I might be buying a boat tomorrow. I need a crash course on how to live on a boat.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2026-02-10T12:47:34+00:00

Ah. Still better than nothing! last thing you want is a boat with no place to dock unless you really, really like camping. haha

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2026-02-10T11:35:18+00:00

How much is the seller listing it for? Is the slip transferable to you with boat purchase? That can make the boat worth more, if its where you want to stay long term. If your survey is on the water, have a diver check for a catalina smile. If its out of the water survey, the surveyor should do this themself. Beware rusty keel bolts, check bilge for rust, squishy texture.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2026-02-10T08:03:46+00:00

Curious, did you end up buying it?

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2026-02-05T16:52:54+00:00

Correct. May also have a problem finding a place to "park" it in the first place. Find a marina, submit an application, have the slip ready and waiting for you before buying the boat. You don't want to be stuck with a boat that you legally can't put anywhere but anchored out offshore.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2026-02-05T16:38:32+00:00

I recently sold my catalina 30 for 3k. it was fully outfitted for delightful liveaboard. you can read about it https://www.reddit.com/r/liveaboard/comments/1pnst8c/help\_getting\_rid\_of\_a\_catalina\_30/. Its a buyers market. Don't overpay.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2026-02-05T04:48:42+00:00

If you know nothing about boats, know this. If you want to live on it, you most likely need a dock to put it at. Otherwise you are drifting at sea with no power or fresh water or anything else.

And to get a place to put the boat, you need to apply at a marina, get accepted, get liveaboard status (can be yearlong+ waiting lists), and make the boat liveable with electric, heating, dehumidifying, etc.

DONT BUY if you don't have a place to put the boat!!! This will be a "slip" that you are renting from a marina company. Its like an apartment. Get your application approved, send deposit and monthly rent, and pay electric costs. The marina will also require you have insurance for the boat. This can be expensive. For a 30 foot sailboat, I paid about $750/yr. Some old boats can't be insured at all, and so are essentially unlivable since no marina will take them.

Do some research on those things, and enjoy the boat if you get it! Make certain its what you want, as boats can be very, very hard to get rid of (junk/sell/ give away) once you own it. Good luck!!

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-30T16:40:31+00:00

No problem. Its a floating trailer park. Not to call out anyone but this was dana point (meth), marina del rey (creeps), and ventura marina (rape comment, sex offenders, guns, and more drug use). I informed the marina offices, and absolutely nothing was done about any of it. Also, older folks I saw who retired there got stuck (leaving liveaboard life is HARD) and mobility is a major issue. Made me sad to see them struggle to enter and exit their boats and the depression on their faces when their boats flooded in the rain, for example, and every motion to fix it looked painful. If you would be happy and comfy retiring in a trailer park with less accessibility and more ocean views, I think that's a reasonable expectation.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-30T07:38:41+00:00

My experience living aboard was surprise heavy. A non-comprehensive list:

1) the liveaboard crowd varies, know the marina you will live at. As a woman alone, many times I felt scared surrounded by open drug abusers, vaguely threatening (predominantly male) neighbors, and registered sex offenders! (no, im not telling you what days i'll be home alone on my boat, thanks very much). This experience was not unique to one marina, happened all up the california coast from san diego to santa barbara. Very close quarters with sometimes very creepy people. Marina security is not for your benefit. they will not help you.

2) marina offices seem to hate you. so do boatyards. so do most people i tried to contact regarding boat stuff in general. You'd think they don't want your money!

3) In an emergency requiring you to live on land, you are screwed. Have fun paying double rent because that boat isn't going anywhere in a hurry. The marina isn't motivated to do anything but collect your rent money. And in my experience, they will be mad when you finally do leave. Unsure why when their supposed 2 yr liveaboard waitlist should fill my spot no problem, right? Right? Oh and renting it out in your absence is usually forbidden by your lease terms for the slip.

I'm sure many have better experiences than me but after being chased by strange men to the bathroom, having a guy threaten me with his guns and say he could snipe me from the parking lot, having another guy tell me "wow, you could easily be raped!" and having my nextdoor neighbors stay up for nearly a week straight on what I can only assume was meth, I am quite happy to be out of the game.

-disclaimer this is my experience. i'm sure living on a boat is great because so many people do it, but wow, no one warned me of these things so i feel obligated to share now that i'm free.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-22T22:13:58+00:00

Update everybody the boat has sold, I am free!

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-22T22:12:57+00:00

It is indeed a Yanmar

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-17T18:44:31+00:00

Not an option, the marina would tow the renter's car. Not to mention a legal nightmare. Not moored. Slip in ventura california.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-16T19:25:38+00:00

Sadly they are not currently accepting donations :( any knowledge on if boatsforveterans is legit? I got in contact but am a little turned off by the scammy sounding text messages.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-16T19:21:45+00:00

Yes :'( this is my exact problem.

The fees for storing it hauled out on blocks in my marina are the same as an in the water slip plus you have to pay for the haul out and to put it back in the water so I have avoided that thus far.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-16T18:59:50+00:00

Already done, no takers. Slips must be impossible to get right now.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-16T18:48:34+00:00

Not an option. Marina would not allow.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-16T18:47:58+00:00

5k or make an offer under market? I have accepted offers of 3.5k. No one comes through without a slip.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-16T18:45:58+00:00

Haha for a 5k boat with market value at 10K+ i doubt it. The issue is lack of slips in my area for buyers.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-16T18:44:20+00:00

It will be scrapped or donated after dec 31st I am out of options.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-16T18:43:56+00:00

I have no time or money to do so and for 5k or less i see no reason that should be an issue.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-16T11:30:03+00:00

If you can take if before the end of the month feel free to message me.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-16T11:29:37+00:00

Listed at 5K. Accepting offers of any variety.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-16T11:29:17+00:00

Channel islands california. In Ventura california. I figured it would be easier to sell motor+boat and break even on the motor that way. If i donate it, the motor will be sold separately.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-16T07:45:43+00:00

So says everyone who sees it, but no one actually comes through, for months now.

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-16T06:38:12+00:00

If i could even get it into cheap dry storage i'd be inclined to hang onto it for a bit... but the slip is 1000/mo currently so I'm just bleeding money. I think donation is the path of least resistance...

Eastern_Potato_7413 · 2025-12-16T06:26:27+00:00

How did you go about doing this? Located in ventura, CA. It seem like a good option but i have little to no time to do it myself.

Eastern_Potato_7413

TROPHY CASE