasing, etc, etc ,etc.

Don't go there.

The happiest people in sailing are those who live in a home near the marina and visit their boat whenever they want, go sailing as they wish, then go back to comfort, family, etc in their home.

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InkMotReborn@reddit

This is sounding more and more like my plan. I currently drive two hours to get to my boat.

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artfully_rearranged@reddit

I struggled really hard with this, because I had the opportunity to pick up a 29-ft boat that was about perfect for liveaboard use. I ended up going with a capable 23' vintage trailer sailer. Why? Cost, and experience.

My $4k boat has cost $10k so far (admittedly, much has been modernization not repair). It's not even in the water yet. I'm hoping to keep year 2, 3, etc costs down to $5k which includes $3k in storage and docking. An extra 5 feet adds 50-100% to my costs, from dock fees to paint. I don't need standing headroom and a shower that bad, it's still 3x the space of a van conversion. Unlike a van, I haven't spent 20 years handling boats. This one is easier to singlehand, shallower draft, and cheaper to fix. It also hopefully will keep me from taking weather and passage risks lightly. For the size, I get adequate room for an adventurous couple, two sinks, a galley, head, and sleeping for 5 at need. I'll trade up later, and hopefully get $4k for the $4k boat I've put $20k in.

FWIW, I'm very threatened by the politics in the US right now because they're going after people like me with laws. I have good reason to keep small offshore passages an option. I'd still rather keep more of my income free when I have it, and keep costs down when I don't. I rent an apartment for now as well, because it's just stuff. If I have to leave it, or the boat behind, I'll grieve but not overly much compared to how I will for my fellow humans if it gets that bad.

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CulpablyRedundant@reddit

As far as keeping you from taking weather and passage risks lightly... You should never do that. We don't take them lightly on a Farr 50 pilothouse, and it's built like a tank. Heavy as one too.

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artfully_rearranged@reddit

Sometimes wisdom is knowing yourself, and I can be a little foolhardy and overconfident. Rather keep a smaller boat for now, one that won't lend me towards a false sense of confidence. That's 100% a me consideration, not advice (unless they relate to it)

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blogito_ergo_sum@reddit

You guys can afford first houses?

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crosaby77@reddit (OP)

we are 30/31 and were fortunate to have bought prior to covid and lived with parents to save save save

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No_Job2527@reddit

Strippers and cocaine, based on the direction of USA and/or WW3/civil war coming

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Calm-down-its-a-joke@reddit

So your options are own two homes or own none? I am confused!

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crosaby77@reddit (OP)

Option two is keep renting first house and live on boat. 31 years old. Married.

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H0LD_FAST@reddit

Only way to know is to try it. If you’ve got the first house and it can break even renting, might as well try liveabord life. Just don’t give up anything investment wise to do it (only buy what you can afford to lose) If you’ve hate it, sell the boat and then buy the second house, or a smaller boat or something else. It’s what we’re currently doing (31 m/f)

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Calm-down-its-a-joke@reddit

Okay so either way you are keeping house #1? Sounds like a great opportunity to live aboard.

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milesgloriosis@reddit

Why bother with a house?

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diekthx-@reddit

You don’t really appreciate how much works maintaining a boat requires until you have a larger one. Go with the house (or condo) and small boat.

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FirmEstablishment941@reddit

One crew member mentioned he was glad he always had a 25’. He was married without kids but said everything from marina fees to maintenance to handling it was always a sweet spot of big enough for lake sailing without being taxing in other measures.

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kdjfsk@reddit

Maintaining a house is also a ton of work, way more than a boat.

A roof job can easily cost more than the sailboat does. Having the house breaker box upgraded and redone can as well.

Imo, one big boat is less work than one small boat plus one big house.

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ride5k@reddit

where do you live? what kind of experience do you have? do you already have a boat? where would you go if you decided to leave the US? do you have a crew, or are you alone?

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crosaby77@reddit (OP)

12 years sailing owned a Catalina 27 for two years, docking classes, diesel and electrical courses as well taken. Dinghy sailor. Married with capable spouse.

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ride5k@reddit

did you find the 27 restrictive in terms of long term cruising/live aboard? are you considering oceanic voyages?

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crosaby77@reddit (OP)

yes considering some oceanic we are about to sign papers for an elan impression 394

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madEthelFlint@reddit

This depends entirely on the real estate investment of option 1 vs the cost of renting in option 2. I'd echo what someone else suggested and propose option 3 where you live on the boat full time and use it. That is also my bias because that's what I'm doing currently😆 ultimately, only you know all the info and can make this call.

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RedboatSuperior@reddit

I live in a tourist area on Lake Superior. Nightly hotel rentals on the lake run to $300+ per night. A small vacation home away from the lake will run $400K. I know several people who bought a $40k boat, keep it in the marina and hardly ever go out. Cheapest cabin on the lake you can get. A second home and a boat in one. I say go for the live aboard.

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overthehillhat@reddit

Winter also??

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RedboatSuperior@reddit

I know only one quirky guy living on a self made 42 foot steel sailboat in the water all winter. But summer there are lot’s.

I also know a guy who spent the winter in his boat, up on a cradle in the ship yard!

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kdjfsk@reddit

You can do Antarctica so long as your boat is equipped for it.

Space heaters work well in the small spaces of a boat. even easier if you have 50amp shore power.

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CH1974@reddit

Is the housing in your area a good "value" right now? If it's on a bit of a dip like it is in mine, it might be a good opportunity. That being said, there is a lot of risk in being a landlord and owning a second home and I think money is better off in the market for the same or better return with out the headaches. If you want real estate income you can invest in REITs. Also, living aboard sounds good on paper and I guess it depends on how your weather is...where I am it's cold, dark, wet and miserable for 4 months out of the year.

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SaltBedroom2733@reddit

I already know what I'd do. I sold my house so my son and family could buy one and I live on my boat. We are in an extreme high COL area and living aboard allows me to stay nearby without moving in with them.

And I love my boat and my neighbors.

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comfortablydumb2@reddit

Recently sold a lake house and will be using a Hunter 272 as my lake house going forward.

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Icy-Artist1888@reddit

Buy a slightly bigger boat and moor it permanently in mexico

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BravoFoxtrotDelta@reddit

A bug-out boat seems like a good idea.

Assets like gold are perhaps more likely to be stable long term than housing at this point, but that is hardly the kind of cargo one wants aboard a bug-out boat.

Well-made hand tools one can put to use in any location are invaluable alongside the will to use them with an open mind and humble attitude.

Goods like shelf-stable foods, pens, pencils, and paper are often easy to trade.

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Antiantiai@reddit

Option 3: Buy a small-medium sized just comfortable enough liveaboard sailboat and invest assets in volatility-proof investments and go explore the world.

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spongue@reddit

Depends what you mean by "smaller" but I'd probably get that one and also not buy a 2nd house, haha, then again I don't think homes should be used as investments

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simplyexistingnow@reddit

I think it really depends. And the first option you're going to have two houses and a smaller boat. The second option you're having a full-time live aboard but with no houses. I mean an option one you always have a backup if something happens to a house you have another house. If something happens to the boat you have a house. In the second option you have to make sure that you I have somewhere to put the boat. Etc. I think also for me a lot of this depends on your age and your family Dynamic and if you have any children.

Now on a side note I do own a home that I have a mortgage on and honestly I've thought about selling it and I will probably buy a smaller house with more acreage or by somewhere that I can put a shed home that has a little bit more space. Taking care of a larger home can definitely be a lot of work and I understand why people sell and just go and rent somewhere. The convenience of renting and not having to worry about fixing anything it's sometimes nice.

So I'm currently in my late 30s and I at this point would probably sell my house and get a liveaboard and like the $50,000 range or less.

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MikeHeu@reddit

I’ve had the choice between both and chose option 2 exactly three years ago. I’m renting out my appartement and doing a year long Atlantic cruise right now. I’ve been living on my boat and fixing it up the first two years.

I’m not from the US and would definitely still do that again. But yes, fixing up and maintaining a boat is expensive, almost never a good investment. But it’s fun.

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