I've been living on a Catalina 22 for 6 months and its pretty okay.

[Coastal_Fox]

I mean, i guess the title says it all.
It's been nice, I've been happy. Was on a mooring till the end of Oct and a slip since then.
Been warm in the teens, I'm clean, boats clean, i have everything i need what more can you ask?
I gave hands to people getting their boats ready to be pulled, so i went on a few much bigger ones, and, i wasn't stricken by 2ft-itous like I've been warned since i was a kid haha, i like my little dinghy, and I don't think I'd want a bigger or more complicated one.
Plus, everything costs by the foot haha.

But yeah, i have a big comfy bed, a spot for my laptop and a place to cook and clean. Also, it's a sailboat, and that's been fun too haha.
I also have money enough to live my life, which, is pretty huge.

Just wanted to pen those thoughts, and this is the best place i have to do it haha. No one really gives a shit about your boat unless they like boats, like anything else haha.

 

[ExOmo]

Whatever works!

 

[Goodvibes]

I mean, i guess the title says it all.
It's been nice, I've been happy. Was on a mooring till the end of Oct and a slip since then.
Been warm in the teens, I'm clean, boats clean, i have everything i need what more can you ask?
I gave hands to people getting their boats ready to be pulled, so i went on a few much bigger ones, and, i wasn't stricken by 2ft-itous like I've been warned since i was a kid haha, i like my little dinghy, and I don't think I'd want a bigger or more complicated one.
Plus, everything costs by the foot haha.

But yeah, i have a big comfy bed, a spot for my laptop and a place to cook and clean. Also, it's a sailboat, and that's been fun too haha.
I also have money enough to live my life, which, is pretty huge.

Just wanted to pen those thoughts, and this is the best place i have to do it haha. No one really gives a shit about your boat unless they like boats, like anything else haha.

People who love sail boats, appreciate the good points regardless of size.

Great to hear it is working for you. Plenty of people reading this will be envious, even if they don't say so.

 

[DRIFTW00D]

+1 true dat

 

[Mid]

 

[justsomeguy!]

Haha.

 

[Bus Driver]

Good for you. I have a soft spot for that boat. My Dad owned hull #6773. We spent countless hours tinkering and tooling around the Chesapeake Bay. Some of my warmest memories of him involve that boat.

A buddy and I sailed it to Atlantic City, one Summer. We had grand designs of making it to Newport. Sadly, that did not come to pass and my Dad dragged the trailer to AC for the trip home. To his credit, he never said "I told you so", though he definitely did tell us it was not our best idea.

At 6 feet tall, I had to stoop, even with the "pop top" up.

 

[Steam Flyer]

I mean, i guess the title says it all.
It's been nice, I've been happy. Was on a mooring till the end of Oct and a slip since then.
Been warm in the teens, I'm clean, boats clean, i have everything i need what more can you ask?
I gave hands to people getting their boats ready to be pulled, so i went on a few much bigger ones, and, i wasn't stricken by 2ft-itous like I've been warned since i was a kid haha, i like my little dinghy, and I don't think I'd want a bigger or more complicated one.
Plus, everything costs by the foot haha.

But yeah, i have a big comfy bed, a spot for my laptop and a place to cook and clean. Also, it's a sailboat, and that's been fun too haha.
I also have money enough to live my life, which, is pretty huge.

Just wanted to pen those thoughts, and this is the best place i have to do it haha. No one really gives a shit about your boat unless they like boats, like anything else haha.

It's very good sense to have and make use of a small boat, instead of pining for a bigger one and all the worse compromises a bigger/more complex one entails. Good to hear from you!

 

[billy backstay]

Our daughter lived on a very similar boat in Charleston SC harbor for a few years, first on a mooring then in a slip. It was just fine for her and the cat, and all was well!!

 

[bridhb]

I lived on a Morgan 27 for 3 years, 6 months while rebuilding the floors and interior and going to work everyday wearing a tie. It is relatively easy in Florida compared to New England I imagine.

I was a lot (a lot!) younger then though. Good for you. I remember that time very fondly!

 

[Bump-n-Grind]

so will you be staying aboard and in the water this winter?
what will you do for heat?

I lived aboard in DC for about 15 years. Never on a sailboat. first was a '62 42' Chris Craft Sea Skiff. a sort of sport fish without a fly bridge. Queen size bed in the v-berth with wet and dry hanging lockers and all the comforts of home. Twin 427s and an 8 kw genset. Was the most economical way to live in downtown DC at the time. 2nd liveaboard was a '72 38' Viking Aft cabin. That boat functioned larger than a couple houses I've owned. Bought it to live aboard while I was renovating a house.. when the house was done, I sold it and stayed on the boat. Since then I've always kept a power boat kickin around somewhere to live on if it all goes to shit.

for what it's worth, I always heated with kerosene heaters. There was enough wood on the insides of my boats that condensation wasn't really a problem. If it got really cold( under 20 F) I'd add one of those oil filled electric radiators. The Marinas I lived in all had bubbler systems to keep the surface from freezing. and being wooden boats they were fairly well insulated by default.

not sure I could ever live on anything as small as your boat. I like having some elbow room and a big comfy couch to watch tv from. I currently own a 40' Mainship trawler that I may spend a couple years on before I croak. This boat did a loop under a previous owner and I may try it if there's any water left in the mississippi.



Enjoy your time aboard

 

[Point Break]

Catalina 42 in a slip with wife, daughter, dog for 2+ years. Mostly wonderful. It did get old schlepping showering stuff up the dock to the community showers each morning and late night head calls to keep the holding tanks from filling up too quickly. Oddly, we sailed less due to the hassle of getting the boat heeling ready with all the daily living stuff that winds up sitting around. Still…..we enjoyed it (well everybody except our high school age daughter). Still, glad we did it and much of it was wonderful.

 

[Raz'r]

Dame Ellen MacArthur started out in a similar way.

 

[SloopJonB]

Living on a 22' sailboat would be like living in a pup tent only damper and with the possibility of drowning.

I once knew a guy who tried living on a Columbia 26' - he said it was like camping.

Not for me now or ever was. The absolute minimum I will accept for a living space requires a comfortable place to take a dump.

 

[billsreef]

If it works for you and makes you happy, that is all that matters.

 

[Coastal_Fox]

Haha.

lol

Good for you. I have a soft spot for that boat. My Dad owned hull #6773. We spent countless hours tinkering and tooling around the Chesapeake Bay. Some of my warmest memories of him involve that boat.

A buddy and I sailed it to Atlantic City, one Summer. We had grand designs of making it to Newport. Sadly, that did not come to pass and my Dad dragged the trailer to AC for the trip home. To his credit, he never said "I told you so", though he definitely did tell us it was not our best idea.

At 6 feet tall, I had to stoop, even with the "pop top" up.

Oh thats cool! Sounds like quite the journey and experiance, even if not all went according to plan! Newport is only about a 1/2 hour away from me haha so that wouldnt be as impressive if i made it there. I would like to try going down the coast, i know its not really the optimum choice for it, but if i take small bites and stick to the ICW it might be doable? I've only touched block island sound so far, i need more experience before i do anything too adventurous i think.

It's very good sense to have and make use of a small boat, instead of pining for a bigger one and all the worse compromises a bigger/more complex one entails. Good to hear from you!

I like that it only takes me a half hour or so to check all the systems and the entire boat. It means i can keep it very well maintained and clean without needing to dedicate all my time to it. Plus, it saves a lot on mooring fees, every foot is an extra 65-100 dollary doos.

Our daughter lived on a very similar boat in Charleston SC harbor for a few years, first on a mooring then in a slip. It was just fine for her and the cat, and all was well!!

Yup, its just me and my dog atm. My biggest concern was how she would care for it, but, she seems to be perfectly fine and happy. I need to train her to use the bathroom on the boat though, because rowing ashore 4 times a day got pretty old out on the mooring haha

so will you be staying aboard and in the water this winter?
what will you do for heat?

I lived aboard in DC for about 15 years. Never on a sailboat. first was a '62 42' Chris Craft Sea Skiff. a sort of sport fish without a fly bridge. Queen size bed in the v-berth with wet and dry hanging lockers and all the comforts of home. Twin 427s and an 8 kw genset. Was the most economical way to live in downtown DC at the time. 2nd liveaboard was a '72 38' Viking Aft cabin. That boat functioned larger than a couple houses I've owned. Bought it to live aboard while I was renovating a house.. when the house was done, I sold it and stayed on the boat. Since then I've always kept a power boat kickin around somewhere to live on if it all goes to shit.

for what it's worth, I always heated with kerosene heaters. There was enough wood on the insides of my boats that condensation wasn't really a problem. If it got really cold( under 20 F) I'd add one of those oil filled electric radiators. The Marinas I lived in all had bubbler systems to keep the surface from freezing. and being wooden boats they were fairly well insulated by default.

not sure I could ever live on anything as small as your boat. I like having some elbow room and a big comfy couch to watch tv from. I currently own a 40' Mainship trawler that I may spend a couple years on before I croak. This boat did a loop under a previous owner and I may try it if there's any water left in the mississippi.



Enjoy your time aboard

For heat, im using a small electric honeywell 360 heater. It has tip over, over heat, and over voltage safeties so i feel pretty comfortable with it. I try to keep heavier than air fuels off the boat, as i don't have any system in place for bilge ventilation. Im using an electric single stove burner too for cooking. In the summer, i was using my alcohol packpacking stove and that worked just fine too. I put it in the sink, to keep it stable, and in case of spilling, its in a metal tub which is good. I have a slip at a marina that has a bubbler system in place, the water temp is no where near close enough to warrant it just yet though so, im not in a hurry to get there, as it seems to be very crowded and im enjoying the peacefulness of a completely empty marina haha. The loop was something i really wanted to do! But yeah, not so easy without water being in the river! >.< I hope that situation changes soon!

Catalina 42 in a slip with wife, daughter, dog for 2+ years. Mostly wonderful. It did get old schlepping showering stuff up the dock to the community showers each morning and late night head calls to keep the holding tanks from filling up too quickly. Oddly, we sailed less due to the hassle of getting the boat heeling ready with all the daily living stuff that winds up sitting around. Still…..we enjoyed it (well everybody except our high school age daughter). Still, glad we did it and much of it was wonderful.

If I had to add one person to this situation, i would for sure be looking for something bigger haha. But as it is, its just me and the dog, so this is easy to maintain and sail single handed. I know what you mean about sailing it less haha. I built a boom tent for the winter and have it secured down pretty well, and ive skipped a few nice days simply because i dont want to undo it all >.>

Dame Ellen MacArthur started out in a similar way.

Did they? Ill have to go find out who that is!

Living on a 22' sailboat would be like living in a pup tent only damper and with the possibility of drowning.

I once knew a guy who tried living on a Columbia 26' - he said it was like camping.

Not for me now or ever was. The absolute minimum I will accept for a living space requires a comfortable place to take a dump.

That is exactly what its like! haha. More like a pop up camper than a pup tent, but yeah, its like 24/7 camping and thats alright by me! I have a Kodiac Canvas 10x10 tent that i could easily live in all summer (and most of winter with the stove jack).
The bathroom situation though... yeah. I mean, the bathrooms are close and very nice here, so its not that big of a deal, and i do have the portable in a pinch. I suppose, if i wanted to complain, that would be my go-to complaint as well haha.

 

[sledracr]

Heh. I lived for the better part of a year on a 34-footer (3/4-tonner). Since there was no interior forward of the mast, it basically meant that my entire living space - sleeping, cooking, "entertaining", everything - was in a 10x10 room with curved sides...

Other than the fact I had to "move out" on race days, I loved it.

 

[Willin']

Squeaky? Is that you, girl?

Your writing style, littered with plenty of hahas and lols, is what caused me to ask.

Welcome back if that's you!

 

[Coastal_Fox]

Heh. I lived for the better part of a year on a 34-footer (3/4-tonner). Since there was no interior forward of the mast, it basically meant that my entire living space - sleeping, cooking, "entertaining", everything - was in a 10x10 room with curved sides...

Other than the fact I had to "move out" on race days, I loved it.

What more do you need though? I dont really have a lot of things. I have my laptop, and a few hobbie things like my cameras and guitar. It all fits fine and i dont have to go far to get them haha. I think its kind of silly that laying down watching videos in the birth, sometimes im too lazy to move the body length up to the V so my dog normally has that all to herself.
I had a friend from FL come visit me for just over a week, and we were both plenty comfy, and he was a moose, 6ft 6 250lb guy haha, but we both had plenty of space (wouldnt want to live like that though >.>)

Squeaky? Is that you, girl?

Your writing style, littered with plenty of hahas and lols, is what caused me to ask.

Welcome back if that's you!

No, sorry I am not that person. Thats just how i've always typed. I actually never say "lol" unless im being facetious haha, because i decided a long time ago that it was lying, because im not normally laughing out loud, and if i am, ill normally just ad and extra "ha" or maybe ill say "LOL"..
Also, I'm a dude, so sorry to disappoint on that front too haha. Thats honestly not the first time I've been mistaken on this forum haha.

 

[SloopJonB]

The haha thing really degrades your credibility

Just FWIW.