HOW TO BECOME A LIVEABOARD CRUISER! Sailing Q&A 21

[@jimwattson1720]

Thanks guys, for the past year and half I have been looking for reasons why I can not become a liveaboard, and have found none here. Thanks for not dashing my hopes. I can do it.

[@followtheboat]

Absolutely, William. Just make it so. Happy new year to you.

[@grahamgarner2318]

Same here, Lets bite the bullet.

[@ProjectManaia]

I think everyone willing to work hard, learn and not be scared can 😉

[@SuperLeGaard]

Sailing followtheboat Same goes for me. I realy, realy want to go for it. Everyday I'm thinking about leaving the Rat Race. I hate my job at the railroad, I'm tired of the long dark cold months up here in the middle of Sweden. That goes for the people living here to. I feel stocked course obviously I can't just leve wife and to teens. Non of them sharers my dream of sailing abroad. I guess Manny are stocked in the same situation. Of course we love our family, but can't help the dream and longing to one day just jump and go for it...... ⛵ Fair winds from a dreaming 69' 💖🐚🌴💦🌞

[@jofuji8255]

It’s now March 2020. Did you do it?

[@ozprimo]

I really enjoyed this no-nonsense approach to the issues of becoming a liveaboard cruiser. You guys have given me a lot to think about. Much appreciated!

[@followtheboat]

Thanks for the positive feedback and glad to hear it helps. We're still living aboard, by the way 😉

[@ozprimo]

@@followtheboat Wow, such a quick response! Can't wait to dive in to your back catalogue. I have a lot to learn!

[@followtheboat]

Enjoy the show ✌️⛵

[@mzaman8660]

Guys thanks you for not selling your bodies for clickbait / views. Fantastic channel.

[@peterjarnes25]

I love the way you guys talk together I can't wait to find one like that.

[@GreatRockRealEstateDenver]

Just started watching your channel and love the advice you give people, it is right on the money. We have been accumulating rental properties to give us the residual income to live aboard and we have 1 year left before we make the leap. Our youngest son just needs to finish high school and go to college and we are good to go! Can't wait. Thanks for the great videos! Mike

[@followtheboat]

Brilliant! You've got your head screwed on the right way!! 👍✌️👌 Liz

[@CyclesMcHurtz]

I really appreciate your take on these answers - thanks so much for spending half your time making these things!

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] We enjoy putting our videos together and it's so satisfying when we receive comments like yours. Thank you. Peace and fair winds!

[@saltybuster946]

A very good, ballanced and comprehensive summation. As usual you both inform and entertain.

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] Such a nice comment, thank you for making it. Peace and fair winds!

[@peterjarnes25]

I wear the same T-shirt for 3 days too, it's called the weekend... and yes it does develop a scent.

[@Swizzenator]

Thank you for this. As someone who is living on a Lagoon cat already, you bring up all the right questions with logical answers. Applicable to all levels and styles of current and future sailors. As usual TY.

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] Thanks for that, so pleased you found it relevant. Peace and fair winds!

[@Stonewall1949]

Jamie and Liz, I just love the honest and straightforward approach of your videos, and this one was certainly no exception. I have been thinking about the liveaboard lifestyle for quite some time now. This video was quite elucidating as to what thresholds I need to cross in order to do it. Thanks for all the help and guidance. Fair winds, my friends.

[@zuricrqsatlz9145]

My wife and I [67yo] have been living on board now for 3.5 months. First boat. Big learning curve. We have already spent about AUD $12.500.00 on repairs some of which we did ourselves. More to come. I have done plumbing, electrical and engine work. Our brains have been working overtime. I have learnt "boat yoga" to get my body into places that I would not have believed possible - for me. I have been awake at 4 o'clock in the morning worrying about important maintenance I know nothing about or checking if the anchor is slipping in a sudden high wind or closing the hatches against unpredicted heavy rain. I am lucky that my wife is with me in this adventure. We support each other. We have met some wonderful fellow liveaboards. We are looking forward to a cruise of the Whitsundays, Australia from May this year and we'll see how we go after that - maybe visit Liz and Jamie... I would say to wannabes - be sure you want to trade a good night's sleep for whatever the weather or your boat cares to throw at you - at any time of day or night. It is a very exciting and demanding life style - that's true. Are you up for it?

[@followtheboat]

Good points well made. The good thing about this lifestyle is that if you don't get a good night's sleep, you can often catch up next day... providing the wind has abated!

[@OverlandSea]

Love how you both get information across to your viewers. What a lovely couple!

[@followtheboat]

Kind words, thank you.

[@chris-hunger]

Because of you two, I at least broke the psychological barrier today 😅 Talked over an hour on the phone, with a boat owner across the country and wrote an Email to a big Marina in the Netherlands, for a boat that Iam interested in looking at. All of course on a tight budget 🙈 but as I learned…. go small or you never go. My old seadog uncle always said to me when I was a little…. Chris NEVER EVER buy a boat…. guess iam over that part too, hopefully sooner than later 😂 Next big step will be decluttering/downsizing and financing all this endeavor, but I think I can get there, because I finally know what is the right thing for me to do. Part of the fun I guess, is the way to get there, even if it took me so long to realize again, that dreams must be followed at all times, even if life throws shit at you and you don’t know, if you ever reach them. Life’s just too short to not at least try. So I think will go for the 1. buy the boat 2. release the lines. 3. just go… thingy. Had a really nice chuckle on that one 😅 Well lets see how this plays out. Thank you again for making these 🙏 Always fair winds and following seas ,, ,,,,,,,_/),,,,,,,,,,

[@followtheboat]

Thanks for the comment, Chris. We've heard the 'never buy a boat' so many times, and even did a tongue-in-cheek video on why not to buy one, but boats bring great pleasure and the challenges are mostly positive. They keep you active and the grey matter alive, even when the shit is hitting the fan! Please keep us posted on your progress. Peace and fair winds to you.

[@chris-hunger]

@@followtheboat Will do. Actually the marina in the Netherlands mailed me back and iam allowed to see the boat iam interested in. Hopefully I don’t instantly loose it when seeing her 😂 She is dirty cheap, so i don’t expect too much, but I hope there will be some more boats to look at. Will drive there after my sailingtrip next week. Take care and wish me good luck 🍀🙈

[@philipwilkie3239]

We've had a lot of fun and inspiration from your channel this past year. Six weeks ago we did buy our first boat. We're planning a year-long transition from land to sea, and the process is not easy. Plenty of 'what the hell have I done?' moments. I'm finding the hardest part of the psychological leap is that all my adult life I've spent on family and work to please OTHER people, and this ingrains a lot of mental habits that are hard to break. A boat is not so much about physical freedom (in many ways a boat binds you very tightly to it's needs), but about being responsible for your OWN motivation, your OWN choices and OWNING the consequences. In many ways sailing shares a lot with my life-long passion for tramping (bushwalking/hiking/backpacking). Once you let go the dock, or shoulder the pack, you are essentially on your own with just four things in play ... the weather, the terrain, the resources (pack or boat) you brought with you, and the mental discipline and competencies you have inside your head. All else becomes secondary; you are now the skipper and everything is your responsibility. Yes you may well have mattersmback in 'civilisation' you have to take into account, but these concerns no longer take front and centre in your life. In the mountains or at sea, these bad habits of depending on other people to set the agenda fall away. And that I imagine is the true 'freedom' you speak of. For me, the moment I slip my boots and pack on my body instinctively shifts into tramping mode; but the boat is a whole different and much larger challenge that I'm still very much grappling with. To be honest I wasn't expecting it to be quite so unsettling.

[@followtheboat]

+Philip Wilkie [Liz] It's what you make it, and how you view it. From what you write it seems you worked to 'please other people' and went tramping for yourself, so your whole life has not been entirely for others... Sailing a boat is about working as a team with crew and boat, unless you are a solo sailor. It doesn't have to be entirely your responsibility, especially if you're sharing the life with someone else - you talk of 'we', who is/are the rest of the team? Couples share the responsibility and decisions 50/50. In equal relationships, 'skippers' are in name-only. Keep working at the dream, it will be worth it! Peace and fair winds.

[@philipwilkie3239]

Liz. Absolutely right. We chose sailing over tramping because it was more accessible for both of us, and my partner is perhaps even more involved and motivated than I am. In that respect we are both very fortunate. It's clear in my mind we both have to be able to manage the boat and take a 50/50 responsibility in the long run; but at least in the beginning the reality is the competencies are not evenly balanced. At least this first year we're going to get involved in the sailing scene here in Brisbane as much as we can and progress our RYC quals. One idea we've talked about is for my partner to go sailing with other crews when the opportunity arises, maybe building on her own sense of independence. And yes we both watch your channel a fair bit. We regularly follow about four or five different vlogs, and each brings something unique, but you guys have an unforced authenticity and down to earth humour, along with a lot of valuable insights and information. Many thanks for all the work you've put in; you certainly have influenced us!

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] So glad to hear your partner is getting lots of experience! But to be honest, I learned once we were on SY Esper. If you love it and are prepared to work at it, sailing is not rocket science. Peace and fair winds!

[@kav7163]

New in sailing world, been surfing web for info and today I knew where to find the right one

[@sionbenjamin4513]

Wow! from one who has to make the step from dry land to the waters of the Mediterranean. Both of you are great teachers, super cool and a beautiful couple. Cheers, enjoy and keep up all the good work!

[@svamandolin3546]

blizzard outside. Perfect day for this one! Thank you folks. Much needed in these parts.

[@followtheboat]

Our pleasure. Thanks for watching and happy new year to you.

[@jsonnichsen]

SV Amandolin Are you in Maine? We too had a blizzard.

[@svamandolin3546]

New Jersey

[@murielle2663]

This was the most informative and comprehensive video for anyone thinking of becoming a live aboard! Love your channel!

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] Thank you for the kind words. Peace and fair winds!

[@budawang77]

You did a great job covering all the important things. Well done as usual.

[@followtheboat]

Thanks, Ben!

[@zuricrqsatlz9145]

BTW, Liz and Jamie, we love your videos. I also love your music choices. Very cool. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[@followtheboat]

+GuitarBloke [Liz] Thanks for watching!

[@moejaime2654]

Great Video ! maybe I will buy a canoe and join you guys ! Happy New year and many returns !

[@followtheboat]

Canoe, dinghy, superyacht. Whatever it is, make sure you tap us up for a beer ;)

[@davidward7531]

Can’t believe it’s been 11 years!!!!! Chapeau to you both xx

[@followtheboat]

Tell me about it! We must try and hook up next time we're in London. xxx (Liz@ftb)

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

One of the best discussions on the subject, thx

[@timlatta3525]

Hi Liz, great to meet you earlier today! Thanks so much for the chat and was definitely great to watch this video! Take care, hope to bump into you again some time!

[@followtheboat]

+Tim Latta [Liz] Lovely to meet you both too. Good luck with the boat hunting! Peace and fair winds!

[@trevorward9680]

Great and informative as always, surprised the vlog doesn't pay as much as everyone thinks but even more reason to thank you guys for what you do....keep at it!

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] Yes, the thing about Patreon is that it shows the number of patrons and the payout per video, and most people look at the channel and times that by four (one vid per week). Nah. A high percentage of patrons support just one video per month, so halve that initial figure for starters! Then there is the fluctuating support which you have to be prepared to lose in an instant. We love doing these videos, but it is hard work and has to be a big part of your cruising life if you are going to have any kind of success. We always try to be as honest as possible. Peace and fair winds!

[@barkly1992]

Delos and La Vagabond are in a different ball park - I agree. Delos and La Vagabond have been sailing as long as you (almost) but their stories are very personal. They are not scared to look at the heartache as well as the sailing. Also the have focused on producing very professional videos. Horses for courses as we all say. Look at Alyana now so happy to be pregnant - not about Outremer - Look at the breakup on Delos with Josjie and Brady. So sad but now he is with the wonderful Keeza. Their videos are about people and places. The sailing to me is secondary. But I also enjoy your vlogs just as much.

[@MrLebro11]

Another brilliant “How To” vlog. I’ve begun binge watching your channel. Looking to be on the water in the next 18 months. C u there

[@followtheboat]

Brilliant, we look forward to seeing you. 👍 Liz

[@zuricrqsatlz9145]

Some anecdotes learned while searching for our live aboard boat: I said to a yachtie mate in a marina - "that boat has a For Sale sign". He replied "They are all for sale". The two best days of your life - the day you buy your boat and the day you sell your boat. Advice received from a yachtie as to what kind of boat to buy..."buy a caravan". Blunt advice received from a friend with boating experience "do not buy a boat". The enthusiasm curve - at the start - high enthusiasm, nothing is a problem. At the end, low enthusiasm, everything is a problem. I guess these are sourced from experience. Perhaps worth while considering while trying to look through rose coloured glasses at that beautiful yacht of your dreams. For those who have their minds set on living aboard, like us, these anecdotes will be mere amusement. For others, they may save you from being "between a rock and a hard place" [Australian saying]. Fair winds - or sweet dreams - your choice. :-))

[@followtheboat]

Those quotes would actually make a good section in our guide we've put together! We've heard them many times and yes, you're right, to us they're said with tongue in cheek but it's not for everyone and I'm sure people have bought a boat and regretted it for these reasons (and more).

[@dunebuggy1]

Hi Jamie & Liz, Matt Lawson here, Matt Harvey’s mate. I’ve been watching a lot of your videos recently and they are excellent! Very interesting and well made, keep up the great work. All the best and happy 2018. Cheers.

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] Cheers, Matt! And thanks for taking the time to comment. Peace and fair winds to you and yours!

[@mowzol]

Great advice from both of you. Enjoying your videos every week. You give Delos and Vagabond a run for there money every week in our opinion

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] Thanks so much for the support! Peace and fair winds!

[@mobiltec]

You guys seem to be doing everything right. Yet stuff happens doesn't it? The look on Jaime's face down in the engine room at night was to die for. I thought he was about to cry LOL... Keep the videos coming. Love them all.

[@followtheboat]

Hey Larry, really kind words, thank you. I was really was about to cry too 😂

[@goralki]

Well done and said. Thanks for allowing us into your lives. Looking forward to more vids especially the technical stuff and the technicalities of sailing.

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] So pleased you enjoyed it. Peace and fair winds!

[@bertski60]

2 of the nicest people on YT. and i mean that sincerely. a little late but a safe and happy new years to you and yours.

[@followtheboat]

Thank you for the kind words, bertski. A happy new year to you too!

[@bertski60]

took you long enough to reply. :D you guys are cool....thanks for the reply.

[@carolinahepfner4328]

i love our direct and upfront you are

[@harrisonkim4313]

I find your channel far more interesting and helpful than Delos.

[@davevaughn6293]

Great video , love your insights into sailboat life.

[@guyfrawley9662]

Again, well done chaps. Thank you for the effort in putting that video together. Informative and thought provoking. I think you are so right in not actually naming costs. They are all relative to each persons personal status, the importance is that thought has been applied to the each item/subject you have raised. I feel a wee bit incompetent having listened to your video in that I'm unable to add any meaning full items or subjects to your 7 points. Well done, may you continue to find enjoyment out there.

[@followtheboat]

Thanks for the great feedback, Guy. Appreciated.

[@bryanwatt9751]

Thanks for all the awesome vids and inspiration. We have sold up and in a week we set off on our first leg :) Asia, here we come....

[@followtheboat]

Wow! Well done! You'll love SE Asia, there's so much to see and experience. Fair winds! Liz

[@islandlife4141]

Couple of questions. What are your thoughts for a bluewater boat, I have a pearse 36, and a Morgan pilothouse 33 in contest. Also, I been on the water as a merchant marine for 20 years, but not once owned a sailboat. If I go the work month on, month off how can I safely leave the boat. I'm imagining this.... Go work a month, fly to boat, explore, dock fly to work.. is it feasible to haul out every time I go to work? Mooring ball, how about theft of things, I see all leaving sailboat unattended, dinghy left to go shopping, never do they steal

[@followtheboat]

That's the kind of question we answer in detail in FTBMates. Cheers, Liz 🙏

[@peterbryan3295]

You guys are awesome thanks so much for all the heads up..😁🙏🤟

[@rorytennes8576]

Thank you for all the information. It's very helpful

[@chenegabfree7617]

Thanks for this video... very helpful in our planning. Cheers from Lyme, Ct

[@followtheboat]

Glad you found it useful, Chenega. Good luck with your plans.

[@alapikomamalolonui6424]

I'm of the loony opinion that the "Ocean Traveling Life"™ is ALWAYS possible, if you truly want it, barring ONE thing: If your mate simply will not have it. We're planning on going the "Very Ugly and Spartan" path, with an extremely minimalistic teeny (30 ft'ish) self-built boat that we (or I!) will incrementally "improve" over the years. I've always been one for skating the bleeding razor's edge of "the possible", but I've found I need such "motivations" to get me up in the morning, and at making about 60ish years (young/old) it's time to find that last "lasting" challenge that'll keep our minds and bodies "busy" and lovin' life! :) BIG mahaloz, nā mahalo nui, and aloha nui loa to you guyz for your INVALUABLE encouragements over time. Sail the big water with great blessings most beloved friends,.. ʻAu i ke kai loa me nā pōmaikaʻi nui kuʻu nā hoaloha! ) 🤙

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] We talk about 'the reluctant partner' in our guide - it's an important topic! Thanks for all the support, we love reading your comments. Peace and fair winds!

[@RoyaJoha]

Just started following you guys to see if this way of moving to Spain from Norway will be doable.. and your videos are helping to come to an answer!.. thank you guys! And I like how your topic is how to sell up and that’s exactly not what you’re doing, you’re renting it out.. 😅

[@psychotimo]

bit of a late response,but I wanted to say that it felt like a really good summary of some of the important things to keep in mind. am interested in buying a sailing vessel and (at least) going on a lengthy cruise, but without any experience I'm currently aiming at saving up as much as possible to get my home paid off early and saving up for the trip, while learning the needed skills. current plan is to go for a sailing course after I get my first star as a diver (which should be soon) and then try to join others on their boat/do some small charters to get used to it ^^ and well, seeing as how you need quite a few skills to be a liveaboard (deffo if you plan to do it on your own) this does give me some time to prepare well, if i'm going at it single, I might be better off to overprepare rather than underprepare and screw myself over :p planning on keeping my home and using the rent as a stable addition to my budget while doing it. ^^

[@followtheboat]

Sounds like a good plan and you've thought things through well. We've got tons of videos on becoming a liveaboard cruiser. Check out our playlist section for our 'extras' but also out podcast we put out every Thursday (appears as an audio podcast on Spotify etc but also as a video on KZbin). We discuss in more detail the finer points of buying and living on a boat. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[@laurentfroggy6631]

Well done guys. Nicely presented as usual and fun too. Thanks and happy New Year from HKG 🇭🇰

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Peace and fair winds.

[@billsmith5042]

Well done , best I've seen so far

[@followtheboat]

Thank you, Bill. Kind of you to say so.

[@prankishsquire2663]

I'm deciding between a mountain cabin and a boat, you guys are not making it easier, bless your hearts. Hope to see you on the water. Fair winds.

[@followtheboat]

Hehehehe. That's quite a dilemma! Both the mountains and the sea are two places we love. Both? ;)

[@kennymcclymont2066]

Great video. A lot of potential liveaboards think they can be the new Delos or SLV. Making money from Vlogging is unreliable at best as KZbin keeps changing their algorithms and that’s affected many channels unfortunately. Anybody can liveaboard and as you rightly say, you will either have to be well-off or have some income as cruising is a costly business, especially on older vessels. Doing it on the cheap can be done but the sacrifice will be too great and it can be incredibly stressful every problem you have. I know many cruisers who simply ran out of cash and patience. What I liked about this video is that you were telling it as it is. Not putting people off but rather pointing out the realities. Cruising: yacht maintenance in exotic locations!

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] Yes, it's a difficult one, and we don't want to spoil people's dreams, but running a sailing channel is a huge amount of work, and it's a competitive market these days. You have to really love making videos as much as sailing - and the financial rewards can evaporate in a moment. So glad you enjoyed the episode, and thanks for taking the trouble to comment. Peace and fair winds!

[@kennymcclymont2066]

Thank you for taking the time to reply

[@candykoko59]

Thanks Guys. A very informative, well balanced, and nicely paced view about live aboard life. Well Done.Cheers

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] Thanks for commenting! So glad you enjoyed it . Peace and fair winds.

[@NotBob223]

One of the things I've found particularly helpful is to volunteer to crew on offshore voyages on the type of boat you are considering (going to the owner's forum is a good place to find these opportunities). Owners often find that they need extra crew for long passages and/or do yearly voyages into and out of the hurricane/cyclone belts for insurance reasons. It knocks off a few items off your list such as gaining sailing/offshore experience (both to get you experience but also to find out if the dream matches the reality) and allows you to learn if the boat really is right for you - and teaches you the details of it from people who have no incentive to sugar coat things. If you get a chance to do this over a few types of boats you'll quickly be able to narrow down where you should focus. This type of "delivery sailing" is probably the most difficult part of cruising so if you can handle those, you'll have peace of mind that spending a good portion of your life's savings may be a bit less likely to be abandoned later.

[@followtheboat]

Absolutely, Brent, couldn't agree more. Wise words.

[@garyleonard4009]

Hi guy's, great video. The problem i have is finding the right boat. Being looking a the 41 Gulfstar, Morgan out island 41, the Tayana 37, and other long keel boats. I showed my wife a 34 boat she said to small, Ha she is comming around great. Thank you for sharing. Fair winds and following seas

[@followtheboat]

Well, you're in luck Gary, because that's the subject of next week's video!

[@prof.m.ottozeeejcdecs9998]

BIG THUMBS UP !I like those who have experience. Not necessarily those "experts" ;-). I have listened to you with great interest, and I agree with your views. Thanks you again, for a comprehensive view on sailing and living your dream. One more thing: this lifestyle teaches you to appreciate nature, the beauty and the power, most of all, without an intact environment there is no appreciation. So, conserve, protect and learn about the environment where most of the species of this planet live!

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] That is so true. I've always been fascinated with nature, but living on the sea teaches you that you're just one small part of something magnificent.

[@prof.m.ottozeeejcdecs9998]

Exactly, only WE have to start working on keeping it magnificent!!!

[@brianswanland5466]

that was great! Appreciate your honesty about what living aboard entails. I hope to meet you out cruising!

[@followtheboat]

Look forward to that, Brian. Thanks for commenting and a happy new year to you.

[@gonesailingcharters6628]

Great job... lots of good information...See you soon!

[@followtheboat]

Glad you liked it! See you soon too.. 👍😎👌 Liz

[@edwinmaldonado2755]

Thank you guys, one of the best bloggers!!!

[@Nerd3927]

I'm living aboard since October, safely in Rotterdam Marina, still doing my day job. The last step of actually going is the the biggest.Thanks for helping me to get this far the last couple of years! (S/v Adma formerly known as Nerd3927)

[@followtheboat]

Really pleased to hear you have made that move, Nerd. Keep us posted on your progress and say 'gelukkig nieuwjaar' to Rotterdam for us, please :)

[@ProjectManaia]

You picked a good spot to start (probably cold now though). Lots of knowledgeable people and skilled sailors in the area

[@RobFomenko]

All good advice. I am 848 days from retirement where US Social Security (government pension) plus some retirement cash will tide me over. I expect the retirement cash to continue to grow while I sip lightly from my income while living aboard in exotic places. Have owned 2 cruising boats in the past. Boat will be paid for in cash and I plan on minimal use of marinas. I plan on buying a old boat and refitting it with mostly new to lessen breakdowns, and do all my own maintenance. Just got to keep busy while my wife decides what she is gonna do.... hoping she loves the liveaboard lifestyle and retires early. If not, she can meet up with me several times a year in new places. That's my plan.

[@followtheboat]

Sounds like a good plan, Bob. You've clearly thought this through and are taking your wife's sentiment into consideration too. Good on you, hope it happens soon. Fair winds to you.

[@grahamgarner2318]

I live in the UK and get my pension in 7.5 years. I have been watching KZbin clips and TV shows and decided that this is the life for me but on a Power Boat (Trawler) my wife has refused to live on a boat, so good bye wife of 36 years. The two class system, introduction of robots, Universal Credit and Capitalism has become to much for me. Out the box thinking. Graham

[@SkySailor75]

Wow, thanks! That was just what I needed to hear. As a single female, who is four years out from my five year plan to cast off the lines, my biggest concern has been if it is realistic to sail solo. Your comments about sailing and sex have eased (some of) my worries about that aspect. All your other advice, and videos, are fantastic as well. Cheers, and Fair Winds!

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] So happy to hear that Nicole! Keep dreaming the dream, and make the leap! Peace and fair winds.

[@crikycrocky]

20 plus years ago when I left solo, eventually crossing the Atlantic from the UK, I met a very competent German girl also sailing solo very successfully. now I see here on KZbin several ladies are out there vloging about their travels. I think the secret is to have the desire and the determination to make your dreams happen no matter what. Certainly for me the best days of my life were on the boat as a liveaboard.

[@SkySailor75]

Thanks for the encouraging words! I do have a 5 year plan to be living aboard and starting the sailing journey, but whatever happens, sailing will be a part of my life. whether I go solo, or do the crew thing, I want and need to get out and sea the world!! ;)

[@psychotimo]

just stumbled onto your comment here, and am on the same path, but just starting out. seeing as how your comment is 4years old, I'm now wondering whether you managed to make the leap :)

[@SkySailor75]

@@psychotimo Hey... Unfortunately, no I didn't. In fact, I am right now selling my boat due to many factors, but the way the world has changed in the last 2 years is a big one. Things seem much less stable and safe then they did. I think the world is in for hard times, and I don't want to be traveling to foreign nations if there is going to be war or food shortages. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm less sure it's a good idea now than I was before. I wish you luck in your journey! Peace! N

[@rickpowell4048]

You touched all bases well. Only thing i can add is that towards the very end of our Liverboard we got fed up with being economy minded, tired of mooring, soggy inflatable and not being able to walk ashore easily to a nice shops or restaurants. Hence the fancy marinas cost us a fortune.!.

[@followtheboat]

Fair comment, Rick. There are times when the idea of dropping the dinghy into the water to get ashore gets a bit depressing, and not finding a safe anchorage to get away from the swell gets me down too. So far we see these as one of those compromises you make for living aboard...

[@nickmalone3599]

Great advice

[@andreboudreau6474]

Thanks, it was a very informative video. BTW happy new year and fair winds to you both.

[@followtheboat]

And a happy new year to you too, André. Hope it's a good one.

[@buynsell365]

I LOVE IT !!! You guys told it like it is !!! Especially the line about no matter how much you budget......it is never enough.......LOL just my 2 cents, another option to mention for income is day trading (buy/sell stock). Not that difficult to learn but it is not for everyone. Keep up the GREAT WORK.

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] Yes, that is a very good point, a lot of work these days can be done from a laptop, so why not on a boat too? Peace and fair winds!

[@markridgwell8063]

Nicely done guys, I enjoyed that ;-)

[@followtheboat]

Nice one, Mark. Hope you had a good new year.

[@craigme2583]

Well done guys. Much appreciated. Love yr work:)

[@followtheboat]

Our pleasure, Craig.

[@juanjomirandabrea8361]

Hello guys, I´m thinking on buying a saliboat to go around the world, i 55 yeras old and my wife 48, do you think that we are so old to become this adventure?thanks for all and congratuations for your videos

[@iwillnotcomply6556]

you two are adorable! thanks for the tips

[@followtheboat]

Pleasure, David 👍

[@jase1911]

Awesome video and great information...how can you find out about the cheapest places to moor, cheap fuel,best place to restock and entry and exit fees?

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] There are plenty of sources - cruising guides, pilot books, Noonsite, local knowledge, other boaters etc. Cheapest place to moor is on the hook! Peace and fair winds!

[@OneGenericName]

One of life's lessons is "Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff" ~ Chip Gaines

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] It's a good quote, and so true! "The greatest teacher, failure is." Yoda.

[@Sailings]

You are the two most honest people on the internet. Love your videos. Thank you very much

[@frankrice5364]

Thank you guys keep chasing the smiles love your vedios

[@followtheboat]

And thank you for the positive feedback, Frank. Fair winds to you and a happy new year.

[@gogs1468]

Very well put, financing was fascinating, charters B&B, def no for I, too private and possessive.Thank you for sharing that, good to see Georgie is showing her usual degree of interest.

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] Glad you found it interesting. Thanks for commenting!

[@jeffswift3173]

Well I’m 76 bought my first sailboat by accident it’s a Cal 30 fully functional have been living aboard for a year now love it only problem is it’s in Juneau AK hardly any sailing cold wet and just plain miserable 276 days a year looking for a 25-30 foot sailboat in southeast want to spend more time sailing than sitting in harbor but don’t know if I want to sail her to GA/FL area by myself

[@symphonyfarm2009]

Oh it is winter in the NE USA and now it is time to dream again !

[@followtheboat]

+Symphony Farm [Liz] Dream away, and in the meantime we'll keep posting snapshots of life on a boat. Peace and fair winds!

[@kevincostner9734]

My 2 cents worth . For 25 years i would sail 6 months and go back home and work for 6 months. Self employed . So constantly broke From age 25 to 50. Spending my momey on boat gear,partying and marina fees in exotic ports around the world. Living like this has only a few regrets. Mostly it was a great way to live 2 different lifes .my regrets, i wish i bought a bigger boat in the beginning . I wish i had been able to hold on to one of the wifes. And i wish i would have had a interest in mechanics If i were to do it all over again i would buy a 55 footer not a 40 footer. I would never take marriage for granted and i would have signed on as a engineer on a ship for a few years when i was younger. Before age 25 i was married already for 7 years to high school sweatheart had my own buisness going for 10 years started in highschool. owned,2 houses,4 cars,2 jet skies and a rv. No kids Then i bought a sailboat. That was 3 boats and over a hundred thousand miles ago, And 2 nearly 3 wifes ago

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] Thanks so much for sharing this little glimpse into your life, I love hearing other cruisers stories. Sounds like yours is an interesting one... Peace and fair winds!

[@larryslone65]

Good, in your initial written comments you identify specific time codes for each segment.

[@MalloyUnfiltered]

Awesome share, thanks so much!

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] So happy you enjoyed it!

[@pierredanisy9118]

Another great video and superb advice. I just need a London flat to rent out! C'est la vie.

[@mjcubo2246]

Thank you for sharing. For the most part, is the income generated from your flat in London you primary source of income or does that combine with some sort of retirement nest egg to support you? I remember you saying in another video that the more expensive the boat cost the more costly the maintenance. So, I am trying to come up with a price range for a boat and a price range for needed annual income to avoid starving in paradise.

[@ToastandJam52]

I'll never have the money for cruising. I'll just keep watching the sailing channels on KZbin.

[@followtheboat]

That's fair enough. If we can provide just a little bit of fun for you on youtube then our job is done. Hoping we can keep you entertained. A happy new year to you.

[@ForestxWalker06]

trying to become a liveaboard on the west coast unfortunately the area i want to reside in ( at least it seems) impossible.2 year wait for a slip tops in a marina closest to the area i'm lookin at.still gonna try though !

[@followtheboat]

Keep that dream alive, Nick!

[@ForestxWalker06]

@@followtheboat thanks guys, I appreciate it !

[@jackiehowlett2449]

Do you guys ever sail back to England? Have you done any Atlantic or pacific sailing? Happy New Year.

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] No, we started in Turkey and headed east. One day we would like to sail round Ireland, Scotland and England, but not for a while yet. Jamie's sailed across the Atlantic, and we've sailed across the Indian Ocean, but not the Pacific...yet! Peace and fair winds!

[@LinuxUser119]

Good advice, subbed.

[@followtheboat]

+LinuxUser119 [Liz] Cool! Thank you.

[@LinuxUser119]

Sailing followtheboat Yo guys, yours was the quickest response I've ever had on KZbin. Just found your channel, I left Southampton in 2014, been anchored in the Caribbean since last January. They tell me its 3C back in England, that was my main reason for sailing off. Here every day is like the summer of 76 and then some. If my WiFi holds out I might get a chance to watch a few more of your vids today.

[@peddlerr]

What venues would I approach to contact skippers. I've been doing a ton of Due Dilligence at this point (mostly videos) and boat pricing. I' owned an 27 Bayliner powerboat i/o for 5 years on Lake St. Clair in Michigan. I would be very interested in working on a boat and joining a crew. Thank you..great video..AAA

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] Try local sailing groups, yacht clubs, marinas. Put the word out that you are available to crew. As we say in the vid, Facebook has lots of sailing groups too, you might find someone that way. Peace and fair winds!

[@e1227156]

hello..from turkey...nice to hear your voice...I hope you come back again turkey in time...and we may meet :))

[@nimrodofbeaulieu2638]

Hi guys Fantastic vlog thanks so much. Question for you as my wife and I are trying to kick off the journey too and live in IRL and intend to use our house as income. Like the UK, IRL has a relatively modest tax free threshold. Is there a way of getting your income "tax efficiency" or is it as I fear, going to be taxed on the location of the income, IE UK for you and IRL for us? Thanks in advance PS thought there may have been a section on Pink & Blue tasks! Jonathan & Rachel

[@followtheboat]

+Nimrod of Beaulieu [Liz] No pink and blues on SY Esper, haha! We pay tax in the UK, it's just easier as we're not usually in any other country for long enough. I think there are other options, I know some people register to pay tax overseas, but we've never looked into it properly. Brilliant to hear you are following your dream! Peace and fair winds.

[@TheBowen747]

state of Florida, USA.. says no boat insurance is needed.. would that be a problem on other side of the planet.. i checked marked everyone but cash.. and im working on that this next 14 months, then set sail myself in mid December of 2022.... thats my plan...

[@nuriap3278]

i am loving everyone of your videos!😍

[@kidpoker1000]

I need some advise on Thailand.. Marina costs? would you pick sailing Thailand over Mexico.? I am going to retire in a year, I have to Thailand and you have to love Thailand.. But what about Sailing , is it affordable ? Many Thanks, Martin

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] We haven't sailed in Mexico, so can't advise on that. We have only stayed in marinas on Phuket, so check the marina websites for current rates: Phuket Yacht Haven, Boat Lagoon, Krabi Boat Lagoon, Ao Po Marina. I don't understand your question regarding sailing being affordable - what kind of costs are you talking about? Try Noonsite.com for country information.

[@CyricMccallen]

I'm looking to become a liveaboard in the next 5 years or so. I really want a tank of a boat...Im looking at the Bruce Roberts pilot house boats. My question is about quality of the boat. I know this specific boat is hit or miss as the Bruce Roberts company only sells plans and leaves the buyer to sort out the building. So I'm wondering, would a surveyor be able to tell me the actual quality of the boat structure itself, or would they mainly be able to see what they see what's wrong and what will go wrong down the road?

[@kevincostner9734]

Are you happy with youre new headsail from zoom? I am near langkawi and need a new headsail. Is there anything that you would do differently construction wise? Rolly tasker is rubbish now and so i am thinking zoom. Or ?

[@followtheboat]

[Liz] Yes, very happy. Phil at Zoom is very good and trustworthy. We have no hesitation in recommending him. If you're not already in the Facebook group, Sail SE Asia, you'll find a lot of Zoom Sails supporters there. Cheers!

[@pnwesty7174]

I love Thursdays. :-)

[@followtheboat]

Us too!

[@KH-gk8mf]

What are “trainers” in a wardrobe? Only thing I could think of was a training bra, but I don’t think that’s what she was talking about 😬. Gonna go search it out after watching this video. Update: just found out that trainers are gym shoes! Learned something new about British English! 👟

[@montaguemonro565]

Hi there, a question regarding internet access when living aboard, particularly when you are in other countries. How do you accomplish this? Cheers!

[@followtheboat]

90% of the time we connect through our phones. We buy new SIMs in each country and load them up. It can be very expensive, but we have no choice. Occasionally we find somewhere with free wifi where we do all our updates! 😃 Liz

[@terrytyler959]

Thinking about a small boat in the Med..I live down in Spain..and used to crew in Greece..Same as you, property to rent plus pension .about 1200 euros a month, secure income..would that be do-able ? I'm not a high roller...and a jack-of- all trades..carpentry ( house building ), is my specialty...Thanks for your blogs. And good luck in your cruising lives...

[@mrpmessina]

Thank you so much for this. My wife and I are thinking of becoming liveaboards, and your videos are partly to blame. They are very inspiring. Besides having a passion for video editing, cooking and speaking several different languages, I am also trying to put my skills to the test and try to be as self-sufficient as I and my wife can possibly be. I am in the process of going through the day skipper course with RYA, so this guide and your videos are very much helping us finding our way to join your “freedom club”.

[@startech7143]

Lover your work guys? Regarding the a cash cow, rental flat back home, I guess you need own it to get the crushing funds back in your hands and not the banks !

[@followtheboat]

We still have a mortgage on it, but it's smaller than the average mortgage I guess. Of course our money goes further in Asia where breakfast costs us £1 and a trip to the cinema is £2!

[@irishmike8218]

Any suggestions for a liveaboard under $150,000? For two people.

[@sailingtheworld2021]

Thanks very informative!

[@followtheboat]

Cheers 👌

[@benjibumble]

What niche do you think is most in demand that one would be able to make money from?