richard wrote:

Alice and I are thinking about buying a boat to live on. We live in an
apartment now in Boston, which is being sold. We would have to be out
next Sept. We would like to live on a boat for a winter to check it out
before we buy one. We are not talking about this winter but next.
Currently we own a 25 ft powerboat which we use a lot. Any ideas how we
might get the experience of living aboard in the cold winter before we
buy about?


Hi again, Richard!

My boat and trailer is on the back yard. You are welcome to come
and try camping on it for New Years or March, whenever, if you want.
Be prepared for -20 or so! My boat would need a layer of
insulation on the inside, and you could staple eurothane "pool
planks" up on battens over pink glass wool covered in vapour
barrier, inside your own boat, if you want. Glue won't set in -20.
I would suggest a firelog heater about the size of smoke pipe,
properly set up, if you want "dinghy independance" as at anchor
without hydro. Insulation is the key.

If you can hack long stays on a 25 footer, moving up to a 30' should
be a breeze! a camper van tow vehicle might work out good for you,
too. You could spend winter holidays in Phoenix!

A converted old Lobster boat is a possibility. A friend of mine had
one. Beautiful and cheap! His 5 hp generator doubled as a
centrifugal bilge pump, via the pto. He needed a good pump after
spring launch.

Chinese junks used a "stick in the mud" system to anchor in
shallows. Four such vertical anchor spars, one winched down at each
corner or slinging point, would enable beaching at seasonal high
tide for overwinter drying anchoring in near shore flats. You could
truss up the rig with diagonal rope rigging.

You might need mud boots to get ashore.

As you will be in salt water, near Boston, you shouldn't need air
bubbler de-icing.

I will send floating dock pictures seperately. Such docks could form
the basis for a cheap floating house. All you would need is an
accommodating public beachfront parking spot, perhaps a little out
of town?

Say "hi" to the beautiful Alice for me!

Terry K