Jim K. wrote:
Hello all,

Man is the corporate filled with people lacking integrity, or what? I'm
fed up. After working in the corp world for over a decade, I'm working
on getting out.

I've been dragging my feet, but I started a company name for my
photography, and hope to start making money selling my photos. But I'm
not sure if I'll be able to make what I'm making now.

So question(s) #1:
- Will your overall expenses decrease by livingaboard, especially if
you don't tie up at a dock? Obviously rent/mortgage is decreased
drastically.

It depends entirely on you. You can live for almost nothing on a
boat, or you can spend a fortune. Its very easy to say you don't need
much, but have you ever lived really cheap?


- Car, insurance, gas, repair, & inspection costs are gone. I have a
mountain bike and canoe if I need to hit the food market. Is it stupid
to have a small motocycle or scooter?

maybe. I've seen helicopters and cars on boats, but most cruisers get
by with a bicycle.

- Utilities? They should decrease, right? I love camping so luxuries
won't be missed.
- Are there charges for docking up and re-charging battteries and
getting water? How much?
Dock space is 1 to 3 dollars a foot per night for transients. If you
go that route, your expenses will go way up. You should be able to
recharge batteries by running the engine - if you're traveling an hour
or so a day would be more than sufficient. Actually, if you don't
have a fridge, a small solar panel might be enough.

- How many meals do you eat with fish you caught? So do food costs also
decrease?

I've never seen anyone make a serious dent in the food budget that
way, but it varies a lot with locale.


But new costs - boat maintenance? Others? How much? So the main
questions is if overall expenses do decrease - by how much percentage
wise? By 50% - or even more. If by 50% than in essense my photography
could net me 1/2 what I currently making and I'll still be okay.

There's no way to say. Can you do engine maintenance? Can you sew sails?



My experience: none.

Then get some experience so you can ask intelligent questions.


I'll be going to the local sailing club - The Philadelphia Sailing Club
- and will inquire about membership. I know they also instruct. If it
takes 2 years - it takes 2 years. If it takes 4 years - then 4.
Whatever it takes, I'll wait but I feel I need to start now - I've been
thinking about this for a while and and I know myself well enough that
livingaboard would be the life for me. I don't know how many years it
will take to save for a boat and to learn the skills - but if I don't
start now, it will take even longer ot it will never happen.

4-5 years ago I slimmed down my possessions. I feel I need to slim them
down again. But what size boat would be a good size. Any
recommendations? Though I read 25-35 with 30' recommended. Correct?

Yes, if you're alone. Is that how you plan to spend your life?



My sailing needs/uses: I don't care about speed or racing - I'm a "stop
and smell the flowers" kind of guy. I would only need to sail to move
around to see a new place. Do not feel that I would ever need to be far
out to see but can see myself sailing from Florida to the Caribbean. I
would also use it to sail up and down the East Coast for photo
opportunities (fall foliage in Northeast in Sept/Oct., etc.) and to
attend art festivals where I could display my photography in Big
cities: Boston, New York, Philly, Washington DC, Baltimore, etc.

I might also sail around for contract work. I contacted well over 200
magazine publications and found ~ 50 that would be interested in my
photos and some of them hire you for a particular job - e.g. pics of
Sping hikers on the Applachian Trail in Virginia - whatever. That's it
- cruising around for fun and photos.

Any thoughts or advice.

Sorry to be a bit pessimistic or sarcastic - every month or two
someone posts an almost identical post - "I don't know anything about
boats but I plan to learn and then move aboard and cruise the world.
What should I do first?" The truth is that most cruisers have some
experience before they take off, and most of the horror stories we
hear are from those who decided they could learn on the way. Spend a
couple of years learning to sail. Seek out the local live-aboard
marina and try to meet people there.

BTW, my closest sailing friends have lived aboard for 26 years on a
*very* low budget, so it can definitely be done. The real question is
whether you're suited for the life-style.